Communication method and device

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a communication method and device. The method comprises: a first communication device receiving first indication information from a second communication device, the first indication information being used for determining a first failure time range of a first beam, the first beam currently serving a first cell where the first communication device is located; determining a second beam and a second scheduling-free resource, the effective time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell being overlapped with the first failure time range, the second scheduling-free resource being used for scheduling-free transmission when the second beam serves the first cell; and sending second indication information to a second communication device, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating that a beam and a scheduling-free resource used by the first communication device for transmitting data are a second beam and a second scheduling-free resource respectively. According to the technical scheme provided by the invention, the new beam can be switched to perform data transmission during the failure period of the current beam, so that the transmission continuity and the transmission efficiency are improved, and the signaling overhead is saved.

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] Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) are networks or network segments that use airborne or satellite-borne vehicles to board transmission equipment relay nodes or base stations. Compared with traditional terrestrial networks, an important feature of non-terrestrial networks is that the base stations are in the air or in space. In addition, non-terrestrial networks have the characteristics of large cell areas, large distances from terminals to base stations, and high-speed movement of base stations.

[0003] NTN network can process signals by weight through large-scale antenna arrays, concentrate signal energy in a smaller range, and form a signal similar to a light beam, called a beam, to resist free space loss and ensure transmission quality. NTN network can also divide cells into multiple virtual cells, each virtual cell corresponds to a beam. Due to the large number of virtual cells and the limited number of antennas on the base station side, it is difficult for NTN network to cover all virtual cells at the same time. Therefore, the base station will use periodic beam scanning to cover the area, that is, construct a group of beams pointing to a group of virtual cells at one time point, and construct another group of beams pointing to another group of different virtual cells at the next time point. When all virtual cells are covered within a certain period of time, the base station restarts a new round of beam scanning. In order to ensure the transmission quality requirements of different channels, the number of cells covered and the service time of beams of different channels can also be different. However, due to the large number of virtual cells, no matter which channel, the beam scanning time to achieve complete regional coverage through NTN network will be very long, so the actual communication time available for each virtual cell is very short.

[0004] Faced with the wide coverage, long distance, and high latency of NTN networks, dynamic scheduling-based transmission may be difficult to meet the latency requirements of services. Therefore, scheduling-free transmission is usually used in NTN networks to reduce transmission latency. In scheduling-free transmission, before uplink transmission, the terminal does not need to obtain the time-frequency resources and transmission parameters used for sending data by monitoring the dynamic authorization of the base station, but uses pre-configured time-frequency resources and transmission parameters to send data to the base station. The time-frequency resources and transmission parameters used for data transmission are usually configured by the base station through high-level signaling.

[0005] Scheduling-free transmission can reduce the signaling overhead and delay caused by dynamic authorization and improve transmission efficiency. However, direct application to the NTN network will cause the following problems: In the existing scheduling-free transmission mechanism, except for the base station indicating changes in scheduling-free resources through signaling reconfiguration, transfer scheduling and other signaling, the terminal defaults to scheduling-free resources that are always effective. However, for the NTN network that achieves regional coverage through beam scanning, the service of a single beam in a certain cell is not always effective, that is, the base station will not always serve the terminal. This will cause the data transmission between the terminal and the base station to fail during the beam failure period, affecting the transmission efficiency. Summary of the invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device that can switch to a new beam for data transmission during the failure of the current beam, which helps to improve transmission continuity and transmission efficiency and save signaling overhead.

[0007] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a first communication device, and the method includes:

[0008] Receiving first indication information from a second communication device, where the first indication information is used to determine a first failure time range of a first beam, where the first beam currently serves a first cell where the first communication device is located;

[0009] Determine a second beam and a second scheduling-free resource, wherein a valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first invalid time range, and the second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during a period in which the second beam serves the first cell;

[0010] Send second indication information to the second communication device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the non-scheduling resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are the second beam and the second non-scheduling resource, respectively.

[0011] Optionally, the first communication device may be a terminal device, or a device in a terminal device (e.g., a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit). The second communication device may be a network device, or a device in a network device (e.g., a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit).

[0012] Through the above embodiment, the second communication device sends the first indication information to the first communication device, which is used to indicate the time range (i.e., the first failure time range) in which the first beam cannot serve the first cell where the first communication device is located. After receiving the first indication information, the first communication device can learn the first failure time range of the first beam, and accordingly the first communication device can avoid invalid data transmission on the failed beam resource. In addition, the first communication device can autonomously determine the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, wherein the effective time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range, and the second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the second beam serves the first cell. Accordingly, the first communication device can use the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam for data transmission during the failure of the first beam, thereby avoiding the situation in which the first beam cannot be transmitted during the failure of the first beam, which helps to improve transmission continuity, thereby shortening transmission delay and improving transmission efficiency. In addition, compared with reconfiguring or activating effective scheduling-free resources by sending reconfiguration signaling or activation signaling by the second communication device, the present application scheme is to autonomously switch resources by the first communication device, so that less signaling resources are required, which can save signaling overhead.

[0013] In a possible implementation, when the second indication information is sent on the second beam, the second indication information also indicates that the second beam is switched from the first beam, and the second scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource; wherein the first scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the first beam serves the first cell.

[0014] Through the above implementation, the first communication device can send the second indication information to the second communication device on the second beam, and the second indication information indicates that the second beam is switched from the first beam, and the second scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource. Accordingly, the second communication device can determine the beam and scheduling-free resource before and after the switching according to the second indication information.

[0015] In a possible implementation manner, the first indication information includes: indication information of the first beam and indication information of the first failure time range.

[0016] Through the above implementation, the first indication information includes indication information of the first beam and indication information of the first expiration time range. Accordingly, the first communication device can determine the first beam according to the indication information of the first beam, and determine the first expiration time range according to the indication information of the first expiration time range.

[0017] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the first failure time range includes: the start time of the first failure time range, and / or a first failure condition; the first failure condition includes: the signal quality of the first beam does not meet a first preset quality requirement; the method further includes:

[0018] measuring a signal quality of the first beam;

[0019] The time within a preset time period during which the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement is determined as the start time of the first failure time range.

[0020] Through the above implementation, the indication information of the first failure time range may include the start time of the first failure time range, and the first communication device can directly obtain the start time of the first failure time range from the indication information. The indication information of the first failure time range may also include the first failure condition, and the first communication device can determine the start time of the first failure time range according to the time when the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first failure condition.

[0021] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the first expiration time range includes: an end time of the first expiration time range.

[0022] Through the above implementation, the indication information of the first expiration time range may also include the end time of the first expiration time range, which is used to indicate the time when the first beam becomes effective again, that is, the first beam can serve the first cell again from the end time of the first expiration time range.

[0023] In a possible implementation manner, determining the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource includes:

[0024] Determine at least one candidate beam, wherein a valid time range in which each candidate beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range;

[0025] Determine at least one candidate scheduling-free resource associated with the at least one candidate beam, where a valid time interval of each candidate scheduling-free resource associated with the candidate beam is included in a valid time range in which the candidate beam is allowed to serve the first cell;

[0026] Determine the second scheduling-free resource from the at least one candidate scheduling-free resource, and determine the candidate beam associated with the second scheduling-free resource as the second beam;

[0027] Among them, the time interval between the start time of the valid time interval of the second scheduling-free resource and the start time of the first expiration time range meets the interval requirement, and / or the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource meets the quality requirement.

[0028] Through the above implementation, the second scheduling-free resource can be selected according to the principle of time proximity, so that the effective start time of the second scheduling-free resource is close to the expiration time of the first beam. Accordingly, before the first beam is about to expire, when it expires, or within a short time after it expires, the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource can be used to continue transmission, which helps to shorten the transmission interruption caused by beam failure, thereby helping to improve transmission continuity and further improve transmission efficiency. The second scheduling-free resource can also be selected according to the principle of optimal quality, so that the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource is higher. Accordingly, during the validity period of the first beam, the second beam with higher channel quality and the second scheduling-free resource can be used to continue transmission, which helps to ensure transmission quality.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the second indication information further indicates a first time, where the first time is the start time of using the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource.

[0030] Through the above implementation, the second indication information also indicates the first time, accordingly, the second communication device can determine the occurrence time of switching from the first non-scheduled resource of the first beam to the second non-scheduled resource of the second beam according to the second indication information, so as to use the corresponding resources to complete data reception before and after the switching.

[0031] In a possible implementation manner, the first time is no later than the start time of the first failure time range.

[0032] Through the above implementation, the first time is no later than the starting time of the first failure time range, that is, switching to the second non-scheduling resource of the second beam before or when the first non-scheduling resource of the first beam fails, thereby facilitating seamless connection of data transmission before and after switching, and further ensuring transmission continuity.

[0033] In a possible implementation, the second indication information further indicates a mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the second scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align data transmission processes before and after switching from the first scheduling-free resource to the second scheduling-free resource.

[0034] Through the above implementation, the second indication information also indicates the mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the second scheduling-free resource. Based on this, the second communication device can identify the data correlation on the resources before and after the switching according to the mapping relationship, so as to realize the joint processing of the same data packet transmitted on different resources, obtain the merging gain, and avoid the loss of merging performance due to resource switching.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0036] Determine a third beam and a third scheduling-free resource, wherein a valid time range during which the third beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with a first invalid time range of the first beam or a second invalid time range of the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during a period during which the third beam serves the first cell;

[0037] Send third indication information to the second communication device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the non-scheduling resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are the third beam and the third non-scheduling resource, respectively.

[0038] Through the above implementation, the first communication device can also independently determine the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource, wherein the effective time range in which the third beam is allowed to serve the first cell may overlap with the first failure time range, and the third scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the third beam serves the first cell. Accordingly, the first communication device can use the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam for data transmission during the failure of the first beam, thereby avoiding the situation that the first beam cannot be transmitted during the failure of the first beam, and realizing flexible adjustment of the resources used for data transmission. The effective time range in which the third beam is allowed to serve the first cell may also overlap with the second failure time range, and the third scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the third beam serves the first cell. Accordingly, the first communication device can use the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam for data transmission during the failure of the second beam, thereby avoiding the situation that the second beam cannot be transmitted during the failure of the second beam, and realizing flexible adjustment of the resources used for data transmission.

[0039] In a possible implementation, when the third indication information is sent on the third beam, the third indication information also indicates that the third beam is switched from the first beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource; or, the third indication information also indicates that the third beam is switched from the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the second scheduling-free resource.

[0040] Through the above implementation, the first communication device can send the third indication information to the second communication device on the third beam, and the third indication information can indicate that the third beam is switched from the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the second scheduling-free resource, or can indicate that the third beam is switched from the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the second scheduling-free resource. Accordingly, the second communication device can determine the beams and scheduling-free resources before and after the switching according to the third indication information.

[0041] In a possible implementation manner, the start time of the second expiration time range is the end time of a valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell.

[0042] Through the above implementation, the starting time of the second expiration time range is the end time of the effective time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell. Based on this, the first communication device can autonomously determine the expiration time of the second beam, and then continue to perform resource switching to flexibly adjust the resources used to transmit data.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0044] Fourth indication information is received from the second communication device, where the fourth indication information is used to determine a second failure time range of the second beam.

[0045] Through the above-mentioned implementation, the second communication device sends fourth indication information to the first communication device, which is used to indicate the second expiration time range of the second beam. Based on this, the second communication device can flexibly adjust the expiration time of the second beam so that the first communication device can flexibly adjust the resources used to transmit data, which helps to adapt to the scenario of unbalanced resource load.

[0046] In a possible implementation manner, the fourth indication information includes: indication information of the second beam and indication information of the second expiration time range.

[0047] Through the above implementation, the fourth indication information includes indication information of the second beam and indication information of the second expiration time range. Accordingly, the first communication device can determine the second beam according to the indication information of the second beam, and determine the second expiration time range according to the indication information of the second expiration time range.

[0048] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the second failure time range includes: the start time of the second failure time range, and / or, a second failure condition; the second failure condition includes: the signal quality of the second beam does not meet a second preset quality requirement; the method further includes:

[0049] measuring a signal quality of the second beam;

[0050] The time within a preset time period during which the signal quality of the second beam does not meet the second preset quality requirement is determined as the start time of the second failure time range.

[0051] Through the above implementation, the indication information of the second expiration time range may include the start time of the second expiration time range, and the first communication device may directly obtain the start time of the second expiration time range from the indication information. The indication information of the second expiration time range may also include a second expiration condition, and the first communication device may determine the start time of the second expiration time range according to the time when the signal quality of the second beam does not meet the second expiration condition.

[0052] In a possible implementation manner, the start time of the second expiration time range is earlier than the end time of the valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell.

[0053] Through the above implementation, the start time of the second expiration time range is earlier than the end time of the valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell, thereby enabling the second beam to be invalidated in advance, which helps to adapt to the scenario of unbalanced resource load.

[0054] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the second expiration time range includes: the end time of the second expiration time range.

[0055] Through the above implementation, the indication information of the second expiration time range may also include the end time of the second expiration time range, which is used to indicate the time when the second beam becomes effective again, that is, the second beam can serve the first cell again from the end time of the second expiration time range.

[0056] In a possible implementation, the third indication information also indicates a second time, and the second time is the start time of using the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource.

[0057] Through the above-mentioned implementation, the third indication information also indicates the second time. Accordingly, the second communication device can determine the occurrence time of switching from the first non-scheduling resource of the first beam or the second non-scheduling resource of the second beam to the third non-scheduling resource of the third beam according to the third indication information, so as to use the corresponding resources to complete data reception before and after the switching.

[0058] In a possible implementation manner, the second time is not later than the start time of the first expiration time range, or the second time is not later than the start time of the second expiration time range.

[0059] Through the above implementation, the second time is no later than the starting time of the first failure time range, that is, before or when the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam fails, the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam is switched to, and the second time is no later than the starting time of the second failure time range, that is, before or when the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam fails, the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam is switched to. This helps to ensure seamless connection of data transmission before and after switching, further ensuring transmission continuity.

[0060] In a possible implementation, the third indication information also indicates a mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align the data transmission process before and after switching from the first scheduling-free resource to the third scheduling-free resource; or, the third indication information also indicates a mapping relationship between the second scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align the data transmission process before and after switching from the second scheduling-free resource to the third scheduling-free resource.

[0061] Through the above implementation, the third indication information also indicates the mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource or the second scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource. Based on this, the second communication device can identify the data correlation on the resources before and after the switching according to the mapping relationship, thereby enabling joint processing of the same data packet transmitted on different resources to obtain the merging gain and avoid the loss of merging performance due to resource switching.

[0062] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a second communication device, and the method includes:

[0063] Sending first indication information to a first communication device, where the first indication information is used to determine a first expiration time range of a first beam, where the first beam currently serves a first cell where the first communication device is located;

[0064] receiving second indication information from the first communication device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the scheduling-free resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are respectively the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource;

[0065] The effective time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first invalid time range, and the second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period in which the second beam serves the first cell.

[0066] Optionally, the first communication device may be a terminal device, or a device in a terminal device (e.g., a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit). The second communication device may be a network device, or a device in a network device (e.g., a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit).

[0067] In a possible implementation, when the second indication information is received on the second beam, the second indication information also indicates that the second beam is switched from the first beam, and the second scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource; wherein the first scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the first beam serves the first cell.

[0068] In a possible implementation manner, the first indication information includes: indication information of the first beam and indication information of the first failure time range.

[0069] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the first expiration time range includes: the start time of the first expiration time range, and / or the first expiration condition;

[0070] The first failure condition includes: the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement; the time within a preset time period during which the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement is used to determine the start time of the first failure time range.

[0071] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the first expiration time range includes: an end time of the first expiration time range.

[0072] In a possible implementation manner, the valid time interval of the second scheduling-free resource is included in the valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell;

[0073] The time interval between the start time of the valid time interval of the second scheduling-free resource and the start time of the first expiration time range meets the interval requirement, and / or the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource meets the quality requirement.

[0074] In a possible implementation, the second indication information further indicates a first time, where the first time is the start time of using the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource.

[0075] In a possible implementation manner, the first time is no later than the start time of the first failure time range.

[0076] In a possible implementation, the second indication information further indicates a mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the second scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align data transmission processes before and after switching from the first scheduling-free resource to the second scheduling-free resource.

[0077] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0078] receiving third indication information from the first communication device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that a beam and a scheduling-free resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource, respectively;

[0079] The effective time range during which the third beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range of the first beam or the second failure time range of the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the third beam serves the first cell.

[0080] In a possible implementation, when the third indication information is received on the third beam, the third indication information also indicates that the third beam is switched from the first beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource; or, the third indication information also indicates that the third beam is switched from the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the second scheduling-free resource.

[0081] In a possible implementation manner, the start time of the second expiration time range is the end time of a valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell.

[0082] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0083] Send fourth indication information to the first communication device, where the fourth indication information is used to determine a second failure time range of the second beam.

[0084] In a possible implementation manner, the fourth indication information includes: indication information of the second beam and indication information of the second expiration time range.

[0085] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the second expiration time range includes: the start time of the second expiration time range, and / or, the second expiration condition;

[0086] The second failure condition includes: the signal quality of the second beam does not meet the second preset quality requirement; the time within a preset time period during which the signal quality of the second beam does not meet the second preset quality requirement is used to determine the start time of the second failure time range.

[0087] In a possible implementation manner, the start time of the second expiration time range is earlier than the end time of the valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell.

[0088] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the second expiration time range includes: the end time of the second expiration time range.

[0089] In a possible implementation, the third indication information also indicates a second time, and the second time is the start time of using the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource.

[0090] In a possible implementation manner, the second time is not later than the start time of the first expiration time range, or the second time is not later than the start time of the second expiration time range.

[0091] In a possible implementation, the third indication information also indicates a mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align the data transmission process before and after switching from the first scheduling-free resource to the third scheduling-free resource; or, the third indication information also indicates a mapping relationship between the second scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align the data transmission process before and after switching from the second scheduling-free resource to the third scheduling-free resource.

[0092] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes a module or unit for executing the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

[0093] In a possible implementation, the device includes:

[0094] a transceiver unit, configured to receive first indication information from a second communication device, wherein the first indication information is used to determine a first failure time range of a first beam, wherein the first beam currently serves a first cell where the first communication device is located;

[0095] a processing unit, configured to determine a second beam and a second scheduling-free resource, wherein a valid time range during which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first invalid time range, and the second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during which the second beam serves the first cell;

[0096] The transceiver unit is further used to send second indication information to the second communication device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the scheduling-free resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource respectively.

[0097] In a possible implementation, when the second indication information is sent on the second beam, the second indication information also indicates that the second beam is switched from the first beam, and the second scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource; wherein the first scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the first beam serves the first cell.

[0098] In a possible implementation manner, the first indication information includes: indication information of the first beam and indication information of the first failure time range.

[0099] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the first failure time range includes: a start time of the first failure time range, and / or a first failure condition; the first failure condition includes: a signal quality of the first beam does not meet a first preset quality requirement; the processing unit is further configured to:

[0100] measuring a signal quality of the first beam;

[0101] The time within a preset time period during which the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement is determined as the start time of the first failure time range.

[0102] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the first expiration time range includes: an end time of the first expiration time range.

[0103] In a possible implementation manner, when determining the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, the processing unit is specifically configured to:

[0104] Determine at least one candidate beam, wherein a valid time range in which each candidate beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range;

[0105] Determine at least one candidate scheduling-free resource associated with the at least one candidate beam, where a valid time interval of each candidate scheduling-free resource associated with the candidate beam is included in a valid time range in which the candidate beam is allowed to serve the first cell;

[0106] Determine the second scheduling-free resource from the at least one candidate scheduling-free resource, and determine the candidate beam associated with the second scheduling-free resource as the second beam;

[0107] Among them, the time interval between the start time of the valid time interval of the second scheduling-free resource and the start time of the first expiration time range meets the interval requirement, and / or the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource meets the quality requirement.

[0108] In a possible implementation, the second indication information further indicates a first time, where the first time is the start time of using the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource.

[0109] In a possible implementation manner, the first time is no later than the start time of the first failure time range.

[0110] In a possible implementation, the second indication information further indicates a mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the second scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align data transmission processes before and after switching from the first scheduling-free resource to the second scheduling-free resource.

[0111] In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit is further used to: determine a third beam and a third scheduling-free resource, where a valid time range during which the third beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with a first failure time range of the first beam or a second failure time range of the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during a period during which the third beam serves the first cell;

[0112] The transceiver unit is further used to send third indication information to the second communication device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the scheduling-free resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource, respectively.

[0113] In a possible implementation, when the third indication information is sent on the third beam, the third indication information also indicates that the third beam is switched from the first beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource; or, the third indication information also indicates that the third beam is switched from the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the second scheduling-free resource.

[0114] In a possible implementation manner, the start time of the second expiration time range is the end time of a valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell.

[0115] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further used to: receive fourth indication information from the second communication device, where the fourth indication information is used to determine a second expiration time range of the second beam.

[0116] In a possible implementation manner, the fourth indication information includes: indication information of the second beam and indication information of the second expiration time range.

[0117] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the second expiration time range includes: a start time of the second expiration time range, and / or a second expiration condition; the second expiration condition includes: a signal quality of the second beam does not meet a second preset quality requirement; the processing unit is further configured to:

[0118] measuring a signal quality of the second beam;

[0119] The time within a preset time period during which the signal quality of the second beam does not meet the second preset quality requirement is determined as the start time of the second failure time range.

[0120] In a possible implementation manner, the start time of the second expiration time range is earlier than the end time of the valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell.

[0121] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the second expiration time range includes: the end time of the second expiration time range.

[0122] In a possible implementation, the third indication information also indicates a second time, and the second time is the start time of using the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource.

[0123] In a possible implementation manner, the second time is not later than the start time of the first expiration time range, or the second time is not later than the start time of the second expiration time range.

[0124] In a possible implementation, the third indication information also indicates a mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align the data transmission process before and after switching from the first scheduling-free resource to the third scheduling-free resource; or, the third indication information also indicates a mapping relationship between the second scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align the data transmission process before and after switching from the second scheduling-free resource to the third scheduling-free resource.

[0125] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes a module or unit for executing the method described in the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

[0126] In a possible implementation, the device includes:

[0127] A transceiver unit, configured to send first indication information to a first communication device, wherein the first indication information is used to determine a first expiration time range of a first beam, and the first beam currently serves a first cell where the first communication device is located;

[0128] The transceiver unit is further used to receive second indication information from the first communication device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the scheduling-free resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are respectively the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource;

[0129] The effective time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first invalid time range, and the second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period in which the second beam serves the first cell.

[0130] In a possible implementation, when the second indication information is received on the second beam, the second indication information also indicates that the second beam is switched from the first beam, and the second scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource; wherein the first scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the first beam serves the first cell.

[0131] In a possible implementation manner, the first indication information includes: indication information of the first beam and indication information of the first failure time range.

[0132] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the first expiration time range includes: the start time of the first expiration time range, and / or the first expiration condition;

[0133] The first failure condition includes: the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement; the time within a preset time period during which the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement is used to determine the start time of the first failure time range.

[0134] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the first expiration time range includes: an end time of the first expiration time range.

[0135] In a possible implementation manner, the valid time interval of the second scheduling-free resource is included in the valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell;

[0136] The time interval between the start time of the valid time interval of the second scheduling-free resource and the start time of the first expiration time range meets the interval requirement, and / or the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource meets the quality requirement.

[0137] In a possible implementation, the second indication information further indicates a first time, where the first time is the start time of using the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource.

[0138] In a possible implementation manner, the first time is no later than the start time of the first failure time range.

[0139] In a possible implementation, the second indication information further indicates a mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the second scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align data transmission processes before and after switching from the first scheduling-free resource to the second scheduling-free resource.

[0140] In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

[0141] receiving third indication information from the first communication device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that a beam and a scheduling-free resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource, respectively;

[0142] The effective time range during which the third beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range of the first beam or the second failure time range of the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the third beam serves the first cell.

[0143] In a possible implementation, when the third indication information is received on the third beam, the third indication information also indicates that the third beam is switched from the first beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource; or, the third indication information also indicates that the third beam is switched from the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the second scheduling-free resource.

[0144] In a possible implementation manner, the start time of the second expiration time range is the end time of a valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell.

[0145] In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver unit is further configured to:

[0146] Send fourth indication information to the first communication device, where the fourth indication information is used to determine a second failure time range of the second beam.

[0147] In a possible implementation manner, the fourth indication information includes: indication information of the second beam and indication information of the second expiration time range.

[0148] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the second expiration time range includes: the start time of the second expiration time range, and / or, the second expiration condition;

[0149] The second failure condition includes: the signal quality of the second beam does not meet the second preset quality requirement; the time within a preset time period during which the signal quality of the second beam does not meet the second preset quality requirement is used to determine the start time of the second failure time range.

[0150] In a possible implementation manner, the start time of the second expiration time range is earlier than the end time of the valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell.

[0151] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the second expiration time range includes: the end time of the second expiration time range.

[0152] In a possible implementation, the third indication information also indicates a second time, and the second time is the start time of using the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource.

[0153] In a possible implementation manner, the second time is not later than the start time of the first expiration time range, or the second time is not later than the start time of the second expiration time range.

[0154] In a possible implementation, the third indication information also indicates a mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align the data transmission process before and after switching from the first scheduling-free resource to the third scheduling-free resource; or, the third indication information also indicates a mapping relationship between the second scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align the data transmission process before and after switching from the second scheduling-free resource to the third scheduling-free resource.

[0155] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, the communication device includes a processor, the processor is coupled to a memory, and can be used to execute a computer program or instruction in the memory to implement the method described in any aspect or any possible implementation of the first to second aspects above. Optionally, the communication device also includes a memory. Optionally, the communication device also includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface.

[0156] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program or instructions are stored. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the method described in any aspect or any possible implementation method of the above-mentioned first to second aspects is implemented.

[0157] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the method described in any aspect or any possible implementation method of the first to second aspects above is implemented.

[0158] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, the chip including a processor, the processor being used to execute a computer program or instruction, when the processor executes the computer program or instruction, the method described in any one of the first to second aspects or any possible implementation method is implemented. Optionally, the chip also includes a communication interface, the communication interface being used to receive or send a signal.

[0159] In the ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, which includes a logic circuit and an input / output interface, and the logic circuit is used to couple with the input / output interface to transmit data through the input / output interface to execute the method described in any aspect of the first to second aspects above or any possible implementation method.

[0160] In the tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes a communication device as described in the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect, and a communication device as described in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0161] In the eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes a first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device is used to execute the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, and the second communication device is used to execute the method described in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0162] The beneficial effects brought about by the above-mentioned second to eleventh aspects can refer to the description of the beneficial effects in the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0163] In addition, in the process of executing the method described in any one of the first aspect to the second aspect and any possible implementation method, the process of sending information and / or receiving information in the above method can be understood as a process in which the processor outputs information, and / or a process in which the processor receives input information. When outputting information, the processor can output the information to the transceiver (or communication interface, or sending module) so that it can be transmitted by the transceiver. After the information is output by the processor, it may also need to be processed in other ways before it reaches the transceiver. Similarly, when the processor receives input information, the transceiver (or communication interface, or sending module) receives the information and inputs it into the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver receives the information, the information may need to be processed in other ways before it is input into the processor.

[0164] Based on the above principle, for example, the sending information mentioned in the above method can be understood as the processor outputting information. For another example, the receiving information can be understood as the processor receiving input information.

[0165] Optionally, for the operations of transmitting, sending and receiving involved in the processor, if there is no special explanation, or if they do not conflict with their actual functions or internal logic in the relevant descriptions, they can be more generally understood as operations such as processor output, reception and input.

[0166] Optionally, in the process of executing the method described in any aspect of the first to second aspects and any possible implementation method, the processor may be a processor specifically used to execute these methods, or a processor that executes these methods by executing computer instructions in a memory, such as a general-purpose processor. The memory may be a non-transitory memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM), which may be integrated with the processor on the same chip or may be separately arranged on different chips. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the type of memory and the arrangement of the memory and the processor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0167] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0168] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of beam scanning to achieve regional coverage;

[0169] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of transmission failure caused by beam failure;

[0170] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0171] Figure 4 It is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0172] Figure 5 It is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0173] Figure 6 It is a flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0174] Figure 7 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0175] Figure 8 is a structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0176] Fig. 9 is a structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0177] Fig.10It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0178] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0179] In this application, the words "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the words "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the related concepts in a concrete way.

[0180] The "first", "second", etc. mentioned in the embodiments of the present application do not limit the quantity and execution order, and the "first", "second", etc. do not limit them to be necessarily different. In addition, the terms "include", "comprise", "include", and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but optionally includes steps or units that are not listed, or optionally includes other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0181] The "embodiment" mentioned in this article means that the specific features, structures or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It can be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that in the various embodiments of the present application, if there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between the various embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0182] It should be understood that in the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "And / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the objects associated 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 mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0183] In the description of this application, "indication" may include direct indication and indirect indication, and may also include explicit indication and implicit indication. The information indicated by a certain information is called information to be indicated. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated. For example, the information to be indicated may be directly indicated, such as indicating the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated. For another example, the information to be indicated may be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, and there is a correlation between the indicated other information and the information to be indicated. For another example, only a part of the information to be indicated may be indicated, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or agreed in advance. In addition, the indication of specific information may be achieved by means of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (such as specified in the protocol), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent.

[0184] For ease of understanding, the following first introduces the technical terms and related technical knowledge that may be involved in the embodiments of this application. The terms used in the implementation method part of this application are only used to explain the specific embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit this application.

[0185] 1. Antenna port

[0186] Antenna port is a logical concept. An antenna port can correspond to one physical transmit antenna or multiple physical transmit antennas. From the perspective of the terminal, regardless of whether the channel is formed by a single physical transmit antenna or a combination of multiple physical transmit antennas, the reference signal (RS) corresponding to this antenna port defines this antenna port. For example, the antenna port corresponding to the demodulation reference signal (DMRS) is the DMRS port. The terminal can obtain the channel estimate of this antenna port based on this reference signal. Each antenna port corresponds to a time / frequency resource grid and has its own reference signal. An antenna port is a channel, and the terminal can perform channel estimation and data demodulation based on the reference signal corresponding to this antenna port.

[0187] 2. Beam

[0188] A beam is a communication resource. A beam can be a wide beam, a narrow beam, or other types of beams. The technology for forming a beam can be a beamforming technology or other technical means. The beamforming technology can specifically be a digital beamforming technology, an analog beamforming technology, or a hybrid digital / analog beamforming technology. Different beams can be considered as different resources, and the same information or different information can be sent through different beams.

[0189] Optionally, multiple beams with the same or similar communication characteristics may be considered as one beam. One beam may be formed by one or more antenna ports and used to transmit data channels, control channels, and sounding signals, etc. One or more antenna ports forming one beam may be considered as an antenna port set.

[0190] Beams include transmit beams and receive beams. A transmit beam refers to the distribution of signal strength in different directions of space after the signal is transmitted by an antenna, and a receive beam refers to the distribution of wireless signals in different directions of space that are strengthened or weakened by the antenna array.

[0191] In the current New Radio (NR) protocol, beam information can be indicated by the quasi-colocation (QCL) relationship of antenna ports. Specifically, it can be indicated in indication information, such as downlink control information (DCI), that a resource (or antenna port) has a quasi-colocation relationship with another resource (or antenna port) to indicate that the beams corresponding to the two resources (or antenna ports) have one or more identical or similar spatial characteristics (or parameters) and can be received using the same receiving beam.

[0192] The beam can be represented in the protocol by various signal identifiers, such as the resource index of the channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), the index of the synchronous signal / physical broadcast channel block (SSB), the resource index of the sounding reference signal (SRS), and the resource index of the tracking reference signal (TRS).

[0193] In addition, in general, a beam corresponds to a DMRS port or a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) or a sounding reference signal resource indicator (SRS resource indicator, SRI), so different beams can also be represented by different DMRS ports or TCI or SRI.

[0194] In addition, the beam can also be associated with bandwidth part (BWP) information. When the satellite has multi-color multiplexing, the beam can point to a BWP. Multi-color multiplexing means using color to indicate the frequency or polarization mode corresponding to the beam, where one color can represent one frequency or one polarization mode, such as left hand circular polarization (LHCP) or right hand circular polarization (RHCP).

[0195] 3. Quasi-co-location relationship

[0196] Quasi colocation (QCL) relationship is used to indicate that beams (or resources) corresponding to multiple antenna ports have one or more identical or similar communication characteristics. For multiple resources having a QCL relationship, the same or similar communication configuration can be used.

[0197] Specifically, antenna ports having a QCL relationship have the same parameters, or the parameters of one antenna port (also referred to as QCL parameters) can be used to determine the parameters of another antenna port having a QCL relationship with the antenna port, or the two antenna ports have the same parameters, or the parameter difference between the two antenna ports is less than a certain threshold. The parameters may include one or more of the following: delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average delay, average gain, and spatial reception parameters. The spatial reception parameters may include one or more of the following: angle of arrival (AOA), average AOA, AOA spread, angle of departure (AOD), average AOD, AOD spread, receiving antenna spatial correlation parameters, transmitting antenna spatial correlation parameters, transmitting beam, receiving beam, and resource identifier.

[0198] 4. Transmission configuration instructions

[0199] The transmission configuration indicator (TCI) can be used to indicate the QCL information of the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) / physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Specifically, a maximum of M transmission configuration indication states (TCI-states) can be configured by the high-level signaling parameter (PDSCH-config) to indicate the reference signal that satisfies the QCL relationship with the DMRS of the PDCCH / PDSCH. The value of M depends on the terminal capability. Each TCI-state defines one or more reference signals that satisfy the QCL relationship with the DMRS of the PDSCH. In the TCI-state, the reference signal index can be used to indicate the reference signal that satisfies the QCL relationship with the DMRS of the PDCCH / PDSCH.

[0200] 5. Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) Satellite

[0201] GEO satellites are also called geostationary satellites. The movement speed of GEO satellites is the same as the earth's rotation system, so GEO satellites remain stationary relative to the ground. Correspondingly, the GEO satellite cells are also stationary. GEO satellite cells have a large coverage area, and the average cell diameter is 500km.

[0202] 6. Low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites

[0203] LEO satellites are non-stationary satellites. LEO satellites move relatively fast relative to the ground, about 7 km / s, so the coverage area provided by LEO satellites also moves accordingly. There are two modes of cells projected by LEO satellites on the ground, namely, fixed cells and moving cells.

[0204] A stationary cell is a cell projected onto the ground and is stationary relative to the ground. The LEO satellite in the sky adjusts the antenna angle to cover the same position on the ground. When this LEO satellite cannot cover the ground, another LEO satellite takes over. The mapping method of a stationary cell means that the position of the cell is stationary on the ground, and the moving satellite forms these cells by adjusting its beam. For example, at time A1: cells 1 and 2 are covered by the beam of satellite 1, and cells 3 and 4 are covered by the beam of satellite 2; at time A2: although satellites 1 and 2 are moving to the left, they can still adjust their beams to ensure coverage of cells 1, 2, 3, and 4; at time A3: compared to time A1, satellites 1 and 2 have moved far enough, and satellite 1 can no longer provide coverage for cell 2 by adjusting its beam, and satellite 2 can no longer provide coverage for cell 4 by adjusting its beam, but satellite 2 can provide coverage for cell 2, and satellite 3 can provide coverage for cell 4.

[0205] Mobile cells, that is, cells projected onto the ground, move with the LEO satellite. During the movement, the antenna direction of the LEO satellite remains unchanged. For example, the antenna of the LEO satellite is always perpendicular to the ground. The mapping method of mobile cells means that the mobile satellite does not dynamically adjust its beam direction. The beam generated by the mobile satellite moves on the ground as the satellite moves. For example, at time A1: area 1 is covered by cells 1, 2, 3, and 4 of satellites 1 and 2; at time A3: area 1 is covered by cells 2, 3, 4, and 5 of satellites 1, 2, and 3.

[0206] 7. Non-terrestrial network beam solution

[0207] Like terrestrial networks, base stations in non-terrestrial networks (NTN) adjust their antennas to form different beams (including digital beams, analog beams, etc.) to serve terrestrial cells. Unlike terrestrial networks, NTN networks have multiple beam schemes, such as earth fix beams, quasi earth fix beams, and earth moving beams. Earth fixed beams always cover the same geographical area on the earth, such as GEO satellite scenarios. Quasi earth fixed beams cover a specific geographical area during a given time period and cover different geographical areas during another time period. Earth moving beams cover different geographical areas from one moment to the next. For example, LEO satellite scenarios often use the latter two types of beams. Regardless of the scheme, a certain ground physical area of ​​the NTN network will have a beam pointing to it at a certain moment to provide it with a beam.

[0208] Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) are an important part of the 5th generation (5G) and future networks. They can be defined as networks or network segments that use airborne or spaceborne vehicles to board transmission equipment relay nodes or base stations. Compared with traditional terrestrial networks, an important feature of non-terrestrial networks is that the base stations are in the air or in space. In addition, NTN networks have the following major characteristics:

[0209] (1) Large cell area. The cell area of ​​NTN network is larger than that of traditional terrestrial network. For example, the diameter of satellite network cell is on the order of 100 km.

[0210] (2) The distance between the terminal and the base station is large. Taking the satellite network as an example, the distance between the low earth orbit (LEO) satellite base station and the terminal is greater than 600 km, and the distance between the medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite base station and the geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite base station and the terminal is even greater. In addition, the distance between different terminals and the base station in the same cell varies significantly. The distance between the terminal and the base station varies with the satellite elevation angle, and the maximum distance is about 3 times the minimum distance.

[0211] Taking a LEO satellite base station with an orbital altitude of 600km as an example, the distance from the terminal to the base station is 600~1933km, the round-trip delay from the terminal to the satellite is 4~12.88ms, and the free space loss from the terminal to the base station is 177~187dB. Taking a LEO satellite base station with an orbital altitude of 1200km as an example, the distance from the terminal to the base station is 1200~3600km, the round-trip delay from the terminal to the satellite is 8~20.87ms, and the free space loss from the terminal to the base station is 183~193dB.

[0212] (3) High-speed movement of base stations. In an NTN network composed of LEO satellite base stations, satellites move at high speed along the orbit. Taking a LEO satellite base station with an orbital altitude of 600 km as an example, the satellite's movement speed is as high as 7 km / s. For a cell with a diameter of 100 km, the satellite's service time may be only a few minutes.

[0213] The cell diameter of NTN network is generally between 100 and 1000 km. Faced with such a large cell range, NTN network often adopts some specific methods to achieve communication coverage of the cell.

[0214] First, in order to resist free space loss, the NTN network performs weighted processing on the signal through a large-scale antenna array, concentrating the signal energy in a smaller range to form a light beam-like signal, called a beam, thereby ensuring transmission quality.

[0215] Second, the NTN network divides the cell into multiple virtual cells. For example, the diameter of the virtual cell is 10 to 20 km, and each virtual cell corresponds to a beam. In the protocol 3gpp 38.821, the virtual cell is called the beam footprint, which is the ground area pointed by the beam. It should be understood that a cell can contain N beam foot prints, where N is greater than or equal to 1. When N = 1, the virtual cell can be considered as a cell. Depending on the beam operation mode, the cell pointed to by the beam footprint is also different.

[0216] For example, in the fixed cell solution, the position of the beam foot print is fixed, and at different times, the NTN network generates different beams to point to the area. For another example, in the moving cell solution, the position of the beam foot print is mobile, and the same beam points to different ground areas at different times. However, it can be understood that no matter which of the above solutions is used, the terminal can obtain the beam information serving it based on the signal associated with the beam.

[0217] Due to the large number of virtual cells (for example, hundreds or thousands) and the limited number of antennas on the base station side, it is difficult for the NTN network to cover all virtual cells at the same time. Therefore, the base station will use periodic beam scanning to cover the area, that is, at one point in time, a group of beams are constructed to point to a group of virtual cells, and at the next point in time, another group of beams are constructed to point to another different group of virtual cells. When all virtual cells are covered within a certain period of time, the base station restarts a new round of beam scanning.

[0218] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of beam scanning to achieve regional coverage. Among them, the ellipse represents a virtual cell. At time point b1, a group of beams are constructed to point to a group of virtual cells (for example, including virtual cells shown by 4 solid ellipses). At time point b2, another group of beams are constructed to point to another group of virtual cells (for example, including virtual cells shown by 4 dashed ellipses). According to the method of periodic beam scanning to achieve regional coverage, the terminal in the virtual cell shown by the solid ellipse does not have a directional beam sent by the base station at time b2, that is, the terminal cannot receive the signal from the base station at this time, and conversely, the base station cannot receive the signal sent by the terminal (there is no beam gain, and the terminal signal received by the base station is extremely weak and basically cannot be demodulated normally), that is, the terminal is in a coverage blind spot. It should be understood that Figure 1 This is just an example, and the grouping method of virtual cells (such as the number of virtual cell groups, the number and positions of virtual cells in each group, etc.) is not limited thereto.

[0219] Third, in order to ensure the transmission quality requirements of different channels, the number of cells covered and the service time of the beams of different channels are also different. For example, the beam width of the synchronization signal broadcast channel block is large, which can cover multiple virtual cells at a time and shorten the access time; for another example, the beam carrying the data channel is narrow, covering one virtual cell at a time to ensure communication quality. However, due to the large number of virtual cells, no matter which channel, the beam scanning time to achieve complete area coverage through the NTN network will be very long, so the actual communication time available for each virtual cell is very short. For example, the service time of a single beam may be only about 1 / 10 of the service time of a single satellite.

[0220] In the face of the wide coverage, long distance, and high latency NTN network, scheduling-based transmission may be difficult to meet the latency requirements of the service. Therefore, scheduling-free transmission is usually used in NTN networks to reduce transmission latency. Scheduling can also be called dynamic scheduling or dynamic grant. Scheduling-free can also be called without dynamic scheduling, without dynamic grant, or grant free (GF).

[0221] There are mainly two types of scheduling-free transmission: one is to complete uplink data transmission during the random access process, such as the two-step random access (2-step RA) introduced in 5GNR; the other is direct data transmission, such as semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) and transmission based on preconfigured uplink resource (PUR) in the long-term evolution system (LTE), and configured grant (CG) transmission in 5G NR.

[0222] The common feature of these two types of scheduling-free transmission is that before uplink transmission, the terminal does not need to obtain the time-frequency resources and transmission parameters used for sending data by monitoring the dynamic authorization of the base station, but uses the preconfigured time-frequency resources and transmission parameters to send data to the base station, wherein the time-frequency resources and transmission parameters used for data transmission are usually configured by the base station through high-level signaling such as system information (SI) or terminal-specific radio resource control signaling (RRC). The difference between these two types of scheduling-free transmission is that in the random access process to complete uplink data transmission, the terminal sends a random access preamble to the base station while sending data, that is, the terminal's data and the random access preamble are in the same uplink message, and the random access preamble is used for uplink synchronization between the terminal and the base station; while in direct data transmission, the terminal does not need to send a random access preamble to the base station, so direct data transmission is more suitable for the situation where the terminal and the base station have completed uplink synchronization.

[0223] Scheduling-free transmission can reduce the signaling overhead and delay caused by dynamic authorization and improve transmission efficiency. However, direct application to the NTN network will cause the following problems: In the existing scheduling-free transmission mechanism, except for the base station indicating changes in scheduling-free resources through signaling reconfiguration, transfer scheduling and other signaling, the terminal defaults to scheduling-free resources. However, for the NTN network that achieves regional coverage through beam scanning, the service of a single beam in a certain cell is not always valid, that is, the base station will not always serve the terminal. This will cause the data transmission between the terminal and the base station to fail during the beam failure period, affecting the transmission efficiency.

[0224] See also Figure 2 , Figure 2 The figure is a schematic diagram of a transmission failure caused by beam failure. Among them, the blank squares indicate successful transmission, and the shaded squares indicate transmission failure. During the beam serving time (or effective time), the scheduling-free resources associated with the beam are in a valid state, so that data transmission between the terminal and the base station can be carried out successfully. During the beam non-service time (or failure time), the scheduling-free resources associated with the beam are in a failed state, which will cause data transmission between the terminal and the base station to fail, thereby increasing the overall transmission delay and affecting the transmission efficiency.

[0225] There are currently the following solutions to the above problems.

[0226] Solution 1: The existing scheduling-free mechanism can define time-related parameters such as the period and duration of scheduling-free resources through signaling. Therefore, when applied to the NTN network, the above-mentioned scheduling-free resource parameters can be bound to the scanning period and service time of the beam. By setting scheduling-free resources with different periods and durations for different beams, the impact of coverage blindness on transmission efficiency can be avoided.

[0227] However, the above solution 1 has the following disadvantages:

[0228] 1. High signaling overhead. Since the service time of each beam is different and the scheduling-free resource parameters of each beam are different, a specific signaling is required to indicate them. Therefore, thousands of beams require thousands of signaling to be transmitted. Even if some beams are combined into beam groups (for example, Figure 1 The beams pointing to the virtual cells shown by the four solid ovals are all in one beam group, and the beams pointing to the virtual cells shown by the four dotted ovals are all in one beam group). Each beam group shares a set of scheduling-free resource parameters and also requires multiple signalings for transmission.

[0229] 2. Insufficient time-variability. Due to the large number of configurations and high signaling overhead, the configuration of the above-mentioned scheduling-free resources is very likely to be sent to the terminal and fixed during the RRC configuration period. If the beam scheme is adjusted later, it also needs to be adjusted through RRC reconfiguration. However, the RRC signaling delivery cycle is generally long and cannot quickly respond to adjustment needs.

[0230] 3. Great impact on transmission continuity. The terminal can only transmit during the validity period of the scheduling-free resource. After the scheduling-free resource expires, the terminal can only suspend transmission until the scheduling-free resource becomes effective again.

[0231] Solution 2: The existing scheduling-free mechanism can activate or deactivate scheduling-free resources through DCI signaling, thereby matching the service time of the beam and configuring the terminal to the subsequent valid scheduling-free resources to ensure the continuity of scheduling-free transmission.

[0232] However, the above solution 2 has the following disadvantages:

[0233] Each beam scanning switch of the same virtual cell requires the issuance of a second DCI signaling to deactivate the original scheduling-free resources and activate new scheduling-free resources, which requires a large amount of signaling. Moreover, if the beam scanning is periodic, when the beam serves the virtual cell again, the original scheduling-free resources must be reactivated. Repeated activation of the same scheduling-free resources will cause a waste of signaling resources.

[0234] Based on this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method and device, which can switch to a new beam for data transmission during the failure of the current beam, which helps to improve transmission continuity and transmission efficiency and save signaling overhead.

[0235] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, satellite communication systems, systems integrating satellite communication and cellular networks. Among them, the cellular network system may include: long term evolution (LTE) system, the 5th generation mobile communication (5G) system, new radio (NR) system, machine to machine communication (M2M) system, or other communication systems that will evolve in the future, etc., which are not limited by the embodiments of the present application. The satellite communication system may include various non-terrestrial network systems, which are not listed here one by one.

[0236] See also Figure 3 , Figure 3 Schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3As shown, the network architecture includes a first communication device 301 and a second communication device 302 that are communicatively connected to each other. The first communication device 301 may be a terminal device, or a device in a terminal device (e.g., a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit). The second communication device 302 may be a network device, or a device in a network device (e.g., a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit).

[0237] The terminal device involved in the embodiments of the present application may refer to user equipment, access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device. The terminal device may also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a 5G network or a terminal device in a future communication network, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0238] The network device involved in the embodiment of the present application can be used to communicate with one or more terminal devices, and can also be used to communicate with one or more base stations having some terminal device functions, such as communication between a macro base station and a micro base station (such as an access point). Among them, the base station can be an evolved base station (evolved Node B, eNB) in an LTE system, or a base station (the next generation Node B, gNB) in a 5G system or an NR system, and the base station can be a macro base station, a micro base station, a micro-micro base station, a small station, a relay station or a balloon station, etc. The base station can be a terrestrial base station or a non-terrestrial base station, such as a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or other high altitude platform station (HAPS). In addition, the base station can also be an access point (AP), a transmission point (TP), a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU) or other network entities, and other network entities can include some or all of the functions of the above network entities.

[0239] It should be understood that Figure 3 The network architecture shown is only an example, and the network architecture applicable to the embodiments of the present application is not limited to this. Any network architecture that can implement the functions of some or all of the above-mentioned devices is applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

[0240] The following is an introduction to the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0241] See also Figure 4 , Figure 4 It is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 The embodiment shown takes the first communication device and the second communication device as the execution subjects of the interaction as an example to illustrate the method. Figure 3 The first communication device 301 in the embodiment of the present invention may be Figure 3 The second communication device 302 in.

[0242] like Figure 4 As shown, the communication method may include but is not limited to the following steps S401 to S403.

[0243] S401: The second communication device sends first indication information to the first communication device, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first indication information from the second communication device.

[0244] The first indication information is used to determine a first failure time range of the first beam, and the first beam currently serves the first cell where the first communication device is located. The first failure time range of the first beam can be understood as a time range in which the first beam cannot serve the first cell, that is, the first communication device in the first cell cannot use the first beam to successfully transmit data within the first failure time range.

[0245] After receiving the first indication information, the first communication device can determine the first failure time range of the first beam according to the first indication information.

[0246] In an example, the first indication information may indicate a first failure time range of the first beam. Accordingly, after receiving the first indication information, the first communication device may directly obtain the first failure time range of the first beam according to the first indication information.

[0247] In another example, the first indication information may also indicate a first effective time range of the first beam. Accordingly, after receiving the first indication information, the first communication device may obtain the first effective time range of the first beam according to the first indication information, and then determine the first invalid time range of the first beam according to the first effective time range of the first beam. For example, the first invalid time range may be a time range other than the first effective time range.

[0248] Among them, the first effective time range of the first beam can be understood as the time range in which the first beam is allowed to serve (or can serve) the first cell, that is, the first communication device in the first cell can use the first beam to successfully transmit data within the first effective time range.

[0249] In a possible implementation manner, the first indication information includes: indication information of the first beam and indication information of the first failure time range.

[0250] The indication information of the first beam is used to indicate the first beam, and the indication information of the first failure time range is used to indicate the first failure time range. Accordingly, after receiving the first indication information, the first communication device can determine the first beam according to the indication information of the first beam, and determine the first failure time range according to the indication information of the first failure time range.

[0251] Optionally, the indication information of the first beam may be identification information of the first beam. For example, the identification information may specifically be a beam identification number (ID), and different beams may be represented by different beam IDs.

[0252] Optionally, the indication information of the first beam may be index information of an associated signal of the first beam. For example, the associated signal may be a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or a synchronous signal / physical broadcast channel block (SSB), or a sounding reference signal (SRS), or a tracking reference signal (TRS).

[0253] Optionally, the indication information of the first beam may be corresponding information of the first beam. For example, the corresponding information may be a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) port, or a transmission configuration indicator (TCI), or a sounding reference signal resource indicator (SRSresource indicator, SRI), and different beams may be represented by different DMRS ports, TCI, or SRI.

[0254] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the first expiration time range includes: the start time of the first expiration time range.

[0255] Among them, the starting time of the first failure time range can be understood as the time when the first beam begins to fail, that is, the first beam cannot serve the first cell from the starting time of the first failure time range, that is to say, the first communication device cannot use the first beam to successfully transmit data from the starting time of the first failure time range.

[0256] In another possible implementation, the indication information of the first failure time range includes: a first failure condition, wherein the first failure condition refers to a condition that needs to be satisfied to determine that the first beam is failed, and can be used to determine the start time of the first failure time range.

[0257] Optionally, the first failure condition includes: signal quality of the first beam does not meet a first preset quality requirement.

[0258] Specifically, the second communication device can send a measurement signal related to the first beam to the first communication device. After receiving the measurement signal related to the first beam, the first communication device can measure the signal quality of the first beam based on the measurement signal, and determine the time within the preset time period when the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement as the starting time of the first failure time range.

[0259] For example, assuming that the preset time period during which the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement is [t0, t0+Δt1], the start time of the first failure time range may be any time within the preset time period [t0, t0+Δt1]. Among them, t0 may be the start time when the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement, or may be a time before or after the start time when the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement. Δt1 represents the first preset duration.

[0260] Optionally, the first preset quality requirement includes a first threshold. The first communication device may compare the signal quality of the first beam with the first threshold, and when the signal quality of the first beam is lower than the first threshold, the first communication device may determine that the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement, and then determine the start time of the first failure time range.

[0261] In one possible case, the first beam no longer serves the first cell after failure. In this case, assuming that the start time of the first failure time range is T1, the first failure time range may be [T1, +∞).

[0262] In another possible case, the first beam can continue to serve the first cell after being invalid for a period of time. For example, the first beam periodically serves the first cell. In this case, in a possible implementation, the indication information of the first invalid time range may also include: the end time of the first invalid time range. Assuming that the start time of the first invalid time range is T1 and the end time of the first invalid time range is T2, the first invalid time range is [T1, T2].

[0263] Among them, the end time of the first failure time range can be understood as the time when the first beam stops failing, and can also be understood as the time when the first beam becomes effective again, that is, the first beam can serve the first cell again from the end time of the first failure time range, so that the first communication device can continue to use the first beam to successfully transmit data from the end time of the first failure time range.

[0264] In another possible implementation, the indication information of the first expiration time range may further include: a first validity condition, wherein the first validity condition refers to a condition that needs to be satisfied for determining that the first beam is valid, and can be used to determine the end time of the first expiration time range.

[0265] Optionally, the first validation condition includes: signal quality of the first beam meets a first preset quality requirement.

[0266] Specifically, the second communication device can send a measurement signal related to the first beam to the first communication device. After receiving the measurement signal related to the first beam, the first communication device can measure the signal quality of the first beam based on the measurement signal, and determine the time within the preset time period when the signal quality of the first beam meets the first preset quality requirement as the end time of the first failure time range.

[0267] For example, assuming that the preset time period during which the signal quality of the first beam meets the first preset quality requirement is [t1, t1+Δt2], the end time of the first failure time range can be any time within the preset time period [t1, t1+Δt2]. Among them, t1 can be the start time when the signal quality of the first beam meets the first preset quality requirement, or it can be a time before or after the start time when the signal quality of the first beam meets the first preset quality requirement. Δt2 represents the second preset duration.

[0268] Optionally, the first preset quality requirement includes a first threshold. The first communication device may compare the signal quality of the first beam with the first threshold, and when the signal quality of the first beam is higher than or equal to the first threshold, the first communication device may determine that the signal quality of the first beam meets the first preset quality requirement, and then determine the end time of the first expiration time range.

[0269] It should be understood that the above-mentioned first preset quality requirement, first threshold, preset time period, first preset duration and second preset duration may be preconfigured by the second communication device or may be predefined in the protocol.

[0270] In a possible implementation, the first indication information may also indicate service time information of other beams except the first beam, and the service time information may include: a valid time range that is allowed to serve the first cell, and / or a failure time range that cannot serve the first cell. Accordingly, after receiving the first indication information, the first communication device may also determine the service time information of other beams according to the first indication information.

[0271] Optionally, the other beams may include beams in the same group as the first beam, or may include beams in a different group from the first beam. That is, the first indication information may indicate service time information of one beam, or multiple beams, or a group of beams, or multiple groups of beams.

[0272] In the above implementation, the service time information of other beams and the service time information of the first beam are sent through the same indication information (i.e., the first indication information). It should be noted that the service time information of other beams can also be sent through another indication information. In other words, the service time information of multiple beams can be indicated by one signaling or by multiple signalings, and the signaling can be sent by unicast, multicast, or broadcast.

[0273] Optionally, the second communication device can determine the effective time range in which each beam is allowed to serve each cell and the invalid time range in which each beam cannot serve each cell based on the cell information and beam scanning conditions covered by it, and send it to the first communication device in the first indication information. Accordingly, after receiving the first indication information, the first communication device can obtain the effective time range in which each beam is allowed to serve each cell and the invalid time range in which each beam cannot serve each cell based on the first indication information.

[0274] Specifically, the first indication information may include indication information of each cell, indication information of each beam, and indication information of service time information of each beam in each cell. Accordingly, after the first communication device receives the first indication information, it can obtain the service time information of each beam of the first cell where the first communication device is located according to the first indication information.

[0275] The cell indication information is information used to identify the cell, such as the cell identification number (ID). The beam indication information is information used to identify the beam, such as the beam identification number (ID). The service time information of each beam in each cell is information used to determine the effective time range in which each beam is allowed to serve each cell, and the invalid time range in which each beam cannot serve each cell, for example, may include the effective time and invalid time of each beam in each cell.

[0276] Exemplarily, the first indication information may be as shown in the following Table 1:

[0277] Table 1

[0278] Cell ID Beam ID Failure time Effective time 1 1 <![CDATA[X 11 (1),X 11 (2),…]]> <![CDATA[Y 11 (1),And 11 (2),…]]> 2 <![CDATA[X 12 (1),X 12 (2),…]]> <![CDATA[Y 12 (1),And 12 (2),…]]> … … … 2 1 <![CDATA[X 21 (1),X 21 (2),…]]> <![CDATA[Y 21 (1),And 21 (2),…]]> 2 <![CDATA[X 22 (1),X 22 (2),…]]> <![CDATA[Y 22 (1),And 22 (2),…]]> … … … … … … …

[0279] Among them, X ij (k) and Y ij (k) represents the kth failure time and kth effectiveness time of beam j in cell i, respectively. The value of k can be 1, 2, ..., m. Among them, m can be equal to 1 or an integer greater than 1. That is, beam j can have only one effectiveness time and failure time in cell i, or multiple effectiveness times and failure times. The effective time range in which beam j can serve cell i and the failure time range in which it cannot serve cell i can be calculated according to X ij (k) and Y ij (k) Determination.

[0280] For example, taking the first row in Table 1 as an example, assuming that the service of beam 1 in cell 1 is periodic, for example, 11 (1) Effective, in X 11 (1) Failure, in Y 11 (2) Effective and in X11 (2) failure, then the effective time range in which beam 1 can serve cell 1 may include [Y 11 (1), X 11 (1)] and [Y 11 (2), X 11 (2)], the failure time range of beam 1 that cannot serve cell 1 may include [X 11 (1), Y 11 (2)], Y 11 (1) Previous time range, and X 11 (2) The subsequent time frame.

[0281] It should be noted that the indication information in the first indication information used to indicate the effective time range or the invalid time range of the beam, in addition to the absolute time such as the above-mentioned invalid time or effective time, can also be other non-absolute time information, as long as it can be used to determine the effective time range or the invalid time range of the beam. For example, in other embodiments, the first indication information may include the time slot of the resource associated with the beam, and the first communication device may determine the effective time range or the invalid time range of the beam based on the time slot of the resource associated with the beam.

[0282] S402: The first communication device determines a second beam and a second scheduling-free resource.

[0283] The effective time range during which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range. The second beam can also be understood as a beam that can serve the first cell within the first failure time range (i.e., during the period during which the first beam cannot serve the first cell). The second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period during which the second beam serves the first cell.

[0284] The effective time range (referred to as the first effective time range for simplifying the description) during which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range, and the first effective time range and the first failure time range may overlap completely or partially. Complete overlap means that the first effective time range is completely consistent with the first failure time range; partial overlap may mean that the first effective time range falls entirely within the first failure time range, or the first failure time range falls entirely within the first effective time range, or a portion of the first effective time range falls within the first failure time range, while another portion does not fall within the first failure time range.

[0285] The second scheduling-free resource refers to the scheduling-free resource used by the first communication device to transmit data during the period when the second beam serves the first cell. The valid time interval of the second scheduling-free resource (referred to as the first valid time interval for simplicity of description) is included in the first valid time range, that is, the first valid time interval falls entirely within the first valid time range. For example, assuming that the first valid time range is represented by [T3, T4] and the first valid time interval is represented by [t1, t2], then T3≤t1<t2≤T4.

[0286] Specifically, after the first communication device determines the first expiration time range of the first beam according to the first indication information, it can start the beam and non-scheduling resource search to determine the second beam and the second non-scheduling resource.

[0287] In one possible implementation, the first communication device determines the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, which may specifically include: determining at least one candidate beam, wherein the effective time range in which each candidate beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range; determining at least one candidate scheduling-free resource associated with at least one candidate beam, wherein the effective time interval of the candidate scheduling-free resource associated with each candidate beam is included in the effective time range in which the candidate beam is allowed to serve the first cell; determining the second scheduling-free resource from at least one candidate scheduling-free resource, and determining the candidate beam associated with the second scheduling-free resource as the second beam; wherein the time interval between the start time of the effective time interval of the second scheduling-free resource and the start time of the first failure time range meets the interval requirement, and / or the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource meets the quality requirement.

[0288] Among them, the candidate beam can be understood as a beam that can serve the first cell within the first failure time range (that is, during the period when the first beam cannot serve the first cell), and the number of candidate beams may be one or more. The effective time range (recorded as the second effective time range for the sake of simplicity) during which each candidate beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range, and the second effective time range may completely overlap or partially overlap with the first failure time range. Among them, complete overlap means that the second effective time range is completely consistent with the first failure time range; partial overlap may mean that the second effective time range falls entirely within the first failure time range, or the first failure time range falls entirely within the second effective time range, or a portion of the second effective time range falls within the first failure time range, while the other portion does not fall within the first failure time range.

[0289] Each candidate beam may be associated with one or more candidate scheduling-free resources. For each candidate beam, its associated candidate scheduling-free resources refer to the scheduling-free resources available during the period when the candidate beam serves the first cell. The valid time interval of the candidate scheduling-free resources associated with the candidate beam (recorded as the second valid time interval for the sake of simplicity of description) is included in the first valid time range, that is, the second valid time interval falls entirely within the first valid time range. For example, assuming that the second valid time range is represented by [T3, T4] and the second valid time interval is represented by [t3, t4], then T3≤t3<t4≤T4.

[0290] Specifically, after the first communication device determines that the first beam cannot serve the first cell within the first failure time range, it can search for beams that can serve the first cell within the first failure time range based on the known service time information of other beams, thereby determining at least one candidate beam. The service time information of other beams can be obtained by the first communication device based on the indication information sent in advance by the second communication device.

[0291] Exemplarily, at least one candidate beam may be as shown in the following Table 2:

[0292] Table 2

[0293]

[0294]

[0295] Among them, P ij (k) and Q ij (k) represent the kth failure time and kth validity time of candidate beam j in cell i (in this example, i=1, cell i is the first cell). The valid time range that candidate beam j can serve the first cell can be determined according to P ij (k) and Q ij (k) Determination.

[0296] For example, taking the first row in Table 2 as an example, assuming that the services of candidate beam 1 in the first cell are in Q 11 (1) Effective, in P 11 (1) Failure, in Q 11 (2) Effective and in P 11 (2) If the candidate beam 1 fails, the valid time range in which the candidate beam 1 can serve the first cell may include [Q 11 (1), P 11 (1)] and [Q 11 (2), P 11 (2)].

[0297] After the first communication device determines at least one candidate beam, it can determine the candidate scheduling-free resource associated with each candidate beam according to the known scheduling-free resource configuration information, wherein the scheduling-free resource configuration information can be obtained by the first communication device according to the configuration information pre-sent by the second communication device.

[0298] Optionally, the second communication device can pass the basic parameter information of the scheduling-free transmission to the first communication device through a bandwidth part (BWP) parameter. Taking the scheduling-free (or configured grant (CG)) transmission in NR as an example, when the scheduling-free transmission type is the first type of configured grant (CG Type 1), the scheduling-free resource information is completely configured by RRC. The scheduling-free resource is activated after the first communication device receives the RRC signaling, and the periodic information can be determined based on the BWP parameters (for example, time-frequency resource location, number of repeated transmissions, redundant version, number of hybrid automatic repeat request processes, period of time domain resources, timer and other parameters); when the scheduling-free transmission type is the second type of configured grant (CG Type 2), the scheduling-free resource information is also configured by RRC, but the scheduling-free resource is not activated immediately after the first communication device receives the RRC signaling, but the second communication device needs to send an activation signaling to activate the scheduling-free resource. In the NR protocol, the first communication device can obtain the BWP configuration through the association between the SSB resource index and the SIB1 information in the system information block (SIB), and then obtain the scheduling-free resource configuration information related to the BWP.

[0299] Exemplarily, at least one candidate scheduling-free resource associated with at least one candidate beam may be shown in the following Table 3:

[0300] Table 3

[0301] Candidate beam identification number Candidate scheduling-free resource 1 Candidate scheduling-free resources 2 … 1 a(1) a(2) … 2 b(1) b(2) … … … … …

[0302] Among them, the candidate scheduling-free resources associated with candidate beam 1 include a(1) and a(2), and the candidate scheduling-free resources associated with candidate beam 2 include b(1) and b(2).

[0303] After the first communication device determines at least one beam and at least one candidate scheduling-free resource associated with it, it can select a candidate scheduling-free resource from the at least one candidate scheduling-free resource as the second scheduling-free resource, and use the candidate beam associated with the second scheduling-free resource as the second beam.

[0304] In one example, the second scheduling-free resource may be selected based on the principle of time proximity. Specifically, the time interval between the start time of the valid time interval of the second scheduling-free resource and the start time of the first invalid time range (referred to as the first time interval for simplicity of description) meets the interval requirement.

[0305] Optionally, the interval requirement includes a preset time interval. When the first time interval is less than the preset time interval, it is determined that the first time interval meets the interval requirement. Specifically, the first communication device can calculate the time interval between the start time of the valid time interval of each candidate scheduling-free resource and the start time of the first failure time range. If the time interval between the start time of the valid time interval of a candidate scheduling-free resource and the start time of the first failure time range is less than the preset time interval, the candidate scheduling-free resource can be selected as the second scheduling-free resource.

[0306] Optionally, when the first time interval is the smallest among the time intervals between the start time of the valid time interval of all candidate scheduling-free resources and the start time of the first expiration time range, it is determined that the first time interval meets the interval requirement. Specifically, the first communication device can calculate the time interval between the start time of the valid time interval of each candidate scheduling-free resource and the start time of the first expiration time range. If the time interval between the start time of the valid time interval of a candidate scheduling-free resource and the start time of the first expiration time range is the smallest time interval among all calculated time intervals, the candidate scheduling-free resource can be selected as the second scheduling-free resource.

[0307] Through the above scheme, the effective start time of the second scheduling-free resource is close to the failure time of the first beam. Accordingly, before the first beam is about to fail, when it fails, or within a short time after its failure, the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource can be used to continue transmission, which helps to shorten the transmission interruption caused by the beam failure, thereby helping to improve transmission continuity and further improve transmission efficiency.

[0308] In another example, the second scheduling-free resource may be selected according to the principle of optimal quality. Specifically, the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource meets the quality requirement.

[0309] Optionally, the quality requirement includes a preset quality. When the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource is higher than the preset quality, it is determined that the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource meets the quality requirement. Specifically, the second communication device can send a measurement signal related to each candidate scheduling-free resource to the first communication device. After the first communication device receives the measurement signal related to each candidate scheduling-free resource, it can measure the channel quality of each candidate scheduling-free resource according to the measurement signal. If the channel quality of a candidate scheduling-free resource is higher than the preset quality, the candidate scheduling-free resource can be selected as the second scheduling-free resource.

[0310] Optionally, when the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource is the highest among the channel qualities of all candidate scheduling-free resources, it is determined that the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource meets the quality requirement. Specifically, the second communication device can send measurement signals related to each candidate scheduling-free resource to the first communication device. After the first communication device receives the measurement signals related to each candidate scheduling-free resource, it can measure the channel quality of each candidate scheduling-free resource according to the measurement signals. If the channel quality of a candidate scheduling-free resource is the highest channel quality among all the measured channel qualities, the candidate scheduling-free resource can be selected as the second scheduling-free resource.

[0311] Through the above scheme, the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource is relatively high. Accordingly, during the first beam validity period, the second beam with higher channel quality and the second scheduling-free resource can be used to continue transmission, which helps to ensure transmission quality.

[0312] It should be noted that, when determining the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, the first communication device may further consider other factors that may affect the transmission in addition to considering the time factors such as the effective time range and the effective time interval. For example, in other embodiments, the carrying capacity of the second scheduling-free resource also meets the corresponding requirements.

[0313] S403: The first communication device sends second indication information to the second communication device, and correspondingly, the second communication device receives the second indication information from the first communication device.

[0314] The second indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the non-scheduling resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are the second beam and the second non-scheduling resource respectively.

[0315] In a possible implementation, the second indication information may be sent on the first beam. When the second indication information is sent on the first beam, it is not necessary to indicate that the second beam is switched (switch, or transfer) from the first beam, and the second scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource, that is, data transmission is transferred from the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam to the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam.

[0316] The first scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the first beam serves the first cell. During the period when the first beam serves the first cell, the first communication device can use the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource to send the second indication information to the second communication device, and the second communication device uses the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource to receive the second indication information. Therefore, the second communication device can know that the second beam indicated in the second indication information is switched from the first beam and the second scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource by receiving the beam and scheduling-free resource used by the second indication information, so that the first communication device does not need to indicate the above switching relationship.

[0317] In another possible implementation, the second indication information may be sent on the second beam. When the second indication information is sent on the second beam, the second indication information further indicates that the second beam is switched from the first beam, and the second scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource, that is, data transmission is transferred from the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam to the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam.

[0318] While the second beam is serving the first cell, the first communication device may use the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource to send second indication information to the second communication device, and the second communication device uses the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource to receive the second indication information. In this case, the second communication device does not know from which beam the second beam indicated in the second indication information is switched, and from which scheduling-free resource the second scheduling-free resource is switched, so the first communication device needs to indicate the above switching relationship.

[0319] Optionally, the second indication information may be sent using a separate channel, such as through a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH); or may be sent in conjunction with a channel, such as on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

[0320] In a possible implementation, the second indication information further indicates a first time, where the first time is the start time of using the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource.

[0321] The first time can be understood as the time when the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam is switched to the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam. To simplify the description, the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam is recorded as the old resource, and the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam is recorded as the first new resource. Before the first time, the first communication device uses the old resource to transmit data to the second communication device, and after the first time, the first communication device uses the first new resource to transmit data to the second communication device.

[0322] For example, before the old resource fails, the first communication device can use the old resource to send the first data packet to the second communication device. When the old resource fails, the sending of the first data packet may not be completed, so the first communication device can switch to the first new resource to continue sending the first data packet to the second communication device. In other words, the sending of the first data packet spans the switching between the new and old resources.

[0323] The first data packet sent via the first new resource may be a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) retransmission packet of data that has been transmitted on the old resource but not correctly received, or repetition data that partially fails to be transmitted on the old resource during repetition.

[0324] In one example, the first time may be the index of the repetition transmission resource switch. Specifically, the number of repetition transmissions is configured as K. If the first n repetitions are sent on the old resources and the next Kn repetitions are sent on the first new resource, the indication information of the first time may be n. For example, K=4, and the four repetitions are represented as R0, R1, R2, and R3, respectively. Assuming n=2, the first two repetitions (R0 and R1) are sent on the old resources, and the next two repetitions (R2 and R3) are sent on the first new resource.

[0325] Through the above scheme, after receiving the second indication information, the second communication device can determine the time of switching from the first non-scheduled resource of the first beam to the second non-scheduled resource of the second beam, so as to use the corresponding resources to complete data reception before and after the switching.

[0326] In a possible implementation manner, the first time is no later than the start time of the first failure time range.

[0327] The first time is no later than the start time of the first failure time range, which can be understood as switching to the second non-scheduled resource of the second beam before or when the first non-scheduled resource of the first beam fails. This helps to ensure seamless data transmission before and after the switch, further ensuring transmission continuity.

[0328] In a possible implementation, the second indication information further indicates a mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the second scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align the data transmission process before and after switching from the first scheduling-free resource to the second scheduling-free resource.

[0329] Before the switch, the first communication device uses the first scheduling-free resource to transmit data to the second communication device, and after the switch, the first communication device uses the second scheduling-free resource to transmit data to the second communication device. Since the configurations of different scheduling-free resources may be different, the second indication information can also indicate the mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the second scheduling-free resource, that is, the mapping relationship between the resources before and after the switch, which is used to align the data transmission process, for example, HARQ information, repetition information and other data packet information can be aligned so that the second communication device can identify the data correlation on the resources before and after the switch. In addition, other configurations in the second scheduling-free resource except the time-frequency resource, such as the modulation coding scheme (MCS), the number of transmission streams, the transmission codebook, the redundancy version (RV), the HARQ process arrangement, etc., can also be adjusted to ensure the continuity and reliability of data transmission.

[0330] Through the above scheme, the second communication device can also obtain the mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the second scheduling-free resource according to the second indication information, and identify the data correlation on the resources before and after the switching according to the mapping relationship, so as to realize the joint processing of the same data packet transmitted on different resources, obtain the merging gain, and avoid the loss of merging performance due to resource switching.

[0331] Through the above embodiment, the second communication device sends the first indication information to the first communication device, which is used to indicate the time range (i.e., the first failure time range) in which the first beam cannot serve the first cell where the first communication device is located. After receiving the first indication information, the first communication device can learn the first failure time range of the first beam, and accordingly the first communication device can avoid invalid data transmission on the failed beam resource. In addition, the first communication device can autonomously determine the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, wherein the effective time range (i.e., the first effective time range) in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range, and the second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the second beam serves the first cell. Accordingly, the first communication device can use the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam for data transmission during the failure of the first beam, thereby avoiding the situation in which the first beam cannot be transmitted during the failure of the first beam, which helps to improve transmission continuity, thereby shortening transmission delay, and improving transmission efficiency. In addition, compared to reconfiguring or activating effective scheduling-free resources by sending reconfiguration signaling (such as RRC) or activation signaling (such as DCI) through the second communication device, the present application scheme performs resource switching autonomously by the first communication device, which requires fewer signaling resources and can save signaling overhead.

[0332] See also Figure 5 , Figure 5 It is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 The embodiment shown takes the first communication device and the second communication device as the execution subjects of the interaction as an example to illustrate the method. Figure 3 The first communication device 301 in the embodiment of the present invention may be Figure 3 The second communication device 302 in.

[0333] like Figure 5 As shown, the communication method may include but is not limited to the following steps S501 to S505. The specific description of steps S501 to S503 may correspond to the relevant description of steps S401 to S403 in the above embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0334] S501: The second communication device sends first indication information to the first communication device, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first indication information from the second communication device.

[0335] S502: The first communication device determines a second beam and a second scheduling-free resource.

[0336] S503: The first communication device sends second indication information to the second communication device, and correspondingly, the second communication device receives the second indication information from the first communication device.

[0337] S504: The first communication device determines a third beam and a third scheduling-free resource.

[0338] When the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam cannot meet the transmission demand (for example, it is not enough to carry the data to be transmitted), the first communication device can start the beam and scheduling-free resource search again to determine the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource to assist in completing the data transmission. The corresponding resource switching may include the following two cases: in the first case, directly switching from the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam to the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam; in the second case, first switching from the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam to the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam, and then switching from the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam to the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam.

[0339] For example, the first two repetitions (R0 and R1) in the repeated transmission (repetition) are sent on the first non-scheduling resource (recorded as the old resource) of the first beam, and the data that needs to be transmitted by the new resource includes the last two repetitions (R2 and R3). If the second non-scheduling resource (recorded as the first new resource) of the second beam can only carry part of the data (for example, R2), it is possible to directly switch from the old resource to the third non-scheduling resource (recorded as the second new resource) of the third beam, that is, to transmit R2 and R3 on the second new resource; it is also possible to first switch from the old resource to the first new resource, and then switch from the first new resource to the second new resource, that is, to transmit R2 on the first new resource and transmit R3 on the second new resource.

[0340] In the first case, the valid time range (referred to as the third valid time range for simplicity of description) during which the third beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first invalid time range of the first beam. The third scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the third beam serves the first cell.

[0341] The third effective time range overlaps with the first expiration time range, which may be completely overlapping or partially overlapping with the first expiration time range. Complete overlap means that the third effective time range is completely consistent with the first expiration time range; partial overlap may mean that the third effective time range falls entirely within the first expiration time range, or the first expiration time range falls entirely within the third effective time range, or a portion of the third effective time range falls within the first expiration time range, while the other portion does not fall within the first expiration time range.

[0342] In the second case, the effective time range (i.e., the third effective time range) during which the third beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the second failure time range of the second beam. The second failure time range of the second beam can be understood as the time range during which the second beam cannot serve the first cell, that is, the first communication device in the first cell cannot use the second beam to successfully transmit data within the second failure time range. The third beam can also be understood as a beam that can serve the first cell within the second failure time range (i.e., during the period during which the second beam cannot serve the first cell). The third non-scheduled resource is used for non-scheduled transmission during the period during which the third beam serves the first cell.

[0343] The third effective time range overlaps with the second expiration time range, which may be a complete overlap or a partial overlap between the third effective time range and the second expiration time range. Complete overlap means that the third effective time range is completely consistent with the second expiration time range; partial overlap means that the third effective time range falls entirely within the second expiration time range, or the second expiration time range falls entirely within the third effective time range, or a portion of the third effective time range falls within the second expiration time range, while the other portion does not fall within the second expiration time range.

[0344] The third scheduling-free resource refers to the scheduling-free resource used by the first communication device to transmit data during the period when the third beam serves the first cell. The valid time interval of the third scheduling-free resource (referred to as the third valid time interval for simplicity of description) is included in the third valid time range, that is, the third valid time interval falls entirely within the third valid time range. For example, assuming that the third valid time range is represented by [T5, T6] and the third valid time interval is represented by [t5, t6], then T5≤t5<t6≤T6.

[0345] It should be understood that the specific description of the first communication device determining the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource can refer to the relevant description of the first communication device determining the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource in the previous embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0346] In a possible implementation manner, the start time of the second expiration time range is the end time of the valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell.

[0347] Among them, the starting time of the second failure time range can be understood as the time when the second beam begins to fail, that is, the second beam cannot serve the first cell from the starting time of the second failure time range, that is to say, the first communication device cannot use the second beam to successfully transmit data from the starting time of the second failure time range.

[0348] When determining the second beam, the first communication device knows the effective time range (ie, the first effective time range) in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell, and thus can use the end time of the first effective time range as the start time of the second invalid time range.

[0349] Through the above solution, the first communication device can independently determine the expiration time of the second beam, and then continue to switch resources so as to flexibly adjust the resources used for transmitting data.

[0350] S505: The first communication device sends third indication information to the second communication device, and correspondingly, the second communication device receives the third indication information from the first communication device.

[0351] Among them, the third indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the non-scheduling resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are the third beam and the third non-scheduling resource respectively.

[0352] In the first case, in a possible implementation, the third indication information may be sent on the first beam. When the third indication information is sent on the first beam, it is not necessary to indicate that the third beam is switched (switch, or transfer) from the first beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource, that is, data transmission is transferred from the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam to the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam.

[0353] During the period when the first beam serves the first cell, the first communication device can use the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource to send third indication information to the second communication device, and the second communication device uses the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource to receive the third indication information. Therefore, the second communication device can know that the third beam indicated in the third indication information is switched from the first beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource by receiving the beam and scheduling-free resource used by the third indication information, thereby eliminating the need for the first communication device to indicate the above switching relationship.

[0354] In another possible implementation, the third indication information may be sent on the third beam. When the third indication information is sent on the third beam, the third indication information further indicates that the third beam is switched from the first beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource, that is, data transmission is transferred from the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam to the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam.

[0355] While the third beam is serving the first cell, the first communication device may use the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource to send third indication information to the second communication device, and the second communication device may use the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource to receive the third indication information. In this case, the second communication device does not know from which beam the third beam indicated in the third indication information is switched, and from which scheduling-free resource the third scheduling-free resource is switched, so the first communication device needs to indicate the above switching relationship.

[0356] It should be noted that, in the first case, although the first communication device sends the second indication information to the second communication device, in fact, the first communication device will not switch from the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam to the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam to transmit data, but will switch from the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam to the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam to transmit data. Correspondingly, the second communication device will not switch from the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam to the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam to receive data, but will switch from the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam to the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam to receive data. It can be understood that in this case, the second indication information is sent on the first beam, and the third indication information is sent on the first beam or the third beam.

[0357] In the second case, in a possible implementation, the third indication information may be sent on the second beam. When the third indication information is sent on the second beam, it is not necessary to indicate that the third beam is switched (or transferred) from the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the second scheduling-free resource, that is, data transmission is transferred from the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam to the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam.

[0358] During the period when the second beam serves the first cell, the first communication device can use the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource to send third indication information to the second communication device, and the second communication device uses the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource to receive the third indication information. Therefore, the second communication device can know that the third beam indicated in the third indication information is switched from the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the second scheduling-free resource by receiving the beam and scheduling-free resource used by the third indication information, thereby eliminating the need for the first communication device to indicate the above switching relationship.

[0359] In another possible implementation, the third indication information may be sent on the third beam. When the third indication information is sent on the third beam, the third indication information further indicates that the third beam is switched from the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the second scheduling-free resource, that is, data transmission is transferred from the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam to the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam.

[0360] While the third beam is serving the first cell, the first communication device may use the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource to send third indication information to the second communication device, and the second communication device may use the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource to receive the third indication information. In this case, the second communication device does not know from which beam the third beam indicated in the third indication information is switched, and from which scheduling-free resource the third scheduling-free resource is switched, so the first communication device needs to indicate the above switching relationship.

[0361] In another possible implementation, the third indication information may be sent on the first beam. When the third indication information is sent on the first beam, the third indication information further indicates that the third beam is switched from the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the second scheduling-free resource, that is, data transmission is transferred from the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam to the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam.

[0362] It should be noted that, in the second case, the first communication device first switches from the first non-scheduled resource of the first beam to the second non-scheduled resource of the second beam to transmit data, and then switches from the second non-scheduled resource of the second beam to the third non-scheduled resource of the third beam to transmit data. Correspondingly, the second communication device first switches from the first non-scheduled resource of the first beam to the second non-scheduled resource of the second beam to receive data, and then switches from the second non-scheduled resource of the second beam to the third non-scheduled resource of the third beam to receive data. It can be understood that in this case, the second indication information and the third indication information can be sent on any beam of the first beam, the second beam and the third beam. For example, the second indication information and the third indication information are both sent on the first beam, or both sent on the second beam, or both sent on the third beam; for another example, the second indication information is sent on the first beam, and the third indication information is sent on the second beam; for another example, the second indication information is sent on the first beam, and the third indication information is sent on the third beam; for another example, the second indication information is sent on the second beam, and the third indication information is sent on the third beam.

[0363] It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the first communication device may also combine the second indication information and the third indication information into one indication information (for distinction, recorded as the fifth indication information), and send it to the second communication device. In the first case, the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the data transmission is transferred from the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam to the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam. In this case, the fifth indication information can be sent on the first beam or on the third beam. In the second case, the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the data transmission is transferred from the first scheduling-free resource of the first beam to the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam, and then from the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam to the third scheduling-free resource of the third beam. In this case, the fifth indication information can be sent on the first beam, on the second beam, or on the third beam.

[0364] Optionally, the third indication information may be sent using a separate channel (eg, PUCCH) or a related channel (eg, PUSCH).

[0365] In a possible implementation manner, the third indication information further indicates the second time.

[0366] In the first case, the second time is the start time of using the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource.

[0367] The second time can be understood as the time when the first non-scheduled resource (i.e., old resource) of the first beam is switched to the third non-scheduled resource (i.e., second new resource) of the third beam. Before the second time, the first communication device uses the old resource to transmit data to the second communication device, and after the second time, the first communication device uses the second new resource to transmit data to the second communication device.

[0368] For example, before the old resource fails, the first communication device can use the old resource to send the first data packet to the second communication device. When the old resource fails, the sending of the first data packet may not be completed, so the first communication device can switch to the second new resource to continue sending the first data packet to the second communication device. In other words, the sending of the first data packet spans the switching between the old and new resources.

[0369] The first data packet sent via the second new resource may be a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) retransmission packet of data that has been transmitted on the old resource but not correctly received, or repetition data that partially fails to be transmitted on the old resource during repetition.

[0370] In one example, the second time may be a subscript for switching the repetition transmission resource. Specifically, the number of repetition transmissions is configured as K. If the last Kw repetitions are sent on the second new resource, the indication information of the second time may be w. For example, the number of repetition transmissions is K=4, and the four repetitions are represented as R0, R1, R2, and R3, respectively. Assuming w=2, the first two repetitions (R0 and R1) are sent on the old resource, and the last two repetitions (R2 and R3) are sent on the second new resource.

[0371] Through the above scheme, after receiving the third indication information, the second communication device can determine the occurrence time of switching from the first non-scheduled resource of the first beam to the third non-scheduled resource of the third beam, so as to use the corresponding resources to complete data reception before and after the switching.

[0372] In a possible implementation manner, the second time is no later than the start time of the first expiration time range.

[0373] The first time is no later than the start time of the first expiration time range, which can be understood as switching to the third unscheduled resource of the third beam before or when the first unscheduled resource of the first beam expires. Accordingly, it helps to seamlessly connect the transmission process before and after the switching, further ensuring the continuity of transmission.

[0374] In a possible implementation, the third indication information further indicates a mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align the data transmission process before and after switching from the first scheduling-free resource to the third scheduling-free resource.

[0375] Before the switch, the first communication device uses the first scheduling-free resource to transmit data to the second communication device, and after the switch, the first communication device uses the third scheduling-free resource to transmit data to the second communication device. Since the configurations of different scheduling-free resources may be different, the third indication information can also indicate the mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource, that is, the mapping relationship between the resources before and after the switch, which is used to align the data transmission process, for example, HARQ information, repetition information and other data packet information can be aligned so that the second communication device can identify the data correlation on the resources before and after the switch. In addition, other configurations in the third scheduling-free resource except the time-frequency resource, such as MCS, number of transmission streams, transmission codebook, RV, HARQ process arrangement, etc., can also be adjusted to ensure the continuity and reliability of data transmission.

[0376] Through the above scheme, the second communication device can also obtain the mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource according to the third indication information. According to the mapping relationship, the data correlation on the resources before and after the switching can be identified, so as to realize the joint processing of the same data packet transmitted on different resources and obtain the combined gain.

[0377] In the second case, the second time is the start time of using the third beam and the third scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource.

[0378] The second time can be understood as the time when the second scheduling-free resource (i.e., the first new resource) of the second beam is switched to the third scheduling-free resource (i.e., the second new resource) of the third beam. During the first time to the second time, the first communication device transmits data to the second communication device using the first new resource, and after the second time, the first communication device transmits data to the second communication device using the second new resource.

[0379] For example, before the old resource fails, the first communication device can use the old resource to send the first data packet to the second communication device. When the old resource fails, the sending of the first data packet may not be completed, so the first communication device can switch to the first new resource to continue sending the first data packet to the second communication device. When the first new resource also fails to complete the sending of the first data packet, the first communication device can switch to the second new resource again to continue sending the first data packet to the second communication device. In other words, the sending of the first data packet spans the switching between the old and new resources.

[0380] The first data packet sent via the second new resource may be a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) retransmission packet of data that has been transmitted on the first new resource but not correctly received, or repetition data that partially fails to be transmitted on the first new resource during repetition.

[0381] In one example, the second time may be a subscript for switching the repetition transmission resource. Specifically, the number of repetition transmissions is configured as K. If the last Kw repetitions are sent on the second new resource, the indication information of the second time may be w. For example, the number of repetition transmissions is K=4, and the four repetitions are represented as R0, R1, R2, and R3, respectively. Assuming n=2, w=3, the first two repetitions (R0 and R1) are sent on the old resource, the third repetition (R2) is sent on the first new resource, and the fourth repetition (R3) is sent on the second new resource.

[0382] Through the above scheme, after receiving the third indication information, the second communication device can determine the occurrence time of switching from the second non-scheduling resource of the second beam to the third non-scheduling resource of the third beam, so as to use the corresponding resources to complete data reception before and after the switching.

[0383] In a possible implementation manner, the second time is no later than the start time of the second expiration time range.

[0384] The second time is no later than the start time of the second expiration time range, which can be understood as switching to the third unscheduled resource of the third beam before or when the second unscheduled resource of the second beam expires. Accordingly, it helps to seamlessly connect the transmission process before and after the switching, further ensuring the continuity of transmission.

[0385] In a possible implementation, the third indication information further indicates a mapping relationship between the second scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource, and the mapping relationship is used to align the data transmission process before and after switching from the second scheduling-free resource to the third scheduling-free resource.

[0386] Before the switch, the first communication device uses the second scheduling-free resource to transmit data to the second communication device, and after the switch, the first communication device uses the third scheduling-free resource to transmit data to the second communication device. Since the configurations of different scheduling-free resources may be different, the third indication information can also indicate the mapping relationship between the second scheduling-free resource and the third scheduling-free resource, that is, the mapping relationship between the resources before and after the switch, which is used to align the data transmission process, for example, HARQ information, repetition information and other data packet information can be aligned so that the second communication device can identify the data correlation on the resources before and after the switch. In addition, other configurations in the third scheduling-free resource except the time-frequency resource, such as MCS, number of transmission streams, transmission codebook, RV, HARQ process arrangement, etc., can also be adjusted to ensure the continuity and reliability of data transmission.

[0387] Through the above scheme, the second communication device can also obtain the mapping relationship between the second scheduling-free resources and the third scheduling-free resources according to the third indication information. According to the mapping relationship, the data correlation on the resources before and after the switching can be identified, so as to realize the joint processing of the same data packet transmitted on different resources and obtain the combined gain.

[0388] It should be understood that for the contents not specifically described in the above steps S501 to S505, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions in the previous embodiments, and they will not be repeated here.

[0389] Through the above embodiment, the second communication device sends the first indication information to the first communication device, which is used to indicate the time range (i.e., the first failure time range) in which the first beam cannot serve the first cell where the first communication device is located. After receiving the first indication information, the first communication device can learn the first failure time range of the first beam, and accordingly the first communication device can avoid invalid data transmission on the failed beam resource. In addition, the first communication device can autonomously determine the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, wherein the effective time range (i.e., the first effective time range) in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range, and the second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the second beam serves the first cell. Accordingly, the first communication device can use the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam for data transmission during the failure of the first beam, thereby avoiding the situation in which the first beam cannot be transmitted during the failure of the first beam, which helps to improve transmission continuity, thereby shortening transmission delay, and improving transmission efficiency. In addition, compared to reconfiguring or activating effective scheduling-free resources by sending reconfiguration signaling (such as RRC) or activation signaling (such as DCI) by the second communication device, the solution of the present application is that the first communication device autonomously switches resources, so that fewer signaling resources are required and signaling overhead can be saved. In addition, the first communication device can also autonomously determine the expiration time of the second beam, and then continue to switch resources, so as to flexibly adjust the resources used for transmitting data.

[0390] See also Figure 6 , Figure 6 It is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 The embodiment shown takes the first communication device and the second communication device as the execution subjects of the interaction as an example to illustrate the method. Figure 3 The first communication device 301 in the embodiment of the present invention may be Figure 3 The second communication device 302 in.

[0391] like Figure 6 As shown, the communication method may include but is not limited to the following steps S601 to S606. The specific description of steps S601 to S603 may correspond to the relevant description of steps S401 to S403 in the above embodiment, and the specific description of steps S605 to S606 may correspond to the relevant description of steps S504 to S505 in the above embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0392] S601: The second communication device sends first indication information to the first communication device, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first indication information from the second communication device.

[0393] S602: The first communication device determines a second beam and a second scheduling-free resource.

[0394] S603: The first communication device sends second indication information to the second communication device, and correspondingly, the second communication device receives the second indication information from the first communication device.

[0395] S604: The second communication device sends fourth indication information to the first communication device, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the fourth indication information from the second communication device.

[0396] The fourth indication information is used to determine the second expiration time range of the second beam. After receiving the fourth indication information, the first communication device can determine the second expiration time range of the second beam according to the fourth indication information.

[0397] In one example, the fourth indication information may indicate a second expiration time range of the second beam. Accordingly, after receiving the fourth indication information, the first communication device may directly obtain the second expiration time range of the second beam according to the fourth indication information.

[0398] In another example, the first indication information may also indicate the second effective time range of the second beam. Accordingly, after receiving the fourth indication information, the first communication device may obtain the second effective time range of the second beam according to the fourth indication information, and then determine the second invalid time range of the second beam according to the second effective time range of the second beam. For example, the second invalid time range may be a time range other than the second effective time range.

[0399] Among them, the second effective time range of the second beam can be understood as the time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve (or can serve) the first cell, that is, the first communication device in the first cell can use the second beam to successfully transmit data within the second effective time range.

[0400] In a possible implementation manner, the fourth indication information includes: indication information of the second beam and indication information of the second expiration time range.

[0401] The indication information of the second beam is used to indicate the second beam, and the indication information of the second expiration time range is used to indicate the second expiration time range. Accordingly, after receiving the fourth indication information, the first communication device can determine the second beam according to the indication information of the second beam, and determine the second expiration time range according to the indication information of the second expiration time range.

[0402] Optionally, the indication information of the second beam may be identification information of the second beam, or index information of an associated signal of the second beam, or corresponding information of the second beam.

[0403] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information of the second expiration time range includes: the start time of the second expiration time range.

[0404] Among them, the starting time of the second failure time range can be understood as the time when the second beam begins to fail, that is, the second beam cannot serve the first cell from the starting time of the second failure time range, that is to say, the first communication device cannot use the second beam to successfully transmit data from the starting time of the second failure time range.

[0405] In another possible implementation, the indication information of the second failure time range includes: a second failure condition, wherein the second failure condition refers to a condition that needs to be satisfied to determine that the second beam is failed, and can be used to determine the start time of the second failure time range.

[0406] Optionally, the second failure condition includes: signal quality of the second beam does not meet a second preset quality requirement.

[0407] Specifically, the second communication device can send a measurement signal related to the second beam to the first communication device. After receiving the measurement signal related to the second beam, the first communication device can measure the signal quality of the second beam based on the measurement signal, and determine the time within the preset time period when the signal quality of the second beam does not meet the second preset quality requirement as the starting time of the second failure time range.

[0408] Optionally, the second preset quality requirement includes a second threshold. The first communication device may compare the signal quality of the second beam with the second threshold, and when the signal quality of the second beam is lower than the second threshold, the first communication device may determine that the signal quality of the second beam does not meet the second preset quality requirement, and then determine the start time of the second expiration time range.

[0409] In one possible case, the second beam no longer serves the first cell after failure. In this case, assuming that the start time of the second failure time range is T7, the first failure time range may be [T7, +∞).

[0410] In another possible case, the second beam can continue to serve the first cell after a period of time after being invalid. For example, the second beam periodically serves the first cell. In this case, in a possible implementation, the indication information of the second invalid time range may also include: the end time of the second invalid time range. Assuming that the start time of the second invalid time range is T7 and the end time of the second invalid time range is T8, the second invalid time range is [T7, T8].

[0411] Among them, the end time of the second expiration time range can be understood as the time when the second beam stops being invalid, and can also be understood as the time when the second beam becomes effective again, that is, the second beam can serve the first cell again from the end time of the second expiration time range, so that the first communication device can continue to use the second beam to successfully transmit data from the end time of the second expiration time range.

[0412] In another possible implementation, the indication information of the second expiration time range may further include: a second validity condition, wherein the second validity condition refers to a condition that needs to be satisfied for determining that the second beam is valid, and can be used to determine the end time of the second expiration time range.

[0413] Optionally, the second validation condition includes: signal quality of the second beam meets a second preset quality requirement.

[0414] Specifically, the second communication device can send a measurement signal related to the second beam to the first communication device. After receiving the measurement signal related to the second beam, the first communication device can measure the signal quality of the second beam based on the measurement signal, and determine the time within the preset time period when the signal quality of the second beam meets the second preset quality requirement as the end time of the second failure time range.

[0415] Optionally, the second preset quality requirement includes a second threshold. The first communication device may compare the signal quality of the second beam with the second threshold, and when the signal quality of the second beam is higher than or equal to the second threshold, the first communication device may determine that the signal quality of the second beam meets the second preset quality requirement, and then determine the end time of the second expiration time range.

[0416] It should be understood that the second preset quality requirement, the second threshold and the preset time period may be preconfigured by the second communication device or may be predefined in the protocol.

[0417] In a possible implementation manner, the start time of the second invalid time range is earlier than the end time of the valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell.

[0418] Exemplarily, when the load of the second unscheduled resource of the second beam is large, the second communication device may terminate the service of the second beam in the first cell in advance. For example, the effective time range in which the preconfigured second beam is allowed to serve the first cell may be shortened, or the preconfigured quality threshold may be increased to make the second beam invalid in advance.

[0419] Through the above solution, the second communication device can flexibly adjust the expiration time of the second beam, and specifically can make the second beam invalid in advance, which helps to adapt to the scenario of unbalanced resource load.

[0420] It should be noted that, in addition to the above-mentioned information for indicating the second expiration time range of the second beam, the fourth indication information may also be other information that can indicate that the second beam ends serving the first cell in advance, or indicates that the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam is unavailable. For example, in other embodiments, the fourth indication information may include rejection information in response to the second indication information, and the rejection information is used to indicate that the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam is unavailable, so that the first communication device cannot use the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam to transmit data, and then re-search for available beams and scheduling-free resources.

[0421] S605, the first communication device determines a third beam and a third scheduling-free resource.

[0422] S606: The first communication device sends third indication information to the second communication device, and correspondingly, the second communication device receives the third indication information from the first communication device.

[0423] It should be understood that for the contents not specifically described in the above steps S601 to S606, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions in the previous embodiments, and they will not be repeated here.

[0424] Through the above embodiment, the second communication device sends the first indication information to the first communication device, which is used to indicate the time range (i.e., the first failure time range) in which the first beam cannot serve the first cell where the first communication device is located. After receiving the first indication information, the first communication device can learn the first failure time range of the first beam, and accordingly the first communication device can avoid invalid data transmission on the failed beam resource. In addition, the first communication device can autonomously determine the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, wherein the effective time range (i.e., the first effective time range) in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range, and the second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the second beam serves the first cell. Accordingly, the first communication device can use the second scheduling-free resource of the second beam for data transmission during the failure of the first beam, thereby avoiding the situation in which the first beam cannot be transmitted during the failure of the first beam, which helps to improve transmission continuity, thereby shortening transmission delay, and improving transmission efficiency. In addition, compared to reconfiguring or activating effective scheduling-free resources by sending reconfiguration signaling (such as RRC) or activation signaling (such as DCI) by the second communication device, the solution of the present application is that the first communication device autonomously switches resources, so that fewer signaling resources are required and signaling overhead can be saved. In addition, the second communication device can also flexibly adjust the expiration time of the second beam so that the first communication device can continue to switch resources, thereby flexibly adjusting the resources used to transmit data.

[0425] The above describes in detail the method of the embodiments of the present application. The following provides a device for implementing any method in the embodiments of the present application.

[0426] See also Figure 7 , Figure 7 It is a structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0427] like Figure 7 As shown, the communication device 700 may include a transceiver unit 701 and a processing unit 702. The transceiver unit 701 and the processing unit 702 may be software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0428] The transceiver unit 701 can implement a sending function and / or a receiving function, and the transceiver unit 701 can also be described as a communication unit. The transceiver unit 701 can also be a unit integrating an acquisition unit and a sending unit, wherein the acquisition unit is used to implement a receiving function, and the sending unit is used to implement a sending function. Optionally, the transceiver unit 701 can be used to receive information sent by other devices, and can also be used to send information to other devices.

[0429] In a possible design, the communication device 700 may correspond to the first communication device in the above method embodiment. For example, the communication device 700 may be the above Figure 4-Figure 6 The first communication device in the method embodiment shown may also be a chip in the first communication device. The communication device 700 may include a unit for performing the operations performed by the first communication device in the above method embodiment, and each unit in the communication device 700 is respectively for implementing the operations performed by the first communication device in the above method embodiment. The description of each unit is as follows:

[0430] The transceiver unit 701 is configured to receive first indication information from a second communication device, where the first indication information is used to determine a first expiration time range of a first beam, where the first beam currently serves a first cell where the first communication device is located;

[0431] The processing unit 702 is configured to determine a second beam and a second scheduling-free resource, wherein a valid time range during which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first invalid time range, and the second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during which the second beam serves the first cell;

[0432] The transceiver unit 701 is further used to send second indication information to the second communication device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the scheduling-free resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource respectively.

[0433] See also Figure 8 , Figure 8 It is a structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0434] like Figure 8 As shown, the communication device 800 may include a transceiver unit 801. The transceiver unit 801 may be software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0435] The transceiver unit 801 can implement a sending function and / or a receiving function, and the transceiver unit 801 can also be described as a communication unit. The transceiver unit 801 can also be a unit integrating an acquisition unit and a sending unit, wherein the acquisition unit is used to implement a receiving function, and the sending unit is used to implement a sending function. Optionally, the transceiver unit 801 can be used to receive information sent by other devices, and can also be used to send information to other devices.

[0436] In a possible design, the communication device 800 may correspond to the second communication device in the above method embodiment. For example, the communication device 800 may be the above Figure 4-Figure 6 The second communication device in the method embodiment shown may also be a chip in the second communication device. The communication device 800 may include a unit for performing the operations performed by the second communication device in the above method embodiment, and each unit in the communication device 800 is respectively for implementing the operations performed by the second communication device in the above method embodiment. The description of each unit is as follows:

[0437] The transceiver unit 801 is configured to send first indication information to a first communication device, where the first indication information is used to determine a first expiration time range of a first beam, where the first beam currently serves a first cell where the first communication device is located;

[0438] The transceiver unit 801 is further used to receive second indication information from the first communication device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the scheduling-free resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are respectively the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource;

[0439] The effective time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first invalid time range, and the second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period in which the second beam serves the first cell.

[0440] According to the embodiment of the present application, Figure 7 , Figure 8The various units in the device shown can be separately or all combined into one or several other units to constitute, or some of the units (some) can also be split into multiple smaller units in function to constitute, which can achieve the same operation without affecting the realization of the technical effects of the embodiments of the present application. The above-mentioned units are divided based on logical functions. In practical applications, the functions of one unit can also be implemented by multiple units, or the functions of multiple units can be implemented by one unit. In other embodiments of the present application, other units can also be included based on the electronic device. In practical applications, these functions can also be implemented with the assistance of other units, and can be implemented by the collaboration of multiple units.

[0441] It should be noted that the implementation of each unit may also refer to the corresponding description of the above method embodiment.

[0442] See also Fig. 9 , Fig. 9 900 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 900 may include a memory 901 and a processor 902. Further optionally, the communication device 900 may also include a communication interface 903 and a bus 904. The memory 901, the processor 902 and the communication interface 903 are connected to each other through the bus 904. The communication interface 903 is used to exchange data with other devices.

[0443] The memory 901 is used to provide a storage space, in which data such as an operating system and a computer program can be stored. The memory 901 includes, but is not limited to, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or a portable read-only memory (CD-ROM).

[0444] The processor 902 is a module for performing arithmetic operations and logical operations, and may be a combination of one or more of processing modules such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a microprocessor unit (MPU). The processor 902 may also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may also be any conventional processor, etc.

[0445] In a possible design, the communication device 900 may correspond to the first communication device in the above method embodiment, for example, the communication device 900 may be the first communication device in the above method embodiment, or may be a chip in the first communication device. The communication device 900 may include components for executing the operations performed by the first communication device in the above method embodiment, and the components in the communication device 900 are respectively for implementing the operations performed by the first communication device in the above method embodiment, and the processor 902 calls the computer program stored in the memory 901 to execute the method shown in the above method embodiment.

[0446] In another possible design, the communication device 900 may correspond to the second communication device in the above method embodiment, for example, the communication device 900 may be the second communication device in the above method embodiment, or may be a chip in the second communication device. The communication device 900 may include components for executing the operations performed by the second communication device in the above method embodiment, and the components in the communication device 900 are respectively for implementing the operations performed by the second communication device in the above method embodiment, and the processor 902 calls the computer program stored in the memory 901 to execute the method shown in the above method embodiment.

[0447] For the case where the communication device may be a chip or a chip system, see Fig.10 Schematic diagram of the chip structure shown.

[0448] like Fig.10As shown, the chip 1000 includes a processor 1001 and an interface 1002. The number of the processors 1001 may be one or more, and the number of the interfaces 1002 may be multiple. It should be noted that the functions corresponding to the processor 1001 and the interface 1002 may be implemented by hardware design, software design, or a combination of hardware and software, which is not limited here.

[0449] Optionally, the chip 1000 may further include a memory 1003, and the memory 1003 is used to store necessary program instructions and data.

[0450] In the present application, the processor 1001 may be used to call the implementation program of the communication method provided in one or more embodiments of the present application in the electronic device from the memory 1003, and execute the instructions contained in the program. The interface 1002 may be used to output the execution result of the processor 1001. In the present application, the interface 1002 may be specifically used to output various messages or information of the processor 1001.

[0451] For the communication method provided in one or more embodiments of the present application, reference may be made to the above-mentioned various method embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0452] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer program or instruction is executed on a processor, the method shown in the above method embodiment can be implemented.

[0453] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed on a processor, the method shown in the above method embodiment can be implemented.

[0454] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, which includes at least one of the above-mentioned communication devices 700, or communication devices 800, or communication devices 900, or chip 1000.

[0455] According to the method provided by an embodiment of the present application, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, which includes a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the first communication device is used to execute the steps performed by the first communication device in the above method embodiment, and the second communication device is used to execute the steps performed by the second communication device in the above method embodiment.

[0456] It should be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state drive (SSD), a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DRRAM). It should be noted that the memory described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0457] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is executed in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device or other programmable device.

[0458] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0459] In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0460] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0461] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0462] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the technology or the part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as USB flash drives, mobile hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first communication device, comprising: Receiving first indication information from a second communication device, where the first indication information is used to determine a first failure time range of a first beam, where the first beam currently serves a first cell where the first communication device is located; Determine a second beam and a second scheduling-free resource, wherein a valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first invalid time range, and the second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during a period in which the second beam serves the first cell; Send second indication information to the second communication device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the non-scheduling resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are the second beam and the second non-scheduling resource, respectively.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the second indication information is sent on the second beam, the second indication information also indicates that the second beam is switched from the first beam, and the second scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource; wherein the first scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the first beam serves the first cell.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first indication information includes: indication information of the first beam and indication information of the first failure time range.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The indication information of the first expiration time range includes: the start time of the first expiration time range, and / or, the first expiration condition; The first failure condition includes: the signal quality of the first beam does not meet a first preset quality requirement; the method further includes: measuring a signal quality of the first beam; The time within a preset time period during which the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement is determined as the start time of the first failure time range.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The indication information of the first expiration time range includes: the end time of the first expiration time range.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The determining the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource includes: Determine at least one candidate beam, wherein a valid time range in which each candidate beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first failure time range; Determine at least one candidate scheduling-free resource associated with the at least one candidate beam, where a valid time interval of each candidate scheduling-free resource associated with the candidate beam is included in a valid time range in which the candidate beam is allowed to serve the first cell; Determine the second scheduling-free resource from the at least one candidate scheduling-free resource, and determine the candidate beam associated with the second scheduling-free resource as the second beam; Among them, the time interval between the start time of the valid time interval of the second scheduling-free resource and the start time of the first expiration time range meets the interval requirement, and / or the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource meets the quality requirement.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The second indication information also indicates a first time, where the first time is the start time of using the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The first time is no later than the start time of the first expiration time range.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: The second indication information also indicates a mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the second scheduling-free resource, where the mapping relationship is used to align data transmission processes before and after switching from the first scheduling-free resource to the second scheduling-free resource.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that Also includes: Determine a third beam and a third scheduling-free resource, wherein a valid time range during which the third beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with a first invalid time range of the first beam or a second invalid time range of the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during a period during which the third beam serves the first cell; Send third indication information to the second communication device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the non-scheduling resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are the third beam and the third non-scheduling resource, respectively.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that When the third indication information is sent on the third beam, the third indication information also indicates that the third beam is switched from the first beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource; or, the third indication information also indicates that the third beam is switched from the second beam, and the third scheduling-free resource is switched from the second scheduling-free resource.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that: The start time of the second expiration time range is the end time of the valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell.

13. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that: Also includes: Fourth indication information is received from the second communication device, where the fourth indication information is used to determine a second failure time range of the second beam.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The fourth indication information includes: indication information of the second beam and indication information of the second expiration time range.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The indication information of the second expiration time range includes: the start time of the second expiration time range, and / or, the second expiration condition; The second failure condition includes: the signal quality of the second beam does not meet a second preset quality requirement; the method further includes: measuring a signal quality of the second beam; The time within a preset time period during which the signal quality of the second beam does not meet the second preset quality requirement is determined as the start time of the second failure time range.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that The start time of the second expiration time range is earlier than the end time of the validity time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that The indication information of the second expiration time range includes: the end time of the second expiration time range.

18. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a second communication device, comprising: Sending first indication information to a first communication device, where the first indication information is used to determine a first failure time range of a first beam, where the first beam currently serves a first cell where the first communication device is located; receiving second indication information from the first communication device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the beam and the scheduling-free resource used by the first communication device to transmit data are respectively the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource; The effective time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell overlaps with the first invalid time range, and the second scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period in which the second beam serves the first cell.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that When the second indication information is received on the second beam, the second indication information also indicates that the second beam is switched from the first beam, and the second scheduling-free resource is switched from the first scheduling-free resource; wherein the first scheduling-free resource is used for scheduling-free transmission during the period when the first beam serves the first cell.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that The first indication information includes: indication information of the first beam and indication information of the first failure time range.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that The indication information of the first expiration time range includes: the start time of the first expiration time range, and / or, the first expiration condition; The first failure condition includes: the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement; the time within a preset time period during which the signal quality of the first beam does not meet the first preset quality requirement is used to determine the start time of the first failure time range.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that The indication information of the first expiration time range includes: the end time of the first expiration time range.

23. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 22, characterized in that The valid time interval of the second scheduling-free resource is included in the valid time range in which the second beam is allowed to serve the first cell; The time interval between the start time of the valid time interval of the second scheduling-free resource and the start time of the first expiration time range meets the interval requirement, and / or the channel quality of the second scheduling-free resource meets the quality requirement.

24. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 23, characterized in that The second indication information also indicates a first time, where the first time is the start time of using the second beam and the second scheduling-free resource, or the end time of using the first beam and the first scheduling-free resource.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that The first time is no later than the start time of the first expiration time range.

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that The second indication information also indicates a mapping relationship between the first scheduling-free resource and the second scheduling-free resource, where the mapping relationship is used to align data transmission processes before and after switching from the first scheduling-free resource to the second scheduling-free resource.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: include: Comprising means for performing the steps of the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, or means for performing the steps of the method as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 26.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute a computer program or an instruction. When the processor executes the computer program or the instruction, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 18 to 26 is implemented.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 18 to 26 is implemented.

30. A computer program product, characterized in that The method comprises a computer program or an instruction, which, when executed, enables the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17 to be implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 18 to 26 to be implemented.

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