Precoding method and device based on intelligent metasurface

Abstract

The invention discloses a precoding method and device based on an intelligent metasurface, and the method comprises the steps: transmitting a reference signal to a terminal device, the reference signal being used for the terminal device to determine channel feedback information, the channel feedback information being used for a second network device to determine first indication information, and receiving first indication information sent by a second network device, the first indication information being used for determining a phase shift matrix of the first network device, and determining a phase shift moment drop of the first network device according to the first indication information, so that a base station can control precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on channel information.

Description

Precoding method and device based on intelligent metasurface Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a precoding method and device based on intelligent metasurface. Background Art

[0002] In traditional communications, the wireless environment is an uncontrollable factor. This uncontrollability often negatively impacts communication efficiency and reduces service quality. For example, signal attenuation limits the propagation distance of wireless signals, multipath effects cause fading, and reflection and refraction from large objects are major uncontrollable factors. Deploying reconfigurable intelligent metasurfaces (RIS) on various surfaces within wireless transmission environments promises to overcome the uncontrollability of traditional wireless channels, build intelligent and programmable wireless networks, and usher in a new paradigm for future wireless communications.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] The first embodiment of the present application proposes a precoding method based on a smart metasurface, the method being performed by a first network device, and the method comprising:

[0005] Sending a reference signal to a terminal device, where the reference signal is used by the terminal device to determine channel feedback information, and the channel feedback information is used by a second network device to determine first indication information;

[0006] receiving the first indication information sent by the second network device, where the first indication information is used to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device;

[0007] Determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device according to the first indication information.

[0008] A second embodiment of the present application proposes a precoding method based on a smart metasurface, the method being performed by a second network device, and the method comprising:

[0009] receiving channel feedback information sent by a terminal device, where the channel feedback information is determined by the terminal device based on a reference signal sent by a first network device, and the channel feedback information is used to determine first indication information;

[0010] The first indication information is sent to the first network device, where the first indication information is used to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0011] The third embodiment of the present application proposes a precoding method based on a smart metasurface, the method being executed by a terminal device, the method comprising:

[0012] receiving a reference signal sent by the first network device;

[0013] estimating a channel between the first network device and the terminal device according to the reference signal to obtain channel feedback information;

[0014] The channel feedback information is sent to the second network device, where the channel feedback information is used to determine first indication information, and the first indication information is used to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0015] A fourth embodiment of the present application provides a precoding device based on an intelligent metasurface, which is applied to a first network device and includes:

[0016] a transceiver unit, configured to send a reference signal to a terminal device, wherein the reference signal is used by the terminal device to determine channel feedback information, and the channel feedback information is used by a second network device to determine first indication information;

[0017] The transceiver unit is further configured to receive the first indication information sent by the second network device, where the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device;

[0018] A processing unit is configured to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device according to the first indication information.

[0019] A fifth embodiment of the present application proposes a precoding device based on an intelligent metasurface, which is applied to a second network device and includes:

[0020] a transceiver unit, configured to receive channel feedback information sent by a terminal device, where the channel feedback information is determined by the terminal device based on a reference signal sent by a first network device, and the channel feedback information is used to determine first indication information;

[0021] The transceiver unit is further configured to send the first indication information to the first network device, where the first indication information is used to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0022] A sixth embodiment of the present application proposes a precoding device based on an intelligent metasurface, which is applied to a terminal device and includes:

[0023] a transceiver unit, configured to receive a reference signal sent by the first network device;

[0024] a processing unit, configured to estimate a channel between the first network device and the terminal device according to the reference signal to obtain channel feedback information;

[0025] The transceiver unit is further configured to send the channel feedback information to the second network device, where the channel feedback information is used to determine first indication information, and the first indication information is used to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0026] The seventh aspect embodiment of the present application proposes a communication device, which includes a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program stored in the memory so that the device performs the precoding method based on the smart metasurface described in the first aspect embodiment, or performs the precoding method based on the smart metasurface described in the second aspect embodiment.

[0027] An eighth aspect embodiment of the present application proposes a communication device, which includes a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program stored in the memory so that the device executes the precoding method based on the smart metasurface described in the third aspect embodiment, or executes the precoding method based on the smart metasurface described in the fourth aspect embodiment.

[0028] The ninth aspect embodiment of the present application proposes a communication device, which includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive code instructions and transmit them to the processor, and the processor is used to run the code instructions to enable the device to execute the precoding method based on the smart metasurface described in the first aspect embodiment, or execute the precoding method based on the smart metasurface described in the second aspect embodiment.

[0029] The tenth aspect embodiment of the present application proposes a communication device, which includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive code instructions and transmit them to the processor, and the processor is used to run the code instructions to enable the device to execute the precoding method based on the smart metasurface described in the third aspect embodiment above.

[0030] The eleventh embodiment of the present application proposes a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions. When the instructions are executed, the precoding method based on the intelligent metasurface described in the first embodiment above is implemented, or the precoding method based on the intelligent metasurface described in the second embodiment above is implemented.

[0031] The twelfth embodiment of the present application proposes a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions. When the instructions are executed, the precoding method based on the smart metasurface described in the third embodiment above is implemented.

[0032] The thirteenth aspect embodiment of the present application proposes a computer program, which, when running on a computer, enables the computer to execute the precoding method based on the smart metasurface described in the first aspect embodiment, or execute the precoding method based on the smart metasurface described in the second aspect embodiment.

[0033] The fourteenth embodiment of the present application proposes a computer program, which, when run on a computer, enables the computer to execute the precoding method based on the smart metasurface described in the third embodiment above.

[0034] An embodiment of the present application provides a precoding method and device based on an intelligent metasurface, which sends a reference signal to a terminal device, where the reference signal is used by the terminal device to determine channel feedback information, where the channel feedback information is used by a second network device to determine first indication information, receives the first indication information sent by the second network device, where the first indication information is used to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device, and determines the phase shift matrix of the first network device based on the first indication information, so that the base station can control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on the channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0035] Additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be given in part in the description below, and in part will become apparent from the description below, or will be learned through practice of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the background technology, the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application or the background technology will be described below.

[0037] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] FIG3 is a flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] FIG5 is a schematic flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] FIG6 is a schematic flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG8 is a flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG9 is a schematic flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG10 is a schematic flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of a precoding device based on a smart metasurface according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of a precoding device based on a smart metasurface according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG13 is a schematic structural diagram of a precoding device based on a smart metasurface according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG14 is a schematic structural diagram of another precoding device based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG15 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] Exemplary embodiments are described in detail herein, with examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, when referring to the drawings, identical numbers in different figures represent identical or similar elements, unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments are not intended to represent all possible implementations consistent with the present invention. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with certain aspects of the present invention, as detailed in the appended claims.

[0053] The terms used in the embodiments of this application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this application. The singular forms "a" and "the" used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and / or" used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0054] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used to describe various information in the embodiments of the present application, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from each other. For example, without departing from the scope of the embodiments of the present application, the first information may also be referred to as the second information, and similarly, the second information may also be referred to as the first information. Depending on the context, the words "if" and "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "at the time of" or "when" or "in response to a determination."

[0055] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended to be used to explain the present application, and should not be understood as limiting the present application.

[0056] In order to better understand the precoding method based on the intelligent metasurface disclosed in the embodiment of the present application, the communication system to which the embodiment of the present application is applicable is first described below.

[0057] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication system may include, but is not limited to, a first network device, a second network device, and a terminal device. The number and form of devices shown in Figure 1 are for example purposes only and do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of the present application. In actual applications, two or more network devices and two or more terminal devices may be included. The communication system shown in Figure 1 includes, for example, a first network device 101, a second network device 102, and a terminal device 103.

[0058] It should be noted that the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, fifth-generation mobile communication systems, 5G new air interface systems, or other future new mobile communication systems.

[0059] The first network device 101 in the embodiment of the present application is a device that can regulate and control the communication channel. The first network device 101 is equipped with a large number of (electromagnetic) units, and can change the radiation characteristics of the (electromagnetic) units by adjusting the physical properties of the (electromagnetic) units (such as capacitive reactance, impedance or inductive reactance), and then can dynamically regulate the electromagnetic waves in space to form a beam in a specific direction in space. For example, the first network device 101 can be a smart metasurface (Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface, RIS) and the like. In the embodiment of the present application, the (electromagnetic) units in the first network device 101 can be active or passive; some of the (electromagnetic) units in the first network device 101 can be active, and some of the (electromagnetic) units can be passive.

[0060] The second network device 102 in the embodiment of the present application is an entity on the network side for transmitting or receiving signals. For example, the second network device 102 may be an evolved NodeB (eNB), a transmission point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in an NR system, a base station in other future mobile communication systems, or an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the access network device. The access network device provided in the embodiment of the present application may be composed of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), wherein the CU may also be referred to as a control unit. The CU-DU structure may be used to split the access network device, such as the protocol layer of the base station, and the functions of some protocol layers are placed in the CU for centralized control, while the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers are distributed in the DU, and the DU is centrally controlled by the CU.

[0061] The terminal device 103 in the embodiment of the present application is an entity on the user side for receiving or transmitting signals, such as a mobile phone. The terminal device can also be called a terminal device (terminal), user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal device (MT), etc. The terminal device can be a car with communication function, a smart car, a mobile phone (Mobile Phone), a wearable device, a tablet computer (Pad), a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control (Industrial Control), a wireless terminal device in self-driving (Self-Driving), a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery (Remote Medical Surgery), a wireless terminal device in smart grid (Smart Grid), a wireless terminal device in transportation safety (Transportation Safety), a wireless terminal device in smart city (Smart City), a wireless terminal device in smart home (Smart Home), etc. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device.

[0062] In traditional communications, the wireless environment is an uncontrollable factor. This uncontrollability often negatively impacts communication efficiency and reduces service quality. For example, signal attenuation limits the propagation distance of wireless signals, multipath effects cause fading, and reflection and refraction from large objects are major uncontrollable factors. Deploying intelligent metasurfaces (RIS) on various surfaces within wireless transmission environments promises to overcome the uncontrollability of traditional wireless channels, building intelligent, programmable wireless networks and ushering in a new paradigm for future wireless communications. Specifically, RIS can use precoding technology to reflect or transmit incident signals in specific directions, thereby enhancing signal strength at the receiving end or reducing interference, achieving channel control.

[0063] As shown in Figure 1, in a communication system assisted by first network device 101 (RIS), second network device 102 reflects or transmits a signal to terminal device 103 via first network device 101 (RIS), or terminal device 103 reflects or transmits a signal to second network device 102 via first network device 101 (RIS). To increase the power of useful signals and reduce interference, precoding is required for first network device 101.

[0064] In the related art, the method for determining the precoding of the first network device 101 (RIS) is relatively complex.

[0065] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present application is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0066] The following is a detailed introduction to the precoding method and device based on the intelligent metasurface provided by the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0067] Please refer to Figure 2, which is a flow chart of a precoding method based on an intelligent metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application. It should be noted that the precoding method based on an intelligent metasurface in an embodiment of the present application is performed by a first network device. This method can be performed independently or in combination with any other embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, the method may include the following steps:

[0068] Step 201: Send a reference signal to a terminal device.

[0069] In each embodiment of the present application, the first network device may be an intelligent metasurface RIS.

[0070] In an embodiment of the present application, the first network device is capable of sending a reference signal, which is used by the terminal device to determine channel feedback information, and the channel feedback information is used by the second network device to determine the first indication information.

[0071] The reference signal is used by the terminal device to estimate the channel between the first network device and the terminal device to obtain channel feedback information. That is, after receiving the reference signal sent by the first network device, the terminal device can perform channel estimation based on the reference signal to obtain channel feedback information of the channel between the first network device and the terminal device.

[0072] The channel feedback information is used by the second network device to determine the first indication information based on the channel feedback information.

[0073] In some implementations, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device, and channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0074] The incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device refers to the incident angle of the signal emitted by the second network device on the surface of the first network device. The channel feedback information sent by the terminal device is sent by the terminal device to the second network device and can provide feedback on the channel between the first network device and the terminal device.

[0075] In some implementations, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0076] In this embodiment of the present application, optionally, the channel feedback information includes at least one of the following:

[0077] Second indication information, the second indication information including a second PMI, where the second PMI is used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device;

[0078] Reference Signal Receiving Power (RSRP);

[0079] Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ);

[0080] Received Singnal Strengthen Indicator (RSSI);

[0081] Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR).

[0082] In some implementations, the first network device can receive reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device and send the reference signal according to the reference signal configuration information. The reference signal can be used by the terminal device to determine the channel feedback information.

[0083] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0084] a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal;

[0085] Generation information of a reference signal sequence;

[0086] The serial number of the antenna port occupied by the reference signal;

[0087] The time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

[0088] In some implementations, optionally, the reference signal may also be sent to the second network device, etc.

[0089] It can be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, there may be some active units in the first network device, which can send the reference signal to the terminal device according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0090] Step 202: Receive first indication information sent by the second network device, where the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0091] In an embodiment of the present application, the first network device is capable of receiving the first indication information sent by the second network device, and determining the phase shift matrix of the first network based on the first indication information, and then reflecting or projecting the signal incident on the surface of the first network device based on the phase shift matrix, thereby realizing precoding based on the smart metasurface.

[0092] The phase shift matrix of the first network device is used to configure the phase of each unit in the first network device, that is, to precode the first network device. The first network device can adjust the phase of each unit according to the phase shift matrix configuration to achieve precoding for the first network device.

[0093] In the embodiment of the present application, the first network device can determine a reference phase shift matrix based on the first indication information. Furthermore, the first network device can quantize the reference phase shift matrix based on the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device to obtain the phase shift matrix of the first network device (i.e., the phase shift matrix actually used in the end).

[0094] It is understandable that the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device are several discrete values ​​rather than continuous values, and the phase of each unit in the first network device is not continuously adjustable.

[0095] It should be noted that the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined based on the first indication information sent by the second network device. The first indication information is generated by the second network device based on the assumption that the phases of each unit in the first network device are continuously adjustable. In other words, the phases of each unit in the first network device configured to correspond to the reference phase shift matrix may not be supported by the first network device. Therefore, the first network device can quantize the reference phase shift matrix based on the phase offset values ​​it supports to obtain the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0096] In the embodiment of the present application, the first indication information includes at least one first precoding matrix indicator (Percoding Matrix Indicator, PMI), and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

[0097] It can be understood that, if the first indication information includes only one first PMI, the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI is 1.

[0098] It can be understood that the first PMI included in the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0099] Optionally, the weighting coefficient may be a real number or a complex number. The fact that the weighting coefficient is a complex number indicates that the weighting coefficient includes information of amplitude and phase.

[0100] In some implementations, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device, and channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0101] The incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device refers to the incident angle of the signal emitted by the second network device on the surface of the first network device. The channel feedback information sent by the terminal device is sent by the terminal device to the second network device and can provide feedback on the channel between the first network device and the terminal device.

[0102] In some implementations, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0103] In the embodiment of the present application, the first network device may determine whether the determination of the first indication information takes into account the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device according to pre-defined provisions of the protocol or configuration instructions of the second network device.

[0104] Step 203: Determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device according to the first indication information.

[0105] In an embodiment of the present application, the first network device can determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device based on the received first indication information, and then adjust the phase of each unit according to the phase shift matrix configuration to reflect or transmit the signal incident on the surface of the first network device.

[0106] In some implementations, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device, and channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0107] As a possible implementation, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device and the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device. The first indication information includes a first precoding matrix indication PMI, and the first network device determines that the precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI is the reference phase shift matrix.

[0108] As another possible implementation, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device and the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device. The first indication information includes multiple first precoding matrix indications PMI and weighting coefficients corresponding to each first PMI. The first network device can weightedly combine the precoding matrices indicated by each first PMI according to the weighting coefficients corresponding to each first PMI to obtain the reference phase shift matrix.

[0109] In some implementations, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0110] As a possible implementation, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes a first precoding matrix indication PMI. The first network device can determine the reference phase shift matrix based on the precoding matrix and weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI, and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0111] Optionally, the first network device can adjust the precoding matrix indicated by the first PMI based on incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device to obtain the reference phase shift matrix.

[0112] As another possible implementation, the first indication information is determined by the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes multiple first precoding matrix indications PMIs and weighting coefficients corresponding to each first PMI. The first network device can determine the reference phase shift matrix based on the precoding matrix and weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI in the multiple first PMIs, and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0113] Optionally, the first network device can weightedly combine the precoding matrices indicated by each first PMI according to the weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI to obtain a first matrix, and adjust the first matrix based on the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device to obtain the reference phase shift matrix.

[0114] Optionally, the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device may be sent by the second network device to the first network device, or may be obtained by sensing and measuring by the first network device itself.

[0115] It can be understood that, when performing weighted combining, the weighting coefficient used for the precoding matrix indicated by each first PMI is the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI indicating the precoding matrix.

[0116] In an embodiment of the present application, after determining the phase shift matrix, the first network device can configure and adjust the phase of each unit in the first network device according to the phase shift matrix, and reflect or transmit the signal incident on the surface of the first network device based on the adjusted phase.

[0117] In summary, by sending a reference signal to the terminal device and receiving the first indication information sent by the second network device, the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device. According to the first indication information, the phase shift matrix of the first network device is determined, so that the base station can control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on the channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0118] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application. It should be noted that the precoding method based on a smart metasurface in an embodiment of the present application is performed by a first network device. This method can be performed independently or in combination with any other embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, the method may include the following steps:

[0119] Step 301: Receive reference signal configuration information sent by a second network device.

[0120] In each embodiment of the present application, the first network device may be an intelligent metasurface RIS.

[0121] In the embodiment of the present application, the first network device is capable of receiving reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device, and determining a reference signal to send according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0122] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0123] a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal;

[0124] Generation information of a reference signal sequence;

[0125] The serial number of the antenna port occupied by the reference signal;

[0126] The time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

[0127] The first network device can determine the reference signal to be sent according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0128] Step 302: Send a reference signal to the terminal device according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0129] In an embodiment of the present application, the first network device may determine a reference signal based on the received reference signal configuration information and send the reference signal to the terminal device.

[0130] The reference signal is used by the terminal device to estimate the channel between the first network device and the terminal device to obtain channel feedback information. That is, after receiving the reference signal sent by the first network device, the terminal device can perform channel estimation based on the reference signal to obtain channel feedback information of the channel between the first network device and the terminal device.

[0131] In this embodiment of the present application, optionally, the channel feedback information includes at least one of the following:

[0132] Second indication information, the second indication information including a second PMI, where the second PMI is used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device;

[0133] Reference signal received power RSRP;

[0134] Reference signal received quality RSRQ;

[0135] Signal receiving strength indication RSSI;

[0136] Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio SINR.

[0137] It can also be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, there may be some active units in the first network device, which can send the reference signal to the terminal device according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0138] Step 303: Receive first indication information sent by the second network device.

[0139] In the embodiment of the present application, the first network device is capable of receiving first indication information sent by the second network device, where the first indication information includes at least one first PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

[0140] It can be understood that, if the first indication information includes only one first PMI, the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI is 1.

[0141] It can be understood that the first PMI included in the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0142] Optionally, the weighting coefficient may be a real number or a complex number. The fact that the weighting coefficient is a complex number indicates that the weighting coefficient includes information of amplitude and phase.

[0143] In an embodiment of the present application, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device, and channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0144] The incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device refers to the incident angle of the signal emitted by the second network device on the surface of the first network device. The channel feedback information sent by the terminal device is determined by the terminal device based on the received reference signal and sent to the second network device, and can provide feedback on the channel between the first network device and the terminal device.

[0145] In an embodiment of the present application, the first network device can determine that the determination of the first indication information takes into account the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device based on the pre-defined provisions of the protocol or the configuration instructions of the second network device. The first network device can directly determine the phase shift matrix based on the first indication information without considering the incident angle information.

[0146] Step 304: Determine a reference phase shift matrix according to the first indication information.

[0147] In the embodiment of the present application, the first network device can determine a reference phase shift matrix according to the received first indication information.

[0148] It should be noted that the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined based on the first indication information sent by the second network device. The first indication information is generated by the second network device based on the assumption that the phase of each unit in the first network device is continuously adjustable. However, the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device are discrete, not continuous, and the phase of each unit in the first network device is not continuously adjustable. In other words, the phase of each unit in the first network device configured according to the reference phase shift matrix may not be supported by the first network device.

[0149] In an embodiment of the present application, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device, and the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device. The first indication information received by the first network device may include at least one first PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

[0150] It can be understood that, if the first indication information includes only one first PMI, the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI is 1.

[0151] In some implementations, the first indication information includes a first PMI, and the first network device determines that the precoding matrix indicated by the first PMI is the reference phase shift matrix.

[0152] In some embodiments, the first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and weighting coefficients corresponding to each first PMI. The first network device can perform weighted combination on the precoding matrices indicated by each PMI according to the weighting coefficients corresponding to each first PMI to obtain the reference phase shift matrix.

[0153] It can be understood that, when performing weighted combining, the weighting coefficient used for the precoding matrix indicated by each first PMI is the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI indicating the precoding matrix.

[0154] Step 305: quantize the reference phase shift matrix according to the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device to obtain the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0155] In this embodiment of the present application, because the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device are discrete rather than continuous, the phases of each unit in the first network device corresponding to the reference phase shift matrix may not be supported by the first network device. Therefore, the first network device can quantize the reference phase shift matrix based on the phase offset values ​​it supports to obtain the phase shift matrix of the first network device (i.e., the phase shift matrix ultimately used).

[0156] The phase shift matrix of the first network device is used to configure the phase of each unit in the first network device, that is, to precode the first network device. The first network device can adjust the phase of each unit according to the phase shift matrix configuration to achieve precoding for the first network device.

[0157] Step 306: Reflect or transmit the signal incident on the surface of the first network device according to the phase shift matrix.

[0158] In an embodiment of the present application, after determining the phase shift matrix, the first network device can configure and adjust the phase of each unit in the first network device according to the phase shift matrix, and reflect or transmit the signal incident on the surface of the first network device based on the adjusted phase.

[0159] In summary, by receiving the reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device, sending a reference signal to the terminal device according to the reference signal configuration information, receiving the first indication information sent by the second network device, determining the reference phase shift matrix according to the first indication information, and quantizing the reference phase shift matrix according to the phase offset value supported by the first network device, the phase shift matrix of the first network device is obtained, so that the base station can control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on the channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0160] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a flow chart of a precoding method based on an intelligent metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application. It should be noted that the precoding method based on an intelligent metasurface in an embodiment of the present application is performed by a first network device. This method can be performed independently or in combination with any other embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4, the method may include the following steps:

[0161] Step 401: Receive reference signal configuration information sent by a second network device.

[0162] In each embodiment of the present application, the first network device may be an intelligent metasurface RIS.

[0163] In an embodiment of the present application, the first network device is capable of receiving reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device, and determining a reference signal to be sent to the terminal device based on the reference signal configuration information.

[0164] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0165] a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal;

[0166] Generation information of a reference signal sequence;

[0167] The serial number of the antenna port occupied by the reference signal;

[0168] The time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

[0169] The first network device can determine the reference signal to be sent to the terminal device based on the reference signal configuration information.

[0170] Step 402: Send a reference signal to the terminal device according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0171] In an embodiment of the present application, the first network device may determine a reference signal based on the received reference signal configuration information and send the reference signal to the terminal device.

[0172] The reference signal is used by the terminal device to estimate the channel between the first network device and the terminal device to obtain channel feedback information. That is, after receiving the reference signal sent by the first network device, the terminal device can perform channel estimation based on the reference signal to obtain channel feedback information of the channel between the first network device and the terminal device.

[0173] In this embodiment of the present application, optionally, the channel feedback information includes at least one of the following:

[0174] Second indication information, the second indication information including a second PMI, where the second PMI is used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device;

[0175] Reference signal received power RSRP;

[0176] Reference signal received quality RSRQ;

[0177] Signal receiving strength indication RSSI;

[0178] Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio SINR.

[0179] It can also be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, there may be some active units in the first network device, which can send the reference signal to the terminal device according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0180] Step 403: Receive first indication information sent by the second network device.

[0181] In the embodiment of the present application, the first network device is capable of receiving first indication information sent by the second network device, where the first indication information includes at least one first PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

[0182] It can be understood that, if the first indication information includes only one first PMI, the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI is 1.

[0183] It can be understood that the first PMI included in the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0184] Optionally, the weighting coefficient may be a real number or a complex number. The fact that the weighting coefficient is a complex number indicates that the weighting coefficient includes information of amplitude and phase.

[0185] In an embodiment of the present application, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0186] The channel feedback information sent by the terminal device is determined by the terminal device based on the received reference signal and sent to the second network device, and can provide feedback on the channel information between the first network device and the terminal device.

[0187] In an embodiment of the present application, the first network device can determine the first indication information based on the pre-defined provisions of the protocol or the configuration instructions of the second network device without considering the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device. The first network device needs to determine the phase shift matrix based on the incident angle information and the first indication information.

[0188] Step 404: Determine a reference phase shift matrix according to the first indication information and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0189] In the embodiment of the present application, the first network device can determine a reference phase shift matrix according to the received first indication information and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0190] It should be noted that the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined based on the first indication information sent by the second network device. The first indication information is generated by the second network device based on the assumption that the phase of each unit in the first network device is continuously adjustable. However, the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device are discrete, not continuous, and the phase of each unit in the first network device is not continuously adjustable. In other words, the phase of each unit in the first network device configured according to the reference phase shift matrix may not be supported by the first network device.

[0191] In the embodiment of the present application, the incident angle information may be sent by the second network device to the first network device, or may be measured by the first network device itself.

[0192] In some implementations, the first network device can also receive the incident angle information sent by the second network device.

[0193] In an embodiment of the present application, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device, and the first indication information received by the first network device may include at least one first PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

[0194] It can be understood that, if the first indication information includes only one first PMI, the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI is 1.

[0195] In some implementations, the first indication information includes a first PMI, and the first network device can determine the reference phase shift matrix according to the precoding matrix and weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI, and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0196] Optionally, the first network device can adjust the precoding matrix indicated by the first PMI based on the incident angle information to obtain the reference phase shift matrix.

[0197] In some embodiments, the first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and weighting coefficients corresponding to each first PMI. The first network device can determine the reference phase shift matrix based on the precoding matrix and weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI in the multiple first PMIs, and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0198] Optionally, the first network device can first perform weighted combination of the precoding matrices indicated by each first PMI according to the weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI to obtain a first matrix, and then adjust the first matrix obtained by weighted combination based on the incident angle information to finally obtain the reference phase shift matrix.

[0199] It can be understood that, when performing weighted combining, the weighting coefficient used for the precoding matrix indicated by each first PMI is the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI indicating the precoding matrix.

[0200] Step 405: quantize the reference phase shift matrix according to the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device to obtain the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0201] In this embodiment of the present application, because the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device are discrete rather than continuous, the phases of each unit in the first network device corresponding to the reference phase shift matrix may not be supported by the first network device. Therefore, the first network device can quantize the reference phase shift matrix based on the phase offset values ​​it supports to obtain the phase shift matrix of the first network device (i.e., the phase shift matrix ultimately used).

[0202] The phase shift matrix of the first network device is used to configure the phase of each unit in the first network device, that is, to precode the first network device. The first network device can adjust the phase of each unit according to the phase shift matrix configuration to achieve precoding for the first network device.

[0203] Step 406: Reflect or transmit the signal incident on the surface of the first network device according to the phase shift matrix.

[0204] In an embodiment of the present application, after determining the phase shift matrix, the first network device can configure and adjust the phase of each unit in the first network device according to the phase shift matrix, and reflect or transmit the signal incident on the surface of the first network device based on the adjusted phase.

[0205] In summary, by receiving the reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device, sending a reference signal to the terminal device according to the reference signal configuration information, receiving the first indication information sent by the second network device, and determining the reference phase shift matrix according to the first indication information and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device, the reference phase shift matrix is ​​quantized according to the phase offset value supported by the first network device to obtain the phase shift matrix of the first network device, so that the base station can control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on the channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0206] Please refer to Figure 5, which is a flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application. It should be noted that the precoding method based on a smart metasurface in an embodiment of the present application is performed by a second network device. This method can be performed independently or in combination with any other embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 5, the method may include the following steps:

[0207] Step 501: Receive channel feedback information sent by a terminal device.

[0208] In an embodiment of the present application, the second network device is capable of receiving channel feedback information sent by the terminal device, where the channel feedback information is determined by the terminal device based on a reference signal sent by the first network device, and the channel feedback information is used to determine the first indication information.

[0209] The channel feedback information is obtained by the terminal device estimating the channel between the first network device and the terminal device based on the received reference signal, and is information that can feed back the channel between the first network device and the terminal device.

[0210] In each embodiment of the present application, the first network device may be an intelligent metasurface RIS.

[0211] Optionally, the channel feedback information includes at least one of the following:

[0212] Second indication information, the second indication information including a second PMI, where the second PMI is used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device;

[0213] Reference signal received power RSRP;

[0214] Reference signal received quality RSRQ;

[0215] Signal receiving strength indication RSSI;

[0216] Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio SINR.

[0217] In some implementations, the second network device may receive channel feedback information sent by at least one terminal device.

[0218] In an embodiment of the present application, the second network device can further send reference signal configuration information to the first network device and the terminal device. The first network device can send a reference signal to the terminal device according to the reference signal configuration information, and the terminal device can receive the reference signal sent by the first network device according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0219] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0220] a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal;

[0221] Generation information of a reference signal sequence;

[0222] The serial number of the antenna port occupied by the reference signal;

[0223] The time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

[0224] It should be noted that the channel used by the second network device to send the reference signal configuration information to the terminal device, and the channel used by the second network device to receive the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device, can respectively be a channel passing through the first network device or a direct-view channel not passing through the first network device. This application does not limit this.

[0225] In some implementations, the second network device may determine the first indication information based on the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device and information about an incident angle between the second network device and the first network device.

[0226] The incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device refers to the incident angle information of the signal emitted by the second network device incident on the surface of the first network device.

[0227] In some implementations, the second network device may determine the first indication information based on the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0228] In the embodiment of the present application, the first indication information determined by the second network device is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0229] Step 502: Send first indication information to a first network device, where the first indication information is used to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0230] In the embodiment of the present application, the second network device can send first indication information to the first network device, where the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0231] The phase shift matrix of the first network device is used to configure the phase of each unit in the first network device, that is, to precode the first network device. The first network device can adjust the phase of each unit according to the phase shift matrix configuration to achieve precoding for the first network device and can also reflect or transmit signals incident on the surface of the first network device.

[0232] In some embodiments, the first indication information is used to determine a reference phase shift matrix, and the phase shift matrix of the first network device (that is, the phase shift matrix actually used in the end) is obtained by quantizing the reference phase shift matrix according to the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device.

[0233] It is understandable that the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device are several discrete values ​​rather than continuous values, and the phase of each unit in the first network device is not continuously adjustable.

[0234] It should be noted that the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined based on the first indication information sent by the second network device. The first indication information is generated by the second network device based on the assumption that the phases of each unit in the first network device are continuously adjustable. In other words, the phases of each unit in the first network device configured to correspond to the reference phase shift matrix may not be supported by the first network device. Therefore, the first network device can quantize the reference phase shift matrix based on the phase offset values ​​it supports to obtain the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0235] In the embodiment of the present application, the first indication information includes at least one first PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

[0236] It can be understood that, if the first indication information includes only one first PMI, the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI is 1.

[0237] It can be understood that the first PMI included in the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0238] Optionally, the weighting coefficient may be a real number or a complex number. The fact that the weighting coefficient is a complex number indicates that the weighting coefficient includes information of amplitude and phase.

[0239] In some implementations, the second network device may determine the first indication information based on the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device and information about an incident angle between the second network device and the first network device.

[0240] As a possible implementation, the first indication information includes a first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​a precoding matrix indicated by the first PMI.

[0241] As another possible implementation, the first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and weighting coefficients corresponding to each PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device weightedly combining the precoding matrices indicated by each first PMI according to the weighting coefficients corresponding to each first PMI.

[0242] In some implementations, the second network device may determine the first indication information based on the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0243] As a possible implementation, the first indication information includes a first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined by the first network device according to the precoding matrix and weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI, and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0244] Optionally, the reference phase shift matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device adjusting a precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI based on incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0245] As another possible implementation, the first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and weighting coefficients corresponding to each first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined by the first network device based on the precoding matrix and weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI in the multiple first PMIs, and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0246] Optionally, the reference phase shift matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device adjusting the first matrix based on incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device. The first matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device weightedly combining precoding matrices indicated by the respective first PMIs according to weighting coefficients corresponding to the respective first PMIs.

[0247] Optionally, the second network device may send the incident angle information to the first network device.

[0248] It can be understood that, when performing weighted combining, the weighting coefficient used for the precoding matrix indicated by each first PMI is the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI indicating the precoding matrix.

[0249] In this embodiment of the present application, the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device refers to the information of the incident angle of the signal emitted by the second network device incident on the surface of the first network device.

[0250] In summary, by receiving the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device, the first indication information is sent to the first network device. The first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device, so that the base station can control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on the channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0251] Please refer to Figure 6, which is a flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application. It should be noted that the precoding method based on a smart metasurface in an embodiment of the present application is performed by a second network device. This method can be performed independently or in combination with any other embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 6, the method may include the following steps:

[0252] Step 601: Send reference signal configuration information to a first network device.

[0253] In an embodiment of the present application, a second network device can send reference signal configuration information to a first network device. The reference signal configuration information is used by the first network device to send a reference signal. The reference signal is used by a terminal device to determine channel feedback information of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device. The first network device can determine a reference signal based on the reference signal configuration information and send the reference signal to the terminal device. The terminal device can determine the channel feedback information based on the received reference signal.

[0254] In each embodiment of the present application, the first network device may be an intelligent metasurface RIS.

[0255] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0256] a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal;

[0257] Generation information of a reference signal sequence;

[0258] The serial number of the antenna port occupied by the reference signal;

[0259] The time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

[0260] Step 602: Send the reference signal configuration information to the terminal device.

[0261] In an embodiment of the present application, the second network device can also send the reference signal configuration information to the terminal device, and the reference signal configuration information is used by the terminal device to receive the reference signal sent by the first network device.

[0262] It is understandable that the reference signal sent by the first network device is also determined based on the reference signal configuration information. That is, the reference signal configuration information sent in step 601 and step 602 is the same.

[0263] It should be noted that the channel used by the second network device to send the reference signal configuration information to the terminal device can be a channel passing through the first network device or a direct line of sight channel not passing through the first network device, and this application does not limit this.

[0264] Step 603: Receive channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0265] In an embodiment of the present application, the second network device is capable of receiving channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0266] The channel feedback information is obtained by estimating the channel between the first network device and the terminal device based on the reference signal sent by the first network device, and can provide feedback on relevant information of the channel between the first network device and the terminal device.

[0267] Optionally, the channel feedback information includes at least one of the following:

[0268] Second indication information, the second indication information including a second PMI, where the second PMI is used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device;

[0269] Reference signal received power RSRP;

[0270] Reference signal received quality RSRQ;

[0271] Signal receiving strength indication RSSI;

[0272] Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio SINR.

[0273] It should be noted that the channel used by the second network device to receive the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device can be a channel passing through the first network device or a direct line of sight channel not passing through the first network device, and this application does not limit this.

[0274] Step 604: Determine first indication information according to the channel feedback information and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0275] In the embodiment of the present application, the second network device can determine first indication information based on the received channel feedback information and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device. The first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0276] The phase shift matrix of the first network device is used to configure the phase of each unit in the first network device, that is, to precode the first network device. The first network device can adjust the phase of each unit according to the phase shift matrix configuration to achieve precoding for the first network device and can also reflect or transmit signals incident on the surface of the first network device.

[0277] In the embodiment of the present application, the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device refers to the information of the incident angle of the signal emitted by the second network device incident on the surface of the first network device.

[0278] In the embodiment of the present application, the first indication information includes at least one first PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

[0279] It can be understood that, if the first indication information includes only one first PMI, the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI is 1.

[0280] It can be understood that the first PMI included in the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0281] Optionally, the weighting coefficient may be a real number or a complex number. The fact that the weighting coefficient is a complex number indicates that the weighting coefficient includes information of amplitude and phase.

[0282] In some embodiments, the first indication information is used to determine a reference phase shift matrix, and the phase shift matrix of the first network device (that is, the phase shift matrix actually used in the end) is obtained by quantizing the reference phase shift matrix according to the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device.

[0283] It is understandable that the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device are several discrete values ​​rather than continuous values, and the phase of each unit in the first network device is not continuously adjustable.

[0284] It should be noted that the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined based on the first indication information sent by the second network device. The first indication information is generated by the second network device based on the assumption that the phases of each unit in the first network device are continuously adjustable. In other words, the phases of each unit in the first network device configured to correspond to the reference phase shift matrix may not be supported by the first network device. Therefore, the first network device can quantize the reference phase shift matrix based on the phase offset values ​​it supports to obtain the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0285] In some implementations, the second network device may receive channel feedback information sent by at least one terminal device.

[0286] Step 605: Send the first indication information to the first network device.

[0287] In the embodiment of the present application, the second network device can send the first indication information to the first network device, where the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0288] In some embodiments, the first indication information is used to determine a reference phase shift matrix, and the phase shift matrix of the first network device (that is, the phase shift matrix actually used in the end) is obtained by quantizing the reference phase shift matrix according to the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device.

[0289] In some implementations, the first indication information includes a first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​a precoding matrix indicated by the first PMI.

[0290] In some embodiments, the first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and weighting coefficients corresponding to each first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device weightedly combining the precoding matrices indicated by each first PMI according to the weighting coefficients corresponding to each PMI.

[0291] It can be understood that, when performing weighted combining, the weighting coefficient used for the precoding matrix indicated by each first PMI is the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI indicating the precoding matrix.

[0292] In summary, by sending reference signal configuration information to the first network device, sending the reference signal configuration information to the terminal device, receiving channel feedback information sent by the terminal device, determining the first indication information based on the channel feedback information and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device, and sending the first indication information to the first network device, the base station can control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on the channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0293] Please refer to Figure 7, which is a flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application. It should be noted that the precoding method based on a smart metasurface in an embodiment of the present application is performed by a second network device. This method can be performed independently or in combination with any other embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 7, the method may include the following steps:

[0294] Step 701: Send reference signal configuration information to a first network device.

[0295] In an embodiment of the present application, a second network device can send reference signal configuration information to a first network device. The reference signal configuration information is used by the first network device to send a reference signal to a terminal device. The reference signal is used by the terminal device to determine channel feedback information of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device. The first network device can determine a reference signal based on the reference signal configuration information and send the reference signal to the terminal device. The terminal device can determine the channel feedback information based on the received reference signal.

[0296] In each embodiment of the present application, the first network device may be an intelligent metasurface RIS.

[0297] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0298] a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal;

[0299] Generation information of a reference signal sequence;

[0300] The serial number of the antenna port occupied by the reference signal;

[0301] The time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

[0302] Step 702: Send the reference signal configuration information to the terminal device.

[0303] In an embodiment of the present application, the second network device can also send the reference signal configuration information to the terminal device, and the reference signal configuration information is used by the terminal device to receive the reference signal sent by the first network device.

[0304] It is understandable that the reference signal sent by the first network device is also determined based on the reference signal configuration information. That is, the reference signal configuration information sent in step 701 and step 702 is the same.

[0305] It should be noted that the channel used by the second network device to send the reference signal configuration information to the terminal device can be a channel passing through the first network device or a direct line of sight channel not passing through the first network device, and this application does not limit this.

[0306] Step 703: Receive channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0307] In an embodiment of the present application, the second network device is capable of receiving channel feedback information sent by the terminal device.

[0308] The channel feedback information is obtained by estimating the channel between the first network device and the terminal device based on the reference signal sent by the first network device, and can provide feedback on relevant information of the channel between the first network device and the terminal device.

[0309] Optionally, the channel feedback information includes at least one of the following:

[0310] Second indication information, the second indication information including a second PMI, where the second PMI is used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device;

[0311] Reference signal received power RSRP;

[0312] Reference signal received quality RSRQ;

[0313] Signal receiving strength indication RSSI;

[0314] Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio SINR.

[0315] It should be noted that the channel used by the second network device to receive the channel feedback information sent by the terminal device can be a channel passing through the first network device or a direct line of sight channel not passing through the first network device, and this application does not limit this.

[0316] Step 704: Determine first indication information according to the channel feedback information.

[0317] In the embodiment of the present application, the second network device can determine first indication information based on the received channel feedback information, where the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0318] The phase shift matrix of the first network device is used to configure the phase of each unit in the first network device, that is, to precode the first network device. The first network device can adjust the phase of each unit according to the phase shift matrix configuration to achieve precoding for the first network device and can also reflect or transmit signals incident on the surface of the first network device.

[0319] In the embodiment of the present application, the first indication information includes at least one first PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

[0320] It can be understood that, if the first indication information includes only one first PMI, the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI is 1.

[0321] It can be understood that the first PMI included in the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0322] Optionally, the weighting coefficient may be a real number or a complex number. The fact that the weighting coefficient is a complex number indicates that the weighting coefficient includes information of amplitude and phase.

[0323] In some embodiments, the first indication information is used to determine a reference phase shift matrix, and the phase shift matrix of the first network device (that is, the phase shift matrix actually used in the end) is obtained by quantizing the reference phase shift matrix according to the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device.

[0324] It is understandable that the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device are several discrete values ​​rather than continuous values, and the phase of each unit in the first network device is not continuously adjustable.

[0325] It should be noted that the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined based on the first indication information sent by the second network device. The first indication information is generated by the second network device based on the assumption that the phases of each unit in the first network device are continuously adjustable. In other words, the phases of each unit in the first network device configured to correspond to the reference phase shift matrix may not be supported by the first network device. Therefore, the first network device can quantize the reference phase shift matrix based on the phase offset values ​​it supports to obtain the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0326] In some implementations, the second network device may receive channel feedback information sent by at least one terminal device, and determine the first indication information based on the received channel feedback information.

[0327] Step 705: Send the first indication information to the first network device.

[0328] In the embodiment of the present application, the second network device can send the first indication information to the first network device, where the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0329] In some embodiments, the first indication information is used to determine a reference phase shift matrix, and the phase shift matrix of the first network device (that is, the phase shift matrix actually used in the end) is obtained by quantizing the reference phase shift matrix according to the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device.

[0330] In some implementations, the first indication information includes a first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined by the first network device according to a precoding matrix and weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI, and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0331] Optionally, the reference phase shift matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device adjusting a precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI based on incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0332] In some embodiments, the first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and weighting coefficients corresponding to each first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined by the first network device based on the precoding matrix and weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI in the multiple first PMIs, and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0333] Optionally, the reference phase shift matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device adjusting the first matrix based on incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device. The first matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device weightedly combining precoding matrices indicated by the respective first PMIs according to weighting coefficients corresponding to the respective first PMIs.

[0334] It can be understood that, when performing weighted combining, the weighting coefficient used for the precoding matrix indicated by each first PMI is the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI indicating the precoding matrix.

[0335] In the embodiment of the present application, the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device refers to the information of the incident angle of the signal emitted by the second network device incident on the surface of the first network device.

[0336] In some implementations, the second network device may further send the incident angle information to the first network device.

[0337] In summary, by sending reference signal configuration information to the first network device, sending the reference signal configuration information to the terminal device, receiving channel feedback information sent by the terminal device, determining the first indication information based on the channel feedback information, and sending the first indication information to the first network device, the base station can control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on the channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0338] Please refer to Figure 8, which is a flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application. It should be noted that the precoding method based on a smart metasurface in an embodiment of the present application is executed by a terminal device. This method can be executed independently or in combination with any other embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 8, the method may include the following steps:

[0339] Step 801: Receive a reference signal sent by a first network device.

[0340] In an embodiment of the present application, a terminal device can receive a reference signal sent by a first network device and perform channel estimation based on the reference signal, wherein the reference signal is sent by the first network device based on reference signal configuration information sent by a second network device.

[0341] In each embodiment of the present application, the first network device may be an intelligent metasurface RIS.

[0342] In some implementations, the terminal device is capable of receiving reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device, and receiving the reference signal sent by the first network device according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0343] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0344] a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal;

[0345] Generation information of a reference signal sequence;

[0346] The serial number of the antenna port occupied by the reference signal;

[0347] The time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

[0348] It can be understood that the reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device and received by the terminal device is the same as the reference signal configuration information used by the first network device to send the reference signal.

[0349] It should be noted that the channel used by the terminal device to receive the reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device can be a channel passing through the first network device or a direct line of sight channel not passing through the first network device, and this application does not limit this.

[0350] Step 802: Estimate the channel between the first network device and the terminal device according to the reference signal to obtain channel feedback information.

[0351] In an embodiment of the present application, the second network device can estimate the channel between the first network device and the terminal device based on the reference signal to obtain channel feedback information of the channel.

[0352] Optionally, the channel feedback information includes at least one of the following:

[0353] Second indication information, the second indication information including a second PMI, where the second PMI is used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device;

[0354] Reference signal received power RSRP;

[0355] Reference signal received quality RSRQ;

[0356] Signal receiving strength indication RSSI;

[0357] Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio SINR.

[0358] It should be noted that the method for the terminal device to perform channel estimation based on the received reference signal can use the least squares (LS) method for estimation, or the minimum mean square error (MMSE) method for estimation, or other estimation algorithms, etc., which are not limited in this application.

[0359] Step 803: Send the channel feedback information to the second network device.

[0360] In an embodiment of the present application, after estimating the channel between the first network device and the terminal device and obtaining channel feedback information of the channel, the terminal device can send the channel feedback information to the second network device.

[0361] The channel feedback information is used to determine first indication information, and the first indication information is used to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0362] In the embodiment of the present application, the first indication information includes at least one first PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

[0363] It can be understood that, if the first indication information includes only one first PMI, the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI is 1.

[0364] It can be understood that the first PMI included in the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0365] Optionally, the weighting coefficient may be a real number or a complex number. The fact that the weighting coefficient is a complex number indicates that the weighting coefficient includes information of amplitude and phase.

[0366] It should be noted that the channel used by the terminal device to send channel feedback information to the second network device can be a channel passing through the first network device or a direct line-of-sight channel not passing through the first network device, and this application does not limit this.

[0367] In summary, by receiving the reference signal sent by the first network device, estimating the channel between the first network device and the terminal device according to the reference signal, obtaining channel feedback information, and sending the channel feedback information to the second network device, the base station can control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on the channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0368] Please refer to Figure 9, which is a flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application. It should be noted that the precoding method based on a smart metasurface in an embodiment of the present application is executed by a terminal device. This method can be executed independently or in combination with any other embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 9, the method may include the following steps:

[0369] Step 901: Receive reference signal configuration information sent by a second network device.

[0370] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device is capable of receiving reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device, and receiving the reference signal sent by the first network device according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0371] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following:

[0372] a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal;

[0373] Generation information of a reference signal sequence;

[0374] The serial number of the antenna port occupied by the reference signal;

[0375] The time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

[0376] It should be noted that the channel used by the terminal device to receive the reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device can be a channel passing through the first network device or a direct line of sight channel not passing through the first network device, and this application does not limit this.

[0377] Step 902: Receive a reference signal sent by a first network device according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0378] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can receive the reference signal sent by the first network device according to the received reference signal configuration information.

[0379] The reference signal sent by the first network device is determined based on the same reference signal configuration information. That is, the reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device and received by the terminal device is the same as the reference signal configuration information used by the first network device to send the reference signal.

[0380] Step 903: Estimate the channel between the first network device and the terminal device according to the reference signal to obtain channel feedback information.

[0381] In an embodiment of the present application, the second network device can estimate the channel between the first network device and the terminal device based on the reference signal to obtain channel feedback information of the channel. The channel feedback information can feed back relevant information of the channel between the first network device and the terminal device to the second network device.

[0382] Optionally, the channel feedback information includes at least one of the following:

[0383] Second indication information, the second indication information including a second PMI, where the second PMI is used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device;

[0384] Reference signal received power RSRP;

[0385] Reference signal received quality RSRQ;

[0386] Signal receiving strength indication RSSI;

[0387] Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio SINR.

[0388] It should be noted that the method for the terminal device to perform channel estimation based on the received reference signal can use the least squares method LS for estimation, the minimum mean square error method MMSE for estimation, or other estimation algorithms, etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0389] Step 904: Send the channel feedback information to the second network device.

[0390] In an embodiment of the present application, after estimating the channel between the first network device and the terminal device and obtaining channel feedback information of the channel, the terminal device can send the channel feedback information to the second network device.

[0391] The channel feedback information is used to determine first indication information, and the first indication information is used to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0392] In the embodiment of the present application, the first indication information includes at least one first PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

[0393] It can be understood that, if the first indication information includes only one first PMI, the weighting coefficient corresponding to the first PMI is 1.

[0394] It can be understood that the first PMI included in the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0395] Optionally, the weighting coefficient may be a real number or a complex number. The fact that the weighting coefficient is a complex number indicates that the weighting coefficient includes information of amplitude and phase.

[0396] It should be noted that the channel used by the terminal device to send channel feedback information to the second network device can be a channel passing through the first network device or a direct line-of-sight channel not passing through the first network device, and this application does not limit this.

[0397] In summary, by receiving the reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device, receiving the reference signal sent by the first network device according to the reference signal configuration information, estimating the channel between the first network device and the terminal device according to the reference signal, obtaining channel feedback information, and sending the channel feedback information to the second network device, the base station can control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on the channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0398] Please refer to Figure 10, which is a flow chart of a precoding method based on a smart metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application. This method can be performed independently or in combination with any other embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 10, the method may include the following steps:

[0399] 1. The second network device sends reference signal configuration information to the first network device and the terminal device.

[0400] 2. The first network device sends a reference signal to the terminal device according to the reference signal configuration information. The terminal device receives the reference signal sent by the first network device according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0401] 3. The terminal device estimates the channel between the first network device and the terminal device based on the reference signal to obtain channel feedback information.

[0402] 4. Send the channel feedback information to the second network device.

[0403] 5. The second network device determines first indication information according to the channel feedback information.

[0404] In some implementations, the second network device determines the first indication information directly according to the channel feedback information.

[0405] Optionally, the second network device can also send incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device to the first network device.

[0406] In some implementations, the second network device determines the first indication information based on the channel feedback information and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0407] 6. The second network device sends the first indication information to the first network device.

[0408] 7. The first network device determines a phase shift matrix according to the first indication information.

[0409] In some implementations, the first network device determines a reference phase shift matrix based on the first indication information and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device, and then quantizes the reference phase shift matrix to obtain the phase shift matrix.

[0410] In some implementations, the first network device directly determines a reference phase shift matrix according to the first indication information, and then quantizes the reference phase shift matrix to obtain the phase shift matrix.

[0411] 8. The first network device reflects or transmits the signal incident on the surface of the first network device according to the phase shift matrix.

[0412] In summary, the precoding method based on the intelligent metasurface provided in the embodiment of the present application can enable the base station to control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0413] Corresponding to the precoding methods based on smart metasurfaces provided in the above-mentioned embodiments, the present application also provides a precoding device based on smart metasurfaces. Since the precoding device based on smart metasurfaces provided in the embodiments of the present application corresponds to the methods provided in the above-mentioned embodiments, the implementation methods of the precoding methods based on smart metasurfaces are also applicable to the precoding devices based on smart metasurfaces provided in the following embodiments, and will not be described in detail in the following embodiments.

[0414] Please refer to Figure 11, which is a structural diagram of a precoding device based on an intelligent metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0415] As shown in FIG11 , the precoding device 1100 based on the smart metasurface includes: a transceiver unit 1110 and a processing unit 1120, wherein:

[0416] The transceiver unit 1110 is configured to send a reference signal to a terminal device, where the reference signal is used by the terminal device to determine channel feedback information, and the channel feedback information is used by the second network device to determine the first indication information;

[0417] The transceiver unit 1110 is further configured to receive the first indication information sent by the second network device, where the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device;

[0418] The processing unit 1120 is configured to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device according to the first indication information.

[0419] Optionally, the processing unit 1120 is specifically used to: determine a reference phase shift matrix of the first network device according to the first indication information; quantize the reference phase shift matrix according to the phase offset value supported by the first network device to obtain the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0420] Optionally, the first indication information includes: at least one first precoding matrix indication PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first precoding matrix indication PMI.

[0421] Optionally, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device and the channel feedback information.

[0422] Optionally, the first indication information includes a first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​a precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI.

[0423] Optionally, the first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI, and the processing unit 1120 is specifically used to: perform weighted merging on the precoding matrix corresponding to each first PMI according to the weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI to obtain the reference phase shift matrix.

[0424] Optionally, the first indication information is determined by the second network device based on the channel feedback information.

[0425] Optionally, the first indication information includes a first PMI, and the processing unit 1120 is specifically configured to determine the reference phase shift matrix according to a precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0426] Optionally, the processing unit 1120 is specifically configured to: adjust the precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI based on the incident angle information to obtain the reference phase shift matrix.

[0427] Optionally, the first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI, and the processing unit 1120 is specifically used to determine the reference phase shift matrix based on the precoding matrix and weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI in the multiple first PMIs, and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0428] Optionally, the processing unit 1120 is specifically configured to: perform weighted merging of the precoding matrices corresponding to each first PMI according to the weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI to obtain a first matrix; and adjust the first matrix based on the incident angle information to obtain the reference phase shift matrix.

[0429] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1110 is further configured to: receive the incident angle information sent by the second network device; or sense the incident angle information.

[0430] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1110 is further configured to: receive reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device; and send the reference signal according to the reference signal configuration information.

[0431] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following: a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal; generation information of the reference signal sequence; an antenna port number occupied by the reference signal; and time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

[0432] Optionally, the channel feedback information includes at least one of the following: second indication information, the second indication information including a second PMI, the second PMI being used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device; reference signal received power RSRP; reference signal received quality RSRQ; reference signal received intensity RSSI; and signal to interference plus noise ratio SINR.

[0433] Optionally, the first network device is an intelligent supersurface RIS.

[0434] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1110 is further configured to: reflect or transmit a signal incident on the surface of the first network device according to the phase shift matrix.

[0435] The precoding device based on the intelligent metasurface of this embodiment can send a reference signal to the terminal device and receive the first indication information sent by the second network device, where the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device. According to the first indication information, the phase shift matrix of the first network device is determined, so that the base station can control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on the channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0436] Please refer to Figure 12, which is a structural diagram of a precoding device based on an intelligent metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0437] As shown in FIG12 , the precoding device 1200 based on the smart metasurface includes a transceiver unit 1210 , wherein:

[0438] The transceiver unit 1210 is configured to receive channel feedback information sent by a terminal device, where the channel feedback information is determined by the terminal device based on a reference signal sent by the first network device, and the channel feedback information is used to determine the first indication information;

[0439] The transceiver unit 1210 is further configured to send the first indication information to the first network device, where the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0440] Optionally, the first indication information is used to determine a reference phase shift matrix of the first network device; the phase shift matrix of the first network device is obtained by quantizing the reference phase shift matrix according to phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device.

[0441] Optionally, the first indication information includes: at least one first precoding matrix indication PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first precoding matrix indication PMI.

[0442] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1210 is also used to: send reference signal configuration information to the first network device; the reference signal configuration information is used to determine the reference signal sent by the first network device; the reference signal is used to determine channel feedback information of the channel between the terminal device and the first network device.

[0443] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following: a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal; generation information of the reference signal sequence; an antenna port number occupied by the reference signal; and time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

[0444] Optionally, the apparatus further includes a processing unit (not shown in the figure), which is configured to determine the first indication information based on the channel feedback information and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0445] Optionally, the first indication information includes a first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​a precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI.

[0446] Optionally, the first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​obtained by weightedly combining the precoding matrix corresponding to each first PMI according to the weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

[0447] Optionally, the device further includes a processing unit (not shown in the figure), and the processing unit is configured to determine the first indication information according to the channel feedback information.

[0448] Optionally, the first indication information includes a first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined by the first network device according to a precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0449] Optionally, the reference phase shift matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device adjusting a precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI based on the incident angle information.

[0450] Optionally, the first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined by the first network device based on the precoding matrix and weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI in the multiple first PMIs, and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

[0451] Optionally, the reference phase shift matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device adjusting the first matrix based on the incident angle information; the first matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device weightedly combining the precoding matrices corresponding to each first PMI according to the weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

[0452] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1210 is further configured to: send the incident angle information to the first network device.

[0453] Optionally, the channel feedback information includes at least one of the following: second indication information, the second indication information including a second PMI, the second PMI being used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device; reference signal received power RSRP; reference signal received quality RSRQ; reference signal received intensity RSSI; and signal to interference plus noise ratio SINR.

[0454] Optionally, the first network device is an intelligent supersurface RIS.

[0455] Optionally, the phase shift matrix is ​​used by the first network device to reflect or transmit a signal incident on a surface of the first network device.

[0456] The precoding device based on the intelligent metasurface of this embodiment can send first indication information to the first network device by receiving channel feedback information sent by the terminal device. The first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device, so that the base station can control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on the channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0457] Please refer to Figure 13, which is a structural diagram of a precoding device based on an intelligent metasurface provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0458] As shown in FIG13 , the precoding device 1300 based on the smart metasurface includes: a transceiver unit 1310 and a processing unit 1320 , wherein:

[0459] The transceiver unit 1310 is configured to receive a reference signal sent by a first network device;

[0460] The processing unit 1320 is configured to estimate a channel between the first network device and the terminal device according to the reference signal to obtain channel feedback information;

[0461] The transceiver unit 1310 is further configured to send the channel feedback information to the second network device, where the channel feedback information is used to determine first indication information, and the first indication information is used to determine the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

[0462] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1310 is further used to: receive reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device; and receive the reference signal according to the reference signal configuration information, wherein the reference signal is sent by the first network device based on the reference signal configuration information.

[0463] Optionally, the first indication information includes: at least one first precoding matrix indication PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first precoding matrix indication PMI.

[0464] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following: a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal; generation information of the reference signal sequence; an antenna port number occupied by the reference signal; and time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

[0465] Optionally, the channel feedback information includes at least one of the following: second indication information, the second indication information including a second PMI, the second PMI being used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device; reference signal received power RSRP; reference signal received quality RSRQ; reference signal received intensity RSSI; and signal to interference plus noise ratio SINR.

[0466] Optionally, the first network device is an intelligent supersurface RIS.

[0467] The precoding device based on the intelligent metasurface of this embodiment can receive a reference signal sent by a first network device, estimate the channel between the first network device and the terminal device according to the reference signal, obtain channel feedback information, and send the channel feedback information to the second network device, so that the base station can control the precoding of the intelligent metasurface based on the channel information, effectively reducing the complexity of the precoding based on the intelligent metasurface, improving the communication efficiency of the communication system assisted by the intelligent metasurface, and reducing interference.

[0468] In order to implement the above-mentioned embodiments, the embodiments of the present application also propose a communication device, including: a processor and a memory, wherein a computer program is stored in the memory, and the processor executes the computer program stored in the memory so that the device executes the method shown in the embodiments of Figures 2 to 4, or executes the method shown in the embodiments of Figures 5 to 7.

[0469] In order to implement the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application also propose a communication device, including: a processor and a memory, wherein a computer program is stored in the memory, and the processor executes the computer program stored in the memory so that the device executes the method shown in the embodiments of Figures 8 to 9.

[0470] In order to implement the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application also propose a communication device, including: a processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit is used to receive code instructions and transmit them to the processor, and the processor is used to run the code instructions to execute the method shown in the embodiments of Figures 2 to 6, or execute the method shown in the embodiments of Figures 5 to 7.

[0471] In order to implement the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application also propose a communication device, including: a processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit is used to receive code instructions and transmit them to the processor, and the processor is used to run the code instructions to execute the method shown in the embodiments of Figures 8 to 9.

[0472] Please refer to Figure 14, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of another smart metasurface-based precoding device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The smart metasurface-based precoding device 1400 can be a network device, a terminal device, a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the network device to implement the above method, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the terminal device to implement the above method. This device can be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiment. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiment.

[0473] The precoding device 1400 based on the smart metasurface may include one or more processors 1401. The processor 1401 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor. For example, it may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor may be used to process the communication protocol and communication data, and the central processing unit may be used to control the precoding device based on the smart metasurface (such as a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU or a CU, etc.), execute computer programs, and process computer program data.

[0474] Optionally, the smart metasurface-based precoding device 1400 may further include one or more memories 1402, on which a computer program 1403 may be stored. The processor 1401 executes the computer program 1403 to enable the smart metasurface-based precoding device 1400 to perform the method described in the above method embodiment. The computer program 1403 may be solidified in the processor 1401. In this case, the processor 1401 may be implemented by hardware.

[0475] Optionally, data may also be stored in the memory 1402. The smart metasurface-based precoding device 1400 and the memory 1402 may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0476] Optionally, the smart metasurface-based precoding device 1400 may further include a transceiver 1405 and an antenna 1406. The transceiver 1405 may be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, or a transceiver circuit, etc., and is configured to implement transceiver functions. The transceiver 1405 may include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver may be referred to as a receiver or a receiving circuit, etc., and is configured to implement a receiving function; the transmitter may be referred to as a transmitter or a transmitting circuit, etc., and is configured to implement a transmitting function.

[0477] Optionally, the smart metasurface-based precoding device 1400 may further include one or more interface circuits 1407. The interface circuit 1407 is configured to receive code instructions and transmit them to the processor 1401. The processor 1401 executes the code instructions to enable the smart metasurface-based precoding device 1400 to perform the method described in the above method embodiment.

[0478] In one implementation, processor 1401 may include a transceiver for implementing receiving and transmitting functions. For example, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit, an interface, or an interface circuit. The transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit for implementing the receiving and transmitting functions may be separate or integrated. The transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be used for reading and writing code / data, or may be used for transmitting or delivering signals.

[0479] In one implementation, the precoding device 1400 based on the intelligent metasurface may include a circuit that can implement the function of sending, receiving, or communicating in the aforementioned method embodiment. The processor and transceiver described in this application can be implemented in an integrated circuit (IC), an analog IC, a radio frequency integrated circuit RFIC, a mixed signal IC, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic device, etc. The processor and transceiver can also be manufactured using various IC process technologies, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), N-type metal oxide semiconductor (nMetal-oxide-semiconductor, NMOS), P-type metal oxide semiconductor (positive channel metal oxide semiconductor, PMOS), bipolar junction transistor (bipolar junction transistor, BJT), bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), etc.

[0480] The precoding device based on the smart metasurface described in the above embodiments may be a network device or a terminal device, but the scope of the precoding device based on the smart metasurface described in this application is not limited thereto, and the structure of the precoding device based on the smart metasurface may not be limited by Figures 11-13. The precoding device based on the smart metasurface may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the precoding device based on the smart metasurface may be:

[0481] (1) An independent integrated circuit (IC), or chip, or chip system or subsystem;

[0482] (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally including a storage component for storing data and computer programs;

[0483] (3) ASIC, such as modem;

[0484] (4) Modules that can be embedded in other devices;

[0485] (5) Receivers, terminal devices, intelligent terminal devices, cellular phones, wireless devices, handheld devices, mobile units, vehicle-mounted devices, network devices, cloud devices, artificial intelligence devices, etc.;

[0486] (6)Others, etc.

[0487] In the case where the precoding device based on the smart metasurface can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the structural diagram of the chip shown in Figure 15. The chip shown in Figure 15 includes a processor 1501 and an interface 1502. The number of processors 1501 can be one or more, and the number of interfaces 1502 can be multiple.

[0488] For the case where the chip is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the embodiments of the present application:

[0489] Interface 1502, used for transmitting code instructions to the processor;

[0490] The processor 1501 is configured to execute code instructions to execute the methods shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 , or to execute the methods shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 .

[0491] For the case where the chip is used to implement the functions of the network device in the embodiment of the present application:

[0492] Interface 1502, used for transmitting code instructions to the processor;

[0493] The processor 1501 is configured to execute code instructions to perform the methods shown in FIG. 8 to FIG. 9 .

[0494] Optionally, the chip further includes a memory 1503, which is used to store necessary computer programs and data.

[0495] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps listed in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. Whether such functions are implemented by hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design requirements of the entire system. Those skilled in the art may use various methods to implement the functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be construed as exceeding the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application.

[0496] An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, which includes the smart metasurface-based precoding device as a network device and the smart metasurface-based precoding device as a terminal device in the aforementioned embodiments of Figures 11 to 13, or the system includes the smart metasurface-based precoding device as a terminal device and the smart metasurface-based precoding device as a network device in the aforementioned embodiment of Figure 14.

[0497] The present application also provides a readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0498] The present application also provides a computer program product, which implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0499] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs. When the computer program is loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer program can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. Available media may be magnetic media (eg, floppy disks, hard disks, tapes), optical media (eg, high-density digital video discs (DVDs)), or semiconductor media (eg, solid state disks (SSDs)).

[0500] Those skilled in the art will understand that the various numerical numbers such as first and second involved in this application are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application, and also indicate the order of precedence.

[0501] In this application, at least one can also be described as one or more, and multiple can be two, three, four or more, which is not limited in this application. In the embodiments of this application, for a technical feature, the technical features in the technical feature are distinguished by "first", "second", "third", "A", "B", "C" and "D", and there is no order of precedence or size between the technical features described by "first", "second", "third", "A", "B", "C" and "D".

[0502] The correspondences shown in the tables in this application can be configured or predefined. The values ​​of the information in each table are examples only and can be configured to other values, which are not limited by this application. When configuring the correspondence between information and parameters, it is not necessarily required to configure all the correspondences shown in each table. For example, in the tables in this application, the correspondences shown in certain rows may not be configured. For another example, appropriate deformation adjustments can be made based on the above tables, such as splitting, merging, etc. The names of the parameters shown in the titles of the above tables can also use other names that can be understood by the communication device, and the values ​​or representations of the parameters can also use other values ​​or representations that can be understood by the communication device. When implementing the above tables, other data structures can also be used, such as arrays, queues, containers, stacks, linear lists, pointers, linked lists, trees, graphs, structures, classes, heaps, hash tables or hash tables, etc.

[0503] The predefined in this application may be understood as defined, predefined, stored, pre-stored, pre-negotiated, pre-configured, solidified, or pre-burned.

[0504] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0505] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0506] It should be understood that the various forms of processes shown above can be used to reorder, add, or delete steps. For example, the steps described in the embodiments of the present application can be performed in parallel, sequentially, or in a different order, as long as the desired results of the technical solutions disclosed in the present invention can be achieved, and this document is not limited here.

[0507] The above specific embodiments do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions may be made based on design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A precoding method based on intelligent metasurface, characterized in that: The method is performed by a first network device, and the method includes: Sending a reference signal to a terminal device, where the reference signal is used by the terminal device to determine channel feedback information, and the channel feedback information is used by a second network device to determine first indication information; receiving the first indication information sent by the second network device, where the first indication information is used to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device; Determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device according to the first indication information.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The determining, according to the first indication information, a phase shift matrix of the first network device includes: determining, according to the first indication information, a reference phase shift matrix of the first network device; The reference phase shift matrix is ​​quantized according to the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device to obtain the phase shift matrix of the first network device.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The first indication information includes: at least one first precoding matrix indication PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first precoding matrix indication PMI.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first indication information is determined by the second network device based on incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device and the channel feedback information.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first indication information includes a first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​a precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI, and determining a reference phase shift matrix of the first network device according to the first indication information includes: According to the weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI, the precoding matrix corresponding to each first PMI is weightedly combined to obtain the reference phase shift matrix.

7. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first indication information is determined by the second network device based on the channel feedback information.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The first indication information includes a first PMI, and determining a reference phase shift matrix of the first network device according to the first indication information includes: The reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined according to a precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The determining the reference phase shift matrix according to the precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device includes: Based on the incident angle information, the precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI is adjusted to obtain the reference phase shift matrix.

10. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI, and determining a reference phase shift matrix of the first network device according to the first indication information includes: The reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined according to a precoding matrix and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI in the multiple first PMIs, and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The determining the reference phase shift matrix according to the precoding matrix and weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI in the multiple first PMIs, and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device, includes: Performing weighted combination on the precoding matrices corresponding to each first PMI according to the weight coefficient corresponding to each first PMI to obtain a first matrix; Based on the incident angle information, the first matrix is ​​adjusted to obtain the reference phase shift matrix.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that: The method further comprises: receiving the incident angle information sent by the second network device; or, The incident angle information is sensed.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein The method further comprises: receiving reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device; The reference signal is sent according to the reference signal configuration information.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following: a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal; Generation information of the reference signal sequence; The serial number of the antenna port occupied by the reference signal; The time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The channel feedback information includes at least one of the following: Second indication information, where the second indication information includes a second PMI, where the second PMI is used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device; Reference signal received power RSRP; Reference signal received quality RSRQ; Reference signal receiving strength RSSI; Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio SINR.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that The first network device is an intelligent super surface RIS.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: According to the phase shift matrix, a signal incident on the surface of the first network device is reflected or transmitted.

18. A precoding method based on intelligent metasurface, characterized in that: The method is performed by a second network device, and the method includes: receiving channel feedback information sent by a terminal device, where the channel feedback information is determined by the terminal device based on a reference signal sent by a first network device, and the channel feedback information is used to determine first indication information; The first indication information is sent to the first network device, where the first indication information is used to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The first indication information is used to determine a reference phase shift matrix of the first network device; The phase shift matrix of the first network device is obtained by quantizing the reference phase shift matrix according to the phase offset values ​​supported by the first network device.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The first indication information includes: at least one first precoding matrix indication PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first precoding matrix indication PMI.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that The method further comprises: Sending reference signal configuration information to the first network device; The reference signal configuration information is used to determine the reference signal sent by the first network device; the reference signal is used to determine the channel feedback information of the channel between the terminal device and the first network device.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following: a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal; Generation information of the reference signal sequence; The serial number of the antenna port occupied by the reference signal; The time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

23. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first indication information is determined according to the channel feedback information and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein The first indication information includes a first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​a precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI.

25. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that The first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​obtained by weightedly combining the precoding matrices corresponding to each first PMI according to the weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

26. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first indication information is determined according to the channel feedback information.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that The first indication information includes a first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined by the first network device according to a precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI and incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

28. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that The reference phase shift matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device adjusting the precoding matrix corresponding to the first PMI based on the incident angle information.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein The first indication information includes multiple first PMIs and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI, and the reference phase shift matrix is ​​determined by the first network device based on the precoding matrix and weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI in the multiple first PMIs, and the incident angle information between the second network device and the first network device.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein The reference phase shift matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device adjusting the first matrix based on the incident angle information; the first matrix is ​​obtained by the first network device weightedly combining the precoding matrices corresponding to each first PMI according to the weighting coefficient corresponding to each first PMI.

31. The method according to any one of claims 27 to 30, characterized in that The method further comprises: The incident angle information is sent to the first network device.

32. The method according to claim 18, wherein The channel feedback information includes at least one of the following: Second indication information, where the second indication information includes a second PMI, where the second PMI is used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device; Reference signal received power RSRP; Reference signal received quality RSRQ; Reference signal receiving strength RSSI; Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio SINR.

33. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 32, characterized in that The first network device is an intelligent super surface RIS.

34. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 32, characterized in that The phase shift matrix is ​​used by the first network device to reflect or transmit a signal incident on a surface of the first network device.

35. A precoding method based on intelligent metasurface, characterized in that: The method is executed by a terminal device, and includes: receiving a reference signal sent by the first network device; estimating a channel between the first network device and the terminal device according to the reference signal to obtain channel feedback information; The channel feedback information is sent to the second network device, where the channel feedback information is used to determine first indication information, and the first indication information is used to determine a phase shift matrix of the first network device.

36. The method according to claim 35, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving reference signal configuration information sent by the second network device; The reference signal is received according to the reference signal configuration information, wherein the reference signal is sent by the first network device based on the reference signal configuration information.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein The first indication information includes: at least one first precoding matrix indication PMI and a weighting coefficient corresponding to each first precoding matrix indication PMI.

38. The method according to claim 36, characterized in that The reference signal configuration information includes at least one of the following: a unit in the first network device occupied by the reference signal; Generation information of the reference signal sequence; The serial number of the antenna port occupied by the reference signal; The time-frequency resources occupied by the reference signal.

39. The method according to claim 36, wherein The channel feedback information includes at least one of the following: Second indication information, where the second indication information includes a second PMI, where the second PMI is used to indicate a precoding matrix of a channel between the first network device and the terminal device; Reference signal received power RSRP; Reference signal received quality RSRQ; Reference signal receiving strength RSSI; Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio SINR.

40. The method according to any one of claims 35 to 39, characterized in that The first network device is an intelligent super surface RIS.

41. A communication system, characterized in that The communication system comprises: A first network device, configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17; A second network device, configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 18 to 34; A terminal device, configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 35 to 40.

Images