Second node equipment, sixth node equipment and method executed by second node equipment and sixth node equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a method executed by a sixth node in a communication system, and the method comprises the steps: transmitting second request information to a second node, the second request information being used for requesting reference signal configuration related information of user equipment; receiving second response information from a second node, the second response information comprising reference signal configuration information; sending reference signal configuration activation related information to the second node; wherein the reference signal configuration information comprises at least one reference signal configuration and effective area related information corresponding to the reference signal configuration; the user equipment identifies related information; wherein the reference signal configuration activation related information comprises at least one reference signal configuration identifier or an effective area identifier corresponding to the reference signal configuration; and activating the indication.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of communications, and more particularly, to a method performed by a sixth node in a communication system, a method performed by a second node in the communication system, the sixth node, and the second node. Background Art

[0002] In order to meet the increased demand for wireless data communication services since the deployment of 4G communication systems, efforts have been made to develop improved 5G or quasi-5G communication systems. Therefore, 5G or quasi-5G communication systems are also referred to as "super 4G networks" or "post-LTE systems."

[0003] Wireless communication is one of the most successful innovations in modern history. The number of subscribers to wireless communication services recently exceeded 5 billion and continues to grow rapidly. The demand for wireless data services is growing rapidly due to the increasing popularity of smartphones and other mobile data devices (e.g., tablets, laptops, netbooks, e-book readers, and machine-type devices) among consumers and enterprises. In order to meet the high growth of mobile data services and support new applications and deployments, it is critical to improve the efficiency and coverage of the wireless interface. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed by a sixth node in a communication system is provided, the method comprising sending a second request message to a second node, wherein the second request message is used to request reference signal configuration related information of a user equipment; receiving a second response message from the second node, wherein the second response message comprises reference signal configuration information; sending reference signal configuration activation related information to the second node; wherein the reference signal configuration information comprises: at least one reference signal configuration and information related to a valid area corresponding to the reference signal configuration; user equipment identifier related information; wherein the reference signal configuration activation related information comprises: at least one reference signal configuration identifier or a valid area identifier corresponding to the reference signal configuration; an activation indication.

[0005] According to the method performed by the sixth node in the communication system provided by the present disclosure, the second request information includes at least one of the following: an area-specific reference signal configuration request; a reference signal pre-configuration request; valid area related information; a first identifier of a user equipment.

[0006] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the sixth node in the communication system, the method further includes: sending a first request message to the second node, wherein the first request message is used to request information related to available reference signal resources; receiving a first response message from the second node, wherein the first request message includes at least one of the following: a reference signal resource request; a reference signal resource time window request; a cell-related identifier; a first cell-related identifier list; wherein the first response message includes at least one of the following: a cell-related identifier; a second cell-related identifier list; reference signal resource-related information; a reference signal resource-related information list; time window-related information; a time window-related information list.

[0007] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the sixth node in the communication system, the reference signal resource-related information includes at least one of the following: total reference signal resources; available reference signal resources or unused reference signal resources; used reference signal resources or configured reference signal configurations.

[0008] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the sixth node in the communication system, the method further includes: sending a third request information to a third node, wherein the third request information is used to request the reservation of reference signal configuration related information; receiving a third response information from the third node, wherein the third request information includes at least one of the following: a reference signal configuration reservation request; information related to the reference signal configuration requested to be reserved; information related to the user equipment identification; wherein the third response information includes at least one of the following: an indication of accepting or rejecting the reservation of the reference signal configuration; an indication of successfully or unsuccessfully reserving the reference signal configuration; information related to accepting or successfully reserving the reference signal configuration; a list of relevant information for accepting or successfully reserving the reference signal configuration; information related to rejecting or unsuccessfully reserving the reference signal configuration; a list of relevant information for rejecting or unsuccessfully reserving the reference signal configuration.

[0009] According to the method performed by the sixth node in the communication system provided by the present disclosure, the information related to the reference signal configuration requested to be reserved includes information related to a valid area corresponding to at least one reference signal configuration and the reference signal configuration.

[0010] According to the method performed by the sixth node in the communication system provided by the present disclosure, the relevant information contained in the third response information includes at least one of the following: a reference signal configuration identifier list; and valid area related information.

[0011] According to the method performed by the sixth node in the communication system provided by the present disclosure, the method further includes: determining the reference signal configuration related information of the user equipment based on the twelfth information

[0012] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the sixth node in the communication system, the valid area related information includes at least one of the following: a valid area identifier; a valid area identifier list; a cell related identifier; a cell related identifier list; a recommended or suggested cell related identifier; a recommended or suggested cell related identifier list; a reference signal configuration or a preconfigured quantity.

[0013] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the sixth node in the communication system, the user equipment identification related information includes at least one of the following: an inactive radio network temporary identification (I-RNTI); a connected radio network temporary identification (C-RNTI); and a user equipment first identification.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed by a second node in a communication system is provided, the method comprising: receiving second request information from a sixth node, wherein the second request information is used to request reference signal configuration related information of a user equipment; sending second response information to the sixth node, wherein the second response information includes reference signal configuration information; receiving reference signal configuration activation related information from the sixth node; wherein the reference signal configuration information comprises: at least one reference signal configuration and information related to a valid area corresponding to the reference signal configuration; user equipment identifier related information; wherein the reference signal configuration activation related information comprises: at least one reference signal configuration identifier or a valid area identifier corresponding to the reference signal configuration; an activation indication.

[0015] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the second node in the communication system, the method further includes: sending a second request information to a fourth node, wherein the second request information is used to request reference signal configuration related information of the user equipment; receiving a second response information from the fourth node, wherein the second response information includes reference signal configuration information; wherein the reference signal configuration information includes: at least one reference signal configuration and information related to a valid area corresponding to the reference signal configuration; user equipment identification related information.

[0016] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the second node in the communication system, the method further includes: receiving fifth information from a sixth node, wherein the fifth information includes valid area related information; and generating first updated valid area related information based on the valid area related information.

[0017] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the second node in the communication system, the second request information also includes the valid area related information of the first update, and / or the second response information also includes the valid area related information of the second update, wherein the valid area related information of the second update is generated based on the valid area related information of the first update.

[0018] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the second node in the communication system, the method further includes: sending a first request message to a fourth node, wherein the first request message is used to request information related to available reference signal resources; receiving a first response message from the fourth node, wherein the first request message includes at least one of the following: a reference signal resource request; a reference signal resource time window request; a cell-related identifier; a first cell-related identifier list; wherein the first response message includes at least one of the following: a cell-related identifier; a second cell-related identifier list; reference signal resource-related information; a reference signal resource-related information list; time window-related information; a time window-related information list.

[0019] According to the method performed by the second node in the communication system provided by the present disclosure, the method further includes: sending fourteenth information to the user equipment, wherein the fourteenth information includes reference signal configuration related information of the user equipment.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed by a third node in a communication system is provided, the method comprising: sending a third request message to a fifth node, wherein the third request message is used to request reservation of information related to a reference signal configuration; receiving a third response message from the fifth node; wherein the third request message comprises at least one of the following: a reference signal configuration reservation request; information related to the reference signal configuration requested to be reserved; information related to a user equipment identification; wherein the third response message comprises at least one of the following: information related to acceptance or successful reservation of the reference signal configuration; information related to rejection or unsuccessful reservation of the reference signal configuration.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed by a sixth node in a communication system is provided, the method comprising: sending sixteenth information to a second node, wherein the sixteenth information comprises information related to reference signal configuration or pre-configuration activation; receiving a response message related to reference signal configuration or pre-configuration activation from the second node; wherein the information related to reference signal configuration or pre-configuration activation comprises at least one of the following: a reference signal configuration identifier; a valid area identifier; and valid area related information.

[0022] According to the method performed by the sixth node in the communication system provided by the present disclosure, the method further includes: sending seventeenth information to the third node, wherein the seventeenth information includes a message related to reference signal configuration or pre-configuration deactivation.

[0023] According to the method performed by the sixth node in the communication system provided by the present disclosure, the method further includes: sending nineteenth information to the second node, wherein the nineteenth information includes information related to reference signal measurement or prediction.

[0024] According to the method performed by the sixth node in the communication system provided by the present disclosure, the method further includes: receiving fifteenth information from the second node or the third node, wherein the fifteenth message includes information related to reference signal configuration or pre-configuration.

[0025] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the sixth node in the communication system, the fifteenth information or the seventeenth information or the nineteenth information includes at least one of the following: a reference signal configuration identifier; a valid area identifier; a valid area; a reference signal request or indication.

[0026] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed by a second node in a communication system is provided, the method comprising: a fourth node sending sixteenth information, wherein the sixteenth information includes information related to reference signal configuration or pre-configuration activation: receiving a response message related to reference signal configuration or pre-configuration activation from the fourth node; wherein the information related to reference signal configuration or pre-configuration activation includes at least one of the following: a reference signal configuration identifier; a valid area identifier; and valid area related information.

[0027] According to the method performed by the second node in the communication system provided by the present disclosure, the method further includes: receiving a user equipment context extraction response message from a third node, wherein the user equipment context response message includes a first user equipment identifier.

[0028] According to the method performed by the second node in the communication system provided by the present disclosure, the method further includes: sending nineteenth information to the fourth node, wherein the nineteenth information includes information related to reference signal measurement or prediction.

[0029] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the second node in the communication system, the method further includes: sending eighteenth information to the user equipment, wherein the eighteenth information includes a message related to the reference signal transmission activation, wherein the message related to the reference signal transmission activation includes at least one of the following: a transmission activation request; a reference signal configuration identifier; a valid area identifier; a valid area.

[0030] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed by a third node in a communication system is provided, the method comprising: receiving a user equipment context extraction request message from a second node; and sending a user equipment context extraction response message to the second node, wherein the user equipment context response message includes a first user equipment identifier.

[0031] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the third node in the communication system, the method further includes: sending fifteenth information to the sixth node, wherein the fifteenth message includes a message related to reference signal configuration or pre-configuration; wherein the message related to reference signal configuration or pre-configuration includes at least one of the following: a reference signal configuration identifier; a valid area identifier; a valid area; a reference signal request or indication.

[0032] According to the method provided by the present disclosure and executed by the third node in the communication system, the method further includes: sending seventeenth information to the fifth node, wherein the seventeenth information includes a message related to reference signal configuration or pre-configuration deactivation; wherein the message related to reference signal configuration or pre-configuration deactivation includes at least one of the following: a reference signal configuration identifier; a valid area identifier.

[0033] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed by a user equipment in a communication system is provided, the method comprising: receiving fourteenth information from a second node, wherein the fourteenth information comprises information related to a reference signal configuration of the user equipment, and based on the information related to the reference signal configuration of the user equipment, sending a reference signal in a valid area of ​​the user equipment; wherein the information related to the reference signal configuration of the user equipment comprises at least one of the following: reference signal configuration information; reference signal configuration activation information.

[0034] According to the method performed by a user equipment in a communication system provided by the present disclosure, the reference signal configuration activation related information includes at least one of the following: a reference signal configuration identifier; a reference signal configuration; a valid area identifier; a valid area; an activation indication.

[0035] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed by a user equipment in a communication system is provided, the method comprising: sending a wireless resource control continuation request message to a second node, wherein the wireless resource control continuation request message includes an inactive radio network temporary identifier (I-RNTI) and a reference signal request or indication; receiving eighteenth information from the second node, wherein the eighteenth information includes at least one of the following: a transmission activation request; a reference signal configuration identifier; a valid area identifier; a valid area.

[0036] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a sixth node device is provided, comprising: a transceiver configured to send and receive signals to and from the outside; and a controller configured to control the transceiver to execute the method executed by the sixth node device.

[0037] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a second node device is provided, the second node device comprising: a transceiver configured to send and receive signals to and from the outside; and a controller configured to control the transceiver to execute the method executed by the second node device.

[0038] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a third node device is provided, wherein the second node device includes: a transceiver configured to send and receive signals to the outside; and a controller configured to control the transceiver to execute the method executed by the third node device.

[0039] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a user equipment is provided, the user equipment comprising: a transceiver configured to send and receive signals to and from the outside; and a controller configured to control the transceiver to execute the above method executed by the user equipment.

[0040] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium is provided, on which a program for executing any of the above methods when executed by a computer is stored. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Figure 1 is an exemplary system architecture for System Architecture Evolution (SAE).

[0042] Figure 2 is an exemplary system architecture according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 3 is an exemplary architecture of a base station according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 4A It is an interaction diagram of a method for configuring reference signals and / or related information across cells according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0045] Figure 4B It is an interaction diagram of a method for activating reference signals and / or related information configuration across cells according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0046] Figure 5 is a block diagram of a network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] Figure 6 is a block diagram of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure clearer, the technical solution of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, not all of the embodiments. Based on the described embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0049] Before carrying out the description of the following specific embodiments, it may be advantageous to elaborate on the definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document.The term "coupling" and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, regardless of whether these elements are in physical contact with each other.The terms "send", "receive" and "communication" and their derivatives cover direct and indirect communication.The terms "include" and "comprise" and their derivatives mean including but not limited to.The term "or" is inclusive, meaning and / or.The phrase "associated with..." and its derivatives mean including, included in, connected to, interconnected with, included in, connected to or connected with, coupled to or coupled with, can communicate with, collaborate with, interweave, juxtapose, approach, bind to or bind with, have, have... attributes, have... relationships or have relationships with, etc.The term "controller" means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation.Such a controller can be implemented in hardware, or implemented in a combination of hardware and software and / or firmware.The functions associated with any particular controller can be centralized or distributed locally or remotely. The phrase "at least one of" when used with a list of items means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used, and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, "at least one of A, B, and C" includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C. For example, "at least one of A, B, or C" includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C.

[0050] In addition, the various functions described below can be implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed by a computer-readable program code and embodied in a computer-readable medium. The terms "application" and "program" refer to one or more computer programs, software components, instruction sets, processes, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data or parts thereof suitable for implementation in a suitable computer-readable program code. The phrase "computer-readable program code" includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code and executable code. The phrase "computer-readable medium" includes any type of medium that can be accessed by a computer, such as a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a hard drive, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD) or any other type of memory. "Non-transitory" computer-readable media excludes wired, wireless, optical or other communication links that transmit temporary electrical signals or other signals. Non-transitory computer-readable media include media that can permanently store data and media that can store and rewrite data later, such as rewritable optical discs or erasable memory devices.

[0051] The terms used to describe the embodiments of the present application are not intended to limit and / or define the scope of the present application. For example, unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms used in the present disclosure should be the common meanings understood by people with ordinary skills in the field to which the present application belongs.

[0052] It should be understood that the words "first", "second" and the like used in the present disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an" or "the" and the like do not indicate quantity limitation, but indicate the presence of at least one.

[0053] As used herein, any reference to "one example" or "example", "one embodiment" or "embodiment" means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an example" appearing in different places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

[0054] As used herein, "a portion" of something means "at least some" of that thing, and thus may mean less than all of that thing or all of that thing. Thus, "a portion" of a thing includes the entire thing as a special case, i.e., the entire thing is an example of a portion of a thing.

[0055] It will be further understood that the terms "include" or "comprises" and similar words mean that the elements or objects appearing before the word include the elements or objects listed after the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. "Connected" or "connected" and similar words are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. "Up", "down", "left", "right", etc. are only used to indicate relative position relationships. When the absolute position of the object being described changes, the relative position relationship may also change accordingly.

[0056] The various embodiments discussed below for describing the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are intended to be illustrative only and should not be interpreted in any way as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the principles of the present disclosure can be implemented in any appropriately arranged wireless communication system. For example, although the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be directed to LTE and 5G communication systems, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the main points of the present disclosure can also be applied to other communication systems with similar technical backgrounds and channel formats with slight modifications without substantially departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, the communication system may include a global system for mobile communications (GSM) system, a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, a general packet radio service (GPRS), a long term evolution (LTE) system, a LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, a LTE time division duplex (TDD), a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), a world-wide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, a fifth generation (5G) system or a new radio (NR), etc. In addition, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to future-oriented communication technologies. In addition, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to future-oriented communication technologies.

[0057] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the various embodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. This description includes various specific details to facilitate understanding but should be considered as exemplary only. Therefore, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications can be made to the various embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, for the sake of clarity and conciseness, descriptions of well-known functions and structures may be omitted.

[0058] The terms and expressions used in the following specification and claims are not limited to their dictionary meanings, but are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the present disclosure is provided for illustration purposes only and not for the purpose of limiting the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0059] It should be understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a component surface" includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

[0060] The term "include" or "may include" refers to the presence of the corresponding disclosed functions, operations or components that can be used in various embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than limiting the presence of one or more additional functions, operations or features. In addition, the term "include" or "have" may be interpreted as indicating certain characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements, components or combinations thereof, but should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility of the presence of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements, components or combinations thereof.

[0061] The term "or" used in various embodiments of the present disclosure includes any of the listed terms and all combinations thereof. For example, "A or B" may include A, may include B, or may include both A and B.

[0062] Unless defined differently, all terms (including technical terms or scientific terms) used in the present disclosure have the same meanings as understood by those skilled in the art described in the present disclosure. Common terms as defined in dictionaries are interpreted as having meanings consistent with the context in the relevant technical field, and should not be interpreted ideally or overly formally unless clearly defined in the present disclosure.

[0063] The following discussion Figures 1 to 6 The various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are for illustration only and should not be interpreted in any way as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the principles of the present disclosure can be implemented in any appropriately arranged system or device.

[0064] Figure 1 It is an exemplary system architecture 100 of System Architecture Evolution (SAE). User Equipment (UE) 101 is a terminal device used to receive data. Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) 102 is a radio access network, which includes a macro base station (eNodeB / NodeB) that provides a wireless network interface for the UE to access. The Mobility Management Entity (MME) 103 is responsible for managing the mobility context, session context and security information of the UE. The Serving Gateway (SGW) 104 mainly provides user plane functions, and the MME 103 and SGW 104 may be in the same physical entity. The Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) 105 is responsible for functions such as billing and lawful interception, and may also be in the same physical entity as the SGW 104. The Policy and Charging Rules Function Entity (PCRF) 106 provides Quality of Service (QoS) policies and charging criteria. The General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) 108 is a network node device that provides routing for data transmission in the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). The Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 109 is the home subsystem of the UE and is responsible for protecting user information including the current location of the user equipment, the address of the service node, user security information, and the packet data context of the user equipment.

[0065] Figure 2 2 is an exemplary system architecture 200 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments of the system architecture 200 can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0066] User equipment (UE) 201 is a terminal device used to receive data. The next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) 202 is a radio access network, which includes a base station (gNB or eNB connected to the 5G core network 5GC, the eNB connected to the 5GC is also called ng-gNB) that provides the UE with an access wireless network interface. The access control and mobility management function entity (AMF) 203 is responsible for managing the mobility context and security information of the UE. The user plane function entity (UPF) 204 mainly provides user plane functions. The session management function entity SMF 205 is responsible for session management. The data network (DN) 206 includes services such as operators, Internet access, and third-party services.

[0067] In the NR system, in order to support network function virtualization, more efficient resource management and scheduling, the base station (gNB / ng-eNB) that provides the wireless network interface for the user equipment (UE) can be further divided into a centralized unit gNB-CU / ng-eNB-CU (gNB central unit / ng-eNB central unit) and a distributed unit gNB-DU / ng-eNB-DU (gNB distributed unit / ng-eNB distributed unit) (referred to as CU and DU in the present invention), such as Figure 3 As shown in (a). gNB-CU has radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP: Service Data Adaptation Protocol) and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol layers, and ng-eNB-CU has RRC and PDCP layers. gNB-DU / ng-eNB-DU has radio link control protocol (RLC), medium access control (MAC) and physical layer, etc. There is a standardized public interface F1 between gNB-CU and gNB-DU, and a standardized public interface W1 between ng-eNB-CU and ng-eNB-DU. The F1 interface is divided into the control plane F1-C and the user plane F1-U. The transmission network layer of F1-C is based on IP transmission. In order to transmit signaling more reliably, the SCTP (Stream Control Transmission Protocol) protocol is added on top of IP. The protocol of the application layer is F1AP (F1Application Protocol, F1 application protocol / F1 interface application protocol), see 3GPP TS38.473. SCTP can provide reliable application layer message transmission. The transport layer of F1-U (F1-User) is UDP / IP, and GTP-U (GPRS Tunnelling Protocol for the user plane) is used to carry the user plane protocol data unit PDU on top of UDP / IP. Furthermore, for gNB-CU, Figure 3As shown in (b), the gNB-CU may include gNB-CU-CP (control plane part of the centralized unit of the base station) and gNB-CU-UP (user plane part of the centralized unit of the base station). The gNB-CU-CP includes the control plane function of the base station, with RRC and PDCP protocol layers, and the gNB-CU-UP includes the user plane function of the base station, with SDAP and PDCP protocol layers. The standardized public interface E1 is used between the gNB-CU-CP and the gNB-CU-UP, and the protocol is E1AP, see 3GPP TS38.463. The interface between the control plane part of the centralized unit of the base station and the distributed unit of the base station is the F1-C interface, i.e., the control plane interface of F1, and the interface between the user plane part of the centralized unit of the base station and the distributed unit of the base station is the F1-U interface, i.e., the user plane interface of F1. In addition, in the NR system, the base station that provides the E-UTRA user plane and control plane accessing the 5G core network is called ng-eNB. In order to support virtualization, this base station (ng-eNB) can also be further divided into a centralized unit ng-eNB-CU (gNB central unit / ng-eNBcentral unit) and a distributed unit ng-eNB-DU (gNB distributed unit / ng-eNB distributedunit) (abbreviated as CU and DU in the present invention), such as Figure 3 As shown in (c). ng-eNB-CU has RRC and PDCP layers. gNB-DU / ng-eNB-DU has radio link control protocol (RLC), medium access control (MAC) and physical layer, etc. There is a standardized public interface W1 between ng-eNB-CU and ng-eNB-DU. The W1 interface is divided into control plane W1-C and user plane W1-U. The transport network layer of W1-C is based on IP transmission. In order to transmit signaling more reliably, the SCTP protocol is added on top of IP. The protocol of the application layer is W1AP, see 3GPP TS37.473. The transport layer of W1-U is UDP / IP, and GTP-U is used to carry user plane protocol data unit PDU on top of UDP / IP.

[0068] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0069] The text and drawings are provided as examples only to help understand the present disclosure. They should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Although certain embodiments and examples have been provided, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on what is disclosed herein that the embodiments and examples shown may be changed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0070] Before introducing the specific contents, some assumptions and definitions of the present invention are given below.

[0071] ■The message names in the present invention are only examples, and other message names may also be used.

[0072] ■“First”, “Second”, etc. included in the message names of the present invention are just examples of the messages and do not represent the execution order.

[0073] ■ In the present invention, detailed descriptions of steps not related to the present invention are omitted.

[0074] ■ In the present invention, the steps in each process can be executed in combination with each other or individually. The execution steps of each process are only examples and do not exclude other possible execution orders.

[0075] ■In the present invention, the base station can be a 5G base station (such as gNB, ng-eNB), a 4G base station (such as eNB), a 6G base station, or other types of access nodes.

[0076] ■In the present invention, data transmission refers to the reception or sending of data.

[0077] Nodes involved in the present invention:

[0078] ■First node: user equipment (UE).

[0079] ■Second node: a base station, a centralized unit of a base station, or a control plane part of a centralized unit of a base station, a serving base station, or a centralized unit of a serving base station, or a control plane part of a centralized unit of a serving base station, or a receiving base station, or a centralized unit of a receiving base station, or a control plane part of a centralized unit of a receiving base station.

[0080] ■Third node: base station, a centralized unit of a base station, or a control plane part of a centralized unit of a base station, a neighboring base station, or a centralized unit of a neighboring base station, or a control plane part of a centralized unit of a neighboring base station, or the last serving base station, or a centralized unit of the last serving base station, or a control plane part of a centralized unit of the last serving base station.

[0081] ■Fourth node: a distribution unit of a base station, a distribution unit of a serving base station, or a distribution unit of a receiving base station.

[0082] ■Fifth node: a distribution unit of a base station, a distribution unit of a neighboring base station, or a distribution unit of the last serving base station.

[0083] ■Node 6: Location Management Function (LMF).

[0084] Currently, positioning technology mainly studies the configuration of reference signals of user equipment within a cell, and does not study the configuration of reference signals and / or related information of user equipment across cells. The present invention mainly relates to the configuration of reference signals and / or related information of user equipment across cells.

[0085] The present disclosure provides a method executed by a sixth node in a communication system, the method comprising: sending a second request message to a second node, wherein the second request message is used to request information related to a reference signal configuration of a user equipment; receiving a second response message from the second node, wherein the second response message comprises reference signal configuration information; sending information related to reference signal configuration activation to the second node; wherein the reference signal configuration information comprises: information related to at least one reference signal configuration and a valid area corresponding to the reference signal configuration; information related to a user equipment identifier; wherein the information related to reference signal configuration activation comprises: at least one reference signal configuration identifier or a valid area identifier corresponding to the reference signal configuration; an activation indication.

[0086] Through the above method, by receiving reference signal configuration information from the second node and sending reference signal configuration activation related information to the second node, the configuration of reference signals and / or related information of the user equipment across cells can be realized, so that the user equipment can make a reference signal configuration request on demand according to the reference signal configuration related information of the user equipment, thereby improving the freedom of selection of the user equipment.

[0087] The following will refer to Figure 4A A method for configuring reference signals and / or related information across cells according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is described in detail.

[0088] Please refer to Figure 4A , Figure 4A An example method for configuring reference signals and / or related information across cells according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The example method for configuring reference signals and / or related information across cells may include one or more of steps 1 to 18.

[0089] In step 1, the sixth node triggers a reference signal resource interaction process, which can be used to request resources that can be used for reference signal-related configuration from the third node or the second node: the sixth node sends first information to the third node or the second node, wherein the first information includes first request information related to available reference signal resources.

[0090] The first request information related to the available reference signal resources may include at least one of the following information:

[0091] -Reference signal resource request;

[0092] -Reference signal resource time window request, used to request the valid time corresponding to the available reference signal related resources;

[0093] - a first cell-related identifier, used to identify a cell requesting allocation of resources for reference signal-related configuration;

[0094] - A second cell-related identifier, used to identify a list of cells requesting allocation of resources for reference signal-related configuration.

[0095] The first cell-related identifier may include at least one of the following information:

[0096] -first physical cell identity;

[0097] -First cell global identifier.

[0098] The second cell-related identifier may include at least one of the following information:

[0099] - a second physical cell identity or a second physical cell identity list;

[0100] - A second cell global identity or a second cell global identity list.

[0101] The first information may be included in an existing transceiver point information request message; may also be included in other existing NRPPa messages; may also be included in a new NRPPa message, such as an available reference signal resource request message, etc.

[0102] The third node or the second node determines the cell that needs to provide available reference signal related resources according to the first cell related identifier and / or the second cell related identifier. The third node or the second node determines the valid time corresponding to the need to provide available reference signal related resources according to the reference signal resource time window request.

[0103] After receiving the first information, the third node or the second node sends fourth information to the sixth node according to the content of the first information (such as step 4), wherein the fourth information may include first response information related to the available reference signal resources.

[0104] The first response information related to the available reference signal resources may include at least one of the following information:

[0105] -First cell related identifier;

[0106] - Third cell related identification;

[0107] -Reference information about reference signal resources of the first cell;

[0108] -Reference information about reference signal resources of the third cell;

[0109] - Time window related information of the first cell;

[0110] -Time window related information of the third cell.

[0111] The third cell-related identifier may include at least one of the following information:

[0112] - a third physical cell identity or a third physical cell identity list;

[0113] - a third cell global identity or a third cell global identity list.

[0114] It should be noted that the third cell-related identifier may be a subset of the second cell-related identifier. That is, the second node may select some or all of the cells from the multiple cells identified by the second cell-related identifier included in the first request information sent by the sixth node as the cell identified by the third cell-related identifier.

[0115] The information related to the reference signal resource of the first cell or the information related to the reference signal resource of the third cell may include at least one of the following information:

[0116] -Total reference signal resources;

[0117] - Available reference signal resources or unused reference signal resources;

[0118] - Used reference signal resources or configured reference signal configurations.

[0119] The time window related information of the first cell or the time window related information of the third cell may be used to indicate the valid time of the reference signal resource related information of the first or third cell, and may include at least one of the following information:

[0120] - Information related to the start time;

[0121] - Information related to the end time;

[0122] - Duration related information.

[0123] The fourth information may be included in an existing transceiver point information response message; may also be included in other existing NRPPa messages; may also be included in a new NRPPa message, such as an available reference signal resource response message, etc.

[0124] The sixth node identifies the cell providing available reference signal related resources according to the first cell related identifier and / or the third cell related identifier. The sixth node confirms the corresponding available reference signal resource related information provided by the first or third cell according to the reference signal resource related information of the first or third cell. The sixth node confirms the valid time corresponding to the provided available reference signal related resources according to the time window related information of the first or third cell.

[0125] If the third node or the second node is a centralized unit of a base station, or a control plane part of a centralized unit of a base station, or a centralized unit of a serving base station, or a control plane part of a centralized unit of a serving base station: the third node or the second node triggers a reference signal resource interaction process, which can be used to request resources that can be used for reference signal-related configuration from a fifth node or a fourth node: the third node or the second node sends second information to the fifth node or the fourth node (such as step 2), wherein the second information includes the first request information related to the available reference signal resources.

[0126] The second information may be included in an existing transceiver point information request message; may also be included in other existing F1AP messages; may also be included in a new F1AP message, such as an available reference signal resource request message, etc.

[0127] The fifth node or the fourth node determines the cell that needs to provide available reference signal related resources according to the first cell related identifier and / or the second cell related identifier. The fifth node or the fourth node determines the valid time corresponding to the need to provide available reference signal related resources according to the reference signal resource time window request.

[0128] After receiving the second information, the fifth node or the fourth node sends third information to the third node or the second node according to the content of the second information (such as step 3), wherein the third information includes the first response information related to the available reference signal resources.

[0129] The third information may be included in an existing transceiver point information response message; may also be included in other existing F1AP messages; may also be included in a new F1AP message, such as an available reference signal resource response message, etc.

[0130] The third node or the second node identifies the cell that provides available reference signal related resources according to the first cell related identifier and / or the third cell related identifier. The third node or the second node confirms the corresponding available reference signal resource related information provided by the first or third cell according to the reference signal resource related information of the first or third cell. The third node or the second node confirms the valid time corresponding to the provided available reference signal related resources according to the time window related information of the first or third cell.

[0131] By means of the above-described method in which the sixth node requests the third node or the second node, and the third node or the second node requests the fifth node or the fourth node for information related to available reference signal resources, the sixth node can obtain the available reference signal resources in the area more timely, thereby ensuring that the sixth node can provide a suitable area for reference signal configuration.

[0132] Before introducing the subsequent steps, it is important to point out that there may be several options for the relationship between the effective area and the reference signal configuration, as well as the relationship between the effective area and the effective area:

[0133] Option 1: Only one reference signal configuration is configured for each valid area;

[0134] Option 2: Each valid area can be configured with multiple reference signal configurations, where each reference signal configuration is valid in the entire valid area;

[0135] Option 3: Each valid area can be configured with multiple reference signal configurations, where each reference signal configuration is only valid in part of the valid area;

[0136] Option A: There is no overlap between valid areas;

[0137] Option B: There is overlap between valid areas;

[0138] Options 1, 2, and 3 can be combined with options AB. For example, option 1A configures only one reference signal configuration for each valid area, and there is no overlap between valid areas.

[0139] The specific information transmitted in the subsequent steps may vary depending on the options. If certain specific information is mainly applicable to a certain option, the corresponding option will be marked after the specific information. It should be pointed out that even if the corresponding option is marked, it does not mean that certain specific information is only applicable to this option. In principle, the specific information can be applicable to all options.

[0140] In step 5, optionally, the sixth node triggers an area-specific reference signal configuration process. The sixth node may generate valid area related information corresponding to the reference signal configuration based on the received fourth information or based on related information configured by the operation management and maintenance node.

[0141] In step 6, the sixth node triggers a positioning information interaction process, which can be used to request reference signal configuration-related information from the second node: the sixth node sends fifth information to the second node, wherein the fifth information includes second request information for requesting reference signal configuration-related information of the user equipment.

[0142] The second request information may include at least one of the following information:

[0143] -Area-specific reference signal configuration request, used to request reference signal configuration and corresponding valid area related information;

[0144] - Reference signal pre-configuration request, used to request multiple reference signal (pre-) configurations and / or corresponding valid area related information;

[0145] - Information related to the effective area;

[0146] -The first identifier of the user device.

[0147] The information related to the effective area may include at least one of the following information:

[0148] - first effective area related information;

[0149] - Information related to the second effective area.

[0150] The first valid area related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0151] -First valid area identifier;

[0152] - a recommended or suggested fourth cell related identifier list, used to indicate a cell or a cell list recommended or suggested by the sixth node to the second node for receiving reference signal transmission;

[0153] - a fourth cell-related identifier list, used to indicate a cell or a cell list determined by the sixth node to receive reference signal transmission;

[0154] -Reference signal configuration or pre-configuration quantity, used to indicate the reference signal configuration or pre-configuration quantity that needs to be provided.

[0155] The (recommended or suggested) fourth cell-related identifier list may include at least one of the following information:

[0156] - a fourth physical cell identity list;

[0157] - A fourth cell global identity list.

[0158] The second valid area related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0159] - a second valid area list, which contains one or more second valid areas;

[0160] - A second valid region identifier list.

[0161] The second valid area may include at least one of the following information:

[0162] - a recommended or suggested fifth cell related identifier list, used to indicate a cell or a cell list recommended or suggested by the sixth node to the second node for receiving reference signal transmission;

[0163] - a fifth cell-related identifier list, used to indicate a cell or a cell list determined by the sixth node to receive reference signal transmission;

[0164] -Reference signal configuration or pre-configuration quantity, used to indicate the reference signal configuration or pre-configuration quantity that needs to be provided.

[0165] The (recommended or suggested) fifth cell-related identifier list may include at least one of the following information:

[0166] - fifth physical cell identity list;

[0167] -Fifth cell global identity list.

[0168] The fifth information may be included in an existing positioning information request message; may also be included in other existing NRPPa messages; may also be included in a new NRPPa message, such as a reference signal configuration or pre-configuration request message.

[0169] The second node determines the reference signal configuration or the number of preconfigurations to be provided according to the reference signal configuration number or the reference signal preconfiguration number. It should be noted that a possible implementation is that when the sixth node provides one of the area-specific reference signal configuration request and the reference signal preconfiguration request, it may also be requesting to configure the reference signal configuration and the reference signal preconfiguration at the same time.

[0170] By providing the valid area related information to the second node as described above, the second node can confirm or determine the valid area corresponding to the reference signal configuration according to the valid area related information, thereby ensuring that the second node can provide a more appropriate reference signal configuration.

[0171] Furthermore, by generating the information related to the second valid area through the sixth node, the second node can determine or request one or more reference signal configurations corresponding to one or more second valid areas based on the received information related to the second valid area. By configuring multiple valid areas and corresponding multiple reference signal configurations at one time, on the one hand, the flexibility of the reference signal configuration corresponding to the valid area is improved. On the other hand, the user equipment can make a reference signal configuration request as needed according to the situation, thereby improving the freedom of choice of the user equipment.

[0172] In step 7, the second node may update the valid area related information and generate first valid area update information, where the first valid area update information may include at least one of the following information:

[0173] - Information related to the third effective area;

[0174] - Information related to the fourth effective area.

[0175] The third valid area related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0176] - the first valid area identifier;

[0177] - a recommended or suggested sixth cell-related identifier list, used to indicate a cell or a cell list recommended or suggested by the second node (selected or updated) for receiving reference signal transmission;

[0178] - A sixth cell-related identifier list, used to indicate a cell or a cell list determined (or selected or updated) by the second node for receiving reference signal transmission.

[0179] The (recommended or suggested) sixth cell-related identifier list may include at least one of the following information:

[0180] -sixth physical cell identity list;

[0181] -Sixth cell global identity list.

[0182] The fourth valid area related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0183] - a fourth effective area list, which contains one or more fourth effective areas;

[0184] - A fourth valid region identifier list.

[0185] The fourth valid area may include at least one of the following information:

[0186] - a recommended or suggested seventh cell-related identifier list, used to indicate a cell or a cell list recommended or suggested by the second node for receiving reference signal transmission;

[0187] - A seventh cell-related identifier list, used to indicate a cell or a cell list determined by the second node to receive reference signal transmission.

[0188] The (recommended or suggested) seventh cell-related identifier list may include at least one of the following information:

[0189] -Seventh physical cell identity list;

[0190] -Seventh cell global identity list.

[0191] The third valid area related information is updated based on the first valid area related information, and accordingly, the (recommended or suggested) sixth cell related identifier list may be a subset of the (recommended or suggested) fourth cell related identifier list.

[0192] The fourth valid area related information is updated based on the second valid area related information, and accordingly, the (recommended or suggested) seventh cell related identifier list may be a subset of the (recommended or suggested) fifth cell related identifier list.

[0193] The fourth valid area identifier list may be a subset of the second valid area identifier list.

[0194] That is, the second node may select (or update) all or part of the cells as the (recommended or suggested) cell-related identifier list based on the multiple cells indicated by the (recommended or suggested) cell-related identifier list included in the fifth information.

[0195] After receiving the fifth information, the second node sends eighth information to the sixth node according to the content of the fifth information (such as step 11), wherein the eighth information includes second response information related to the reference signal configuration of the user equipment.

[0196] The second response information related to the reference signal configuration may include at least one of the following information:

[0197] -reference signal first configuration information;

[0198] -User device identification related information.

[0199] The first reference signal configuration information may include at least one of the following information:

[0200] - first reference signal configuration related information;

[0201] - Information related to the configuration of the second reference signal.

[0202] The first reference signal configuration related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0203] -a first reference signal configuration identifier;

[0204] - a first reference signal configuration;

[0205] - Information related to the fifth effective area.

[0206] The fifth valid area related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0207] - the first valid area identifier;

[0208] - a recommended or suggested eighth cell-related identifier list, used to indicate a cell or a cell list recommended or suggested by the second node for receiving reference signal transmission;

[0209] - An eighth cell-related identifier list, used to indicate a cell or a cell list determined by the second node to receive reference signal transmission.

[0210] The (recommended or suggested) eighth cell-related identifier list may include at least one of the following information:

[0211] - an eighth physical cell identity list;

[0212] - Eighth cell global identity list.

[0213] The second reference signal configuration related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0214] -a second reference signal configuration identifier list;

[0215] - a second reference signal configuration list;

[0216] -Information related to the sixth effective area.

[0217] The sixth valid area related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0218] - a sixth effective area list, which contains one or more sixth effective areas;

[0219] - Sixth valid region identifier list.

[0220] The sixth valid area may include at least one of the following information:

[0221] - a recommended or suggested ninth cell-related identifier list, used to indicate a cell or a cell list recommended or suggested by the second node for receiving reference signal transmission;

[0222] - A ninth cell-related identifier list, used to indicate a cell or a cell list determined by the second node to receive reference signal transmission.

[0223] The (recommended or suggested) ninth cell-related identifier list may include at least one of the following information:

[0224] - a ninth physical cell identity list;

[0225] - Ninth cell global identification list.

[0226] Among them, the fifth valid area related information may be the third valid area related information; it may also be updated based on the third valid area related information: Correspondingly, the (recommended or suggested) eighth cell related identification list may be a subset of the (recommended or suggested) sixth cell related identification list.

[0227] Among them, the sixth valid area related information may be the fourth valid area related information; it may also be updated based on the fourth valid area related information. Accordingly, the (recommended or suggested) ninth cell related identification list may be a subset of the (recommended or suggested) seventh cell related identification list.

[0228] That is, the second node may select (or update) all or part of the cells as the (recommended or suggested) cell-related identifier list based on the multiple cells indicated by the (recommended or suggested) cell-related identifier list included in the fifth information.

[0229] The sixth valid area identifier list may be a subset of the fourth valid area identifier list.

[0230] The user equipment identification related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0231] - Inactive Radio Network Temporary Identity (I-RNTI);

[0232] -Connected Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI);

[0233] -The first identifier of the user device.

[0234] The eighth information may be included in an existing positioning information response message; may also be included in other existing NRPPa messages; may also be included in a new NRPPa message, such as an available reference signal resource response message, etc.

[0235] The sixth node stores the fifth or sixth valid region related information. The sixth node identifies the valid region corresponding to the reference signal configuration according to the first or second reference signal configuration related information. The sixth node stores the user equipment identifier related information. The sixth node stores the reference signal configuration identifier.

[0236] It should be pointed out that the first identifier of the user equipment can be allocated by the second node or by the sixth node. If the first identifier of the user equipment is allocated by the second node: the first identifier of the user equipment is only included in the eighth information, and after receiving the first identifier of the user equipment, the sixth node associates the first identifier of the user equipment with the first configuration information of the reference signal; the sixth node stores the first identifier of the user equipment. If the first identifier of the user equipment is allocated by the sixth node: the first identifier of the user equipment is included in the fifth information and may also be included in the eighth information, and after receiving the first identifier of the user equipment, the second node associates the first identifier of the user equipment with the first configuration information of the reference signal; the second node stores the first identifier of the user equipment.

[0237] If the second node is a centralized unit of a base station, or a control plane part of a centralized unit of a base station, or a centralized unit of a serving base station, or a control plane part of a centralized unit of a serving base station: the second node triggers a positioning information interaction process, which can be used to request reference signal related configuration from the fourth node: the second node sends sixth information to the fourth node (such as step 8), wherein the sixth information includes the second request information for requesting reference signal configuration related information. It should be noted that the sixth information also includes the first update information of the valid area.

[0238] The sixth information may be included in an existing positioning information request message; may also be included in other existing F1AP messages; may also be included in a new F1AP message, such as a reference signal configuration or pre-configuration request message.

[0239] After receiving the sixth information, the fourth node sends seventh information to the second node according to the content of the sixth information (such as step 10), wherein the seventh information includes second response information related to the reference signal configuration.

[0240] The seventh information may be included in an existing positioning information response message; may also be included in other existing F1AP messages; may also be included in a new F1AP message, such as a reference signal configuration or pre-configuration response message.

[0241] The fourth node determines or provides a reference signal configuration related to the valid area according to the sixth information (as in step 9). The fourth node may update the first valid area update information according to the first valid area update information in the sixth information and the latest reference signal resource situation, and generate the second valid area update information; the fourth node may also directly use the first valid area update information as the second valid area update information.

[0242] By the above-mentioned method that the sixth node requests the second node, and the second node requests the fourth node for the reference signal configuration related information, the sixth node can obtain one or more reference signal configurations associated with one or more valid areas, thereby ensuring that the sixth node can have sufficient flexibility to provide the user equipment with a suitable reference signal configuration within the valid area. By the above-mentioned method that the fourth node can generate the second update information of the valid area according to the current situation, the flexibility of the fourth node in using the reference signal resources is guaranteed.

[0243] In step 12, the sixth node triggers a reference signal configuration reservation interaction process, which can be used to request the third node to reserve reference signal configuration: the sixth node sends ninth information to the third node, wherein the ninth information includes third request information requesting to reserve reference signal configuration related information.

[0244] The third request information for requesting to reserve reference signal configuration related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0245] -Reference signal configuration reservation request;

[0246] - Request for information related to the reserved reference signal configuration;

[0247] -User device identification related information.

[0248] The information related to the reference signal configuration requested to be reserved may include at least one of the following information:

[0249] -Reference signal second configuration information.

[0250] The second reference signal configuration information may include at least one of the following information:

[0251] - related information of the third reference signal configuration;

[0252] -Fourth reference signal configuration related information.

[0253] The third reference signal configuration related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0254] -a first reference signal configuration identifier;

[0255] - a first reference signal configuration;

[0256] - Information related to the seventh effective area.

[0257] The seventh valid area related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0258] - the first valid area identifier;

[0259] - List of identifiers related to the tenth community.

[0260] The tenth cell-related identifier list may include at least one of the following information:

[0261] - a tenth physical cell identity list;

[0262] -Tenth cell global identity list.

[0263] The fourth reference signal configuration related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0264] -a fourth reference signal configuration identifier list;

[0265] - a fourth reference signal configuration list;

[0266] - Information related to the eighth effective area.

[0267] The eighth valid area related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0268] - an eighth effective area list, which contains one or more eighth effective areas;

[0269] - Eighth valid region identifier list.

[0270] The eighth valid area may include at least one of the following information:

[0271] - List of relevant identifiers of the eleventh cell;

[0272] The eleventh cell-related identifier list may include at least one of the following information:

[0273] - an eleventh physical cell identity list;

[0274] -Eleventh cell global identity list.

[0275] Among them, the seventh valid area related information may be the fifth valid area related information; or it may be updated based on the fifth valid area related information: accordingly, the tenth cell related identification list may be a subset of the (recommended or suggested) eighth cell related identification list.

[0276] Among them, the eighth valid area related information may be the sixth valid area related information; it may also be updated based on the sixth valid area related information. Accordingly, the eleventh cell related identification list may be a subset of the (recommended or suggested) ninth cell related identification list.

[0277] The eighth valid area identifier list may be a subset of the sixth valid area identifier list.

[0278] The user equipment identification related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0279] - Inactive Radio Network Temporary Identity (I-RNTI);

[0280] -Connected Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI);

[0281] -The first identifier of the user device.

[0282] The ninth information may be included in an existing NRPPa message; or may be included in a new NRPPa message, such as a reference signal configuration reservation request message.

[0283] The sixth node provides the seventh or eighth valid area related information to the third node according to the fifth or sixth valid area related information. The tenth or eleventh cell related identification list only includes the cell of the third node.

[0284] The third node identifies the cell corresponding to the reference signal configuration and requiring the reserved reference signal configuration according to the seventh or eighth valid area related information. The third node stores the user equipment identifier related information. The third node stores the reference signal configuration identifier.

[0285] The sixth node may allocate the first identifier of the user equipment. After receiving the first identifier of the user equipment, the third node associates the first identifier of the user equipment with the second configuration information of the reference signal. The third node stores the first identifier of the user equipment.

[0286] By the above-mentioned method of the sixth node requesting the third node to reserve the reference signal configuration, the third node can accept or reject the requested reserved reference signal configuration according to the usage of its own wireless resources, thereby ensuring the third node's decision-making power on the use of wireless resources.

[0287] After receiving the ninth information, the third node sends twelfth information to the sixth node according to the content of the ninth information (such as step 15), wherein the twelfth information includes third response information related to the reserved reference signal configuration.

[0288] The third response information related to the reserved reference signal configuration may include at least one of the following information:

[0289] - first reference signal configuration response related information;

[0290] - Second reference signal configuration response related information.

[0291] The first reference signal configuration response related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0292] - an indication to accept or reject reservation of the third reference signal configuration;

[0293] - an indication of successful or unsuccessful reservation of the third reference signal configuration;

[0294] - information related to acceptance or successful reservation of the third reference signal configuration;

[0295] - Information related to rejection or failure to successfully reserve the third reference signal configuration.

[0296] The relevant information of accepting or successfully reserving the third reference signal configuration, or the relevant information of rejecting or unsuccessfully reserving the third reference signal configuration, may at least include a list of related identifiers of the twelfth cell.

[0297] The list of related identifiers of the twelfth cell may include at least one of the following information:

[0298] - a twelfth physical cell identity list;

[0299] -Twelfth cell global identity list.

[0300] It should be pointed out that, if the information is related to acceptance or successful reservation of the third reference signal configuration, the twelfth cell-related identifier list indicates the cell that accepts or successfully reserves the third reference signal configuration; if the information is related to rejection or unsuccessful reservation of the third reference signal configuration, the twelfth cell-related identifier list indicates the cell that rejects or fails to successfully reserve the first reference signal configuration.

[0301] The second reference signal configuration response related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0302] - a list of information related to reference signal configurations that are accepted or successfully reserved, comprising one or more information related to reference signal configurations that are accepted or successfully reserved;

[0303] - a list of information related to reference signal configurations that are rejected or not successfully reserved, comprising one or more information related to reference signal configurations that are rejected or not successfully reserved;

[0304] The information related to the accepted or successfully reserved reference signal configuration may include at least one of the following information:

[0305] -a fifth reference signal configuration identifier list;

[0306] - Information related to the ninth effective area.

[0307] The ninth valid area related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0308] - a ninth effective area list, which contains one or more ninth effective areas;

[0309] - Ninth valid region identifier list.

[0310] The ninth valid area may include at least one of the following information:

[0311] -List of related identifications for the thirteenth community.

[0312] The thirteenth cell-related identifier list includes at least one of the following information:

[0313] - Thirteenth physical cell identity list;

[0314] -The thirteenth cell global identification list.

[0315] It should be noted that the fifth reference signal configuration identifier list is a subset of the fourth reference signal configuration identifier list. The ninth valid area list is a subset of the eighth valid area list. The ninth valid area identifier list is a subset of the eighth valid area identifier list. The thirteenth cell-related identifier list is a subset of the eleventh cell-related identifier list.

[0316] The rejected or unsuccessfully reserved reference signal configuration related information may include at least a sixth reference signal configuration identifier list.

[0317] It should be noted that the sixth reference signal configuration identifier list is a subset of the fourth reference signal configuration identifier list.

[0318] The twelfth information may be included in an existing NRPPa message; or may be included in a new NRPPa message, such as a reference signal configuration reservation response message.

[0319] The sixth node stores the first or second reference signal configuration response related information. The sixth node confirms the reserved reference signal configuration and / or the valid area related information according to the first or second reference signal configuration response related information.

[0320] If the second node is a centralized unit of a base station, or a control plane part of a centralized unit of a base station, or a centralized unit of a neighboring base station, or a control plane part of a centralized unit of a neighboring base station: the third node triggers a reference signal configuration reservation interaction process, which can be used to request the fifth node to reserve reference signal related configuration: the third node sends tenth information to the fifth node (such as step 13), wherein the tenth information includes the third request information for requesting to reserve reference signal configuration related information.

[0321] The tenth information may be included in an existing F1AP message; or may be included in a new F1AP message, such as a reference signal configuration reservation request message.

[0322] After receiving the tenth information, the fifth node sends an eleventh information to the third node according to the content of the tenth information (such as step 14), wherein the eleventh information includes third response information related to the reserved reference signal configuration.

[0323] The eleventh information may be included in an existing F1AP message; or may be included in a new F1AP message, such as a reference signal configuration reservation response message.

[0324] By the above-mentioned fifth node responding to the third node and the third node responding to the sixth node to reserve the reference signal configuration, it is ensured that the reference signal configuration is properly reserved, and by responding to the effective area related information, it is ensured that the network side has a consistent understanding of the reference signal configuration and the associated effective area. The third node or the fifth node ensures the flexibility of wireless resource use by accepting or rejecting the requested reference signal configuration and / or the corresponding effective area.

[0325] In step 16, the sixth node confirms the final reference signal (pre-) configuration and the corresponding valid area related information according to the received twelfth information. The sixth node may receive the twelfth information from multiple third nodes, and generate the thirteenth information including all or part of the reference signal (pre-) configuration and valid area related information accepted or successfully reserved, i.e., the reference signal third configuration information, according to the multiple third response information included in the multiple twelfth information.

[0326] In step 17, the sixth node sends thirteenth information to the second node, or the second node sends thirteenth information to the fourth node, where the thirteenth information includes the third configuration information of the reference signal.

[0327] The third reference signal configuration information may include at least one of the following information:

[0328] - fifth reference signal configuration related information;

[0329] -sixth reference signal configuration related information;

[0330] - Information related to the activation of the first reference signal configuration.

[0331] The fifth reference signal configuration related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0332] -a first reference signal configuration identifier;

[0333] - a first reference signal configuration;

[0334] - Information related to the tenth effective area.

[0335] The tenth valid area related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0336] - the first valid area identifier;

[0337] - List of related identifiers of the fourteenth cell.

[0338] The fourteenth cell-related identifier list may include at least one of the following information:

[0339] - A fourteenth physical cell identity list;

[0340] - List of global identities of the fourteenth cell.

[0341] The sixth reference signal configuration related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0342] - a seventh reference signal configuration identifier list;

[0343] - a seventh reference signal configuration list;

[0344] - Information related to the eleventh effective area.

[0345] The information related to the eleventh valid area may include at least one of the following information:

[0346] - an eleventh valid region list, which contains one or more eleventh valid regions;

[0347] - List of eleventh valid region identifiers.

[0348] The eleventh valid area may include at least one of the following information:

[0349] - List of related identifications of the fifteenth cell;

[0350] The fifteenth cell-related identifier list may include at least one of the following information:

[0351] -fifteenth physical cell identity list;

[0352] - List of global identities of the fifteenth cell.

[0353] The first reference signal configuration activation related information may include at least one of the following information:

[0354] - a third reference signal configuration identifier;

[0355] - a third reference signal configuration;

[0356] -Twelfth effective area identification;

[0357] - Twelfth effective area;

[0358] -Activate indication.

[0359] The thirteenth information may be included in an existing positioning information request message; may also be included in other existing NRPPa messages; may also be included in a new NRPPa message, such as a reference signal configuration message, etc.

[0360] The third reference signal configuration identifier is a reference signal configuration identifier in the list of the first reference signal configuration identifier and the seventh reference signal configuration identifier.

[0361] The third reference signal configuration is a reference signal configuration in the first reference signal configuration and the seventh reference signal configuration list.

[0362] The twelfth valid area identifier is a valid area identifier in the first valid area identifier and the eleventh valid area identifier list.

[0363] The twelfth valid area is a valid area in the first valid area and the eleventh valid area list.

[0364] In step 18, the second node sends fourteenth information to the first node, where the fourteenth information includes the reference signal third configuration information.

[0365] The fourteenth information may be included in an existing radio resource control release message; may also be included in other existing RRC messages; may also be included in a new RRC message, such as a reference signal configuration message, etc.

[0366] The first node stores the fifth or sixth reference signal configuration related information.

[0367] The first node sends a reference signal in a valid area according to the content in the first reference signal configuration activation related information.

[0368] The present invention provides a method for configuring reference signals and / or related information across cells, which ensures that user equipment can use the same reference signal configuration in multiple cells through interaction between nodes, thereby reducing the reconfiguration of the reference signal of the user equipment on the network side and saving air interface overhead; and reduces the reference signal configuration request from the user equipment to the network side, saving the processing burden on the network side and saving the energy consumption of the user equipment.

[0369] The following will refer to Figure 4A An example method for configuring activation of reference signals and / or related information across cells according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is described in detail.

[0370] Please refer to Figure 4B , Figure 4B An example method for activating cross-cell reference signals and / or related information configuration according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The example method for activating cross-cell reference signals and / or related information configuration may include one or more of steps 1 to 9.

[0371] It is worth mentioning that Figure 4B The included processes may be Figure 4A The included process occurs after that, i.e. Figure 4B Possibly based on Figure 4A The configuration process is used to carry out the subsequent configuration activation process. And Figure 4B The second node in can correspond to Figure 4A The third node in Figure 4B The third node in can correspond to Figure 4A The second node in Figure 4B The fourth node in can correspond to Figure 4A The fifth node in Figure 4B The fifth node in can correspond to Figure 4A The fourth node in .

[0372] In step 1, the first node sends a radio resource control continuation request message to the second node, wherein the message includes an inactive radio network temporary identifier (I-RNTI) and a reference signal request (indication).

[0373] Optionally, the first node may initiate a reference signal request (indication) after entering other valid areas.

[0374] In step 2, the second node sends a user equipment context extraction request message to the third node.

[0375] In step 3, the third node sends a user equipment context extraction response message to the second node, and the message may include the first identifier of the user equipment.

[0376] In step 4, the second node or the third node sends a positioning information update message to the sixth node, wherein the message includes fifteenth information related to the reference signal (pre-) configuration, and the fifteenth information may include at least one of the following information:

[0377] - reference signal request (indication);

[0378] - a fourth reference signal configuration identifier;

[0379] -Thirteenth effective area identification;

[0380] -Thirteenth effective area.

[0381] The fourth reference signal configuration identifier is a reference signal configuration identifier in a list of the first reference signal configuration identifier and the seventh reference signal configuration identifier.

[0382] The thirteenth valid area identifier is a valid area identifier in the list of the first valid area identifier and the eleventh valid area identifier.

[0383] The thirteenth valid area is a valid area in the list of the first valid area and the eleventh valid area.

[0384] It should be noted that the specific content transmitted in the fifteenth information varies according to the embodiment:

[0385] In one embodiment, the second node determines the reference signal configuration that needs to be activated. In this case, the second node finds the reserved reference signal configuration and valid area corresponding to the received inactive wireless network temporary identifier (step 1) or the first identifier of the user equipment (step 3), determines the reference signal configuration that needs to be activated, and sends the fourth reference signal configuration identifier or the thirteenth valid area identifier to the sixth node. After receiving the fourth reference signal configuration identifier or the thirteenth valid area identifier, the sixth node triggers a subsequent reference signal configuration activation process.

[0386] In another embodiment, the sixth node determines the reference signal configuration that needs to be activated. In this case, the second node can find the reference signal configuration and valid area reserved corresponding to the received inactive wireless network temporary identifier (step 1) or the first identifier of the user equipment (step 3), and send the thirteenth valid area to the sixth node. After receiving the thirteenth valid area, the sixth node finds the reference signal configuration that meets the conditions of the thirteenth valid area, determines the reference signal configuration that needs to be activated, and triggers the subsequent reference signal configuration activation process.

[0387] The reference signal configuration to be activated may include at least one of the following information:

[0388] - a fourth reference signal configuration identifier;

[0389] -Thirteenth effective area identification;

[0390] -Thirteenth effective area.

[0391] In another embodiment, the sixth node determines the reference signal configuration that needs to be activated. In this case, after receiving the fifteenth information, the sixth node finds the reference signal configuration and valid area reserved corresponding to the user equipment, determines the reference signal configuration that needs to be activated, and triggers the subsequent reference signal configuration activation process.

[0392] The reference signal configuration to be activated may include at least one of the following information:

[0393] - a fourth reference signal configuration identifier;

[0394] -Thirteenth effective area identification;

[0395] -Thirteenth effective area.

[0396] In step 5, the sixth node sends a positioning activation request message to the second node, or the second node sends a positioning activation request message to the fourth node, wherein the positioning activation request message includes sixteenth information related to reference signal (pre-) configuration activation, and the sixteenth information may include at least one of the following information:

[0397] - a fourth reference signal configuration identifier;

[0398] -Thirteenth effective area identification;

[0399] - Fourteenth effective area.

[0400] The fourth reference signal configuration identifier is a reference signal configuration identifier in a list of the first reference signal configuration identifier and the seventh reference signal configuration identifier.

[0401] The thirteenth valid area identifier is a valid area identifier in the list of the first valid area identifier and the eleventh valid area identifier.

[0402] The fourteenth valid area may be the thirteenth valid area, or may be a sub-area of ​​the thirteenth valid area (cells included in a sub-area must be in the area, but cells included in the area are not necessarily in the sub-area).

[0403] The second node or the fourth node identifies the reference signal configuration that needs to be activated according to the fourth reference signal configuration identifier, or the second node or the fourth node identifies the reference signal configuration that needs to be activated according to the thirteenth valid area identifier. The second node or the fourth node identifies the cell that needs to activate reference signal transmission according to the thirteenth valid area identifier or the fourteenth valid area.

[0404] In step 6, the second node sends a positioning activation response message to the sixth node, or the fourth node sends a positioning activation response message to the second node.

[0405] In step 7, the sixth node sends a positioning deactivation message to the third node, or the third node sends a positioning deactivation message to the fifth node, wherein the positioning deactivation message includes seventeenth information related to reference signal (pre-) configuration deactivation, and the seventeenth information may include at least one of the following information:

[0406] -reference signal configuration identifier;

[0407] - Valid area identifier.

[0408] The reference signal configuration identifier is a reference signal configuration identifier in the first reference signal configuration identifier and the seventh reference signal configuration identifier list. The reference signal configuration identifier is a configuration identifier corresponding to a currently activated reference signal.

[0409] The valid area identifier is a valid area identifier in the first valid area identifier and the eleventh valid area identifier list. The valid area identifier is a valid area identifier corresponding to a currently activated reference signal.

[0410] The third node or the fifth node identifies the reference signal configuration that needs to be deactivated according to the reference signal configuration identifier or the valid area identifier.

[0411] In step 8, the second node sends a radio resource control release message to the first node, wherein the message includes eighteenth information related to the activation of reference signal transmission, and the eighteenth information may include at least one of the following information:

[0412] -transmit activation request;

[0413] - a fourth reference signal configuration identifier;

[0414] -Thirteenth effective area identification;

[0415] - Fourteenth effective area.

[0416] The fourth reference signal configuration identifier is a reference signal configuration identifier in a list of the first reference signal configuration identifier and the seventh reference signal configuration identifier.

[0417] The thirteenth valid area identifier is a valid area identifier in the list of the first valid area identifier and the eleventh valid area identifier.

[0418] The fourteenth valid area may be the thirteenth valid area, or may be a sub-area of ​​the thirteenth valid area (cells included in a sub-area must be in the area, but cells included in the area are not necessarily in the sub-area).

[0419] The first node confirms, according to the transmission activation request, that the eighteenth information is related to the reference signal transmission activation. The first node identifies, according to the fourth reference signal configuration identifier or the thirteenth valid area identifier, a reference signal for which transmission activation is required. The first node identifies, according to the fourteenth valid area, a cell for which reference signal transmission activation is required.

[0420] In step 9, the sixth node sends a positioning measurement request message to the second node, or the second node sends a positioning measurement request message to the fourth node, wherein the positioning measurement request message includes nineteenth information related to reference signal (pre-) measurement, and the nineteenth information may include at least one of the following information:

[0421] - a fourth reference signal configuration identifier;

[0422] -Thirteenth effective area identification;

[0423] -Fifteenth effective area.

[0424] The fourth reference signal configuration identifier is a reference signal configuration identifier in a list of the first reference signal configuration identifier and the seventh reference signal configuration identifier.

[0425] The thirteenth valid area identifier is a valid area identifier in the list of the first valid area identifier and the eleventh valid area identifier.

[0426] The fifteenth valid area may be the thirteenth or fourteenth valid area, or may be a sub-area of ​​the thirteenth or fourteenth valid area (cells included in a sub-area must be in the area, but cells included in the area are not necessarily in the sub-area).

[0427] The second node or the fourth node identifies the reference signal that needs to be measured according to the fourth reference signal configuration identifier or the thirteenth valid area identifier. The second node or the fourth node identifies the cell that needs to measure the reference signal according to the fifteenth valid area.

[0428] By the above-mentioned first node requesting to activate the reference signal (pre) configuration, the second node to the sixth node negotiate to activate the specific reference signal (pre) configuration, thereby ensuring the flexibility of using the reference signal (pre) configuration and ensuring that the first node can use the best reference signal configuration for reference signal transmission, thereby ensuring positioning performance.

[0429] Figure 5 is a block diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0430] The network nodes in the network can be used to implement the second node to the sixth node in the present invention. Figure 5 , the network node according to the present invention includes a transceiver 510, a controller 520 and a memory 530. The transceiver 510, the controller 520 and the memory 530 are configured to perform the operations of the method and / or embodiments of the present invention. Although the transceiver 510, the controller 520 and the memory 530 are shown as separate entities, they can be implemented as a single entity, such as a single chip. The transceiver 510, the controller 520 and the memory 530 can be electrically connected or coupled to each other. The transceiver 510 can send signals to other network nodes and receive signals from other network nodes. The controller 520 may include one or more processing units and may control the network node to perform operations and / or functions according to one of the above embodiments. The memory 530 may store instructions for implementing the operations and / or functions of one of the above embodiments.

[0431] Figure 6 is a block diagram of a user equipment UE according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0432] The user equipment in the network can be used to implement the first node in the present invention. Figure 6, the UE according to the present invention includes a transceiver 610, a controller 620 and a memory 630. The transceiver 610, the controller 620 and the memory 630 are configured to perform the operations of the methods and / or embodiments of the present invention. Although the transceiver 610, the controller 620 and the memory 630 are shown as separate entities, they can be implemented as a single entity, such as a single chip. The transceiver 610, the controller 620 and the memory 630 can be electrically connected or coupled to each other. The transceiver 610 can send signals to other network nodes and receive signals from other network nodes. The controller 620 may include one or more processing units and may control the UE to perform operations and / or functions according to one of the above embodiments. The memory 630 may store instructions for implementing the operations and / or functions of one of the above embodiments.

[0433] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above illustrative embodiments are described herein and are not intended to be limiting. It should be understood that any two or more of the embodiments disclosed herein may be combined in any combination. In addition, other embodiments may be utilized and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the various aspects of the invention of the present disclosure as generally described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings may be arranged, replaced, combined, separated and designed in a variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated herein.

[0434] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logic boxes, modules, circuits, and steps described in the present application can be implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of the two. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, boxes, modules, circuits, and steps are described generally in the form of their function sets above. Whether such function sets are implemented as hardware or software depends on specific applications and the design constraints imposed on the overall system. Technicians can implement the described function sets in different ways for each specific application, but such design decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

[0435] The various illustrative logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in this application may be implemented or executed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in an alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors cooperating with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0436] The method or algorithm described in the present application can be directly embodied in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The software module can reside in a RAM memory, a flash memory, a ROM memory, an EPROM memory, an EEPROM memory, a register, a hard disk, a removable disk, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor so that the processor can read and write information from / to the storage medium. In an alternative, a storage medium can be integrated into a processor. The processor and the storage medium can reside in an ASIC. The ASIC can reside in a user terminal. In an alternative, the processor and the storage medium can reside in a user terminal as discrete components.

[0437] In one or more exemplary designs, the functions may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted as one or more instructions or codes on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include both computer storage media and communication media, the latter including any media that facilitates the transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general or special purpose computer.

[0438] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present application. The protection scope of the present application is determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method performed by a sixth node in a communication system, the method comprising: Sending second request information to the second node, wherein the second request information is used to request reference signal configuration related information of the user equipment; receiving second response information from the second node, wherein the second response information includes reference signal configuration information; Sending reference signal configuration activation related information to the second node; The reference signal configuration information includes: at least one reference signal configuration and information related to a valid area corresponding to the reference signal configuration; User equipment identification related information; The reference signal configuration activation related information includes: At least one reference signal configuration identifier or a valid area identifier corresponding to the reference signal configuration; Activate indication.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The second request information includes at least one of the following: Region-specific reference signal configuration request; Reference signal pre-configuration request; Information related to the effective area; The first identifier of the user equipment.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The method further comprises: Sending first request information to the second node, wherein the first request information is used to request information related to available reference signal resources; receiving a first response message from the second node, The first request information includes at least one of the following: Reference signal resource request; Reference signal resource time window request; Community related identification; A list of first cell related identifiers; The first response information includes at least one of the following: Community related identification; A list of second cell related identifiers; Reference signal resource related information; Reference signal resource related information list; Time window related information; A list of time window related information.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The reference signal resource related information includes at least one of the following: Total reference signal resources; Available reference signal resources or unused reference signal resources; Used reference signal resources or configured reference signal configuration.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The method further comprises: Sending third request information to the third node, wherein the third request information is used to request to reserve reference signal configuration related information; receiving a third response message from a third node, The third request information includes at least one of the following: Reference signal configuration reservation request; Information related to the reference signal configuration requested for reservation; User equipment identification related information; The third response information includes at least one of the following: an indication of acceptance or rejection of a reserved reference signal configuration; an indication of successful or unsuccessful reservation of a reference signal configuration; Information related to acceptance or successful reservation of reference signal configuration; A list of relevant information of accepted or successfully reserved reference signal configurations; Information related to rejection or failure to successfully reserve reference signal configuration; A list of information related to rejected or unsuccessful reservation of reference signal configurations.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The information related to the reference signal configuration requested to be reserved includes at least one reference signal configuration and information related to a valid area corresponding to the reference signal configuration.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The relevant information included in the third response information includes at least one of the following: Reference signal configuration identifier list; Information about the valid area.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The method further comprises: Based on the twelfth information, information related to a reference signal configuration of the user equipment is determined.

9. The method according to claim 1, 2 or 7, wherein: The effective area related information includes at least one of the following: Valid area identification; List of valid region identifiers; Community related identification; List of cell-related identifiers; Recommended or suggested cell-related identifiers; a list of recommended or suggested cell-related identifiers; Reference signal configuration or preconfigured quantity.

10. The method according to claim 1 or 5, wherein: The user equipment identification related information includes at least one of the following: Inactive Radio Network Temporary Identifier (I-RNTI); Connected Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI); The first identifier of the user equipment.

11. A method performed by a second node in a communication system, the method comprising: receiving second request information from the sixth node, wherein the second request information is used to request reference signal configuration related information of the user equipment; Sending second response information to the sixth node, wherein the second response information includes reference signal configuration information; receiving reference signal configuration activation related information from a sixth node; The reference signal configuration information includes: at least one reference signal configuration and information related to a valid area corresponding to the reference signal configuration; User equipment identification related information; The reference signal configuration activation related information includes: At least one reference signal configuration identifier or a valid area identifier corresponding to the reference signal configuration; Activate indication.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein: The method further comprises: Sending second request information to the fourth node, wherein the second request information is used to request reference signal configuration related information of the user equipment; receiving second response information from the fourth node, wherein the second response information includes reference signal configuration information; The reference signal configuration information includes: at least one reference signal configuration and information related to a valid area corresponding to the reference signal configuration; User equipment identification related information.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein: The method further comprises: receiving fifth information from a sixth node, wherein the fifth information includes information related to a valid area; Based on the effective area related information, first updated effective area related information is generated.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein: The second request information also includes information related to the first updated effective area, and / or The second response information further includes second updated valid area related information, wherein the second updated valid area related information is generated based on the first updated valid area related information.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein: The method further comprises: Sending first request information to a fourth node, wherein the first request information is used to request information related to available reference signal resources; receiving a first response message from a fourth node, The first request information includes at least one of the following: Reference signal resource request; Reference signal resource time window request; Community related identification; A list of first cell related identifiers; The first response information includes at least one of the following: Community related identification; A list of second cell related identifiers; Reference signal resource related information; Reference signal resource related information list; Time window related information; A list of time window related information.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein: The method further comprises: Sending fourteenth information to the user equipment, wherein the fourteenth information includes reference signal configuration related information of the user equipment.

17. A sixth node device, the sixth node device comprising: A transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals with the outside; as well as A controller is configured to control the transceiver to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-10.

18. A second node device, the second node device comprising: A transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals with the outside; as well as A controller is configured to control the transceiver to execute the method according to any one of claims 11-16.

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