Communication method and device

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a communication method and device. In the method, a network device can perform beam configuration for a terminal device by sending beam indication information, and the terminal device can determine at least one piece of coverage information such as coverage time, frequency domain resources, coverage geographical range and the like of a target beam through the beam indication information, so that local operation can be adjusted. Therefore, the signal can be transmitted according to the coverage information of the target beam. Through the method, the network equipment does not need to configure the coverage information of the target beam for the terminal equipment through high-level signaling, but quickly performs beam configuration for the terminal equipment through the beam indication information, so that the method can improve the efficiency of performing beam configuration for the terminal equipment and meet the requirement of high-dynamic beam configuration.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Compared with traditional terrestrial networks (such as the 4th Generation (4G) mobile communication system and the 5th Generation (5G) mobile communication system), non-terrestrial networks (NTN) have the characteristics of wider coverage, faster speed and lower cost. Especially in places where terrestrial networks cannot be directly deployed, such as the sea, desert, and air, it can serve as a supplement or extension of the terrestrial network to achieve the purpose of wide-area seamless coverage and effectively solve the Internet access problem in areas lacking communication infrastructure.

[0003] As a typical example of NTN, satellite communication has the characteristics of long communication distance, large coverage area, and flexible networking, and plays an irreplaceable role in space communication, aviation communication, military communication, emergency rescue communication, high-speed mobility, etc. Satellite communication is introduced into the traditional communication system, and the base station or part of the base station function is deployed on the satellite, which can not only provide seamless coverage for terminal equipment, but also avoid the impact of natural disasters and ensure the reliability of the communication system.

[0004] In order to support wide-area coverage, network devices (such as satellites) in NTN are usually equipped with hundreds or even thousands of beams. In order to alleviate the contradiction between the load and coverage of network devices, beam hopping technology came into being. In NTN that supports beam hopping technology, network devices can be configured with a small number of beams (such as dozens of beams), and the beams serve all coverage areas of the network device in a time-sharing manner. That is, the network device switches the beam in a time sequence, so that the network device can cover a part of the area through the beam in a period of time, and cover another part of the area through the beam in another period of time.

[0005] In an NTN supporting beam hopping technology, the rule for network equipment to schedule beams can be called a beam scanning pattern. Currently, network equipment is generally configured to terminal equipment within the coverage area through high-level signaling so that the terminal equipment can adjust local operations and reduce unnecessary power consumption.

[0006] However, due to the complexity and variability of application scenarios, network equipment beam scheduling has high dynamic requirements. For example, due to the large differences in service distribution within the coverage area of ​​network equipment, beam scheduling needs to be performed for specific areas; for some sudden interference, network equipment needs to adjust beams to avoid them; for some sudden services, network equipment needs to schedule beams for coverage support. For such scenarios, the configuration cycle of high-level signaling is relatively long and cannot meet the needs of highly dynamic beam configuration. Summary of the invention

[0007] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for providing beam configuration for a terminal device to meet the needs of high dynamic beam configuration.

[0008] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a terminal device, where the terminal device can refer to the terminal device itself, or a processor, module, chip, or chip system in the terminal device that implements the method. The method includes the following steps:

[0009] A terminal device receives beam indication information from a network device, wherein the beam indication information is used to indicate coverage information of a target beam of the network device; the coverage information of the target beam includes at least one of the following: coverage time of the target beam, frequency domain resources of the target beam, or coverage geographical range of the target beam; then, the terminal device transmits a signal according to the coverage information of the target beam of the network device.

[0010] In this method, the network device can perform beam configuration for the terminal device by sending beam indication information. The terminal device can determine at least one coverage information of the target beam, such as coverage time, frequency domain resources, and coverage geographical range, through the beam indication information, so that the local operation can be adjusted, and the signal can be transmitted according to the coverage information of the target beam. Through this method, the network device does not need to configure the coverage information of the target beam for the terminal device through high-level signaling, but quickly configures the beam for the terminal device through the beam indication information. Therefore, this method can improve the efficiency of beam configuration for the terminal device and meet the needs of high-dynamic beam configuration.

[0011] In one possible design, the terminal device can also receive a synchronization signal block from the network device, and determine the time-frequency resource position of the beam indication information based on the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and a first offset; wherein the first offset is the offset between the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and the time-frequency resource position of the beam indication information.

[0012] Through this design, there is an association between the time-frequency resources of the beam indication information and the time-frequency resources of the synchronization signal block. In this way, the terminal device can determine the time-frequency resources of the beam indication information based on the time-frequency resources of the synchronization signal block, thereby improving the efficiency of receiving the beam indication information.

[0013] In one possible design, the first offset is preset; or the first offset is carried in the synchronization signal block or system message.

[0014] In one possible design, the target beam includes at least one of the following: a service beam, a synchronization signal block beam, and a random access channel opportunity RO beam.

[0015] Through this design, the flexibility of the beam type of the network equipment for high-dynamic beam configuration for the terminal device can be improved.

[0016] In one possible design, the beam indication information includes at least one indication information; when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate a second offset, and the second offset includes the offset between the coverage start time of the target beam and the first reference time; or when the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a third offset, and the third offset includes the offset between the starting position of the frequency domain resources of the target beam and the starting position of the first reference frequency domain resources; or when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage geographical range of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate the coverage geographical range.

[0017] Through this design, the beam indication information can indicate the specific content of the coverage information of the target beam through at least one indication information.

[0018] In one possible design, the first reference time is: the start time of the time domain resources of the synchronization signal block, or the start time of the time domain resources of the beam indication information; the first reference frequency domain resource is: the frequency domain resource of the synchronization signal block, or the frequency domain resource of the beam indication information.

[0019] In one possible design, when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the at least one indication information also includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the duration of the coverage of the target beam; or when the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the at least one indication information also includes fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to indicate the frequency domain resource width of the target beam.

[0020] Through this design, the beam indication information can also indicate the coverage duration of the target beam or the frequency domain resource width of the target beam, so as to more completely and accurately indicate the coverage time or frequency domain resources of the target beam.

[0021] In one possible design, the beam indication information also includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein, the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the beam indication information is configured for a terminal device in the first terminal device group; the terminal device belongs to the first terminal device group; or the beam indication information also includes an identification of the terminal device.

[0022] Through this design, the network device can also indicate the receiving object of the beam indication information by carrying an indication of the first terminal device group or an identifier of the terminal device in the beam indication information.

[0023] In one possible design, the at least one indication information is at least one indication sequence; or the beam indication information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the at least one indication information is at least one indication field in the DCI.

[0024] With this design, when the network device performs dynamic beam scheduling, it can notify the terminal device of the coverage information of the target beam through the indication sequence or DCI. The terminal device can quickly determine the coverage information of the target beam through the indication sequence or DCI detection. Since the network device can quickly configure the beam for the terminal device without configuring the coverage information of the target beam for the terminal device through high-level signaling, this design can meet the needs of highly dynamic beam configuration.

[0025] In one possible design, the time-frequency resource location of the DCI is located in the common search space.

[0026] In one possible design, the offset between the common search space and the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block is a fourth offset; or the period of the common search space is the same as the revisit period of the synchronization signal block beam.

[0027] In one possible design, the fourth offset is preset; or the fourth offset is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0028] In one possible design, the DCI is scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier RNTI of a first terminal device group, to which the terminal device belongs; or the DCI is scrambled by a cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the terminal device; or the DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI.

[0029] Through this design, the network device can scramble the DCI carrying beam indication information so that a specific terminal device can parse the DCI and thus perform beam configuration for the specific terminal device.

[0030] In one possible design, the DCI further includes a control field; the control field is used to indicate control information of resource scheduling. For example, the control field of the DCI may indicate control information of a physical downlink shared channel PDSCH.

[0031] In a possible design, when there is a plurality of at least one indicator sequences, the at least one indicator sequence are orthogonal to each other.

[0032] Through this design, the phenomenon of interference occurring when the network device transmits the at least one indication sequence can be reduced.

[0033] In one possible design, when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the terminal device can enter a low power consumption state before the coverage time of the target beam arrives, thereby saving power consumption.

[0034] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a network device, where the network device can refer to the network device itself, or a processor, module, chip, or chip system in the network device that implements the method. The method includes the following steps:

[0035] The network device determines beam indication information; then the network device sends the beam indication information, wherein the beam indication information is used to indicate coverage information of a target beam of the network device; the coverage information of the target beam includes at least one of the following: coverage time of the target beam, frequency domain resources of the target beam, or coverage geographical range of the target beam.

[0036] In one possible design, the network device may also send a synchronization signal block, wherein an offset between a time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and a time-frequency resource position of the beam indication information is a first offset.

[0037] In one possible design, the first offset is preset; or the first offset is carried in the synchronization signal block or system message.

[0038] In one possible design, the target beam includes at least one of the following: a service beam, a synchronization signal block beam, and a random access channel opportunity RO beam.

[0039] In one possible design, the beam indication information includes at least one indication information; when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate a second offset, and the second offset includes the offset between the coverage start time of the target beam and the first reference time; or when the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a third offset, and the third offset includes the offset between the starting position of the frequency domain resources of the target beam and the starting position of the first reference frequency domain resources; or when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage geographical range of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate the coverage geographical range.

[0040] In one possible design, the first reference time is: the start time of the time domain resources of the synchronization signal block, or the start time of the time domain resources of the beam indication information; the first reference frequency domain resource is: the frequency domain resource of the synchronization signal block, or the frequency domain resource of the beam indication information.

[0041] In one possible design, when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the at least one indication information also includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the duration of the coverage of the target beam; or when the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the at least one indication information also includes fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to indicate the frequency domain resource width of the target beam.

[0042] In one possible design, the beam indication information also includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the beam indication information is configured for the terminal devices in the first terminal device group; or the beam indication information also includes an identification of a target terminal device.

[0043] In one possible design, the at least one indication information is at least one indication sequence; or the beam indication information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the at least one indication information is at least one indication field in the DCI.

[0044] In one possible design, the time-frequency resource location of the DCI is located in a common search space.

[0045] In one possible design, the offset between the common search space and the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block is a fourth offset; or the period of the common search space is the same as the revisit period of the synchronization signal block beam.

[0046] In one possible design, the fourth offset is preset; or the fourth offset is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0047] In one possible design, the DCI is scrambled by the radio network temporary identifier RNTI of the first terminal device group; or the DCI is scrambled by the cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the target terminal device; or the DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI.

[0048] In one possible design, the DCI also includes a control field; the control field is used to indicate control information of a physical downlink shared channel PDSCH.

[0049] In a possible design, when there is a plurality of at least one indicator sequences, the at least one indicator sequence are orthogonal to each other.

[0050] The technical effects that can be achieved in the second aspect can refer to the description of the technical effects that can be achieved in the first aspect mentioned above.

[0051] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a terminal device, where the terminal device can refer to the terminal device itself, or a processor, module, chip, or chip system that implements the method in the terminal device. The method includes the following steps:

[0052] A terminal device receives first information from a network device, wherein the first information is used to indicate multiple candidate beam scanning patterns of a target beam of the network device; then the terminal device receives second information from the network device, wherein the second information is used to indicate a first beam scanning pattern; the first beam scanning pattern is one of the multiple candidate beam scanning patterns; finally, the terminal device transmits a signal according to the first beam scanning pattern.

[0053] In this method, the network device can first configure multiple candidate beam scanning modes of the target beam for the terminal device through the first information, and then notify the terminal device to use the candidate beam scanning mode through the second information when a certain candidate beam scanning mode needs to be used. In this way, the network device can quickly and flexibly instruct the terminal device to use the beam scanning mode when there is a switch or a certain beam scanning mode needs to be used. In addition, the network device does not need to instruct the terminal device to use the beam scanning mode of the target beam through high-level signaling, but quickly configures the beam for the terminal device through the second information. Therefore, this method can improve the efficiency of beam configuration for the terminal device and meet the needs of high-dynamic beam configuration.

[0054] In one possible design, the terminal device may also receive a synchronization signal block from the network device; and determine the time-frequency resource position of the second information based on the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and a first offset; wherein the first offset is the offset between the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and the time-frequency resource position of the second information.

[0055] Through this design, there is an association between the time-frequency resources of the second information and the time-frequency resources of the synchronization signal block. In this way, the terminal device can determine the time-frequency resources of the second information based on the time-frequency resources of the synchronization signal block, thereby improving the efficiency of receiving the second information.

[0056] In one possible design, the first offset is preset; or the first offset is carried in the synchronization signal block or system message.

[0057] In one possible design, the target beam includes at least one of the following: a service beam, a synchronization signal block beam, and a random access channel opportunity RO beam.

[0058] In one possible design, the second information includes at least one indication information; wherein, the at least one indication information includes first indication information; the first indication information includes: an index of the first beam scanning mode, or a mode indication sequence; the mode indication sequence is used to indicate the coverage order and / or coverage time of the target beam indicated by the first beam scanning mode for multiple wave positions; or the first indication information is used to indicate a first search space, and the first search space corresponds to the first beam scanning mode.

[0059] Through this design, the network device can indicate the first beam scanning mode to be used through an index, a mode indication sequence, or a first search space.

[0060] In one possible design, the at least one indication information also includes second indication information or third indication information; the second indication information is used to indicate a second offset, and the second offset includes the offset between the start time of the beam scanning period and the first reference time; the third indication information is used to indicate the effective duration of the first beam scanning mode; wherein the effective duration is greater than or equal to the beam scanning period.

[0061] Through this design, the second information can also indicate other relevant content of the first beam scanning mode through other indication information.

[0062] In one possible design, the first reference time is: the start time of the time domain resources of the synchronization signal block, or the start time of the time domain resources of the second information.

[0063] In one possible design, the at least one indication information also includes fourth indication information; the fourth indication information is used to indicate the duration of the beam scanning period.

[0064] In one possible design, the correspondence between the first search space and the first beam scanning mode is preset; or the correspondence between the first search space and the first beam scanning mode is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0065] In one possible design, the first indication information includes an index of the first search space.

[0066] In one possible design, the first search space is a public search space or a dedicated search space.

[0067] In one possible design, the second information also includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the second information is configured for a terminal device in the first terminal device group; the terminal device belongs to the first terminal device group; or the second information also includes an identification of the terminal device.

[0068] Through this design, the network device can also indicate the recipient of the second information (ie, the terminal device that needs to use the first beam scanning mode) by carrying an indication of the first terminal device group or an identifier of the terminal device in the second information.

[0069] In one possible design, the at least one indication information is at least one indication sequence; or the second information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the at least one indication information is at least one indication field in the DCI.

[0070] With this design, when the network device needs to use the first beam scanning mode of the target beam, it can notify the terminal device to use the first beam scanning mode of the target beam through an indication sequence or DCI. The terminal device can quickly determine the first beam scanning mode of the target beam that needs to be used through the indication sequence or DCI detection. Since the network device can quickly configure the beam scanning mode for the terminal device without configuring the beam scanning mode to be used for the terminal device through high-level signaling, this method can meet the needs of high-dynamic beam configuration.

[0071] In one possible design, the DCI is scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier RNTI of a first terminal device group, to which the terminal device belongs; or the DCI is scrambled by a cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the terminal device; or the DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI.

[0072] Through this design, the network device can scramble the DCI carrying the second information so that a specific terminal device can parse the DCI, thereby configuring the beam scanning mode for the specific terminal device.

[0073] In one possible design, the DCI also includes a control field; the control field is used to indicate control information for resource scheduling, such as control information for PDSCH.

[0074] In a possible design, when there is a plurality of at least one indicator sequences, the at least one indicator sequence are orthogonal to each other.

[0075] Through this design, the phenomenon of interference occurring when the network device transmits the at least one indication sequence can be reduced.

[0076] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a network device, where the network device can refer to the network device itself, or a processor, module, chip, or chip system in the network device that implements the method. The method includes the following steps:

[0077] A network device sends first information, wherein the first information is used to indicate multiple candidate beam scanning patterns of a target beam of the network device; then the network device sends second information, wherein the second information is used to indicate a first beam scanning pattern; the first beam scanning pattern is one of the multiple candidate beam scanning patterns; and the network device transmits a signal according to the first beam scanning pattern.

[0078] In one possible design, the network device may also send a synchronization signal block, wherein an offset between a time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and a time-frequency resource position of the second information is a first offset.

[0079] In one possible design, the first offset is preset; or the first offset is carried in the synchronization signal block or system message.

[0080] In one possible design, the target beam includes at least one of the following: a service beam, a synchronization signal block beam, and a random access channel opportunity RO beam.

[0081] In one possible design, the second information includes at least one indication information; wherein, the at least one indication information includes first indication information; the first indication information includes: an index of the first beam scanning mode, or a mode indication sequence; the mode indication sequence is used to indicate the coverage order and / or coverage time of the target beam indicated by the first beam scanning mode for multiple wave positions; or the first indication information is used to indicate a first search space, and the first search space corresponds to the first beam scanning mode.

[0082] In one possible design, the at least one indication information also includes second indication information or third indication information; the second indication information is used to indicate a second offset, and the second offset includes the offset between the start time of the beam scanning period and the first reference time; the third indication information is used to indicate the effective duration of the first beam scanning mode; wherein the effective duration is greater than or equal to the beam scanning period.

[0083] In one possible design, the first reference time is: the start time of the time domain resources of the synchronization signal block, or the start time of the time domain resources of the second information.

[0084] In one possible design, the at least one indication information also includes fourth indication information; the fourth indication information is used to indicate the duration of the beam scanning period.

[0085] In one possible design, the correspondence between the first search space and the first beam scanning mode is preset; or the correspondence between the first search space and the first beam scanning mode is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0086] In one possible design, the first indication information includes an index of the first search space.

[0087] In one possible design, the first search space is a public search space or a dedicated search space.

[0088] In one possible design, the second information further includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the second information is configured for a terminal device in the first terminal device group; or the second information further includes an identification of a target terminal device.

[0089] In one possible design, the at least one indication information is at least one indication sequence; or the second information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the at least one indication information is at least one indication field in the DCI.

[0090] In one possible design, the DCI is scrambled by the radio network temporary identifier RNTI of the first terminal device group; or the DCI is scrambled by the cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the target terminal device; or the DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI.

[0091] In one possible design, the DCI also includes a control field; the control field is used to indicate control information for resource scheduling.

[0092] In a possible design, when there is a plurality of at least one indicator sequences, the at least one indicator sequence are orthogonal to each other.

[0093] The technical effects that can be achieved in the fourth aspect can refer to the description of the technical effects that can be achieved in the third aspect mentioned above.

[0094] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a terminal device, where the terminal device can refer to the terminal device itself, or a processor, module, chip, or chip system that implements the method in the terminal device. The method can include the following steps:

[0095] A terminal device receives indication information from a network device, wherein the indication information is used to indicate a first beam; the first beam is a beam of one beam position among multiple beam positions indicated by a first beam scanning mode; the terminal device determines the time-frequency resource position of the first beam based on the time-frequency resource position and a first offset of the indication information; the terminal device transmits a signal based on the time-frequency resource position of the first beam.

[0096] In this method, the network device can notify the terminal device through indication information before the first beam covers / revisits its beam position. In this way, the terminal device can accurately determine the time-frequency resource position of the first beam based on the time-frequency resource position of the indication information, and then adjust the local operation to transmit the signal based on the time-frequency resource position of the first beam. Through this method, the network device does not need to configure the beam for the terminal device through high-level signaling, but quickly configures the beam for the terminal device through indication information. Therefore, this method can improve the efficiency of beam configuration for the terminal device and meet the needs of high-dynamic beam configuration.

[0097] In one possible design, the first offset is preset, or the first offset is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0098] In one possible design, the indication information includes first information of the first beam, where the first information is used to indicate the geographical coverage range of the first beam or the index of the first beam.

[0099] In one possible design, in order to clearly indicate the receiving object of the indication information, the indication information may also include an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the indication information is configured for a terminal device in the first terminal device group; the terminal device belongs to the first terminal device group; or the indication information may also include an identification of the terminal device.

[0100] In one possible design, the first information is an indication sequence; or the indication information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the first information is an indication field in the DCI.

[0101] Through this design, the network device can notify the terminal device of the time-frequency resource position of the first beam through an indication sequence or DCI, so that the terminal device can learn the coverage information of the first beam as soon as possible, and can adjust the local configuration and transmit the signal according to the time-frequency resource position of the first beam. Since the network device does not need to notify the terminal device of the time-frequency resource position of the first beam through high-level signaling, these two methods can meet the needs of high-dynamic beam configuration.

[0102] In one possible design, the DCI is scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier RNTI of a first terminal device group, to which the terminal device belongs; or the DCI is scrambled by a cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the terminal device; or the DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI.

[0103] Through this design, the network device can scramble the DCI that carries the indication information so that a specific terminal device can parse the DCI, thereby performing beam configuration for the specific terminal device.

[0104] In one possible design, the DCI also includes a control field; the control field is used to indicate control information for resource scheduling.

[0105] In one possible design, the terminal device may also receive configuration information from the network device, where the configuration information is used to indicate a first beam scanning mode.

[0106] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a network device, where the network device can refer to the network device itself, or a processor, module, chip, or chip system in the network device that implements the method. The method includes:

[0107] The network device sends indication information, wherein the indication information is used to indicate a first beam; the first beam is a beam of one beam position among multiple beam positions indicated by a first beam scanning mode; the network device uses the first beam to transmit a signal; and an offset between a time-frequency resource position of the first beam and a time-frequency resource position of the indication information is a first offset.

[0108] In one possible design, the first offset is preset, or the first offset is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0109] In one possible design, the indication information includes first information of the first beam, where the first information is used to indicate the geographical coverage range of the first beam or the index of the first beam.

[0110] In one possible design, the indication information also includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the indication information is configured for the terminal devices in the first terminal device group; or the indication information also includes an identification of a target terminal device.

[0111] In one possible design, the first information is an indication sequence; or the indication information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the first information is an indication field in the DCI.

[0112] In one possible design, the DCI is scrambled by the radio network temporary identifier RNTI of the first terminal device group; or the DCI is scrambled by the cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the target terminal device; or the DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI.

[0113] In one possible design, the DCI also includes a control field; the control field is used to indicate control information of a physical downlink shared channel PDSCH.

[0114] In one possible design, the network device may also send configuration information, where the configuration information is used to indicate the first beam scanning mode.

[0115] The technical effects that can be achieved in the sixth aspect can refer to the description of the technical effects that can be achieved in the fifth aspect mentioned above.

[0116] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising a unit for executing each step of any one of the first to sixth aspects above. Optionally, the communication device may include a communication unit and a processing unit; the communication unit is used to receive and send data, and the processing unit is used to execute the method provided in any one of the above aspects.

[0117] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising a transceiver and a processor; wherein the transceiver is used to receive and send signals; the processor is used to execute program instructions so that the communication device executes the method provided in any of the above aspects. Optionally, the communication device also includes a memory. The memory is used to store program instructions; the processor can read the program instructions in the memory so that the communication device executes the method provided in any of the above aspects.

[0118] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising at least one processing element and at least one storage element, wherein the at least one storage element is used to store programs and data, and the at least one processing element is used to execute the method provided in any one of the above aspects of the present application.

[0119] In the tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, comprising: a terminal device for executing the first aspect and a network device for executing the second aspect; or a terminal device for executing the third aspect and a network device for executing the fourth aspect; or a terminal device for executing the fifth aspect and a network device for executing the sixth aspect.

[0120] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method provided in any of the above aspects. Optionally, the computer may be a communication device such as a terminal device or a network device.

[0121] In a twelfth aspect, the embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer executes the method provided in any of the above aspects. Optionally, the computer can be a communication device such as a terminal device or a network device.

[0122] In the thirteenth aspect, the embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which is used to read a computer program stored in a memory and execute the method provided in any of the above aspects. Optionally, the chip may include a processor, which is coupled to the memory and is used to read the computer program stored in the memory to implement the method provided in the above embodiment. Optionally, the chip may also include components such as a memory, a communication interface, and a power supply module. The memory is used to store a computer program; the communication interface is used to receive and send data; and the power supply unit is used to power the processor.

[0123] In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system, which includes a processor for supporting a computer device to implement the method provided in any of the above aspects. In a possible design, the chip system also includes a memory, which is used to store the necessary programs and data of the computer device. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0124] Figure 1A A beam schematic diagram provided for this application;

[0125] Figure 1B A schematic diagram of a beam hopping technology provided in this application;

[0126] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a typical application scenario of a satellite-ground fusion network provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0127] Figure 3 A flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0128] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of beam indication information provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0129] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the relative relationship between the coverage start time of a target beam and a first reference time provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0130] Figure 6 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0131] Figure 7 A flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0132] Figure 8 A structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0133] Fig. 9 A structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0134] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for providing beam configuration for a terminal device to meet the needs of high dynamic beam configuration. The method and apparatus are based on the same technical concept. Since the principles of solving problems by the method and apparatus are similar, the implementation of the apparatus and the method can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0135] Some terms in this application are explained below to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0136] 1) NTN is proposed in contrast to traditional terrestrial networks. It refers to a network established using non-terrestrial communication technologies, which may include but is not limited to networks that use spectrum resources on satellite platforms, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) platforms, or high altitude platform stations (HAPS) to provide communication services.

[0137] For example, NTN may include, but is not limited to, satellite systems, UAV communication systems, and HAPS systems. According to the height of the satellite from the earth's surface (i.e., the satellite orbit height), the satellite system can be divided into a geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite system, a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite system, and a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite system.

[0138] Compared with terrestrial communication networks, NTN has the characteristics of wider coverage, higher path loss, greater latency, faster speed and lower cost. As the research on NTN increases, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has also conducted standardization research on NTN, and is committed to supplementing or enhancing the communication performance of mobile communication systems through the construction of NTN. For example, 3GPP has started to carry out satellite-ground integration research and related solutions since Release 14 (R14).

[0139] 2) Terminal equipment is a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to users and can access network devices through a wireless interface. Terminal equipment can also be called user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc. In this application, terminal equipment can be fixed or mobile, and this application does not limit this.

[0140] For example, the terminal device can be a handheld device with wireless connection function, various vehicle-mounted devices, roadside units, Internet of Things terminals, access terminals, terminals in V2X communication, user units, user stations, mobile stations, mobile stations, remote stations, remote terminals, mobile devices, user terminals, terminals, wireless communication equipment, user agents or user devices, etc. At present, some examples of terminal devices are: mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MID), smart point of sale (POS), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication functions, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in future 5G networks or terminal devices in future evolved public land mobile networks (PLMNs), wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, and wireless terminals in smart cities. The invention relates to wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, various smart meters (smart water meters, smart electricity meters, smart gas meters), vehicle-mounted electronic control units (ECU), vehicle-mounted computers, vehicle-mounted cruise control systems, telematics boxes (T-BOX), UE units, UE stations, mobile stations, remote stations, remote terminal devices, mobile devices, wireless communication equipment, UE agents, UE devices, etc.

[0141] The terminal device can communicate with the network device directly or through a relay station. The terminal device can communicate with multiple network devices equipped with different communication technologies. For example, the terminal device can communicate with a base station equipped with an LTE network, or with a base station equipped with a 5G network, and can also support dual connection with a base station equipped with an LTE network and a base station equipped with a 5G network.

[0142] 3) Network equipment is an entity with wireless transceiver function on the network side of the communication system. In the embodiment of the present application, the network equipment may include but is not limited to: a base station carried on a satellite (referred to as a satellite base station), a transmission receiving point (transmission receiving point / transmission reception point, TRP) or a distributed unit (distributed unit, DU) carried on a satellite, a satellite ground station in a satellite system (referred to as a ground station), a balloon station, a drone station, etc.

[0143] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the standard of the network device. For example, the network device may be a Node B, an evolved Node B (eNB), a new generation Node B (gNB), or a network device of other standards that continues to evolve based on the above network devices.

[0144] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the type of network equipment. For example, the network equipment may be an access point (AP), a wireless-fidelity (WiFi) AP, a home base station (e.g., home evolved NodeB, or home Node B, HNB), a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, a macro base station, a micro base station, a pico base station, a small station, or a relay station, etc.

[0145] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form used by the network device. The network device may correspond to an eNB in ​​a 4G system and to a gNB in ​​a 5G system.

[0146] In addition, in a network structure, the network device may include a centralized unit (CU) node and a distributed unit (DU) node. This structure can separate the protocol layer of the network device, with some of the functions of the protocol layer being centrally controlled by the CU, and the remaining part or all of the functions of the protocol layer being distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU.

[0147] For example, the functions of the PDCP layer and above protocol layers can be set in the CU, and the functions of the protocol layers below the PDCP (such as the RLC layer and the MAC layer, etc.) can be set in the DU. It should be noted that this division of the protocol layers is only an example, and it can also be divided at other protocol layers. The radio frequency device can be remote and not placed in the DU, or it can be integrated in the DU, or partly remote and partly integrated in the DU, and the embodiments of the present application do not impose any restrictions. In addition, in some embodiments, the control plane (control plan, CP) and user plane (user plan, UP) of the CU can also be separated and divided into different entities for implementation, namely the control plane CU entity (CU-CP entity) and the user plane CU entity (CU-UP entity).

[0148] In this network architecture, the signaling generated by the CU can be sent to the terminal device through the DU, or the signaling generated by the terminal device can be sent to the CU through the DU. The DU can directly encapsulate the signaling through the protocol layer and transparently transmit it to the terminal device or CU without parsing it. In this network architecture, the CU is divided into a network device on the radio access network (RAN) side. In addition, the CU can also be divided as a network device on the core network (CN) side, and this application does not limit this.

[0149] 4) Search space (SS), which is the time-frequency resource configured by the network device for the terminal device to receive information (such as downlink control information (DCI) or other types of control signals).

[0150] In the communication system, the time-frequency resources of the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) are shared, so the time-frequency resources of the PDCCH may be greater than the time-frequency resource requirements of a single terminal device. If the terminal device cannot determine the DCI format, resource aggregation level, radio network temporary identity (RNTI) that the terminal device should use, and other information, the terminal device needs to try multiple combinations to receive DCI, which will reduce the efficiency of the terminal device in receiving DCI and also cause power consumption waste. Based on this, the role of the communication system configuration search space is to provide search configurations for the terminal device in order to narrow the search range of the terminal device and improve the search efficiency of the terminal device.

[0151] According to the receiving object (or the type of information transmitted) of the information transmitted in the search space, the search space can be divided into two types, namely, common search space (CSS) and dedicated search space. Among them, the dedicated search space can also be called UE-specific search space (USS), and USS can be used to represent the dedicated search space later.

[0152] 5) The geographical coverage of the beam can be represented by the beam position or by the physical location information of the beam coverage area (such as coordinates, longitude and latitude, area identification, etc.).

[0153] In the embodiment of the present application, the geographical coverage of the beam, the beam position, and the physical location information of the beam can be interchangeable.

[0154] 6) Synchronization signal block, which is sent periodically by network equipment and used to achieve time and frequency synchronization with network equipment during the cell search process of terminal equipment.

[0155] The first implementation mode: the synchronization signal block includes a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS). In this case, the synchronization signal block can be recorded as a synchronization signal block, or SSB for short.

[0156] The second implementation mode: the synchronization signal block includes not only PSS and SSS, but also physical broadcast channel (PBCH), such as the synchronization signal block defined in the 5G mobile communication system (i.e., new radio (NR) system). In this case, the synchronization signal block can be recorded as a synchronization signal broadcast channel block (SS / PBCH block, or SS / PBCH block).

[0157] The third implementation mode: Based on the structure of the synchronization signal block provided by the above two embodiments, in this implementation mode, the synchronization signal block can be divided into two categories: by default, the synchronization signal block includes PSS, SSS and PBCH. In special cases, the synchronization signal block includes PSS and SSS but does not include PBCH. In this case, the synchronization signal block can also be called the default synchronization signal block.

[0158] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific structure of the synchronization signal block, that is, in the description of the embodiments, the synchronization signal block, SSB, and SS / PBCH block represent the same concept and can be replaced with each other.

[0159] 7) The time involved in the embodiments of the present application can be counted by traditional time units such as seconds, milliseconds, and microseconds, and can also be counted by time units defined for time domain resources in the communication field. Exemplarily, the time unit in the communication field can include but is not limited to: subframe, slot, symbol, etc., and the present application does not limit this.

[0160] 8) RRC connection state. In the communication system, the RRC connection state of the terminal device includes three types: RRC connection state (RRC_connected, referred to as the connection state), RRC idle state (RRC_idle, referred to as the idle state), and RRC inactive state (RRC_inactive, referred to as the inactive state). Among them, the RRC idle state and the RRC inactive state can be collectively referred to as the RRC inactive state.

[0161] When the terminal device is in an idle state, the RRC connection between the terminal device and the network device is released, the network device and the terminal device no longer store the terminal device context information, and the terminal device can receive broadcast information (such as system information) and paging messages sent by the network device.

[0162] When the terminal device is in an inactive state, the RRC connection between the terminal device and the network device is suspended, but the terminal device and the terminal device will continue to save the context information of the terminal device. When the terminal device enters the connected state from the inactive state, the network device and the terminal device can quickly restore the RRC connection between the terminal device and the network device based on the saved context information of the terminal device, so that the terminal device can quickly restore to the connected state.

[0163] When the terminal device is in a connected state, there is an RRC connection between the terminal device and the network device, and the two can communicate based on the RRC connection.

[0164] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "plurality" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can represent: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b and c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0165] In the embodiments of the present application, descriptions such as "when...", "in the case of...", "if" and "if" all mean that the device will make corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances. It does not limit the time, nor does it require the device to have a judgment action when implementing it, nor does it mean that there are other limitations.

[0166] It should be noted that in this application, "used for indication" can include being used for direct indication and being used for indirect indication. When describing that a certain information is used to indicate A, it can include that the information directly indicates A or indirectly indicates A, but it does not mean that the information must carry A. Taking the first information used to indicate the first content as an example, the first information can include the first content, and can also include a part of the first content or an identifier or index of the first content, and can also include an algorithm for determining the first content, a calculation parameter, etc. This application does not limit the method of "indication".

[0167] In the present application, "include / comprising / carry A" may be equivalent to "include / comprising / carry A information". A information is used to indicate A.

[0168] In addition, it should be understood that in the description of the embodiments of the present application, words such as "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish the description purpose, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor can they be understood as indicating or implying order.

[0169] The following is an introduction to several beam-related technologies.

[0170] 1. Beam forming

[0171] With the development of large-scale antenna technology, in order to meet the user's demand for the transmission rate and system capacity of mobile communication systems, beam forming technology has been introduced into mobile communication systems. Beam forming is a signal preprocessing technology based on antenna arrays. It adjusts the weighting system of each array source in the antenna array to generate Figure 1A The directional beam shown in can achieve obvious transmission gain.

[0172] In order to distinguish the direction / coverage range of the beam, the concept of wave position is introduced in the field of communications. Figure 1A As shown, beams of different wave positions point to different directions, and the corresponding coverage ranges will also be different. It should be noted that when the communication device managing the beam is mobile, the coverage range of the beam of the same wave position may also change over time and as the communication device moves. In an embodiment of the present application, the beam can be identified by wave position.

[0173] Beamforming is a signal processing technology that uses a sensor array (i.e., antenna array) to send and receive signals in a directional manner. Beamforming technology adjusts the parameters of the basic unit of the phase array so that signals at certain angles obtain constructive interference, while signals at other angles obtain destructive interference, thereby achieving signal enhancement at certain angles and directions.

[0174] The ultimate goal of beamforming is to establish and maintain appropriate beam pairs between network devices and terminal devices through beam management to ensure signal transmission gain between network devices and terminal devices. In general, the optimal beam pair in the downlink direction is also the optimal beam pair in the uplink direction, which is called beam correspondence.

[0175] On the network device side, the managed beams can be divided into the following types according to the content transmitted by the network device through the beam, but are not limited to:

[0176] Synchronization signal block beam: used by network devices to send synchronization signal blocks.

[0177] Service beam: used by network devices to send service data. According to the uplink and downlink directions, service beams can be divided into uplink service beams and downlink service beams.

[0178] Random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) beam: a beam used by a terminal device to perform random access. The time-frequency resources of the RO beam include RACH resources (eg, RO).

[0179] During beam management and service implementation, network devices can transmit signals through beams of different wavelengths, a process called beam scanning. For example, during beam management, network devices can send corresponding reference signals through different beams. For another example, network devices can transmit service data through different service beams to communicate with multiple terminal devices within the coverage area. For another example, network devices can transmit synchronization signal blocks evenly within the coverage area through different synchronization signal block beams.

[0180] 2. Beam Hopping Technology

[0181] In some scenarios, in order to achieve wide-area coverage, network devices in mobile communication systems are usually equipped with hundreds and thousands of beams, which requires network devices to have a strong antenna array scale and computing efficiency support, resulting in an increase in the load of network devices. However, in some scenarios, reducing the load and improving the coverage are two contradictory research directions for network devices.

[0182] In order to alleviate the contradiction between the load and coverage of network devices, beam hopping technology came into being. Based on beam hopping technology, network devices can be configured with a small number of beams (for example, dozens of beams), and then serve all coverage areas of the network device in a time-sharing manner. That is, the network device switches beams in a time sequence, so that the network device can cover a part of the area through beams in a period of time, and cover another part of the area through beams in another period of time. When the network device covers a certain area or angle through beams again, this phenomenon can be called beam revisit.

[0183] by Figure 1B For example, during the period from time 1 to time 4, the network device's beam coverage order is: beam position 1, beam position 2 -> beam position 3, beam position 4 -> beam position 5, beam position 6 -> beam position 7, beam position 8. The coverage time of each beam position can be the same or different. It should be noted that at the same time, the network device can be configured with one or more beam positions for coverage. Figure 1B This is intended as an example and does not constitute any limitation.

[0184] During the beam scanning period, the coverage order and / or coverage time of beams of different wave positions scheduled by the network device (i.e., the beam scanning rule of the network device) can be called a beam scanning pattern. That is, the beam scanning pattern can indicate the coverage order and / or coverage time of beams for different wave positions. In a mobile communication system, the beam scanning pattern used by the network device can be configured to the terminal device through high-level signaling (e.g., RRC signaling) so that the terminal device can configure antenna parameters by adjusting local operations, thereby using the beam corresponding to the current beam of the network device for transmission. This can save power consumption of the terminal device and ensure the communication efficiency of the terminal device.

[0185] However, due to the complexity and variability of application scenarios, network equipment beam scheduling has high dynamic requirements. For example, due to the large differences in service distribution within the coverage area of ​​network equipment, beam scheduling needs to be performed for specific areas; for some sudden interference, network equipment needs to adjust beams to avoid them; for some sudden services, network equipment needs to schedule beams for coverage support. For such scenarios, the configuration cycle of high-level signaling is relatively long and cannot meet the needs of highly dynamic beam configuration.

[0186] In order to provide beam configuration for terminal equipment to meet the needs of high dynamic beam configuration, the present application provides several embodiments. The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0187] The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to any communication system supporting beam hopping technology. Since network devices in NTN scenarios generally support beam hopping technology, the present application takes the satellite system in NTN as an example to illustrate the communication system to which the embodiment of the present application is applicable.

[0188] In a satellite system, terminal devices on the ground access the network through the air interface. The base station can be deployed on the satellite or on the ground (in this case, the satellite has a relay function). Optionally, part of the functions of the base station can be deployed on the satellite, and the other part can be deployed on the ground. The satellite can communicate with the ground station through a wireless link, and then communicate with the base station and core network in the ground network.

[0189] The functions of each network element in the satellite system are described below.

[0190] Terminal equipment: can access the satellite system through the air interface and initiate calls, surf the Internet and other services. For specific descriptions and examples, please refer to the explanation of terms in point 2) above.

[0191] Base station: provides wireless access services for terminal devices, dispatches wireless resources to access terminal devices, and provides reliable wireless transmission protocols and data encryption protocols, etc. For specific descriptions and examples, please refer to the explanation of the terms for network devices in point 3) above.

[0192] Core network: used to implement services such as user access control, mobility management, session management, user security authentication, and billing. The core network consists of multiple functional units, which can be divided into control plane and data plane functional units.

[0193] Exemplarily, the functional units of the control plane may include: session management function (SMF) network element, access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, unified data management (UDM) entity, policy control function (PCF) entity, etc. AMF network element is responsible for user access management, security authentication, and mobility management. SMF network element is responsible for session management.

[0194] The functional unit of the data plane may include a user plane function (UPF) network element. The UPF network element is mainly responsible for managing functions such as transmission of user plane data, traffic statistics, and secure eavesdropping.

[0195] Ground station: used to connect satellites to the ground network and is responsible for forwarding signaling and service data between the satellite and the base station or core network in the ground network. Ground station can also be called gateway, satellite ground station, earth station, etc.

[0196] According to the satellite communication mode, the satellite system can be divided into the Bentpipe mode and the Regenerative mode. Figure 2 Several typical application scenario examples of satellite-ground fusion networks are shown to illustrate.

[0197] In the transparent transmission mode, the satellite has the function of signal frequency conversion and forwarding. Figure 2 As shown in (a), the terminal device and the satellite, and the satellite and the ground station are connected through an air interface (such as a Uu interface). The satellite is equivalent to a repeater, which is used to forward signals between the satellite and the ground station. The ground station has a communication connection with the base station in the ground network. The base station and the core network (CN) can communicate through the NG interface (such as the N2 interface, the N3 interface, etc.), and the core network and the data network (DN) communicate through the N6 interface.

[0198] Satellite systems in regenerative mode, such as Figure 2 As shown in (b)-(d) in FIG, a satellite can carry a base station or a DU in a base station. The satellite can analyze and process the signal received from the ground station and send the processed signal to the terminal device to achieve signal regeneration.

[0199] like Figure 2 As shown in (b), the satellite is equipped with a base station, and the satellite can be called a satellite base station. The terminal device and the satellite can establish a communication connection through the air interface, and the satellite can establish a communication connection with the core network through the ground station through the NG interface. Optionally, in another scenario, the satellite can also establish a communication connection with the base station in the ground network through the Xn interface, and the base station in the ground network can establish a communication connection with the core network through the NG interface. The core network and DN communicate through the N6 interface.

[0200] like Figure 2 As shown in (c) in the figure, the satellite carries the DU in the base station, and the ground station can be connected to the CU in the base station deployed in the ground network. The terminal device and the satellite can establish a communication connection through the air interface, and the satellite can establish a communication connection with the CU through the ground station through the F1 interface. The interface between the CU, core network, and DN can refer to Figure 2 (b) in the figure will not be described in detail here.

[0201] Figure 2 The application scenario shown in (d) is similar to Figure 2 Compared with the scenario shown in (b) in FIG, communication between satellites (base stations) is added, that is, the terminal device can access the network through one satellite (base station) or multiple satellite base stations. As shown in the figure, satellites (base stations) can communicate with each other through the Xn interface.

[0202] exist Figure 2 In each application scenario shown, a base station (or a CU and a DU in a base station) (e.g., a satellite carrying a base station, a base station located in a ground network, or a satellite carrying a DU and a DU located in a ground network) can use beamforming technology to provide services to terminal devices within its coverage. Since the coverage of a base station in a satellite system is large, the base station can use beam hopping technology to neutralize the contradiction between load and coverage.

[0203] Below Figure 2 The interfaces between network elements in each application scenario shown are described.

[0204] Air interface: refers to the wireless link between the terminal device and the base station. For example, the air interface can be a Uu interface.

[0205] Xn interface: refers to the interface between base stations, mainly used for signaling interaction such as switching.

[0206] NG interface: refers to the interface between the base station and the core network, which mainly exchanges signaling such as the non-access stratum (NAS) of the core network and user service data. Exemplarily, the NG interface may include the N2 interface, the N3 interface, etc.

[0207] It should be noted that Figure 2 Some of the application scenarios shown show one satellite or one ground station. In actual scenarios, a structure of multiple satellites and / or multiple ground stations may be adopted as needed. Each satellite may provide communication services to one or more terminal devices, each ground station may correspond to one or more satellites, and each satellite may correspond to one or more ground stations, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0208] It should be noted that Figure 2The satellite system shown does not constitute a limitation on the communication system to which the embodiments of the present application can be applied. Therefore, the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to various communication systems. In addition, the embodiments of the present application do not limit the mobile communication system format of the ground network in the satellite system. For example, the ground network can be: long term evolution (LTE) communication system, fifth generation (5G) communication system (also known as 5G new radio (NR) system), sixth generation (6G) communication system and future communication system.

[0209] From the above description, we can see that Figure 2 In the communication system supporting beam hopping shown, the network device generally configures the beam scanning mode to the terminal device through high-level signaling. However, there is a high dynamic demand for the beam scheduling of the network device, but the configuration cycle of the high-level signaling is long and cannot meet the demand. Based on this, the present application provides the following embodiments to provide beam configuration for the terminal device to meet the needs of high dynamic beam configuration. The following embodiments or examples can be applied to any communication system that supports beam hopping technology, such as a satellite system in an NTN scenario. Based on this, the network device involved in each embodiment or example is a device that provides access services to the terminal device on the network side, such as a base station, a satellite, a DU, etc.

[0210] Embodiment 1: This embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is referred to below Figure 3 The flowchart shown illustrates the method.

[0211] S301: The network device determines beam indication information and sends the beam indication information. The terminal device receives the beam indication information from the network device. The beam indication information is used to indicate coverage information of a target beam of the network device; the coverage information of the target beam includes at least one of the following: coverage time of the target beam, frequency domain resources of the target beam, or coverage geographical range of the target beam.

[0212] In one embodiment, there is an association between the time-frequency resources of the beam indication information and the time-frequency resources of the synchronization signal block. In this way, the terminal device can determine the time-frequency resources of the beam indication information based on the time-frequency resources of the synchronization signal block, thereby improving the efficiency of receiving the beam indication information.

[0213] In this embodiment, the network device may also send a synchronization signal block through S300. The offset between the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and the time-frequency resource position of the beam indication information is the first offset. After the terminal device receives the synchronization signal block from the network device through S300, it may determine the time-frequency resource position of the beam indication information according to the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and the first offset. For example Figure 4 As shown, the offset between the starting position of the time domain resources of the synchronization signal and the starting position of the time domain resources of the beam indication information is the first offset.

[0214] Optionally, the first offset may be preset, such as specified by a communication protocol. Optionally, the first offset may also be obtained by the network device notifying the terminal device through a message, such as the first offset being carried in the synchronization signal block or system message (e.g., system information block (SIB) or master information block (MIB)), so that the network device can notify the terminal device within the coverage area.

[0215] It should also be noted that when the first offset is equal to the width of the time domain resources and / or frequency domain resources of the synchronization signal block, that is, the end position of the time-frequency resources of the synchronization signal block is the same as the start position of the time-frequency resources of the beam indication information, in other words, the beam indication information and the synchronization signal block can form a new signal. The new signal includes both the traditional synchronization signal block and the beam indication information. The new signal can be called an enhanced synchronization signal block, for example, enhanced SSB (enhance-SSB, E-SSB).

[0216] In one implementation, the beam indication information includes at least one indication information, which respectively indicates different coverage information of the target beam.

[0217] Optionally, based on the difference in the content indicated by the indication information in the beam indication information, the implementation method of the beam indication information is as follows:

[0218] Implementation method 1: When the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes first indication information, and the first indication information can directly or indirectly indicate the coverage start time of the target beam. For example, the first indication information is used to indicate the second offset, and the second offset includes the offset between the coverage start time of the target beam and the first reference time. Exemplarily, the first reference time can be the time domain resource start time of the synchronization signal block, such as Figure 5 As shown in (a); or the first reference time may be the time domain resource start time of the beam indication information, such as Figure 5 As shown in (b) in .

[0219] Implementation method 2: When the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes second indication information, and the second indication information can directly or indirectly indicate the starting position of the frequency domain resources of the target beam. For example, the second indication information is used to indicate a third offset, and the third offset includes the offset between the starting position of the frequency domain resources of the target beam and the starting position of the first reference frequency domain resources. Exemplarily, the first reference frequency domain resources can be, but are not limited to, frequency domain resources of a synchronization signal block, or frequency domain resources of beam indication information.

[0220] Implementation method three: When the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage geographical range of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate the coverage geographical range. Exemplarily, the coverage geographical range of the target beam can be the wave position of the target beam, or the physical location information of the beam coverage area of ​​the target beam, etc.

[0221] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, according to the content indicated by the beam indication information, the beam indication information can be implemented using at least one of the above-mentioned implementation methods, and the present application does not limit this.

[0222] Optionally, in the above implementation mode 1, when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the at least one indication information may also include fourth indication information. The fourth indication information is used to indicate the coverage duration of the target beam. In this way, the terminal device can more accurately determine the coverage time of the target beam through the beam indication information.

[0223] Similarly, in the above implementation mode 2, when the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the at least one indication information may also include fifth indication information. The fifth indication information is used to indicate the frequency domain resource width of the target beam. In this way, the terminal device can more accurately determine the frequency domain resource position of the target beam through the beam indication information.

[0224] In the embodiment of the present application, in order to clearly indicate the recipient of the beam indication information, the beam indication information may include, in addition to the indication information in the above-mentioned implementations, the recipient in the following manner:

[0225] Mode A1: The beam indication information also includes an indication of the first terminal device group. The indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the beam indication information is configured for the terminal devices in the first terminal device group. Based on this, in this embodiment, the terminal device that receives the beam indication information and performs subsequent S302 belongs to the first terminal device group.

[0226] Exemplarily, the indication of the first terminal device group may be a group identifier of the first terminal device group.

[0227] Mode A2: The beam indication information also includes the identifier of the target terminal device. In this case, the beam indication information is configured for the target terminal device. Based on this, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device that receives the beam indication information and executes the subsequent S302 is the target terminal device.

[0228] Based on the description of the beam indication information in this embodiment, the beam indication information can be implemented in but not limited to the following two ways:

[0229] Mode B1: at least one indication information included in the beam indication information is at least one indication sequence.

[0230] Optionally, in mode B1, the network device and the terminal device may maintain a correspondence between multiple indication sequences and indication contents. In this way, the network device may send an indication sequence according to specific indication contents, and the terminal device may also determine specific indication contents based on the received indication sequence.

[0231] Exemplarily, the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, and the beam indication information includes the first indication information for indicating the second offset (i.e., the offset between the coverage start time of the target beam and the first reference time). The correspondence between the indication sequence maintained by the network device and the terminal device and the time offset can be shown in Table 1 below.

[0232] Table 1

[0233] Indicator sequence Time offset Indicator sequence 1 Time offset 1 Indicator sequence 2 Time offset 2 …… …… Indicator sequence n Time offset n

[0234] Among them, the corresponding relationship between the multiple indication sequences and the indication content can be preset, such as stipulated by the communication protocol; or configured by the network device to the terminal device through a message, which is not limited in this application.

[0235] It should also be noted that, in order to avoid interference between multiple indication sequences when the beam indication information includes multiple indication sequences, in the corresponding relationship, different indication sequences used to indicate different indication contents are mutually orthogonal. Based on this, when the number of at least one indication sequence included in the beam indication information is multiple, the at least one indication sequence is mutually orthogonal.

[0236] Furthermore, the multiple indication sequences used to indicate the same indication content in the above correspondence may also be orthogonal to each other. For example, assuming that 8 mutually orthogonal sequences are defined, sequences 1 to 4 are used to indicate the second offset (i.e., time offset), and sequences 5 to 8 are used to indicate the third offset (i.e., frequency domain offset).

[0237] Through mode B1, when the network device performs dynamic beam scheduling, it can notify the terminal device of the coverage information of the target beam through the indication sequence. The terminal device can quickly determine the coverage information of the target beam through indication sequence detection. Since the network device can quickly configure the beam for the terminal device without configuring the coverage information of the target beam for the terminal device through high-level signaling, this method can meet the needs of highly dynamic beam configuration.

[0238] Mode B2: the beam indication information is carried in the DCI, and at least one indication information included in the beam indication information is at least one indication field in the DCI.

[0239] Optionally, in mode B2, the network device and the terminal device may also maintain multiple predefined indication contents (for example, a list of indication content values). In this way, the network device may determine the indication field in the DCI based on the specific indication content, and then generate the DCI; the terminal device may also determine the specific indication content based on the indication field in the received DCI. Optionally, the indication field may indicate the corresponding value of the indication content, or may indicate the index of the indication content in the list of indication content values, etc.; or the network device and the terminal device may maintain a correspondence between multiple predefined indication fields and indication contents.

[0240] Among them, the multiple predefined indication contents can be preset, such as specified in the communication protocol; or configured by the network device to the terminal device through a message, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0241] Exemplarily, assuming that the coverage information of the target beam indicated by the beam indication information includes the coverage time of the target beam and the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the DCI may include the following fields:

[0242] (1) A time offset (Time_Offset) field is used to indicate the offset (i.e., the second offset) between the coverage start time of the target beam and the first reference time. That is, the time offset (Time_Offset) field is the first indication information in the beam indication information. The length of the time offset (Time_Offset) field can be recorded as X bits.

[0243] (2) The frequency domain offset (Frequency_Offset) field is used to indicate the offset between the starting position of the frequency domain resource of the target beam and the starting position of the first reference frequency domain resource (i.e., the third offset). That is, the frequency domain offset (Frequency_Offset) field is the second indication information in the beam indication information. The length of the frequency domain offset (Frequency_Offset) field can be recorded as Y bits.

[0244] (3) Duration field, used to indicate the coverage duration of the target beam. That is, the Duration field is the fourth indication information in the beam indication information. The length of the Duration field can be recorded as Z bits.

[0245] Optionally, in mode B2, the time-frequency resource location of the DCI may be located in a public search space, that is, the network device may send the DCI in the public search space, so that the terminal device may search for the DCI in the public search space.

[0246] In some scenarios, the configuration information of the public search space may be configured by the network device to the terminal device through high-layer signaling.

[0247] In other scenarios, the configuration of the common search space may be predefined, such as specified by a communication protocol, or the common search space may be associated with a synchronization signal block. In the case where the common search space is associated with a synchronization signal block, after receiving the synchronization signal block, the terminal device may determine the common search space, and then search for the DCI carrying the beam indication information in the common search space. Exemplarily, the synchronization signal block may be associated with the common search space in at least one of the following ways:

[0248] (I) The offset between the common search space and the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block is the fourth offset.

[0249] Optionally, the fourth offset may be preset, such as specified by a communication protocol. Optionally, the fourth offset may be carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message, so that the network device may notify the terminal device within the coverage area thereof.

[0250] (II) The period of the common search space is the same as the revisit period of the synchronization signal block beam.

[0251] In mode B2, the DCI carrying the beam indication information may be scrambled in the following manner (eg, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambling) so that a specific terminal device can parse the DCI.

[0252] Mode C1: DCI is scrambled by the radio network temporary indentifier (RNTI) of the first terminal device group. At this time, DCI is sent to the first terminal device group. Based on this, in this embodiment, the terminal device that receives the beam indication information and performs the subsequent S302 belongs to the first terminal device group.

[0253] Through mode C1, the DCI is encrypted by the RNTI of the first terminal device group, indicating that the DCI is configured for the terminal devices in the first terminal device group, and the terminal devices in the first terminal device group can accurately parse the DCI. Therefore, the DCI sent by the network device through mode C1 can be at the terminal device group level, that is, the network device can configure the coverage information of the target beam for the terminal device at the granularity of the group.

[0254] Mode C2: DCI is scrambled by the cell-radio network temporary indentifier (C-RNTI) of the target terminal device. At this time, DCI is sent to the target terminal device. Based on this, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device that receives the beam indication information and executes the subsequent S302 is the target terminal device.

[0255] Through mode C2, the DCI is scrambled by the C-RNTI of the target terminal device, indicating that the DCI is configured for the target terminal device, and only the target terminal device in a connected state can accurately parse the DCI. Therefore, through mode C2, the DCI sent by the network device can be at the terminal device level, that is, the network device can configure the coverage information of the target beam for the terminal device at the granularity of a single terminal device.

[0256] Method C3: DCI is scrambled using a public RNTI.

[0257] Through method C3, all terminal devices with a public RNTI can parse the DCI.

[0258] It should be noted that mode B2 does not limit the type and format of DCI. Optionally, the DCI may be different from the traditional DCI and may be a dedicated small-size DCI for configuring the coverage information of the target beam. In some scenarios, the DCI may be a traditional DCI, and the network device may send the DCI using a service beam. At this time, the DCI may also include a control field, and the control field may indicate control information for resource scheduling. For example, the control field in the DCI may indicate control information for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), that is, the control field may schedule PDSCH for a terminal device so that the terminal device may transmit service data through PDSCH.

[0259] Through method B2, when the network device performs dynamic beam scheduling, it can notify the terminal device of the coverage information of the target beam through DCI. The terminal device can quickly determine the coverage information of the target beam by detecting DCI. Since the network device can quickly configure the beam for the terminal device without configuring the coverage information of the target beam for the terminal device through high-level signaling, this method can meet the needs of highly dynamic beam configuration.

[0260] It should also be noted that in S301, the network device can determine the coverage information of the target beam based on high-dynamic business needs such as business distribution, burst interference, burst business within the coverage area of ​​the network device, and can also combine factors such as the current beam scanning mode of the network device, so as to determine and generate beam indication information, and then indicate the coverage information of the target beam to the terminal devices within the coverage area by sending the beam indication information.

[0261] S302: The terminal device transmits a signal according to the coverage information of the target beam of the network device.

[0262] When the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the terminal device can transmit the signal within the coverage time of the target beam. Optionally, before the coverage time of the target beam arrives, the terminal device can enter a low power consumption state, for example, the terminal device can turn off the RF module, switch to a sleep state, etc.

[0263] When the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the terminal device can transmit signals through the frequency domain resources of the target beam.

[0264] When the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage geographical range of the target beam, the terminal devices within the coverage geographical range can transmit signals based on the coverage time and / or frequency domain resources of the target beam.

[0265] It should also be noted that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the type of target beam. The target beam may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: a service beam, a synchronization signal block beam, and an RO beam. Among them, the service beam may include an uplink service beam and / or a downlink service beam, so that the network device can perform beam configuration for the service beams in the uplink and downlink directions respectively. Depending on the type of the target beam, the signal transmitted by the terminal device when executing S302 is also different. For example, when the target beam is an uplink service beam, the terminal device can send uplink service data in S302; when the target beam is a downlink service beam, the terminal device can receive downlink service data in S302. Optionally, the terminal device can also receive DCI within the coverage time of the target beam, and send the uplink service data or receive the downlink service data according to the authorized resources indicated by the DCI. When the target beam is a synchronization signal block beam, the terminal device can receive the synchronization signal block in S302; when the target beam is an RO beam, the terminal device can initiate a random access process in S302 to send and receive random access related messages.

[0266] In summary, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. In this method, a network device can perform beam configuration for a terminal device by sending beam indication information, and the terminal device can determine at least one coverage information of the target beam, such as coverage time, frequency domain resources, and coverage geographical range, through the beam indication information, so that the local operation can be adjusted, so that the signal can be transmitted according to the coverage information of the target beam. Through this method, the network device does not need to configure the coverage information of the target beam for the terminal device through high-level signaling, but quickly configures the beam for the terminal device through the beam indication information. Therefore, this method can improve the efficiency of beam configuration for the terminal device and meet the needs of high-dynamic beam configuration.

[0267] Embodiment 2: This embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is described below. Figure 6 The method is illustrated in the flow chart shown.

[0268] S601: The network device sends first information. The terminal device receives the first information from the network device. The first information is used to indicate a plurality of candidate beam scanning modes of a target beam of the network device.

[0269] Among them, any candidate beam scanning mode of the target beam specifies scanning rules such as the coverage order and / or coverage time of the target beams at different beam positions within the beam scanning period.

[0270] Optionally, the network device may send the first information via high-layer signaling (eg, RRC signaling).

[0271] S602: The network device sends second information. The terminal device receives the second information from the network device. The second information is used to indicate a first beam scanning mode; the first beam scanning mode is a candidate beam scanning mode among multiple candidate beam scanning modes.

[0272] In one implementation, there is an association between the time-frequency resources of the second information and the time-frequency resources of the synchronization signal block. In this way, the terminal device can determine the time-frequency resources of the second information based on the time-frequency resources of the synchronization signal block, thereby improving the efficiency of receiving the second information.

[0273] In this embodiment, the network device may also send a synchronization signal block through S602a. The offset between the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and the time-frequency resource position of the second information is the first offset, for example, the offset between the time-frequency resource start position of the synchronization signal block and the time-frequency resource start of the second information is the first offset. After the terminal device receives the synchronization signal block from the network device through S602a, it can determine the time-frequency resource position of the second information according to the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and the first offset.

[0274] Optionally, the first offset may be preset, such as specified by a communication protocol. Optionally, the first offset may also be configured by the network device to the terminal device through a message, for example, the first offset may be carried in the synchronization signal block or system message, so that the network device may notify the terminal device within the coverage area.

[0275] In one embodiment, the second information may include at least one indication information. The first indication information included in the at least one indication information may directly or indirectly indicate the first beam scanning mode. Optionally, when the second information also includes other indication information, the other indication information may indicate other related content of the first beam scanning mode.

[0276] Based on the specific form in which the first indication information in the second information indicates the first beam scanning mode, the present application provides the following two implementation methods:

[0277] In a first implementation manner, the first indication information may directly indicate the first beam scanning mode in at least one of the following ways, but is not limited to:

[0278] Mode D1: The first indication information may include an index of the first beam scanning pattern.

[0279] Mode D2: The first indication information may include a mode indication sequence, wherein the mode indication sequence is used to indicate the covering order and / or covering time of different beam positions of the target beam indicated by the first beam scanning mode.

[0280] Exemplarily, assuming that the target beam of the network device includes 6 wave bits, the mode indication sequence is 00 01 1110 00 10; in the mode indication sequence, every two adjacent bits can indicate a wave bit of the target beam, and whether the value of each two bits is 0 can indicate whether the wave bit is covered by the target beam, and the specific value of each two bits can indicate the coverage time of the target beam of the wave bit. Based on this, the meaning of the mode indication sequence is that the coverage order of the target beam is: wave bit 2->wave bit 3->wave bit 4->wave bit 6, and the coverage time of the beams of these wave bits are coverage time 1, coverage time 3, coverage time 2, and coverage time 2, respectively. Optionally, the specific value of each coverage time can be predefined, and the correspondence between the value of the continuous bit used to indicate a wave bit in the mode indication sequence and the coverage time can also be predefined.

[0281] Optionally, in this implementation, the at least one indication information may also include second indication information or third indication information.

[0282] The second indication information may directly or indirectly indicate the start time of the beam scanning period of the target beam. For example, the second indication information is used to indicate the second offset, and the second offset includes the offset between the start time of the beam scanning period and the first reference time. Exemplarily, the first reference time may be, but is not limited to, the time domain resource start time of the synchronization signal block, or the time domain resource start time of the second information.

[0283] The third indication information may indicate the effective duration (i.e., execution length) of the first beam scanning mode, wherein the effective duration is generally greater than or equal to the duration of a beam scanning cycle. In this way, the terminal device may transmit signals according to the first beam scanning mode within the effective duration.

[0284] Optionally, in this implementation, the at least one indication information may further include fourth indication information. The fourth indication information is used to indicate the duration of the beam scanning cycle.

[0285] In a second implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate a first search space, and the first search space corresponds to the first beam scanning mode. In this way, the first indication information can indirectly indicate the first beam scanning mode. Based on this, the terminal device can determine and use the first search space according to the first indication information while determining and using the first beam scanning mode. Through this implementation, the network device can implicitly instruct the terminal device to determine and use the first beam scanning mode of the target beam by instructing the terminal device to use the first search space.

[0286] Optionally, the correspondence between the first search space and the first beam scanning mode can be preset, for example, specified by a communication protocol; or the correspondence between the first search space and the first beam scanning mode is configured by the network device to the terminal device, for example, the network device can carry configuration information of the correspondence in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0287] Exemplarily, the first indication information may be an index of the first search space.

[0288] In addition, in this implementation, the first search space may be a public search space or a dedicated search space, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0289] Optionally, in this implementation, the at least one indication information may also include at least one of the second indication information, the third indication information, or the fourth indication information. For details, please refer to the description in the first implementation, which will not be repeated here.

[0290] In the embodiment of the present application, in order to clearly indicate the recipient of the second information, in addition to including the indication information in the above-mentioned implementation methods, the second information may also indicate the recipient in the following manner:

[0291] Mode E1: The second information also includes an indication of the first terminal device group. The indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the second information is configured for the terminal devices in the first terminal device group. Based on this, in this embodiment, the terminal device that receives the second information and uses the first beam scanning mode belongs to the first terminal device group.

[0292] Exemplarily, the indication of the first terminal device group may be a group identifier of the first terminal device group.

[0293] Mode E2: The second information also includes the identification of the target terminal device. In this case, the second information is configured for the target terminal device. Based on this, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device that receives the second information and uses the first beam scanning mode is the target terminal device.

[0294] Based on the description of the second information in this embodiment, similar to the beam indication information in the first embodiment, the second information may also be implemented in the following two ways, but is not limited to:

[0295] Mode F1: the at least one indication information included in the second information is at least one indication sequence.

[0296] Optionally, in order to avoid interference among the multiple indicator sequences when the number of the at least one indicator sequence included in the second information is multiple, the at least one indicator sequence is orthogonal to each other.

[0297] Optionally, in mode F1, the network device and the terminal device may maintain a correspondence between multiple indication sequences and indication contents. In this way, the network device may send an indication sequence according to the specific indication content, and the terminal device may also determine the specific indication content based on the received indication sequence. Optionally, the above correspondence may be preset, such as specified by a communication protocol; or may be configured by the network device to the terminal device through a message, which is not limited in this application.

[0298] For example, the indication sequence in the second information may include: an indication sequence indicating the first beam scanning mode (for example, the index of the first beam scanning mode, or an indication sequence used to determine the index of the first beam scanning mode), an indication sequence indicating the scanning rule of the first beam scanning mode (for example, the pattern indication sequence in the first implementation method mentioned above, or an indication sequence used to determine the pattern indication sequence); an indication sequence indicating the offset between the start time of the beam scanning period of the first beam scanning mode and the first reference time (i.e., the second offset); an indication sequence indicating the effective duration of the first beam scanning mode, etc.

[0299] For another example, in the second implementation manner, the indicator sequence in the second information is: an indicator sequence indicating the first search space. For example, the indicator sequence in the second information is an index of the first search space, or an indicator sequence used to determine the index of the first search space.

[0300] Through method F1, when the network device needs to use the first beam scanning mode of the target beam, it can notify the terminal device through the indication sequence to determine and use the first beam scanning mode of the target beam. The terminal device can quickly determine the first beam scanning mode of the target beam to be used through the indication sequence detection. Since the network device does not need to configure the beam scanning mode to be used for the terminal device through high-level signaling, it can quickly configure the beam scanning mode for the terminal device. Therefore, this method can meet the needs of high-dynamic beam configuration.

[0301] Mode F2: the second information is carried in the DCI, and the at least one indication information included in the second information is at least one indication field in the DCI.

[0302] Taking the method D2 in the first implementation manner above (that is, the second information includes a mode indication sequence) as an example, the DCI carrying the second information may include the following indication field:

[0303] (1) A beam scanning period time offset (Time_Offset) field is used to indicate the offset between the start time of the beam scanning period of the first beam scanning mode and the first reference time (i.e., the second offset). The length of the beam scanning period time offset (Time_Offset) field can be recorded as P bits.

[0304] (2) A pattern field, whose value is a pattern indication sequence of the first beam scanning mode, used to indicate the scanning rule of the first beam scanning mode. For example, the value of the pattern field may be 00 01 11 10 00 10. The specific content indicated may refer to the description of the example of the pattern indication sequence in the above method D2, which will not be repeated here. The length of the pattern field may be recorded as Q bits.

[0305] (3) An effective duration (Period) field is used for the effective duration of the first beam scanning mode. The length of the effective duration (Period) field may be K bits.

[0306] Taking the above second implementation as an example, in some implementation scenarios, the DCI carrying the second information may include the following indication field: a search space configuration index (SS_config_index) field, used to indicate the search space to be used (i.e., the first search space corresponding to the first beam scanning mode). In other implementation scenarios, the DCI carrying the second information may include the following indication field:

[0307] (1) Common search space configuration index (CSS_config_index) field: When the value of this field is not 0, the value of the bit sequence in this field (i.e., the index of the CSS) is used to indicate the common search space to be used (i.e., the first search space corresponding to the first beam scanning mode is the common search space).

[0308] (2) Dedicated search space configuration index (USS_config_index) field: When the value of this field is not 0, the value of the bit sequence in this field (i.e., the index of the USS) is used to indicate the dedicated search space to be used (i.e., the first search space corresponding to the first beam scanning mode is the dedicated search space).

[0309] Optionally, in mode F2, the DCI carrying the second information may be scrambled in the following manner (eg, CRC scrambling) so that a specific terminal device can parse the DCI.

[0310] Mode G1: DCI is scrambled by the RNTI of the first terminal device group. At this time, the DCI is sent to the first terminal device group. Based on this, in this embodiment, based on this, in this embodiment, the terminal device that receives the second information and uses the first beam scanning mode belongs to the first terminal device group.

[0311] Through mode G1, the DCI is encrypted by the RNTI of the first terminal device group, indicating that the DCI is configured for the terminal devices in the first terminal device group, and the terminal devices in the first terminal device group can accurately parse the DCI. Therefore, the DCI sent by the network device through mode G1 can be at the terminal device group level, that is, the network device can configure the beam scanning mode of the target beam to be used for the terminal device at the granularity of the group.

[0312] Mode G2: DCI is scrambled by the C-RNTI of the target terminal device. In this case, DCI is sent to the target terminal device. Based on this, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device that receives the second information and uses the first beam scanning mode is the target terminal device.

[0313] Through mode G2, the DCI is encrypted by the C-RNTI of the target terminal device, indicating that the DCI is configured for the target terminal device, and only the target terminal device in a connected state can accurately parse the DCI. Therefore, through mode G2, the DCI sent by the network device can be at the terminal device level, that is, the network device can configure the beam scanning mode of the target beam to be used for the terminal device at the granularity of a single terminal device.

[0314] Mode G3: DCI is scrambled using a public RNTI.

[0315] Through mode G3, all terminal devices with a public RNTI can parse the DCI.

[0316] It should be noted that mode F2 does not limit the type and format of DCI. Optionally, the DCI may be different from the traditional DCI and may be a dedicated small-size DCI for the beam scanning mode using the target beam. In some scenarios, the DCI may be a traditional DCI, and the network device may send the DCI using the service beam. In this case, the DCI may also include a control field, which may indicate control information for resource scheduling. For example, the control field in the DCI may indicate control information for the PDSCH.

[0317] Through method F2, when the network device needs to use the first beam scanning mode of the target beam, it can notify the terminal device through DCI to determine and use the first beam scanning mode of the target beam. The terminal device can quickly determine the first beam scanning mode of the target beam to be used by detecting DCI. Since the network device can quickly configure the beam scanning mode for the terminal device without configuring the beam scanning mode to be used for the terminal device through high-level signaling, this method can meet the needs of high-dynamic beam configuration.

[0318] It should also be noted that in S602, the network device can determine the need to use or switch to the first beam scanning mode of the target beam based on high-dynamic business needs such as business distribution, burst interference, burst business within the coverage area of ​​the network device, and factors such as air interface signal quality, thereby generating second information, and then indicating the need to use the first beam scanning mode of the target beam to the terminal devices within the coverage area by sending the second information.

[0319] S603: The network device and the terminal device transmit signals according to the first beam scanning mode.

[0320] In S603, the terminal device can determine the first beam scanning mode of the target beam based on the received second information, and then determine the coverage time (revisit time) of the target beam to the wave position where the target beam is located according to the first beam scanning mode, and then transmit the corresponding signal within the coverage time. In S603, the network device can use the target beam to cover multiple wave positions respectively according to the first beam scanning mode, and transmit the corresponding signal within the coverage time of each wave position.

[0321] Similar to the first embodiment, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the type of target beam. The target beam may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: a service beam, a synchronization signal block beam, and an RO beam. Among them, the service beam may include an uplink service beam and / or a downlink service beam, so that the network device can configure the beam scanning mode for the service beams in the uplink and downlink directions respectively. Depending on the type of the target beam, the signal transmitted by the terminal device within the coverage time of the target beam is also different. For example, when the target beam is an uplink service beam, the terminal device can send uplink service data within the coverage time of the target beam; when the target beam is a downlink service beam, the terminal device can receive downlink service data within the coverage time of the target beam. Optionally, the terminal device can also receive DCI within the coverage time of the target beam, and send the uplink service data or receive downlink service data according to the authorized resources indicated by the DCI. When the target beam is a synchronization signal block beam, the terminal device can receive the synchronization signal block within the coverage time of the target beam. When the target beam is an RO beam, the terminal device can initiate a random access process within the coverage time of the target beam and send and receive random access related messages.

[0322] In summary, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. In this method, the network device can first configure multiple candidate beam scanning modes of the target beam for the terminal device through the first information, and then notify the terminal device through the second information to determine and use a candidate beam scanning mode when a candidate beam scanning mode needs to be used. In this way, the network device quickly and flexibly instructs the terminal device to use the beam scanning mode when there is a switch or a certain beam scanning mode needs to be used. In addition, the network device does not need to instruct the terminal device to use the beam scanning mode of the target beam through high-level signaling, but quickly configures the beam for the terminal device through the second information (such as an indication sequence or DCI). Therefore, this method can improve the efficiency of beam configuration for the terminal device and meet the needs of high dynamic beam configuration.

[0323] Embodiment 3: This embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, see below Figure 7 The flowchart shown illustrates the method.

[0324] S701: The network device sends indication information. The terminal device receives indication information from the network device. The indication information is used to indicate a first beam, and the first beam is a beam of one of the beams of multiple beams indicated by the first beam scanning mode.

[0325] Optionally, before S701, the network device may also send configuration information through S700, where the configuration information is used to indicate a first beam scanning mode, thereby configuring the first beam scanning mode for the terminal device. The first beam scanning mode is a beam scanning rule of the network device, that is, the first beam scanning mode may indicate information such as the coverage order and / or coverage time of the beam for multiple wave positions. The terminal device receives the configuration information from the network device through S700, thereby determining the first beam scanning mode. Optionally, the configuration information may be high-level signaling, such as RRC signaling.

[0326] In one embodiment, the indication information includes first information of the first beam. The first information is used to indicate the coverage geographical range of the first beam or the index of the first beam. Exemplarily, the coverage geographical range of the first beam can be the wave position of the first beam, or the physical location information of the beam coverage area of ​​the first beam, etc.

[0327] In the embodiment of the present application, in order to clearly indicate the receiving object of the indication information, the indication information may, in addition to including the first information of the first beam, also indicate the receiving object in the following manner:

[0328] Mode J1: The indication information also includes an indication of the first terminal device group. The indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the beam indication information is configured for the terminal devices in the first terminal device group. Based on this, in this embodiment, the terminal device that receives the indication information and performs subsequent steps belongs to the first terminal device group.

[0329] Exemplarily, the indication of the first terminal device group may be a group identifier of the first terminal device group.

[0330] Mode J2: The indication information also includes the identification of the target terminal device. In this case, the indication information is configured for the target terminal device. Based on this, in this embodiment, the terminal device that receives the indication information and executes the subsequent steps is the target terminal device.

[0331] Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, the indication may be implemented in the following two ways, but not limited to:

[0332] Mode H1: the first information included in the indication information is an indication sequence.

[0333] Optionally, in this method, the network device and the terminal device can maintain a correspondence between multiple indication sequences and the coverage geographic range of the beam / beam index. In this way, the network device can send an indication sequence according to the coverage geographic range / index of the first beam, and the terminal device can also determine the coverage geographic range / index of the first beam based on the received indication sequence, and then determine the first beam.

[0334] Among them, the corresponding relationship can be preset, such as stipulated by the communication protocol; or it can be configured by the network device to the terminal device through a message, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0335] Mode H2: the indication information is carried in the DCI, and the first information is the indication field in the DCI.

[0336] Optionally, in this method, the network device and the terminal device may also maintain the coverage geographic range / index of multiple predefined beams. In this way, the network device may determine the indication field in the DCI based on the coverage geographic range / index of the first beam, and then generate the DCI; the terminal device may also determine the coverage geographic range / index of the first beam based on the indication field in the received DCI, and then determine the first beam.

[0337] Among them, the coverage geographical range / index of the multiple predefined beams can be preset, such as specified by the communication protocol; or configured by the network device to the terminal device through a message, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0338] In mode H2, the DCI carrying the indication may be scrambled in the following manner (eg, CRC scrambling) so that a specific terminal device can parse the DCI.

[0339] Mode I1: The DCI is scrambled by the RNTI of the first terminal device group. In this case, the DCI is sent to the first terminal device group. Based on this, in this embodiment, the terminal device that receives the indication information and performs subsequent steps belongs to the first terminal device group.

[0340] Through mode I1, the DCI is scrambled by the RNTI of the first terminal device group, indicating that the DCI is configured for the terminal devices in the first terminal device group, and the terminal devices in the first terminal device group can accurately parse the DCI. Therefore, the DCI sent by the network device can be at the terminal device group level, that is, the network device can perform beam configuration for the terminal device at the group granularity.

[0341] Mode I2: DCI is scrambled by the C-RNTI of the target terminal device. In this case, the DCI is sent to the target terminal device. Based on this, in this embodiment, the terminal device that receives the indication information and executes the subsequent steps is the target terminal device.

[0342] Through mode I2, the DCI is scrambled by the C-RNTI of the target terminal device, indicating that the DCI is configured for the target terminal device, and only the target terminal device in the connected state can accurately parse the DCI. Therefore, the DCI sent by the network device can be at the terminal device level, that is, the network device can perform beam configuration for the terminal device at the granularity of a single terminal device.

[0343] Mode I3: DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI. Through this mode I3, all terminal devices with a public RNTI can parse the DCI.

[0344] It should also be noted that mode H2 does not limit the type and format of DCI. Optionally, the DCI may be different from the traditional DCI and may be a dedicated small-size DCI for configuring the coverage information of the target beam. In some scenarios, the DCI may be a traditional DCI, and the network device may send the DCI using a service beam. At this time, the DCI may also include a control field, and the control field may indicate control information for resource scheduling. For example, the control field in the DCI may indicate control information for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), that is, the control field may schedule PDSCH for a terminal device so that the terminal device may transmit service data through PDSCH.

[0345] Through method H1 or method H2, the network device can notify the terminal device of the time-frequency resource position of the first beam through an indication sequence or DCI, so that the terminal device can learn the coverage information of the first beam as soon as possible, and can adjust the local configuration and transmit the signal according to the time-frequency resource position of the first beam. Since the network device does not need to notify the terminal device of the time-frequency resource position of the first beam through high-level signaling, these two methods can meet the needs of high-dynamic beam configuration.

[0346] S702: The terminal device determines the time-frequency resource position of the first beam according to the time-frequency resource position of the indication information and the first offset, wherein the first offset is the offset between the time-frequency resource position of the indication information and the time-frequency resource position of the first beam.

[0347] In other words, the offset between the time-frequency resource position of the first beam and the time-frequency resource position of the indication information is the first offset. That is, after determining the time-frequency resource position of the first beam, the network device can determine the time-frequency resource position of the indication information according to the time-frequency resource position of the first beam, and then send the indication information at the time-frequency resource position of the indication information, so that the terminal device can determine the time-frequency resource position of the first beam through S702. In this way, the network device can indirectly notify the terminal device of the time-frequency resource position of the first beam by sending the indication information.

[0348] For example, the first offset is the offset between the starting position of the time-frequency resources of the indication information and the starting position of the time-frequency resources of the first beam.

[0349] Optionally, the first offset may be preset, such as specified in a communication protocol; or the first offset may be configured by the network device to the terminal device through a message, such as the first offset may be carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0350] S703: The network device transmits a signal using the first beam, and the terminal device may transmit a signal according to the time-frequency resource position of the first beam.

[0351] For example, the terminal device can transmit signals through the frequency domain resources of the first beam within the coverage time of the first beam.

[0352] It should also be noted that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the type of the first beam. The first beam may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: a service beam, a synchronization signal block beam, and an RO beam. Depending on the type of the first beam, the signal transmitted by the terminal device in S703 is also different. For details, please refer to the description in Embodiment 1, which will not be repeated here.

[0353] In summary, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. In this method, the network device can notify the terminal device through indication information before the first beam covers / revisits its beam position. In this way, the terminal device can accurately determine the time-frequency resource position of the first beam based on the time-frequency resource position of the indication information, and then can adjust the local operation to transmit the signal based on the time-frequency resource position of the first beam. Through this method, the network device does not need to configure the beam for the terminal device through high-level signaling, but quickly configures the beam for the terminal device through indication information. Therefore, this method can improve the efficiency of beam configuration for the terminal device and meet the needs of high-dynamic beam configuration.

[0354] It should also be noted that each step involved in the above embodiments or examples can be performed by a corresponding device, or by a module, chip, processor or chip system in the device, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit them. The above embodiments are only described by taking the execution by the corresponding device as an example. In addition, the specific implementation methods or examples in the above embodiments do not limit the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0355] It should be noted that in the above embodiments, some steps can be selected for implementation, and the order of the steps in the diagram can be adjusted for implementation, and this application does not limit this. It should be understood that executing some steps in the diagram, adjusting the order of the steps, or combining them for specific implementation all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0356] It is understandable that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the various devices involved in the above embodiments include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of the various functions. It should be easily appreciated by those skilled in the art that, in combination with the units and method steps of the various examples described in the embodiments disclosed in this application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0357] It can be understood that the above-mentioned network architecture and application scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new services, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0358] It should be noted that the "steps" in the embodiments of the present application are only for illustration, and are a method of expression used to better understand the embodiments, and do not constitute a substantial limitation on the execution of the scheme of the present application. For example, the "steps" can also be understood as "features". In addition, the steps do not constitute any limitation on the execution order of the scheme of the present application. Any changes in the order of steps, step merging, or step splitting made on this basis that do not affect the implementation of the overall scheme, and the resulting new technical solutions are also within the scope of the disclosure of the present application.

[0359] Based on the same technical concept, the present application also provides a communication device, which can be applied to Figure 2 The communication device is used to implement the method provided in the above embodiment, and the communication device can be applied to the terminal device or network device involved in the above embodiment. Figure 8 As shown, the communication device 800 includes a communication unit 801 and a processing unit 802 .

[0360] The communication unit 801 is used to receive and send data, and supports the communication device 800 to communicate with other devices.

[0361] The processing unit 802 is used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 800 and execute the steps executed by the network device or the terminal device in the communication method provided in each of the above embodiments or examples.

[0362] Optionally, the communication device 800 further includes a storage unit for storing program code and / or data of the communication device 800 .

[0363] The communication unit 801 may be referred to as an input / output unit, a transceiver unit, etc., and the communication unit 801 may be a transceiver or a communication interface; the processing unit 802 may be a processor. When the communication device 800 is a module (e.g., a chip) in a communication device, the communication unit 801 may be an input / output interface, an input / output circuit, or an input / output pin, etc., and may also be referred to as an interface, a communication interface, or an interface circuit, etc.; the processing unit 802 may be a processor, a processing circuit, or a logic circuit, etc.

[0364] In one implementation, the communication device 800 may be applied to Figure 3 The terminal device in the embodiment 1 shown. The processing unit 802 is used to:

[0365] Receiving beam indication information from a network device through the communication unit 801, wherein the beam indication information is used to indicate coverage information of a target beam of the network device; the coverage information of the target beam includes at least one of the following: coverage time of the target beam, frequency domain resources of the target beam, or coverage geographical range of the target beam;

[0366] A signal is transmitted through the communication unit 801 according to the coverage information of the target beam of the network device.

[0367] Optionally, the processing unit 802 is further configured to:

[0368] Receiving a synchronization signal block from the network device through the communication unit 801;

[0369] The time-frequency resource position of the beam indication information is determined according to the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and a first offset; wherein the first offset is the offset between the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and the time-frequency resource position of the beam indication information.

[0370] Optionally, the first offset is preset; or the first offset is carried in the synchronization signal block or system message.

[0371] Optionally, the target beam includes at least one of the following: a service beam, a synchronization signal block beam, and a random access channel opportunity RO beam.

[0372] Optionally, the beam indication information includes at least one indication information; when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate a second offset, and the second offset includes the offset between the coverage start time of the target beam and the first reference time; or when the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a third offset, and the third offset includes the offset between the starting position of the frequency domain resources of the target beam and the starting position of the first reference frequency domain resources; or when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage geographical range of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate the coverage geographical range.

[0373] Optionally, the first reference time is: the start time of the time domain resources of the synchronization signal block, or the start time of the time domain resources of the beam indication information; the first reference frequency domain resource is: the frequency domain resource of the synchronization signal block, or the frequency domain resource of the beam indication information.

[0374] Optionally, when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the at least one indication information also includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the duration of the coverage of the target beam; or when the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the at least one indication information also includes fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to indicate the frequency domain resource width of the target beam.

[0375] Optionally, the beam indication information also includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein, the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the beam indication information is configured for a terminal device in the first terminal device group; the terminal device belongs to the first terminal device group; or the beam indication information also includes an identification of the terminal device.

[0376] Optionally, the at least one indication information is at least one indication sequence; or the beam indication information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the at least one indication information is at least one indication field in the DCI.

[0377] Optionally, the time-frequency resource location of the DCI is located in a common search space.

[0378] Optionally, the offset between the common search space and the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block is a fourth offset; or the period of the common search space is the same as the revisit period of the synchronization signal block beam.

[0379] Optionally, the fourth offset is preset; or the fourth offset is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0380] Optionally, the DCI is scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier RNTI of a first terminal device group, to which the terminal device belongs; or the DCI is scrambled by a cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the terminal device; or the DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI.

[0381] Optionally, the DCI also includes a control field; the control field is used to indicate control information of resource scheduling.

[0382] Optionally, when there is a plurality of at least one indicator sequences, the at least one indicator sequence are orthogonal to each other.

[0383] Optionally, when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the processing unit 802 is further used to:

[0384] Before the coverage time of the target beam arrives, the terminal device is controlled to enter a low power consumption state.

[0385] In one implementation, the communication device 800 may be applied to Figure 3 The network device in the embodiment 1 shown. The processing unit 802 is used to:

[0386] determining beam indication information;

[0387] The beam indication information is sent through the communication unit 801, wherein the beam indication information is used to indicate the coverage information of the target beam of the network device; the coverage information of the target beam includes at least one of the following: the coverage time of the target beam, the frequency domain resources of the target beam, or the coverage geographical range of the target beam.

[0388] Optionally, the processing unit 802 is further configured to:

[0389] A synchronization signal block is sent through the communication unit 801, wherein an offset between a time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and a time-frequency resource position of the beam indication information is a first offset.

[0390] Optionally, the first offset is preset; or the first offset is carried in the synchronization signal block or system message.

[0391] Optionally, the target beam includes at least one of the following: a service beam, a synchronization signal block beam, and a random access channel opportunity RO beam.

[0392] Optionally, the beam indication information includes at least one indication information; when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate a second offset, and the second offset includes the offset between the coverage start time of the target beam and the first reference time; or when the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a third offset, and the third offset includes the offset between the starting position of the frequency domain resources of the target beam and the starting position of the first reference frequency domain resources; or when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage geographical range of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate the coverage geographical range.

[0393] Optionally, the first reference time is: the start time of the time domain resources of the synchronization signal block, or the start time of the time domain resources of the beam indication information; the first reference frequency domain resource is: the frequency domain resource of the synchronization signal block, or the frequency domain resource of the beam indication information.

[0394] Optionally, when the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the at least one indication information also includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the duration of the coverage of the target beam; or when the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the at least one indication information also includes fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to indicate the frequency domain resource width of the target beam.

[0395] Optionally, the beam indication information also includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein, the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the beam indication information is configured for the terminal devices in the first terminal device group; or the beam indication information also includes an identification of a target terminal device.

[0396] Optionally, the at least one indication information is at least one indication sequence; or the beam indication information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the at least one indication information is at least one indication field in the DCI.

[0397] Optionally, the time-frequency resource location of the DCI is located in a common search space.

[0398] Optionally, the offset between the common search space and the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block is a fourth offset; or the period of the common search space is the same as the revisit period of the synchronization signal block beam.

[0399] Optionally, the fourth offset is preset; or the fourth offset is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0400] Optionally, the DCI is scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier RNTI of the first terminal device group; or the DCI is scrambled by a cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the target terminal device; or the DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI.

[0401] Optionally, the DCI also includes a control field; the control field is used to indicate control information of resource scheduling.

[0402] Optionally, when there is a plurality of at least one indicator sequences, the at least one indicator sequence are orthogonal to each other.

[0403] In one implementation, the communication device 800 may be applied to Figure 6 The terminal device in the second embodiment shown. The processing unit 802 is used to:

[0404] The communication unit 801 receives first information from the network device, wherein the first information is used to indicate multiple candidate beam scanning modes of a target beam of the network device; the communication unit 801 receives second information from the network device, wherein the second information is used to indicate a first beam scanning mode; the first beam scanning mode is one of the multiple candidate beam scanning modes; and a signal is transmitted through the communication unit 801 according to the first beam scanning mode.

[0405] Optionally, the processing unit 802 is further configured to:

[0406] Receiving a synchronization signal block from the network device through the communication unit 801;

[0407] The time-frequency resource position of the second information is determined according to the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and a first offset; wherein the first offset is the offset between the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and the time-frequency resource position of the second information.

[0408] Optionally, the first offset is preset; or the first offset is carried in the synchronization signal block or system message.

[0409] Optionally, the target beam includes at least one of the following: a service beam, a synchronization signal block beam, and a random access channel opportunity RO beam.

[0410] Optionally, the second information includes at least one indication information; wherein the at least one indication information includes first indication information; the first indication information includes: an index of the first beam scanning mode, or a mode indication sequence; the mode indication sequence is used to indicate the coverage order and / or coverage time of the target beam indicated by the first beam scanning mode for multiple wave positions; or the first indication information is used to indicate a first search space, and the first search space corresponds to the first beam scanning mode.

[0411] Optionally, the at least one indication information also includes second indication information or third indication information; the second indication information is used to indicate a second offset, and the second offset includes the offset between the start time of the beam scanning period and the first reference time; the third indication information is used to indicate the effective duration of the first beam scanning mode; wherein the effective duration is greater than or equal to the beam scanning period.

[0412] Optionally, the first reference time is: the start time of the time domain resources of the synchronization signal block, or the start time of the time domain resources of the second information.

[0413] Optionally, the at least one indication information also includes fourth indication information; the fourth indication information is used to indicate the duration of the beam scanning cycle.

[0414] Optionally, the correspondence between the first search space and the first beam scanning mode is preset; or the correspondence between the first search space and the first beam scanning mode is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0415] Optionally, the first indication information includes an index of the first search space.

[0416] Optionally, the first search space is a public search space or a dedicated search space.

[0417] Optionally, the second information also includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the second information is configured for a terminal device in the first terminal device group; the terminal device belongs to the first terminal device group; or the second information also includes an identification of the terminal device.

[0418] Optionally, the at least one indication information is at least one indication sequence; or the second information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the at least one indication information is at least one indication field in the DCI.

[0419] Optionally, the DCI is scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier RNTI of a first terminal device group, to which the terminal device belongs; or the DCI is scrambled by a cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the terminal device; or the DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI.

[0420] Optionally, the DCI also includes a control field; the control field is used to indicate control information of resource scheduling.

[0421] Optionally, when there is a plurality of at least one indicator sequences, the at least one indicator sequence are orthogonal to each other.

[0422] In one implementation, the communication device 800 may be applied to Figure 6 The network device in the second embodiment shown. The processing unit 802 is used to:

[0423] Sending first information through the communication unit 801, where the first information is used to indicate a plurality of candidate beam scanning modes of a target beam of the network device;

[0424] Second information is sent through the communication unit 801, wherein the second information is used to indicate a first beam scanning mode; the first beam scanning mode is one of the multiple candidate beam scanning modes; and a signal is transmitted through the communication unit 801 according to the first beam scanning mode.

[0425] Optionally, the processing unit 802 is further configured to:

[0426] A synchronization signal block is sent through the communication unit 801, wherein an offset between a time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and a time-frequency resource position of the second information is a first offset.

[0427] Optionally, the first offset is preset; or the first offset is carried in the synchronization signal block or system message.

[0428] Optionally, the target beam includes at least one of the following: a service beam, a synchronization signal block beam, and a random access channel opportunity RO beam.

[0429] Optionally, the second information includes at least one indication information; wherein the at least one indication information includes first indication information; the first indication information includes: an index of the first beam scanning mode, or a mode indication sequence; the mode indication sequence is used to indicate the coverage order and / or coverage time of the target beam indicated by the first beam scanning mode for multiple wave positions; or the first indication information is used to indicate a first search space, and the first search space corresponds to the first beam scanning mode.

[0430] Optionally, the at least one indication information also includes second indication information or third indication information; the second indication information is used to indicate a second offset, and the second offset includes the offset between the start time of the beam scanning period and the first reference time; the third indication information is used to indicate the effective duration of the first beam scanning mode; wherein the effective duration is greater than or equal to the beam scanning period.

[0431] Optionally, the first reference time is: the start time of the time domain resources of the synchronization signal block, or the start time of the time domain resources of the second information.

[0432] Optionally, the at least one indication information also includes fourth indication information; the fourth indication information is used to indicate the duration of the beam scanning cycle.

[0433] Optionally, the correspondence between the first search space and the first beam scanning mode is preset; or the correspondence between the first search space and the first beam scanning mode is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0434] Optionally, the first indication information includes an index of the first search space.

[0435] Optionally, the first search space is a public search space or a dedicated search space.

[0436] Optionally, the second information further includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the second information is configured for terminal devices in the first terminal device group; or the second information further includes an identification of a target terminal device.

[0437] Optionally, the at least one indication information included in the second information is at least one indication sequence; or the second information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the at least one indication information included in the second information is at least one indication field in the DCI.

[0438] Optionally, the DCI is scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier RNTI of the first terminal device group; or the DCI is scrambled by a cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the target terminal device; or the DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI.

[0439] Optionally, the DCI also includes a control field; the control field is used to indicate control information of resource scheduling.

[0440] Optionally, when there is a plurality of at least one indicator sequences, the at least one indicator sequence are orthogonal to each other.

[0441] In one implementation, the communication device 800 may be applied to Figure 7 The terminal device in the third embodiment shown. The processing unit 802 is used to:

[0442] Receiving indication information from a network device through the communication unit 801, wherein the indication information is used to indicate a first beam; the first beam is a beam of a beam position among the beams of multiple beam positions indicated by the first beam scanning mode;

[0443] Determine the time-frequency resource position of the first beam according to the time-frequency resource position of the indication information and the first offset;

[0444] A signal is transmitted according to the time-frequency resource position of the first beam.

[0445] Optionally, the first offset is preset, or the first offset is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0446] Optionally, the indication information includes first information of the first beam, where the first information is used to indicate the coverage geographical range of the first beam or the index of the first beam.

[0447] Optionally, the indication information also includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein, the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the indication information is configured for a terminal device in the first terminal device group; the terminal device belongs to the first terminal device group; or the indication information also includes an identification of the terminal device.

[0448] Optionally, the first information is an indication sequence; or the indication information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the first information is an indication field in the DCI.

[0449] Optionally, the DCI is scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier RNTI of a first terminal device group, to which the terminal device belongs; or the DCI is scrambled by a cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the terminal device; or the DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI.

[0450] Optionally, the DCI also includes a control field; the control field is used to indicate control information of resource scheduling.

[0451] Optionally, the processing unit 802 is further configured to:

[0452] The communication unit 801 receives configuration information from the network device, where the configuration information is used to indicate a first beam scanning mode.

[0453] In one implementation, the communication device 800 may be applied to Figure 7 The network device in the third embodiment shown. The processing unit 802 is used to:

[0454] Sending indication information through the communication unit 801, wherein the indication information is used to indicate a first beam; the first beam is a beam of a beam position among the beams of multiple beam positions indicated by the first beam scanning mode;

[0455] A signal is transmitted using a first beam through the communication unit 801; an offset between a time-frequency resource position of the first beam and a time-frequency resource position of the indication information is a first offset.

[0456] Optionally, the first offset is preset, or the first offset is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

[0457] Optionally, the indication information includes first information of the first beam, where the first information is used to indicate the coverage geographical range of the first beam or the index of the first beam.

[0458] Optionally, the indication information further includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the indication information is configured for terminal devices in the first terminal device group; or

[0459] The indication information also includes the identification of the target terminal device.

[0460] Optionally, the first information is an indication sequence; or the indication information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the first information is an indication field in the DCI.

[0461] Optionally, the DCI is scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier RNTI of the first terminal device group; or the DCI is scrambled by a cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the target terminal device; or the DCI is scrambled by a public RNTI.

[0462] Optionally, the DCI also includes a control field; the control field is used to indicate control information of resource scheduling.

[0463] Optionally, the processing unit 802 is further configured to:

[0464] Configuration information is sent through the communication unit 801, where the configuration information is used to indicate a first beam scanning mode.

[0465] It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiments of the present application is schematic and is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into a processing unit, or may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units.

[0466] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions to enable a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or a processor (processor) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), disk or optical disk and other media that can store program code.

[0467] Based on the above embodiments, the present application also provides a communication device, which can be Figure 2 The terminal device or network device in the communication system shown. The communication device can implement the method in the above embodiment and has the function of the communication device 800. Fig. 9 As shown, the communication device 900 includes: a transceiver 901, a processor 902, and a memory 903. The transceiver 901, the processor 902, and the memory 903 are connected to each other.

[0468] Optionally, the transceiver 901, the processor 902, and the memory 903 are interconnected via a bus 904. The bus 904 may be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus. The bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Fig. 9 Only one thick line is used in the diagram, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0469] The transceiver 901 is used to receive and send signals to achieve communication with other devices.

[0470] The functions of the processor 902 may refer to the description in the above embodiments and will not be described again here.

[0471] Among them, the processor 902 can be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP) or a combination of a CPU and a NP, etc. The processor 902 can further include a hardware chip. The above-mentioned hardware chip can be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD) or a combination thereof. The above-mentioned PLD can be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL) or any combination thereof. When the processor 902 implements the above-mentioned functions, it can be implemented by hardware, and of course, it can also be implemented by hardware executing the corresponding software. The steps of the method disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiments of the present application can be directly reflected as the execution of the processor 902, or as the execution of the combination of hardware and software modules in the processor 902.

[0472] The memory 903 is used to store program instructions, data, etc. Specifically, the program instructions may include program codes, which include computer operation instructions. The memory 903 may include volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM); it may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk memory, hard disk drive (HDD), or solid state drive (SSD). The memory 903 can also be any other medium that can be used to carry or store program codes in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, and this application does not limit this. The processor 902 executes the program instructions stored in the memory 903 to implement the above functions, thereby realizing the method provided in the above embodiment.

[0473] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device and a network device, wherein the terminal device is used to implement the steps performed by the terminal device in the method provided in the above embodiments, and the network device is used to implement the steps performed by the network device in the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0474] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product, which includes a computer program; when the computer program runs on a computer, the computer executes the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0475] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer executes the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0476] Optionally, the above-mentioned computer may include, but is not limited to, communication devices such as terminal devices and network devices.

[0477] The storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. For example, but not limited to, a computer-readable medium may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store the desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer.

[0478] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a chip, which is used to read a computer program stored in a memory to implement the method provided in the above embodiments. Optionally, the chip may include a processor, which is coupled to the memory and is used to read the computer program stored in the memory to implement the method provided in the above embodiments. Optionally, the chip may also include components such as a memory, a communication interface, and a power supply module. The memory is used to store a computer program; the communication interface is used to receive and send data; and the power supply unit is used to power the processor.

[0479] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application provide a chip system, which includes a processor for supporting a computer device to implement the functions involved in the terminal device in the above embodiments. In a possible design, the chip system also includes a memory, which is used to store the necessary programs and data for the computer device. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0480] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application may adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application may adopt the form of a computer program product implemented in one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) that include computer-usable program code.

[0481] The present application is described with reference to the flowchart and / or block diagram of the method, device (system), and computer program product according to the present application. It should be understood that each process and / or box in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the process and / or box in the flowchart and / or block diagram can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce a device for implementing the function specified in one process or multiple processes in the flowchart and / or one box or multiple boxes in the block diagram.

[0482] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to work in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a manufactured product including an instruction device that implements the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0483] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operational steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, whereby the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0484] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, applied to a terminal device, characterized in that: include: Receiving beam indication information from a network device, wherein the beam indication information is used to indicate coverage information of a target beam of the network device; the coverage information of the target beam includes at least one of the following: coverage time of the target beam, frequency domain resources of the target beam, or coverage geographical range of the target beam; A signal is transmitted according to coverage information of a target beam of the network device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving a synchronization signal block from the network device; The time-frequency resource position of the beam indication information is determined according to the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and a first offset; wherein the first offset is the offset between the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and the time-frequency resource position of the beam indication information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that When the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the method further includes: Before the coverage time of the target beam arrives, enter a low power consumption state.

4. A communication method, applied to a network device, characterized in that: include: determining beam indication information; Send the beam indication information, wherein the beam indication information is used to indicate the coverage information of the target beam of the network device; the coverage information of the target beam includes at least one of the following: the coverage time of the target beam, the frequency domain resources of the target beam, or the coverage geographical range of the target beam.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The method further comprises: A synchronization signal block is sent, wherein an offset between a time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and a time-frequency resource position of the beam indication information is a first offset.

6. The method according to claim 2 or 5, characterized in that The first offset is preset; or the first offset is carried in the synchronization signal block or system message.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The beam indication information includes at least one indication information; When the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a second offset, where the second offset includes an offset between the coverage start time of the target beam and a first reference time; or When the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a third offset, and the third offset includes an offset between a starting position of the frequency domain resources of the target beam and a starting position of a first reference frequency domain resource; or When the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage geographical range of the target beam, the at least one indication information includes third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate the coverage geographical range.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The first reference time is: the time domain resource start time of the synchronization signal block, or the time domain resource start time of the beam indication information; The first reference frequency domain resource is: the frequency domain resource of the synchronization signal block, or the frequency domain resource of the beam indication information.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that When the coverage information of the target beam includes the coverage time of the target beam, the at least one indication information further includes fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the coverage duration of the target beam; or When the coverage information of the target beam includes the frequency domain resources of the target beam, the at least one indication information also includes fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to indicate the frequency domain resource width of the target beam.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that: The beam indication information further includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the beam indication information is configured for terminal devices in the first terminal device group; or The beam indication information also includes an identifier of the target terminal device.

11. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that: The at least one indication information is at least one indication sequence; or The beam indication information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the at least one indication information is at least one indication field in the DCI.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The time-frequency resource position of the DCI is located in the public search space.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The offset between the common search space and the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block is a fourth offset; or the period of the common search space is the same as the revisit period of the synchronization signal block beam.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The fourth offset is preset; or the fourth offset is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that: The DCI is scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier RNTI of the first terminal device group; or The DCI is scrambled by the cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the target terminal device.

16. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that When the number of the at least one indicator sequence is plural, the at least one indicator sequence is orthogonal to each other.

17. A communication method, applied to a terminal device, characterized in that: include: receiving first information from a network device, wherein the first information is used to indicate a plurality of candidate beam scanning patterns of a target beam of the network device; receiving second information from the network device, wherein the second information is used to indicate a first beam scanning mode; the first beam scanning mode is a candidate beam scanning mode among the multiple candidate beam scanning modes; A signal is transmitted according to the first beam scanning pattern.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving a synchronization signal block from the network device; Determine the time-frequency resource position of the second information based on the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and the first offset; wherein the first offset is the offset between the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and the time-frequency resource position of the second information.

19. A communication method, applied to a network device, characterized in that: include: Sending first information, where the first information is used to indicate multiple candidate beam scanning patterns of a target beam of the network device; Sending second information, wherein the second information is used to indicate a first beam scanning mode; the first beam scanning mode is a candidate beam scanning mode among the multiple candidate beam scanning modes; A signal is transmitted according to the first beam scanning pattern.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: The method further comprises: Send a synchronization signal block, wherein the offset between the time-frequency resource position of the synchronization signal block and the time-frequency resource position of the second information is a first offset.

21. The method according to claim 18 or 20, characterized in that The first offset is preset; or the first offset is carried in the synchronization signal block or system message.

22. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that: The second information includes at least one indication information; Wherein, the at least one indication information includes first indication information; The first indication information includes: an index of the first beam scanning mode, or a mode indication sequence; the mode indication sequence is used to indicate the coverage order and / or coverage time of the target beam indicated by the first beam scanning mode to multiple beam positions; or The first indication information is used to indicate a first search space, and the first search space corresponds to the first beam scanning mode.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein: The at least one indication information further includes second indication information or third indication information; The second indication information is used to indicate a second offset, where the second offset includes an offset between a start time of a beam scanning period and a first reference time; The third indication information is used to indicate the effective duration of the first beam scanning mode; wherein the effective duration is greater than or equal to the beam scanning period.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein: The first reference time is: the start time of the time domain resources of the synchronization signal block, or the start time of the time domain resources of the second information.

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that The at least one indication information also includes fourth indication information; the fourth indication information is used to indicate the duration of the beam scanning cycle.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein: The correspondence between the first search space and the first beam scanning mode is preset; or the correspondence between the first search space and the first beam scanning mode is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

27. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 26, characterized in that The second information further includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the second information is configured for a terminal device in the first terminal device group; or The second information also includes an identifier of the target terminal device.

28. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 27, characterized in that The at least one indication information is at least one indication sequence; or The second information is carried in downlink control information DCI, and the at least one indication information is at least one indication field in the DCI.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein: The DCI is scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier RNTI of the first terminal device group; or The DCI is scrambled by the cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the target terminal device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein: When the number of the at least one indicator sequence is plural, the at least one indicator sequence is orthogonal to each other.

31. A communication method, applied to a terminal device, characterized in that: include: Receiving indication information from a network device, wherein the indication information is used to indicate a first beam; the first beam is a beam of one beam position among a plurality of beam positions indicated by a first beam scanning mode; Determine the time-frequency resource position of the first beam according to the time-frequency resource position of the indication information and the first offset; A signal is transmitted according to the time-frequency resource position of the first beam.

32. A communication method, applied to a network device, characterized in that: include: Sending indication information, wherein the indication information is used to indicate a first beam; the first beam is a beam of one beam position among a plurality of beam positions indicated by a first beam scanning mode; A first beam is used to transmit a signal; an offset between a time-frequency resource position of the first beam and a time-frequency resource position of the indication information is a first offset.

33. The method according to claim 31 or 32, characterized in that The first offset is preset, or the first offset is carried in a synchronization signal block or a system message.

34. The method according to any one of claims 31 to 33, characterized in that The indication information includes first information of the first beam, where the first information is used to indicate the coverage geographical range of the first beam or the index of the first beam.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein: The indication information further includes an indication of a first terminal device group; wherein the indication of the first terminal device group is used to identify that the indication information is configured for terminal devices in the first terminal device group; or The indication information also includes the identification of the target terminal device.

36. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A communication unit for receiving and sending data; A processing unit, configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 35.

37. A communication device, characterized in that: include: transceiver, used to receive and send signals; A processor, configured to execute program instructions so that the communication device executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 35.

38. A communication system, characterized in that: include: A terminal device for executing any one of claims 1 to 3 or 6 to 16, and a network device for executing any one of claims 4 to 16; or A terminal device for executing any one of claims 17, 18 or 21-30, and a network device for executing any one of claims 19-30; or A terminal device for executing any one of claims 31 or 33-35, and a network device for executing any one of claims 32-35.

39. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 35.

40. A chip, characterized in that: The chip includes a processor; the processor is coupled to a memory, and the processor is used to read a computer program stored in the memory, so that the chip executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 35.

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