Communication method and device

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, comprising: a network device sends a plurality of first synchronization signal blocks to cover a whole cell through a plurality of first beams with a relatively large coverage range, thereby reducing the number of beams covering the whole cell, and reducing the period of beam scanning. And then sending the SIB1 corresponding to the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks, so that the terminal equipment sends the first random access signal on the first random access channel opportunity RO indicated by the SIB1. After a first target RO receives a first random access signal from a first terminal device, a first target beam corresponding to the first terminal device having an access requirement is determined from a plurality of first beams, and then the coverage range of the first target beam is scanned through a plurality of second beams with relatively small coverage ranges. On the basis of meeting the access requirement of the terminal equipment, the coverage area needing to be scanned is reduced, and the beam scanning resource overhead and the access time delay of the terminal equipment are reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of wireless communication technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus. Background Art

[0002] Downlink synchronization is the starting point for a terminal device to establish communication with a network device. Only after downlink synchronization can the terminal device demodulate the master information block (MIB) and system information block (SIB) broadcast by the cell, and then access the network device.

[0003] In a communication system that supports beamforming technology, since a single beam is difficult to cover the entire cell managed by the network device, and due to hardware limitations, the network device often cannot use multiple beams to cover the entire cell simultaneously. Therefore, currently, the network device can use the method of beam scanning to cover the entire cell. That is, the network device can cover a partial area of the cell through partial beams at a certain moment, and then cover another partial area of the cell through another part of the beams at another moment. In this way, the network device can cover the entire cell through beams in different directions at multiple moments.

[0004] Based on the above beam scanning method, the network device can send synchronization signal blocks through beams in different directions at multiple moments. In this way, the terminal device can perform cell search and measurement based on the received synchronization signal blocks, thereby completing processes such as initial access and mobility management, and realizing communication between the network device and the terminal device.

[0005] Based on the above description, the network device may require a relatively large number of beams to cover the entire cell, which results in a long beam scanning period, thereby increasing the beam scanning resource overhead and the access delay of the terminal device. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Embodiments of this application provide a communication method and apparatus, which are used to reduce the duration of the beam scanning process of the network device, reduce the beam scanning resource overhead, and the access delay of the terminal device.

[0007] In a first aspect, this application proposes a communication method. The method is applied to a network device, and the following takes the network device as the execution entity for illustration. The method includes:

[0008] The network device transmits multiple first synchronization signal blocks via multiple first beams, and then transmits SIB1 corresponding to the multiple first synchronization signal blocks; wherein, the multiple first beams correspond one-to-one to the multiple first synchronization signal blocks, and each first synchronization signal block contains first information for scheduling the corresponding System Information Block 1 (SIB1); the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the first synchronization signal blocks is used to indicate the first random access channel opportunity (RO), and the first ROs indicated by the SIB1s corresponding to different first synchronization signal blocks are different; when the network device receives a first random access signal from a first terminal device at a first target RO, it determines a first target synchronization signal block according to the first target RO, and determines a first target beam for transmitting the first target synchronization signal block among the multiple first beams; wherein, the first target synchronization signal block is the first synchronization signal block corresponding to the first target SIB1 among the multiple first synchronization signal blocks, and the first target SIB1 is used to indicate the first target RO, that is, the first terminal device with an access requirement within the first target beam, and then transmits multiple second synchronization signal blocks via multiple second beams corresponding to the first target beam, that is, the coverage ranges of the multiple second beams include the coverage range of the first target beam; wherein, the multiple second beams correspond one-to-one to the multiple second synchronization signal blocks.

[0009] In the above solution, the network device completes beam scanning within the coverage range of the network device by combining wide beam (i.e., the first beam with a relatively large coverage range) scanning and narrow beam (i.e., the second beam with a relatively small coverage range) scanning. That is, the network device first uses a small number of wide beams to scan the entire coverage range of the network device, and then determines, based on the received random access signal, which wide beam's coverage range has a terminal device with an access requirement, that is, determines the coverage range of this wide beam as the area with an access requirement; then the network device scans the area with an access requirement via narrow beams, so that the terminal device with an access requirement can access the network device. Since the coverage area of a single wide beam is larger than that of a single narrow beam, therefore, the number of wide beams required to scan the entire coverage range is much smaller than the number of narrow beams required. Based on this, compared with the traditional solution, the network device uses a small amount of time to quickly complete beam scanning with wide beams, and then uses a small number of narrow beams to accurately scan the coverage range of a specific wide beam, making the entire process consume less time. Obviously, this method can re-scan only the area with an access requirement, and does not re-scan other areas without an access requirement, thereby avoiding the ineffective beam scanning of the network device for areas without an access requirement, and thus reducing the resource overhead of the network device's beam scanning and reducing the access delay of the terminal device.

[0010] In addition, since the coverage range of a beam is negatively correlated with the beam reception gain, the network device can ensure the beam reception gain and improve the access success rate of the terminal device by performing precise beam scanning through narrow beams with a smaller coverage range.

[0011] In a possible design, the network device may send the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks through the plurality of first beams within a first period T1, and send the plurality of second synchronization signal blocks through the plurality of second beams within a second period T2, where T1 is greater than T2.

[0012] In this way, the network device can perform wide beam scanning and narrow beam scanning with different periods. When there is no terminal device with an access requirement determined, the wide beam with a larger scanning period is used to reduce the frequency of the scanning coverage range of the network device, so as to scan the coverage range of the network device with fewer beam scanning times, thereby further reducing the beam scanning resource overhead by reducing the number of beam scans. When there is a terminal device with an access requirement determined, the narrow beam with a smaller scanning period is used to increase the frequency of scanning the area where there is an access requirement, and further reduce the access delay of the terminal device.

[0013] In a possible design, T1≥T2*(M + a), where M is the number of the plurality of second beams corresponding to the first beam, and a is an integer greater than 0. Exemplarily, a may be an integer such as 1, 2, 3, 4...

[0014] Through this design, there is an association relationship between the first period T1 and the number of narrow beams corresponding to any wide beam, that is, the first period T1 is positively correlated with the number of narrow beams corresponding to any wide beam. In some scenarios, if the number of narrow beams corresponding to any wide beam is small, it means that more wide beams are still needed to scan the coverage range of the network device, that is, the network device still needs more time to complete the scanning of the network device coverage range. Therefore, by reducing the first period T1, the frequency of the network device scanning the coverage range is increased, and further the access delay of the terminal device accessing the network device is reduced. Among them, the number of narrow beams corresponding to any two wide beams may be the same.

[0015] In a possible design, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the first synchronization signal blocks is further used to instruct the terminal device to continue receiving the second synchronization signal blocks with the second period T2.

[0016] It can be understood that the SIB1 corresponding to the first synchronization signal block directly notifies the terminal device to continue searching for the second synchronization signal blocks sent by the narrow beams of the subsequent network devices with the second period T2, and indirectly indicates that the current synchronization signal block is the first synchronization signal block and is sent by the wide beam of the network device.

[0017] In a possible design, the network device may send the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks through the plurality of first beams within the third period T3; the network device may also send the plurality of second synchronization signal blocks through the plurality of second beams within T3. That is, the network device may use the same beam scanning period to send the first synchronization signal blocks and the second synchronization signal blocks.

[0018] In a possible design, the identifiers of the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks are included in a first set range, and the first set range is set for the first type of beams; the plurality of first beams belong to the first type of beams.

[0019] In a possible design, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the first synchronization signal blocks further includes a first indication field, and the first indication field is used to indicate that the first synchronization signal block is sent through the first type of beams; the plurality of first beams belong to the first type of beams.

[0020] Through the above design, the network device can also directly indicate that the current synchronization signal block is the first synchronization signal block and is sent through a wide beam by using the identifier of the first synchronization signal block or the first indication field in the SIB1 corresponding to the first synchronization signal block, so as to indirectly notify the terminal device to continue searching for the second synchronization signal blocks sent by the subsequent network devices through narrow beams in the second period T2.

[0021] In a possible design, each second synchronization signal block includes second information for scheduling the corresponding SIB1. Based on this, the network device also needs to send the SIB1 corresponding to each second synchronization signal block; among them, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the second synchronization signal blocks is used to indicate the second random access channel opportunity RO, and the second ROs indicated by the SIB1s corresponding to different second synchronization signal blocks are different. Thus, when the network device receives the second random access signal from the first terminal device at the second target RO, it performs the random access procedure of the first terminal device according to the second random access signal; where the second target RO is indicated by the SIB1 corresponding to the second target synchronization signal block among the plurality of second synchronization signal blocks.

[0022] Based on the above solution, the first RO indicated by SIB1 corresponding to any first synchronization signal block and the second RO indicated by SIB1 corresponding to any second synchronization signal block do not overlap in the frequency domain or the time domain. In this way, the network device can distinguish whether the received random access signal is sent by the first terminal device on the first RO or on the second RO, that is, distinguish which beam the received random access signal is the feedback of the synchronization signal block based on. Based on this, the network device can implement subsequent random access procedures only for the second random access signal PRACH based on narrow beam feedback, and does not perform subsequent random access procedures on the first PRACH, that is, does not demodulate the first PRACH, so as to avoid invalid demodulation of the random access signal PRACH and reduce computing resources. Obviously, because the network device can not demodulate the first PRACH, it can determine the first terminal device that needs to access by detecting the energy of the first PRACH, so as to improve the efficiency of determining the area where there is an access demand.

[0023] In a possible design, SIB1 corresponding to any second synchronization signal block is further used to indicate that the terminal device will receive the first synchronization signal block in the first period T1 subsequently.

[0024] It can be understood that SIB1 corresponding to the second synchronization signal block is equivalent to indicating the first period T1, thereby indirectly indicating that the current synchronization signal block is the second synchronization signal block, which is sent by the network device through a narrow beam, and then directly notifying the terminal device that when accessing the network device next time, it needs to continue to search for the first synchronization signal block sent by the network device through a wide beam in the first period T1.

[0025] In a possible design, the identifiers of the multiple second synchronization signal blocks are included in a second set range, and the second set range is set for the second type of beam; the multiple second beams belong to the second type of beam.

[0026] In a possible design, SIB1 corresponding to any second synchronization signal block further includes a second indication field, and the second indication field is used to indicate that the second synchronization signal block is sent through the second type of beam; the multiple second beams belong to the second type of beam.

[0027] Based on the above solution, the network device can also directly indicate that the current synchronization signal block is the second synchronization signal block and is sent through a narrow beam by the identifier of the second synchronization signal block or the second indication field in SIB1 corresponding to the second synchronization signal block, thereby indirectly notifying the terminal device that when accessing the network device next time, it needs to continue to search for the first synchronization signal block sent by the network device through a wide beam in the first period T1.

[0028] Second aspect, an embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method, which is applied to a terminal device. The following takes the first terminal device as an example of the execution entity for illustration. The method includes:

[0029] The first terminal device receives a first target synchronization signal block from a network device; wherein, the first target synchronization signal block includes first target information for scheduling a first target system information block SIB1; and accordingly, the first terminal device receives the first target SIB1 from the network device according to the first target synchronization signal block. It can be understood that the first terminal device is a device with access requirements. Since the first target SIB1 is used to indicate a first target RO, the first terminal device can send a first random access signal on the first target RO; thus, the first terminal device will subsequently continue to receive a second synchronization signal block from the network device.

[0030] In a possible design, the first terminal device can receive the first target synchronization signal block from the network device at a first period T1; and receive a second target synchronization signal block from the network device at a second period T2; wherein, T1 is greater than T2.

[0031] In a possible design, since the first target SIB1 is also used to indicate that the terminal device continues to receive the second synchronization signal block at the second period T2, the first terminal device can, according to the indication of the first target SIB1, receive the second target synchronization signal block from the network device at the second period T2; wherein, the second target synchronization signal block is the second synchronization signal block received by the first terminal device.

[0032] In a possible design, when the first terminal device determines that the identifier of the first target synchronization signal block is within a first set range, it determines that the first target synchronization signal is sent through a first type of beam; wherein, the first set range is set for the first type of beam; and then determines a synchronization signal block reception period T2 corresponding to a second type of beam; and then receives the second target synchronization signal block from the network device at the second period T2; wherein, the coverage range of a single beam in the second type of beam is smaller than the coverage range of a single beam in the first type of beam, and the second target synchronization signal block is sent through the second type of beam.

[0033] In a possible design, the first terminal device may determine, according to the first indication field included in the first target SIB1, that the first target synchronization signal is transmitted through the first type of beam; then determine the synchronization signal block reception period T2 corresponding to the second type of beam; and then receive the second target synchronization signal block from the network device at the second period T2; where the coverage range of a single beam in the second type of beam is smaller than the coverage range of a single beam in the first type of beam, and the second target synchronization signal block is transmitted through the second type of beam.

[0034] In this way, the first terminal device can continue to search for the second synchronization signal block transmitted by the network device through the second beam at a smaller second period T2 through the above three design methods, thereby reducing the access delay of the first terminal device.

[0035] In a possible design, since the second target synchronization signal block includes second target information for scheduling the second target SIB1, the first terminal device may receive the second target SIB1 from the network device according to the second target synchronization signal block; and then transmit a second random access signal on the second target RO based on the second target SIB1 for indicating the second target RO; where the first target RO and the second target RO do not overlap in the frequency domain or the time domain.

[0036] In a possible design, since the second target SIB1 is further used to indicate that the terminal device subsequently receives the synchronization signal block at the first period T1; after receiving the second target synchronization signal block from the network device, the first terminal device may, according to the indication of the second target SIB1, receive the first synchronization signal block from the network device at the first period T1.

[0037] In a possible design, after receiving the second target synchronization signal block from the network device, the first terminal device may also determine, when determining that the identifier of the second target synchronization signal block is within a second set range, that the second target synchronization signal is transmitted through the second type of beam, and then determine the synchronization signal block reception period T1 corresponding to the first type of beam, and then receive the first synchronization signal block from the network device at the first period T1; where the second set range is set for the second type of beam; and the coverage range of a single beam in the second type of beam is smaller than the coverage range of a single beam in the first type of beam.

[0038] In a possible design, after the first terminal device receives the second target synchronization signal block from the network device, it may further determine, according to the second indication field included in the second target SIB1, that the second target synchronization signal is sent through a second type of beam, and then determine the reception period T1 of the synchronization signal block corresponding to the first type of beam, and then receive the first synchronization signal block from the network device with the first period T1; wherein, the coverage range of a single beam in the second type of beam is smaller than the coverage range of a single beam in the first type of beam.

[0039] It can be understood that the technical effects that can be achieved in the second aspect can refer to the description of the technical effects that can be achieved in the first aspect above.

[0040] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication device, including units for performing each step in the first aspect or the second aspect above. Optionally, the communication device may include a communication unit and a processing unit; the communication unit is used for receiving and sending data, and the processing unit is used for performing the method provided in the first aspect or the second aspect above.

[0041] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including a transceiver and a processor; wherein, the transceiver is used for receiving and sending signals; the processor is used for executing program instructions to make the communication device perform the method provided in the first aspect or the second aspect above. Optionally, the communication device further includes a memory. The memory is used for storing program instructions; the processor can read the program instructions in the memory to make the communication device perform the method provided in the first aspect or the second aspect above.

[0042] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including at least one processing element and at least one storage element, wherein the at least one storage element is used for storing programs and data, and the at least one processing element is used for performing the method provided in the first aspect or the second aspect above.

[0043] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, including: a network device for performing the first aspect above and a terminal device for performing the second aspect above.

[0044] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which, when running on a computer, makes the computer perform the method provided in the first aspect or the second aspect above. Optionally, the computer may be a communication device such as a terminal device or a network device.

[0045] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing program code, which, when running on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method provided in the first aspect or the second aspect above. Optionally, the computer may be a communication device such as a network device or a terminal device.

[0046] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip coupled to a memory for reading and executing program instructions stored in the memory to implement the method provided in the first aspect or the second aspect above.

[0047] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system including a processor for supporting a computer device to implement the method provided in any of the above aspects. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory for storing necessary programs and data of the computer device. The chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0048] Based on the implementations provided in the above aspects, embodiments of the present application can be further combined to provide more implementations.

[0049] For the technical effects that can be achieved in any of the third aspect to the tenth aspect above, reference may be made to the technical effects that can be achieved in the first aspect and / or the second aspect above, and repeated descriptions will not be elaborated. Description of the Drawings

[0050] Figure 1a It is a schematic diagram of a terminal device accessing a network device in a transparent payload scenario applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] Figure 1b It is a schematic diagram of a terminal device accessing a network device in a regenerative payload scenario applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of an SSB applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of a beam scanning applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the position of an SSB in the time domain applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of a satellite scanning applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] Figure 6aA schematic diagram of a system architecture applicable to the embodiments of the present application;

[0057] Figure 6b A schematic diagram of a system architecture applicable to the embodiments of the present application;

[0058] Figure 7 A schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0059] Figure 8a A schematic diagram of the coverage range of a single first beam provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0060] Figure 8b A schematic diagram of the coverage range of a single second beam provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0061] Figure 9 A schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0062] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of beam scanning corresponding to Implementation Manner 1 provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0063] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of beam scanning corresponding to Implementation Manner 2 provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0064] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of beam scanning corresponding to Implementation Manner 3 provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0065] Figure 13 A structural diagram of a communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0066] Figure 14 A structural diagram of a communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0067] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. The terms used in the following embodiments are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application. As used in the specification and appended claims of the present application, the singular forms "a", "an", "the", "above-mentioned", "said", and "this" are also intended to include expressions such as "one or more", unless there is a clear indication to the contrary in the context. It should also be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, "one or more" means one, two, or more than two; "and / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects and indicates that three relationships may exist; for example, A and / or B may represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, where A and B may be singular or plural. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects before and after.

[0068] The reference to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" etc. described in this specification means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in one or more embodiments of the present application. Thus, the statements "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments", "in other some embodiments", "in still other embodiments", etc. that appear in different places in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but mean "one or more but not all embodiments", unless otherwise specifically emphasized in other ways. The terms "include", "comprise", "have" and their variants all mean "including but not limited to", unless otherwise specifically emphasized in other ways.

[0069] The "multiple" involved in the embodiments of the present application means greater than or equal to two. It should be noted that in the description of the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used for the purpose of distinguishing descriptions and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor can they be understood as indicating or implying an order.

[0070] To better elaborate on the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the concepts and terms involved in the embodiments of the present application will be briefly described first.

[0071] 1) NTN, which is proposed relative to the traditional terrestrial network, refers to a network established using non-terrestrial communication technologies, which may but is not limited to include a network that uses the spectrum resources on communication platforms such as satellite platforms, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms, or high altitude platform stations (HAPS) to provide communication services.

[0072] Exemplarily, NTN can but is not limited to include satellite systems, UAV communication systems, and HAPS systems. Among them, according to the different heights of satellites from the Earth's surface (i.e., satellite orbital heights), satellite systems can be divided into geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite systems, medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite systems, low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems, etc.

[0073] Compared with terrestrial communication networks, NTN has characteristics such as a wider coverage area, higher path loss, larger latency, faster speed, and lower cost. With the increasing research popularity of NTN, the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) has also carried out standardized research on NTN, aiming to supplement or enhance the communication performance of mobile communication systems through the construction of NTN. For example, 3GPP has started research on satellite-terrestrial integration and related solutions since release 14 (R14).

[0074] 2) A terminal device is a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to users and can access network devices through a wireless interface. The terminal device can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc. In this application, the terminal device can be fixed in position or mobile, and this application does not make any limitations in this regard.

[0075] 3) A network device is an entity on the network side of a communication system with wireless transceiver functions. In the embodiments of this application, the network device can but is not limited to include: base stations, base stations carried on satellites (abbreviated as satellite base stations), transmission receiving points (TRP) or distributed units (DU) carried on satellites, satellite ground stations in satellite systems (which can be abbreviated as ground stations), balloon stations, drone stations, and so on.

[0076] 4) The 5th-generation mobile communication technology (5G) is a new generation of broadband mobile communication technology with characteristics of high speed, low latency, and large connection.

[0077] 5) Inter-satellite link (ISL), also known as interplanetary link or cross-link, refers to the link for communication between satellites. In the inter-satellite link, each satellite serves as a node of the space network, enabling the communication signal to be transmitted along the required optimal path, thereby organizing a global communication network.

[0078] 6) Radio frequency (RF), that is, radio frequency current, is an abbreviation for a high-frequency alternating current changing electromagnetic wave. It represents the electromagnetic frequency that can be radiated into space, such as the frequency range between 300 kHz and 300 GHz.

[0079] 7) Master information block (MIB) is used to transmit the basic information required by the system through PBCH; such as information on the downlink system bandwidth, resource indication, system frame number, frequency point, number of antennas, etc.

[0080] 8) System information block (SIB) is a data block recording system information, including types such as SIB1, SIB2, SIB3, etc. Among them, SIB1 contains the parameters for the terminal device to access the cell and the scheduling information of other SIB types.

[0081] 9) Synchronization signal block is periodically sent by the network device and is used for the terminal device to achieve time-frequency synchronization with the network device during the cell search process.

[0082] The first implementation mode: The synchronization signal block contains a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS). At this time, the synchronization signal block can be denoted as synchronization signal block, abbreviated as SSB.

[0083] The second implementation mode: The synchronization signal block not only contains PSS and SSS, but also contains a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), such as the synchronization signal block defined in the 5G mobile communication system (i.e., the new radio (NR) system). In this case, the synchronization signal block can be denoted as the synchronization signal broadcast channel block (SS / PBCH block, or SS / PBCH block).

[0084] The third implementation mode: Based on the structure of the synchronization signal block provided in the foregoing two embodiments, in this implementation mode, the synchronization signal block can be divided into two categories: By default, the synchronization signal block includes PSS, SSS, and PBCH. In special cases, the synchronization signal block includes PSS and SSS and does not include PBCH. At this time, the synchronization signal block can also be called a default synchronization signal block.

[0085] In some descriptions of the embodiments of the present application, the synchronization signal block is denoted as SSB for example, but it does not impose any limitation on the format or structure of the synchronization signal block.

[0086] 10) Primary synchronization signal (PSS), a signal specific to the physical layer, used to help the terminal device obtain the radio frame boundary.

[0087] 11) Secondary synchronization signal (SSS), another signal specific to the physical layer, used to help the terminal device obtain the subframe boundary.

[0088] 12) Physical broadcast channel (PBCH), a physical channel used to broadcast system information, such as cell ID, system bandwidth, etc. The information carried is the master system information block MIB, which includes information such as the system frame number, cell Barred, and SIB parameter set. The terminal device needs to obtain the remaining system information broadcast by the network based on this information.

[0089] 13) Demodulation reference signal (DMRS), used for uplink and downlink data demodulation. Demodulation is to convert the analog signal transmitted on the communication line into a digital signal to obtain the transmitted information.

[0090] 14) Resource block (RB), a resource block composed of all time-domain symbols (such as OFDM symbols) within a time slot and 12 subcarriers.

[0091] 15) Resource element (RE), the basic unit for resource mapping in the physical layer, including a time-frequency resource unit composed of a time-domain symbol and a subcarrier. Among them, the time-domain symbol is the smallest resource granularity in the time domain, and the subcarrier is the smallest resource granularity in the frequency domain.

[0092] 16) Physical Cell Identifier (PCI), which is used to distinguish the radio signals of different cells and ensure that there are no identical physical cell identifiers within the coverage area of relevant cells.

[0093] 17) Random Access Channel Occasion (RO), which represents the time-domain resources and frequency-domain resources occupied by a certain random access signal.

[0094] 18) Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) is the access channel when the terminal device initiates a call at the beginning. After the terminal device receives the FPACH response message, it will send the RRC Connection Request message on the PRACH channel according to the information indicated by Node B to establish the RRC connection.

[0095] The method for a terminal device to access a network device in the NTN scenario applicable to this application is described below in combination with the above terms:

[0096] The NTN network can achieve wide-area seamless coverage and can be used in scenarios such as global coverage (e.g., remote areas, ocean vessels, etc.), emergency disaster relief (e.g., disaster monitoring, emergency communication), Internet of Everything, high-speed mobility (e.g., high-speed trains, airplanes). In NTN, there are transparent payload scenarios and regenerative payload scenarios. See Figure 1a and Figure 1b , Figure 1a is a schematic diagram of a terminal device accessing a network device in a transparent payload scenario applicable to an embodiment of this application, Figure 1bSchematic diagram of a terminal device accessing a network device in a regenerative payload scenario applicable to embodiments of the present application. Among them, the network device is a satellite (which can also be a UAS platform, etc.); the number of gateway stations can be one or more, used to connect the satellite and the terrestrial network, and responsible for relaying network information such as telephone, switched network, cellular communication network, and mobile satellite communication network; the feeder link is the wireless link between the gateway station and the satellite; the coverage area of the satellite includes the terminal device, the terminal device can be a user terminal (User Equipment, UE), and each beam of the satellite has a corresponding beam footprint; the service link is the wireless link between the UE and the satellite. Further, the Transparent payload scenario is a payload that changes the frequency carrier of the uplink RF signal and filters and amplifies it before downlink transmission. This payload only has a radio frequency processing unit and no baseband demodulation, decoding, etc. processing. In the Regenerative payload scenario, the first satellite and the second satellite are communicatively connected through an inter-satellite link ISL, which is a payload used to transform and amplify the uplink RF signal before downlink transmission; the transformation of the signal refers to digital processing, which can include demodulation, decoding, re-encoding, re-modulation, and / or filtering, equivalent to having all or part of the base station functions (such as gNB) on the satellite (or UAS platform).

[0097] In a communication system (such as any of the above scenarios of NTN), downlink synchronization is the starting point for a terminal device to access a network device. Only after downlink synchronization can the terminal device demodulate the MIB and SIB broadcast by the cell and then access the network device to achieve communication between the network device and the terminal device. Exemplarily, the terminal device can synchronize through a synchronization signal block in NR (i.e., 5G radio network). Taking the synchronization signal block denoted as the SS / PBCH block as an example, Figure 2 Schematic diagram of a synchronization signal block applicable to embodiments of the present application. Each SS / PBCH block contains PSS, SSS, and PBCH. Among them, each SS / PBCH block occupies 4 consecutive symbols in the time domain and 20 RBs (i.e., 240 subcarriers) in the frequency domain.

[0098] See Figure 2 , PSS is the primary synchronization sequence, occupying the 1st symbol in the SS / PBCH block and 127 subcarriers. The signal that the terminal device first searches for when entering NR is the PSS. After the terminal device detects the PSS, it then synchronizes to the PSS period.

[0099] The SSS is a secondary synchronization sequence, occupying the 3rd symbol in the SS / PBCH block and 127 subcarriers. After the terminal device detects the PSS, it determines the transmission timing of the SSS, and determines the physical cell identifier (PCI) of the cell by detecting the SSS.

[0100] The PBCH is a physical broadcast channel, occupying the 2nd and 4th symbols in the SS / PBCH block, and also occupying 48 subcarriers at both ends of the 3rd symbol, with a total of 576 resource elements (REs) occupied; the REs occupied by the PBCH are called the master information block (MIB), that is, the information mainly carried by the PBCH is the master system information block (MIB); the MIB carries the most basic information, including cellBarred, downlink bandwidth parameters, system frame number (SFN), synchronization signal block identifier (SSB ID), SIB parameter set, etc. The information carried in the MIB is related to the scheduling of the SIB1 message, the configuration of the PDCCH, and the decoding of the PDSCH. After receiving the MIB, the terminal device uses the parameters in the MIB to continue to demodulate and decode the SIB1. The SIB1 carries cell access information and the scheduling information of other SIBs. The SIB1 also includes paging configuration information. Among them, the MIB is carried in the physical broadcast information to the PBCH, while the SIB information is carried in the PDSCH.

[0101] It can be understood that Figure 2 is a schematic diagram taking the SS / PBCH block as an example, but the embodiments of the present application do not impose any limitations on the format or structure of other synchronization signal blocks. Based on this, the synchronization signal block denoted as SSB is taken as an example for description below. In some embodiments, the SSB may be transmitted through beams in a communication system supporting beamforming technology. However, a single beam is difficult to cover the entire cell managed by the network device. At the same time, due to hardware limitations, the network device generally cannot simultaneously transmit multiple beams covering the entire cell. Therefore, the communication system introduces a method of beam scanning to cover the entire cell, that is, the network device can cover a part of the cell through some beams at a certain moment, and then cover another part of the cell through another part of the beams at another moment. See Figure 3 , the network device transmits a beam in a certain direction at a certain moment, and covers the entire cell by transmitting beams in different directions at multiple moments. Specifically, the base station covers the entire cell through beam 0 (used to transmit SSB#0), beam 1 (used to transmit SSB#1),..., beam N - 1 (used to transmit SSB#N - 1), and beam N (used to transmit SSB#N). It can be seen that the directions of any two beams are different, and the SSB indexes corresponding to the two SSBs transmitted through any two beams are also different.

[0102] Based on Figure 3 ,when the terminal device is moving, it can continuously perform cell search and measurement based on the SSB, select a suitable beam, and thus complete processes such as initial access and mobility management.

[0103] It can be understood that each cell will periodically send multiple SSBs through multiple beams in the time domain. Each SSB has a unique identifier / index within a period, that is, the SSB index; in the frequency domain, the SSBs of each cell are configured with the same frequency domain position. Exemplarily, in a communication system, the transmission time of the SSB is in units of half-frames (with a duration of 5 ms) and is transmitted within a preset SSB period. Refer to Figure 4 ,in each SSB period, multiple SSBs (i.e., one SSB Burst) are transmitted within 5 ms. Further, the SSB only supports single-port transmission. Each SSB corresponds to an SSB index, and each SSB corresponds to a beam in a different direction. The SSB index will be encapsulated in the SSB and sent along with the beam. After the terminal device parses the SSB, it can determine the corresponding SSB index. It can be understood that the SSB period can be 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms, 160 ms. The SSB period will be indicated in SIB1, but when the terminal device performs initial cell search, it will search for the SSB according to the default period.

[0104] Based on the above description, it can be seen that the terminal device can access the network device through the SSB. However, one of the characteristics of NTN is its large coverage area. Therefore, in order to cover the entire cell it manages, the network device needs to use more beams to meet the requirement. Figure 5 It is an example diagram of satellite scanning; where the orbital altitude of the satellite is 600 km, the scanning angle is 52.3°, and the elevation angle of the terminal device is 30°. Then the signal coverage radius of the satellite is about 850 km, and the area of the signal coverage range of the satellite is about 2.27 million square kilometers (i.e., Figure 5 the area of the large circle in). Taking the S band as an example, the coverage radius of a single beam of the satellite is 25 km, and the area of the coverage range at the sub-satellite point is about 0.02 million square kilometers (i.e., Figure 5 the area of the small filled circle in). It can be seen from this that 1135 beams are required to achieve full coverage of 2.27 million square kilometers. Based on this, assuming that the SSB period is 20 ms, that is, 8 SSBs are sent through 8 beams every 20 ms, and then it is calculated that the satellite needs about 2840 ms to achieve full coverage of 2.27 million square kilometers. Therefore, when the network device achieves full coverage, the number of required beams is large, resulting in a large resource overhead for beam scanning and a long access delay for the terminal device.

[0105] In the related art, network devices reduce resource overhead and access latency by increasing the beam width of each beam, i.e., increasing the coverage range of each beam. Exemplarily, based on Figure 5 as an example, assuming that each beam is expanded by 8 times, the network device needs about 142 beams to achieve full coverage of 2.27 million square kilometers, which takes about 355 ms. However, after the beam width of the beam increases, the receiving gain of the main lobe of the beam is sacrificed, resulting in a decrease in the receiving gain of the beam, which easily causes the uplink PRACH signal link budget to be insufficient, and then the network device cannot correctly demodulate the RACH signal, and finally the terminal device fails to access the network device.

[0106] Therefore, the present application provides a method for a terminal device to access a network device, which is used to reduce the beam scanning period for the network device to achieve full coverage, reduce the beam scanning resource overhead and the access latency of the terminal device, and at the same time ensure the receiving gain of the beam.

[0107] Figure 6a FIG. is a schematic diagram of a system architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application. The system architecture includes a network device 610 and a terminal device 620; wherein, the network device 610 is used to send a synchronization signal block and SIB1 corresponding to the synchronization signal block, receive a random access signal sent by the terminal device 620 on the RO indicated by SIB1 corresponding to the synchronization signal block, then demodulate the random access signal, and execute a random access procedure according to the demodulated random access signal, and then access the terminal device 620.

[0108] The terminal device 620 is used to receive the synchronization signal block from the network device 610, then receive SIB1 corresponding to the synchronization signal block according to the synchronization signal block, and then send a random access signal on the RO indicated by SIB1 corresponding to the synchronization signal block.

[0109] Continuing to illustrate with the NTN scenario as an example. Exemplarily, referring to Figure 6b , in the NTN scenario, the network device 610 includes devices 610a, 610b, and 610c, and the terminal device 620 includes devices 620a, 620b, 620c, 620d, 620e, 620f, and 620g.

[0110] It can be understood that the network device can be an access network device, such as a base station, Node B, evolved Node B (eNodeB or eNB), transmission reception point (TRP), next generation Node B (gNB) in the 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system, access network device in the open radio access network (O-RAN or open RAN), next generation base station in the 6th generation (6G) mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, etc. The network device can also be a module or unit that completes some functions of the base station, such as a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a central unit control plane (CU-CP) module, or a central unit user plane (CU-UP) module, etc. Exemplarily, the network device can be a satellite ( Figure 6b as shown in 610a), or a macro base station ( Figure 6b as shown in 610b), or a micro base station or an indoor station ( Figure 6b as shown in 610c), or a relay node or a donor node, etc. This application does not limit the specific technologies and specific device forms adopted by the network device. In addition, any two network devices can be connected to each other in a wired or wireless manner.

[0111] The terminal device includes, but is not limited to: UE, mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc. The terminal device can be applied to at least one of the following scenarios for communication: eMBB, ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), mMTC, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X), machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, remote medical treatment, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearables, smart transportation, or smart city, etc. Exemplarily, the terminal device can be a mobile phone ( Figure 6b 620a, 620d, 620f in Figure 6b ), a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function ( Figure 6b 620g in Figure 6b ), a wearable device, a vehicle ( Figure 6b 620b in

[0112] The above Figure 6a and Figure 6b The structures shown are only examples, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. It can be understood that the above technical solutions can be applied to various communication systems, such as: long term evolution (LTE) system, 5G system or new radio (NR), non-terrestrial networks (NTN), and future communication systems, such as the sixth generation mobile communication system, etc. The present application does not limit this.

[0113] Based on the above description, Figure 7 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 7 shown, the process includes:

[0114] S710: The network device sends multiple first synchronization signal blocks through multiple first beams. The first terminal device located within the coverage range of the network device receives the first target synchronization signal block from the network device.

[0115] In an embodiment of the present application, the network device scans the coverage area of the network device through multiple first beams, that is, multiple first synchronization signal blocks are sent within the coverage area of the network device through multiple first beams. The first terminal device (a terminal device with an access requirement) is located within the coverage area of a certain first beam. Therefore, the first terminal device can receive the first target synchronization signal block sent through the first beam, that is, the first target synchronization signal block is one of the multiple first synchronization signal blocks sent by the network device.

[0116] The multiple first beams correspond one-to-one to the multiple first synchronization signal blocks, and each first synchronization signal block contains first information for scheduling the corresponding System Information Block 1 SIB1. Exemplarily, assuming the number of first beams is 8 (such as the beam identifiers of the first beams are #0, #1, ……, #6, #7), then the number of first synchronization signal blocks SSB sent by the network device is also 8 (such as the indexes of the first SSB are 0, 1, ……, 6, 7). Assume that beam #0 corresponds to the first SSB with index 0, beam #1 corresponds to the first SSB with index 1, and so on. Among them, each first synchronization signal block contains first information for scheduling the corresponding SIB1 (for example, the MIB in the first synchronization signal block, or the information carried on the PBCH in the first synchronization signal). For example, each first SSB contains the corresponding MIB, and the corresponding MIB carries the scheduling message of SIB1 (that is, the first information for scheduling SIB1), which is used to instruct the terminal device to continue demodulating and decoding SIB1 after receiving SIB1 using the scheduling message of SIB1.

[0117] S720: The network device sends SIB1 corresponding to the multiple first synchronization signal blocks. The first terminal device receives the first target SIB1 from the network device according to the received first target synchronization signal block; the first target SIB1 is used to indicate the first target RO.

[0118] In an embodiment of the present application, the SIB1 corresponding to any one first synchronization signal block is used to indicate the first random access channel opportunity RO, and the first ROs indicated by the SIB1s corresponding to different first synchronization signal blocks are different. Exemplarily, the first ROs indicated by the SIB1s corresponding to any two first synchronization signal blocks are different in the time domain or the frequency domain, so that after the terminal device receives the SIB1 corresponding to the first synchronization signal block, it sends the first random access signal PRACH on the first RO indicated by the SIB1.

[0119] S730: The first terminal device sends the first random access signal on the first target RO. The network device receives the first random access signal from the first terminal device on the first target RO.

[0120] In the embodiment of the present application, before the first terminal device sends a first random access signal on a first target RO, it may first search for a first synchronization signal block according to a preset period. After a certain first synchronization signal block is found, the first synchronization signal block is received, that is, the first synchronization signal block is equivalent to the first target synchronization signal block. Then, according to the first information (i.e., the first target information) for scheduling SIB1 included in the first target synchronization signal block, the SIB1 corresponding to the first target synchronization signal block is received, that is, the SIB1 is the first target SIB1. Then, the first random access signal is sent on the first target RO indicated by the first target SIB1. Obviously, the first target synchronization signal block is the synchronization signal block received by the first terminal device among the multiple first synchronization signal blocks sent by the network device, and the first target RO is the RO indicated by the first target SIB1 corresponding to the first target synchronization signal block.

[0121] S740: The network device determines the first target synchronization signal block and determines the first target beam for sending the first target synchronization signal block among multiple first beams.

[0122] In the embodiment of the present application, the network device detects the signal energy on the first RO corresponding to each SIB1, and uses the first RO whose signal energy meets the preset condition as the first target RO. It can be understood that the signal energy on a certain first RO meeting the preset condition indicates that the first terminal device has sent a first random access signal on this first RO. Furthermore, the network device can determine the first target RO corresponding to the first random access signal sent by the first terminal device, then determine the corresponding first target SIB1 based on the first target RO, and then determine the first target synchronization signal block according to the first target SIB1. In the embodiment of the present application, since the first random access signal is only used to determine the terminal device with an access requirement, the network device can determine whether there is a first random access signal on the first RO by detecting the signal energy on the first RO, and then determine that there is a first terminal device with an access requirement, without demodulating the first random access signal on the first RO, thereby avoiding ineffective demodulation and reducing resource overhead. It can be understood that the network device can distinguish the first random access signal on the first RO from the second random access signal on the second RO, so as to trigger the process of scanning through multiple second beams only when it is determined that there is energy of the first random access signal on the first RO.

[0123] Obviously, the coverage range of the first target beam represents the coverage range with an access requirement. The network device determines the coverage range that needs to be scanned again by the second beam from the entire coverage range of the network device through the first target beam, rather than scanning the entire coverage range of the network device through the second beam, thereby reducing the coverage range that needs to be scanned again.

[0124] S750: The network device sends multiple second synchronization signal blocks through multiple second beams. A first terminal device located within the coverage area of a first target beam receives a second target synchronization signal block from the network device.

[0125] In the embodiments of this application, the network device scans the coverage area of the first target beam through multiple second beams, that is, sends multiple second synchronization signal blocks to the coverage area of the first target beam through multiple second beams. In this way, scanning through the second beams to cover the area with access requirements meets the needs of the terminal device to access the network device. Based on this, the first terminal device with access requirements is located within the coverage area of the first target beam. Therefore, the first terminal device can receive the second target synchronization signal block sent through the second beam, that is, the second target synchronization signal block is the second synchronization signal block received by the first terminal device among the multiple second synchronization signal blocks sent by the network device. It can be understood that multiple second beams correspond one-to-one with multiple second synchronization signal blocks; the coverage areas of multiple second beams include the coverage area of the first target beam.

[0126] Exemplarily, each first beam corresponds to multiple second beams, and the coverage area of the multiple second beams corresponding to each first beam is greater than or equal to the coverage area of the corresponding first target beam. Exemplarily, refer to Figure 8a and Figure 8b , Figure 8a which is a schematic diagram of the coverage area of a single first beam provided exemplarily in the embodiments of this application, Figure 8b and Figure 8a which is a schematic diagram of the coverage area of a single second beam provided exemplarily in the embodiments of this application. It can be seen that the coverage area of the first beam ( Figure 8b the filled area in ) is equivalent to the coverage areas of 4 second beams (

[0127] the filled area in ). For example, the first target beam is beam #1, and beam #1 corresponds to 4 second beams (the beam identifiers of the second beams are #8, #9, #10, and #11 respectively), and the coverage areas of the 4 second beams corresponding to beam #1 are equal to the coverage area of beam #1. That is to say, the coverage area of any second beam is smaller than the coverage area of any first beam. Based on this, for the convenience of description, the first beam is hereinafter referred to as a wide beam (the first type of beam), and the second beam is referred to as a narrow beam (the second type of beam).

[0128] In the embodiments of this application, the first terminal device can access the network device through the second synchronization signal block sent by the network device using a narrow beam. Refer to Figure 9 , and this access process includes:​

[0129] S910: The network device sends the SIB1 corresponding to multiple second synchronization signal blocks. The first terminal device receives the second target SIB1 from the network device according to the second target synchronization signal block received through S750; the second target SIB1 is used to indicate the second target RO; the first target RO and the second target RO do not overlap in the frequency domain or the time domain.

[0130] Optionally, in the embodiments of the present application, the SIB1 corresponding to any second synchronization signal block is used to indicate the second random access channel opportunity RO, and the second ROs indicated by the SIB1s corresponding to different second synchronization signal blocks are different. Exemplarily, the first ROs indicated by the SIB1s corresponding to any two second synchronization signal blocks are different in the frequency domain or the time domain, so that after receiving the SIB1 corresponding to the second synchronization signal block, the terminal device sends a second random access signal PRACH on the second RO indicated by the SIB1.

[0131] S920: The first terminal device sends a second random access signal on the second target RO. The network device receives the second random access signal from the first terminal device on the second target RO.

[0132] In the embodiments of the present application, before the first terminal device sends a second random access signal on the second target RO, it searches for the second synchronization signal block, where the MIB in each second synchronization signal block contains the second information for scheduling the corresponding second SIB1. After a certain second synchronization signal block is searched, the second synchronization signal block (i.e., the second target synchronization signal block) is received. Then the first terminal device receives the SIB1 corresponding to the second target synchronization signal block (i.e., the second target SIB1) according to the second information of the SIB1 included in the second target synchronization signal block (i.e., the second target information), and further the first terminal device sends a second random access signal on the second target RO indicated by the second target SIB1. Obviously, the second target synchronization signal block is the synchronization signal block received by the first terminal device among the multiple second synchronization signal blocks sent by the network device, and the second target RO is the RO indicated by the second target SIB1 corresponding to the second target synchronization signal block.

[0133] S930: The network device executes the random access procedure of the first terminal device according to the second random access signal.

[0134] In an embodiment of the present application, the network device receives a second random access signal on a second target RO, then demodulates the second random access signal, and then performs subsequent random access procedures based on the demodulated second random access signal. It can be understood that the subsequent random access procedures may include procedures such as the network device sending random access response information, the first terminal device sending an uplink message on the allocated uplink resource after receiving the random access response information, the first terminal device sending an RRC connection request to the network device, and the first terminal device receiving an RRC connection establishment completion message, etc. The subsequent access procedures are not limited herein.

[0135] In addition, based on the above Figure 7 and Figure 9 description, any first RO and any second RO do not overlap in the frequency domain or the time domain, so that the network device can distinguish the first random access signal PRACH sent on the first RO from the second random access signal PRACH sent on the second RO, thereby preventing the network device from misjudging the second random access signal sent on the second RO as the first random access signal sent on the first RO due to problems such as the transmission delay of the random access signal by the first terminal device.

[0136] Next, in combination with Implementation Modes 1 to 3, the communication between the first terminal device and the network device will be further elaborated.

[0137] Implementation Mode 1:

[0138] In Implementation Mode 1, the network device can perform wide beam scanning and narrow beam scanning at different periods, that is, in steps S710 and S750, the periods of sending multiple first synchronization signal blocks through multiple wide beams are different from the periods of sending multiple second synchronization signal blocks through multiple narrow beams. Exemplarily, the network device sends multiple first synchronization signal blocks through multiple wide beams within a first period T1; within a second period T2, the network device sends the multiple second synchronization signal blocks through multiple narrow beams, where T1 is greater than T2.

[0139] In some embodiments, the first period T1 is positively correlated with the number of narrow beams corresponding to a wide beam. For example, T1 > T2 * M, where M is the number of narrow beams corresponding to the wide beam. In the embodiments of the present application, T1 ≥ T2 * (M + a), where a is an integer greater than 0. For example, if the number M of narrow beams corresponding to each wide beam is 8 and a is 1, that is, the coverage range of each wide beam is 8 times that of each narrow beam. That is to say, the coverage range of each narrow beam is smaller than that of each wide beam. Assuming that the second period T2 is 20 ms, the first period T1 is 180 ms, which is equivalent to the SSB period of multiple first synchronization signal blocks being 180 ms, and the SSB period of multiple second synchronization signal blocks being 20 ms. It can also be understood that the network device scans and covers a certain area through multiple wide beams with the first period T1 (180 ms); and scans the coverage range of the corresponding wide beam through multiple narrow beams with the second period T2 (20 ms).

[0140] After the network device sends multiple first synchronization signal blocks through a wide beam, it sends SIB1 corresponding to the multiple first synchronization signal blocks. Exemplarily, the transmission period of SIB1 corresponding to the multiple first synchronization signal blocks can be the fourth period T4 (such as 20 ms, 80 ms, etc.), and the transmission period of SIB1 is not limited herein. Optionally, since the MIB of each first synchronization signal block contains the first information for scheduling the corresponding first SIB1, the first information of each first SIB1 is used for demodulating and decoding the corresponding first SIB1, and each first SIB1 is used to indicate the corresponding first RO, the first terminal device, after receiving the first synchronization signal block (i.e., the first target synchronization signal block) corresponding to a certain wide beam (i.e., the first target beam), receives the first SIB1 (i.e., the first target SIB1) corresponding to the first target synchronization signal block according to the first target synchronization signal block, then demodulates and decodes the first target SIB1, and sends a first random access signal (hereinafter simply referred to as the first PRACH for convenience of description) on the first RO (i.e., the first target RO) indicated by the first target SIB1.

[0141] Before receiving the first synchronization signal block, the first terminal device can search for the first synchronization signal block at a preset period, and the preset period can be the first period T1 or other periods. Optionally, each first SIB1 can also be used to indicate that the terminal device continues to receive the second synchronization signal block at the second period T2. Therefore, after receiving the first synchronization signal block, the first terminal device will continue to search for the second synchronization signal block according to the second period T2.

[0142] In some embodiments, the multiple second synchronization signal blocks corresponding to the multiple narrow beams may be semi-static resources that require a triggering condition. For example, when the network device determines that there is a first terminal device with an access requirement within the coverage of at least one wide beam, it triggers the multiple narrow beams corresponding to the wide beam, and then sends the multiple second synchronization signal blocks through the multiple narrow beams.

[0143] For ease of description, the first synchronization signal block will be referred to as the first SSB hereinafter, and the second synchronization signal block will be referred to as the second SSB hereinafter. Refer to Figure 10 , if the network device detects the energy of the first PRACH on the first RO#1 indicated by SIB1#1, it determines the first SSB#1 corresponding to SIB1#1, thereby determining the first terminal device with an access requirement within the coverage of the wide beam#1 corresponding to the first SSB#1, and then invokes the multiple narrow beams corresponding to the wide beam#1 to scan the coverage of the wide beam#1 with a period of 20 ms.

[0144] It can be understood that if the network device does not detect the signal energy on any of the first ROs, it means that no terminal device sends the first PRACH on any of the first ROs, that is, there is no first terminal device with an access requirement currently, and thus the narrow beam is not triggered.

[0145] Based on the above description of the first SSB. Similarly, after the first terminal device receives the second SSB (i.e., the second target synchronization signal block) corresponding to a certain narrow beam (i.e., the second target beam), it receives the second SIB1 (i.e., the second target SIB1) corresponding to the second SSB according to the second SSB, then demodulates and decodes the second target SIB1, and sends a second random access signal (hereinafter referred to as the second PRACH for ease of description) on the second RO (i.e., the second target RO) indicated by the second target SIB1. Optionally, each second SIB1 is further used to instruct the terminal device to continue receiving the first SSB with a first period T1. Therefore, after receiving the second SSB, the first terminal device can also continue to search for the first SSB according to the first period T1.

[0146] It can be understood that the network device directly instructs the first terminal device to continue receiving the SSB with different periods subsequently through the first SIB and the second SIB, and enables the first terminal device to indirectly distinguish whether it is currently a wide beam scan or a narrow beam scan.

[0147] After the network device receives the second PRACH from the first terminal device on the second target RO, it demodulates the second PRACH, and then executes the random access procedure of the first terminal device according to the demodulated second random access signal. For example Figure 10The network device receives a second PRACH on a second RO corresponding to multiple narrow beams (including the narrow beam #0 and narrow beam #1 corresponding to the wide beam #1). It can be understood that the wide beam and the narrow beam are independently scanned, that is, the network device will periodically scan through the wide beam with the first period T1, and only after being triggered, the network device will scan through the narrow beam with the second period T2.

[0148] In summary, assume that the network device needs to fully scan the coverage area of the network device through 8 wide beams or 64 narrow beams, that is, the coverage area of each wide beam is equivalent to the coverage area of 8 narrow beams. In the traditional solution, in order to ensure the reception gain of the beam, the network device needs to scan the entire coverage area with 64 narrow beams. In Implementation Method 1, if there are only 2 first terminal devices with access requirements within the coverage area of 2 wide beams, the network device needs to first scan the entire coverage area with 8 wide beams, and then scan the coverage areas of the 2 wide beams with access requirements with 16 narrow beams. It can be seen that the traditional solution requires 64 beams, while only 24 beams are needed in Implementation Method 1. Therefore, the network device can reduce the beam scanning overhead by 62.5% by fully scanning the coverage area through Implementation Method 1. Moreover, the beam reception gain can be ensured through the narrow beam, the accuracy of the random access of the terminal device can be guaranteed, and the ineffective scanning of the wide beam corresponding to the terminal device without access requirements through the narrow beam can be avoided, further reducing the beam scanning overhead.

[0149] Implementation Method 2:

[0150] In Implementation Method 2, the network device can perform wide beam scanning and narrow beam scanning with the same period, that is, the period for sending multiple first synchronization signal blocks through multiple wide beams is the same as the period for sending multiple second synchronization signal blocks through multiple narrow beams. Exemplarily, within the third period T3, the network device sends multiple first synchronization signal blocks through multiple wide beams; within the third period T3, the network device sends multiple second synchronization signal blocks through multiple narrow beams. In some embodiments, the third period T3 can be the same as the second period T2, and the first period T1 is the preset period for the terminal device to search for the first synchronization signal block. Taking the above Implementation Method 1 as an example, the third period T3 is 20 ms, the first period T1 is 180 ms, and the coverage area of each wide beam is 8 times the coverage area of each narrow beam. That is to say, the SSB period of multiple first synchronization signal blocks is 20 ms, and the SSB period of multiple second synchronization signal blocks is also 20 ms. It can also be understood that the network device scans the coverage area of the network device through multiple wide beams with the third period T3 (20 ms), and scans the coverage area of the corresponding wide beam through multiple narrow beams with the third period T3 (20 ms). Similarly, the network device can send SIB1 corresponding to multiple first synchronization signal blocks within the third period T3.

[0151] Based on the description of the above Implementation 1, the first terminal device searches for the first SSB at the first period T1 (180 ms). After receiving the first SSB (i.e., the first target synchronization signal block) corresponding to a certain wide beam (i.e., the first target beam), the first terminal device receives the first SIB1 (i.e., the first target SIB1) corresponding to the first target synchronization signal block according to the first target synchronization signal block, then demodulates and decodes the first target SIB1, and sends the first PRACH on the first RO (i.e., the first target RO) indicated by the first target SIB1.

[0152] In some embodiments, the identifiers (SSB indices) of each first SSB are different, and the identifiers of multiple first SSBs are included in a first set range. The first set range is set for the first type of beam, and multiple wide beams belong to the first type of beam. For example, the first set range is 0 - 7, and the identifiers (SSB indices) of multiple first SSBs are the first SSB#0, the first SSB#1, ……, the first SSB#6, and the first SSB#7 respectively. Further, after the first terminal device receives the first target synchronization signal block, when it determines that the identifier of the first target synchronization signal block is within the first set range, it determines that the first target synchronization signal is sent through the first type of beam, and then determines that the reception period T2 of the synchronization signal block corresponding to the second type of beam is 20 ms. Then, the first terminal device continues to receive the second SSB at the second period T2, that is, after the first terminal device receives the first SSB, it will continue to search for the second SSB at the second period T2. Based on the above description, it can be understood that the coverage range of a single beam (i.e., a single narrow beam) in the second type of beam is smaller than the coverage range of a single beam (i.e., a single wide beam) in the first type of beam.

[0153] See Figure 11 , if the network device detects the energy of the first PRACH on the first RO#2 indicated by SIB1#2, it determines the first SSB#2 corresponding to SIB1#2, thereby determining the first terminal device with an access requirement within the coverage range of the wide beam #2 corresponding to the first SSB#2, and then calls multiple narrow beams corresponding to the wide beam #2 to scan the coverage range of the wide beam #2 at 20 ms. Exemplarily, there is a preset association relationship between the wide beam and the narrow beam, that is, when the wide beam is scanned, the narrow beam is not scanned; when the narrow beam is scanned, the wide beam is not scanned.

[0154] Optionally, after the first terminal device receives the second SSB (i.e., the second target synchronization signal block) corresponding to a certain narrow beam (i.e., the second target beam), it receives the second SIB1 (i.e., the second target SIB1) corresponding to the second target synchronization signal block according to the second target synchronization signal block, then demodulates and decodes the second target SIB1, and sends a second PRACH on the second RO (i.e., the second target RO) indicated by the second target SIB1.

[0155] Based on the above description of the first SSB. Similarly, the identifiers (SSB indices) of each second SSB are different, and the identifiers of multiple second SSBs are included in a second set range, which is set for the second type of beam, and multiple narrow beams belong to the second type of beam. For example, the second set range is 8 - 15, and the identifiers (SSB indices) of multiple second SSBs are First SSB#8, First SSB#9, ……, First SSB#14, First SSB#15 respectively. Furthermore, after the first terminal device receives the second target synchronization signal block, when it determines that the identifier of the second target synchronization signal block is within the second set range, it determines that the second target synchronization signal is sent through the second type of beam. Then the first terminal device determines the reception period T1 of the synchronization signal block corresponding to the first type of beam, and then continues to search for the first SSB with the first period T1. It can be understood that the network device indirectly indicates to the first terminal device to continue receiving the SSB with different periods subsequently through the SSB index, and enables the first terminal device to directly distinguish whether it is currently a wide beam scan or a narrow beam scan.

[0156] Exemplarily, after the network device receives the second PRACH from the first terminal device on the second target RO, it demodulates the second PRACH, and then executes the random access procedure of the first terminal device according to the demodulated second random access signal. For example Figure 11 the network device receives the second PRACH on the second ROs corresponding to multiple narrow beams (including narrow beam #0 and narrow beam #1 corresponding to wide beam #2).

[0157] In summary, in implementation manner 2, the network device can adjust the third period T3 according to the number of first terminal devices with access requirements. For example, when the number of first terminal devices with access requirements is large, the third period T3 is reduced; when the number of first terminal devices with access requirements is small, the third period T3 is increased, thereby reducing the access delay of the terminal device.

[0158] In addition, assume that the network device needs to fully scan the coverage area of the network device through 8 wide beams or 64 narrow beams, and the scanning periods of both the wide beams and the narrow beams are T3 (20 ms). In the traditional solution, to ensure the reception gain of the beams, the network device scans the entire coverage area with 64 narrow beams, and the scanning time is required In Implementation Mode 2, if there are only two first terminal devices with access requirements within the coverage area of two wide beams, the network device needs to first scan the entire coverage area with 8 wide beams, and then scan the coverage area of the two wide beams with access requirements with 16 narrow beams, and then determine that the scanning time is It can be seen that the network device can reduce the beam scanning duration and the access delay of the terminal device by 62.5% by scanning the entire coverage area in Implementation Mode 1, greatly improving the efficiency of fully scanning the coverage area, reducing the beam scanning overhead and the access delay of the terminal device.

[0159] Implementation Mode 3:

[0160] In Implementation Mode 3, the network device can perform wide beam scanning and narrow beam scanning with the same period. As described in Implementation Mode 2 above, the network device scans the coverage area of the network device through multiple wide beams with the third period T3 (20 ms), and scans the coverage area of the corresponding wide beams through multiple narrow beams with the third period T3 (20 ms).

[0161] Exemplarily, the first terminal device searches for the first SSB with the first period (180 ms). After receiving the first SSB (i.e., the first target synchronization signal block) corresponding to a certain wide beam (i.e., the first target beam), the first terminal device receives the first SIB1 (i.e., the first target SIB1) corresponding to the first target synchronization signal block according to the first target synchronization signal block, then demodulates and decodes the first target SIB1, and sends the first PRACH on the first RO (i.e., the first target RO) indicated by the first target SIB1.

[0162] In some embodiments, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the first SSBs further includes a first indication field, which is used to indicate that the first SSB is transmitted through a first type of beam, and multiple wide beams belong to the first type of beam. For example, the value of the first indication field widebeamindication is 0. Further, after receiving the first target synchronization signal block, the first terminal device may, according to the first indication field included in the first target SIB1 corresponding to the first target synchronization signal block, determine that the first target synchronization signal is transmitted through the first type of beam, and then determine that the reception period T2 of the synchronization signal block corresponding to the second type of beam is 20 ms. Then, the first terminal device may continue to receive the second SSB at 20 ms intervals. That is to say, after receiving the first SSB, the first terminal device will continue to search for the second SSB according to the second period T2. Based on the above description, it can be understood that the coverage range of a single beam (i.e., a single narrow beam) in the second type of beam is smaller than the coverage range of a single beam (i.e., a single wide beam) in the first type of beam.

[0163] See Figure 12 , if the network device detects the energy of the first PRACH on the first RO#3 indicated by SIB1#3, it determines the first SSB#3 corresponding to SIB1#3, thereby determining the first terminal device with an access requirement within the coverage range of the wide beam #3 corresponding to the first SSB#3, and then invokes multiple narrow beams corresponding to the wide beam #3 to scan the coverage range of the wide beam #3 at 20 ms intervals. Exemplarily, there is a preset association relationship between the wide beam and the narrow beam, that is, when the wide beam is scanned, the narrow beam is not scanned; when the narrow beam is scanned, the wide beam is not scanned.

[0164] Optionally, after receiving the second synchronization signal block (i.e., the second target synchronization signal block) corresponding to a certain narrow beam (i.e., the second target beam), the first terminal device receives the second SIB1 (i.e., the second target SIB1) corresponding to the second target synchronization signal block according to the second target synchronization signal block, then demodulates and decodes the second target SIB1, and transmits the second PRACH on the second RO (i.e., the second target RO) indicated by the second target SIB1.

[0165] Based on the above description of the first SSB. Similarly, the SIB1 corresponding to any second SSB further includes a second indication field, where the second indication field is used to indicate that the second SSB is transmitted through a second type of beam, and multiple narrow beams belong to the second type of beam. For example, the value of the second indication field widebeamindication is 1. Furthermore, after receiving the second target synchronization signal block, the first terminal device can determine, according to the second indication field included in the second target SIB1 corresponding to the second target synchronization signal block, that the second target synchronization signal is transmitted through a second type of beam; furthermore, determine that the reception period T1 of the first SSB corresponding to the first type of beam is 180 ms, and then the first terminal device can continue to search for the first SSB at 180 ms. It can be understood that the network device directly indicates to the first terminal device to continue receiving SSBs at different periods subsequently through the first indication field and the second indication field, and enables the first terminal device to indirectly distinguish whether it is a wide beam scan or a narrow beam scan currently.

[0166] Exemplarily, after the network device receives the second PRACH from the first terminal device on the second target RO, it demodulates the second PRACH, and then executes the random access procedure of the first terminal device according to the demodulated second random access signal. For example Figure 12 the network device receives the second PRACH on the second ROs corresponding to multiple narrow beams (including the narrow beam #0 and narrow beam #1 corresponding to the wide beam #3).

[0167] In Implementation Mode 3, the network device can adjust the third period T3 according to the number of first terminal devices with access requirements. For example, when the number of first terminal devices with access requirements is large, the third period T3 is reduced; when the number of first terminal devices with access requirements is small, the third period T3 is increased, thereby reducing the access delay of the terminal device. In addition, based on the calculation of the above Implementation Mode 2, the network device can reduce the beam scanning overhead and the access delay of the terminal device by 62.5% for the complete scan coverage range, greatly improving the efficiency of the complete coverage range and reducing the beam scanning overhead and the access delay of the terminal device.

[0168] In summary, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method. In this method, the network device first scans the entire coverage range of the network device through wide beams with a small number and a large coverage range, thereby reducing the number of beams and the beam scanning overhead required to scan the entire coverage range, reducing the time required to scan the entire coverage range and the access delay of the terminal device. Then, by detecting the energy of the first PRACH on the first RO, the area of the first terminal device with access requirements is determined, thereby reducing the range of re-scanning; and then the area is scanned through narrow beams with a large number and a small coverage range to ensure the access network accuracy of the terminal device and avoid invalid scanning of the area of the first terminal device without access requirements, reducing the scanning overhead. In addition, by distinguishing the ROs corresponding to the wide beams and the narrow beams, the energy of the first PRACH is detected only on the first RO, but the first PRACH is not demodulated on the first RO, thereby reducing the demodulation calculation overhead.

[0169] It should also be noted that each step involved in the above embodiments or examples can be executed by the corresponding device, or can be executed by components such as modules, chips, processors, or chip systems within the device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this. The above embodiments are only described by taking the execution by the corresponding device as an example. In addition, the specific implementation manners or examples in the above embodiments do not limit the solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0170] It should be noted that in each of the above embodiments, some steps can be selected for implementation, and the order of the steps in the figure can also be adjusted for implementation. The present application does not limit this. It should be understood that executing some steps in the figure, adjusting the order of the steps, or combining them with each other for specific implementation all fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0171] It can be understood that in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, each device involved in the above embodiments includes the corresponding hardware structure and / or software module for executing each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and method steps of the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in the present application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraint conditions of the technical solution.

[0172] It can be understood that the above-described network architecture and application scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are for more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and do not constitute a limitation to the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art know that with the evolution of the network architecture and the emergence of new services, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention are equally applicable to similar technical problems.

[0173] It should be noted that the "steps" in the embodiments of the present application are only for illustration, which is a way of expression for better understanding the embodiments and does not constitute a substantial limitation on the implementation of the solution of the present application. For example, the "steps" can also be understood as "features". In addition, these steps do not impose any limitation on the execution order of the solution of the present application. Any operation such as changing the step order, merging steps, or splitting steps that does not affect the realization of the overall solution falls within the scope disclosed in the present application.

[0174] Based on the same technical concept, the present application also provides a communication device, which can be applied to a communication system as shown in Figure 6a and Figure 6b The communication device is used to implement the method provided in the above embodiments, and the communication device can be applied to the network device or terminal device involved in the above embodiments. Referring to Figure 13 As shown, the communication device 1300 includes a communication unit 1301 and a processing unit 1302.

[0175] The communication unit 1301 is used to receive and send data, and support the communication between the communication device 1300 and other devices.

[0176] The processing unit 1302 is used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 1300, and execute the steps performed by the network device or terminal device in the communication methods provided in the above embodiments or examples.

[0177] Optionally, the communication device 1300 further includes a storage unit for storing the program code and / or data of the communication device 1300.

[0178] The communication unit 1301 can be referred to as an input / output unit, a transceiver unit, etc. The communication unit 1301 can be a transceiver or a communication interface; the processing unit 1302 can be a processor. When the communication device 1300 is a module (such as a chip) in a communication device, the communication unit 1301 can be an input / output interface, an input / output circuit, or an input / output pin, etc., and can also be referred to as an interface, a communication interface, or an interface circuit, etc.; the processing unit 1302 can be a processor, a processing circuit, or a logic circuit, etc.

[0179] In one implementation, the communication device 1300 can be applied to the network device in the embodiments shown in Figure 7 and Figure 9 The processing unit 1302 is used for:

[0180] The communication unit 1301 sends a plurality of first synchronization signal blocks through a plurality of first beams; wherein, the plurality of first beams correspond to the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks one by one, and each first synchronization signal block includes first information for scheduling a corresponding system information block 1 SIB1; send the SIB1 corresponding to the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks, and the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the first synchronization signal blocks is used to indicate a first random access channel opportunity RO, and the first ROs indicated by the SIB1s corresponding to different first synchronization signal blocks are different; receive a first random access signal from a first terminal device at a first target RO;

[0181] Determine a first target synchronization signal block, and determine a first target beam for sending the first target synchronization signal block among the plurality of first beams; wherein, the first target synchronization signal block is the first synchronization signal block corresponding to a first target SIB1 among the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks, and the first target SIB1 is used to indicate the first target RO;

[0182] The communication unit 1301 sends a plurality of second synchronization signal blocks through a plurality of second beams; wherein, the plurality of second beams correspond to the plurality of second synchronization signal blocks one by one; the coverage range of the plurality of second beams includes the coverage range of the first target beam.

[0183] Optionally, the processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to:

[0184] The communication unit 1301 sends the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks through the plurality of first beams within a first period T1; and sends the plurality of second synchronization signal blocks through the plurality of second beams within a second period T2, wherein, T1 is greater than T2.

[0185] Optionally, T1≥T2*(M + a), where M is the number of the plurality of second beams, and a is an integer greater than 0.

[0186] Optionally, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the first synchronization signal blocks is further used to indicate that the terminal device continues to receive the second synchronization signal blocks at a second period T2.

[0187] Optionally, the processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to:

[0188] The communication unit 1301 sends the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks through the plurality of first beams within a third period T3; and sends the plurality of second synchronization signal blocks through the plurality of second beams within T3.

[0189] Optionally, the identifiers of the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks are included in a first set range, and the first set range is set for a first type of beams; the plurality of first beams belong to the first type of beams.

[0190] Optionally, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the first synchronization signal blocks further includes a first indication field, and the first indication field is used to indicate that the first synchronization signal block is transmitted through a first type of beam; the multiple first beams belong to the first type of beam.

[0191] Optionally, each second synchronization signal block includes second information for scheduling the corresponding SIB1;

[0192] The processing unit 1302 is further configured to:

[0193] Transmit the SIB1 corresponding to the multiple second synchronization signal blocks according to the communication unit 1301; wherein, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the second synchronization signal blocks is used to indicate a second random access channel opportunity RO, and the second ROs indicated by the SIB1s corresponding to different second synchronization signal blocks are different; any one of the first ROs and any one of the second ROs do not overlap in the frequency domain or the time domain; receive a second random access signal from the first terminal device at a second target RO; wherein, the second target RO is indicated by the SIB1 corresponding to the second target synchronization signal block among the multiple second synchronization signal blocks.

[0194] Execute a random access procedure of the first terminal device according to the second random access signal.

[0195] Optionally, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the second synchronization signal blocks is further used to indicate that the terminal device subsequently receives the first synchronization signal block at a first period T1.

[0196] Optionally, the identifiers of the multiple second synchronization signal blocks are included in a second set range, and the second set range is set for a second type of beam; the multiple second beams belong to the second type of beam.

[0197] Optionally, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the second synchronization signal blocks further includes a second indication field, and the second indication field is used to indicate that the second synchronization signal block is transmitted through a second type of beam; the multiple second beams belong to the second type of beam.

[0198] In one implementation, the communication device 1300 can be applied to Figure 7 and Figure 9 the first terminal device in the embodiments shown. The processing unit 1302 is configured to:

[0199] Receive a first target synchronization signal block from a network device through the communication unit 1301; wherein, the first target synchronization signal block includes first target information for scheduling a first target system information block SIB1; receive the first target SIB1 from the network device according to the first target synchronization signal block; the first target SIB1 is used to indicate a first target RO; send a first random access signal on the first target RO; receive a second target synchronization signal block from the network device.

[0200] Optionally, the processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to:

[0201] Receive the first target synchronization signal block from the network device through the communication unit 1301 at a first period T1; receive the second target synchronization signal block from the network device at a second period T2; wherein, T1 is greater than T2.

[0202] Optionally, the first target SIB1 is further used to instruct the first terminal device to continue receiving the second target synchronization signal block at the second period T2;

[0203] The processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to:

[0204] Receive the second target synchronization signal block from the network device through the communication unit 1301 at the second period T2 according to the indication of the first target SIB1.

[0205] Optionally, the processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to:

[0206] When it is determined through the communication unit 1301 that the identifier of the first target synchronization signal block is within a first set range, it is determined that the first target synchronization signal is sent through a first type of beam; determine the reception period T2 of the synchronization signal block corresponding to the second type of beam; receive the second target synchronization signal block from the network device at the second period T2; wherein, the coverage range of a single beam in the second type of beam is smaller than the coverage range of a single beam in the first type of beam, the first set range is set for the first type of beam, and the second target synchronization signal block is sent through the second type of beam.

[0207] Optionally, the processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to:

[0208] Through the communication unit 1301, determine that the first target synchronization signal is transmitted through the first type of beam according to the first indication field included in the first target SIB1; determine the synchronization signal block reception period T2 corresponding to the second type of beam; receive the second target synchronization signal block from the network device at the second period T2; wherein, the coverage range of a single beam in the second type of beam is smaller than that of a single beam in the first type of beam; the second target synchronization signal block is transmitted through the second type of beam.

[0209] Optionally, the second target synchronization signal block includes second target information for scheduling the second target SIB1;

[0210] The processing unit 1302 is further configured to:

[0211] Through the communication unit 1301, receive the second target SIB1 from the network device according to the second target synchronization signal block; send a second random access signal on the second target RO; wherein, the second target SIB1 is used to indicate the second target RO; the first target RO and the second target RO do not overlap in the frequency domain or the time domain.

[0212] Optionally, the second target SIB1 is further used to indicate that the terminal device subsequently receives the synchronization signal block at the first period T1;

[0213] The processing unit 1302 is further configured to:

[0214] Through the communication unit 1301, receive the first synchronization signal block from the network device at the first period T1 according to the indication of the second target SIB1.

[0215] Optionally, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to:

[0216] When it is determined through the communication unit 1301 that the identifier of the second target synchronization signal block is within the second set range, determine that the second target synchronization signal is transmitted through the second type of beam; determine the synchronization signal block reception period T1 corresponding to the first type of beam; receive the first synchronization signal block from the network device at the first period T1; wherein, the second set range is set for the second type of beam; the coverage range of a single beam in the second type of beam is smaller than that of a single beam in the first type of beam.

[0217] Optionally, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to:

[0218] Through the communication unit 1301, determine that the second target synchronization signal is transmitted through a second type of beam according to the second indication field included in the second target SIB1; determine the reception period T1 of the synchronization signal block corresponding to the first type of beam; receive the first synchronization signal block from the network device at the first period T1; wherein, the coverage range of a single beam in the second type of beam is smaller than the coverage range of a single beam in the first type of beam.

[0219] It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative, only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. In addition, in each embodiment of the present application, each functional unit may be integrated in a processing unit, may exist independently physically, or two or more units may be integrated in one unit. The above integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional unit.

[0220] If the above integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the technical solution of the present application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: USB flash drive, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk, or optical disc, etc., all kinds of media that can store program codes.

[0221] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device, and the communication device may be a network device or a terminal device in a communication system as shown in Figure 6a and Figure 6b shown. The communication device can implement the methods in the above embodiments and has the functions of the communication device 1300. Refer to Figure 14 shown, the communication device 1400 includes: a transceiver 1401, a processor 1402, and a memory 1403. Among them, the transceiver 1401, the processor 1402, and the memory 1403 are interconnected with each other.

[0222] Optionally, the transceiver 1401, the processor 1402, and the memory 1403 are interconnected with each other through a bus 1404. The bus 1404 can be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, or the like. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Figure 14 only a thick line is used to represent it in Figure 14 , but it does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0223] The transceiver 1401 is configured to receive and transmit signals to implement communication with other devices.

[0224] The functions of the processor 1402 can be referred to the description in the above embodiments, and will not be elaborated here.

[0225] Among them, the processor 1402 can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Network Processor (NP), or a combination of a CPU and an NP, etc. The processor 1402 can further include a hardware chip. The above hardware chip can be an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The above PLD can be a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Generic Array Logic (GAL), or any combination thereof. When implementing the above functions, the processor 1402 can be implemented by hardware, and of course, it can also implement the corresponding software through the hardware. The steps of the method disclosed in the above embodiments of the present application can be directly reflected as being completed by the execution of the processor 1402, or being completed by the combination of the hardware and software modules in the processor 1402.

[0226] The memory 1403 is used to store program instructions, data, etc. Specifically, the program instructions may include program code, and the program code includes computer operation instructions. The memory 1403 may include volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM); it may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk memory, hard disk drive (HDD), or solid state drive (SSD). The memory 1403 may also be any other medium that can be used to carry or store program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, and the present application does not limit this. The processor 1402 executes the program instructions stored in the memory 1403 to implement the above functions, thereby implementing the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0227] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device and a network device. The terminal device is used to implement the steps executed by the terminal device in the method provided in the above embodiments, and the network device is used to implement the steps executed by the network device in the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0228] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program; when the computer program runs on a computer, it causes the computer to execute the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0229] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a computer, it causes the computer to execute the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0230] Optionally, the above computer may include, but is not limited to, communication devices such as terminal devices and network devices.

[0231] Among them, the storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. Taking this as an example but not limited to: the computer-readable medium may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disc storage, magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store the desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer.

[0232] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which is used to read the computer program stored in the memory and implement the method provided in the above embodiments. Optionally, the chip may include a processor, which is coupled to the memory and is used to read the computer program stored in the memory and implement the method provided in the above embodiments. Optionally, the chip may further include components such as a memory, a communication interface, and a power supply module. The memory is used to store the computer program; the communication interface is used to receive and send data; and the power supply unit is used to supply power to the processor.

[0233] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and is used to support a computer device to implement the functions involved in the terminal device in the above embodiments. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, which is used to store the necessary programs and data of the computer device. The chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0234] Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as a method, a system, or a computer program product. Therefore, the present application can adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Moreover, the present application can adopt the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0235] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatuses (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each flow and / or block in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, and the combination of flows and / or blocks in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to the processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing devices to generate a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing devices generate a device for implementing the functions specified in one or more flows in the flowchart and / or one or more blocks in the block diagram.

[0236] These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to work in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory generate a manufactured product including an instruction device, and the instruction device implements the functions specified in one or more flows in the flowchart and / or one or more blocks in the block diagram.

[0237] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, so that a series of operation steps are performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one process or more processes of the flowchart and / or one block or more blocks of the block diagram.

[0238] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalent technologies, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, applied to a network device, including: sending a plurality of first synchronization signal blocks through a plurality of first beams; the plurality of first beams correspond to the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks one by one, and each first synchronization signal block includes first information for scheduling a corresponding system information block 1 SIB1; sending the SIB1 corresponding to the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks, and the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the first synchronization signal blocks is used to indicate a first random access channel opportunity RO, and the first ROs indicated by the SIB1s corresponding to different first synchronization signal blocks are different; receiving a first random access signal from a first terminal device at a first target RO; determining a first target synchronization signal block, and determining a first target beam for sending the first target synchronization signal block among the plurality of first beams; the first target synchronization signal block is the first synchronization signal block corresponding to a first target SIB1 among the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks, and the first target SIB1 is used to indicate the first target RO; sending a plurality of second synchronization signal blocks through a plurality of second beams; the plurality of second beams correspond to the plurality of second synchronization signal blocks one by one; the coverage range of the plurality of second beams includes the coverage range of the first target beam.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, sending a plurality of first synchronization signal blocks through a plurality of first beams includes: sending the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks through the plurality of first beams within a first period T1; sending a plurality of second synchronization signal blocks through a plurality of second beams includes: sending the plurality of second synchronization signal blocks through the plurality of second beams within a second period T2, where T1 is greater than T2.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, T1≥T2*(M + a), where M is the number of the plurality of second beams, and a is an integer greater than 0.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the first synchronization signal blocks is further used to indicate that the terminal device continues to receive the second synchronization signal blocks at the second period T2.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, sending a plurality of first synchronization signal blocks through a plurality of first beams includes: sending the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks through the plurality of first beams within a third period T3; sending a plurality of second synchronization signal blocks through a plurality of second beams includes: sending the plurality of second synchronization signal blocks through the plurality of second beams within T3.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, the identifiers of the plurality of first synchronization signal blocks are included in a first set range, and the first set range is set for a first type of beam; the plurality of first beams belong to the first type of beam.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the first synchronization signal blocks further includes a first indication field, and the first indication field is used to indicate that the first synchronization signal block is sent through a first type of beam; the plurality of first beams belong to the first type of beam.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, each second synchronization signal block contains second information for scheduling the corresponding SIB1; the method further includes: sending the SIB1 corresponding to the multiple second synchronization signal blocks, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the second synchronization signal blocks is used to indicate a second random access channel opportunity RO, and the SIB1s corresponding to different second synchronization signal blocks indicate different second ROs; any one of the first ROs does not overlap with any one of the second ROs in the frequency domain or the time domain; receiving a second random access signal from the first terminal device at the second target RO, and performing a random access procedure of the first terminal device according to the second random access signal; wherein, the second target RO is indicated by the SIB1 corresponding to the second target synchronization signal block among the multiple second synchronization signal blocks.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the second synchronization signal blocks is further used to indicate that the terminal device subsequently receives the first synchronization signal block at a first period T1.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, the identifiers of the multiple second synchronization signal blocks are included in a second set range, and the second set range is set for a second type of beam; the multiple second beams belong to the second type of beam.

11. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, the SIB1 corresponding to any one of the second synchronization signal blocks further includes a second indication field, and the second indication field is used to indicate that the second synchronization signal block is sent through a second type of beam; the multiple second beams belong to the second type of beam.

12. A communication method, characterized in that, applied to a first terminal device, includes: receiving a first target synchronization signal block from a network device; wherein, the first target synchronization signal block contains first target information for scheduling a first target system information block SIB1; receiving the first target SIB1 from the network device according to the first target synchronization signal block; the first target SIB1 is used to indicate a first target RO; sending a first random access signal on the first target RO; receiving a second target synchronization signal block from the network device.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, receiving a first target synchronization signal block from a network device includes: receiving the first target synchronization signal block from the network device at a first period T1; receiving a second target synchronization signal block from the network device includes: receiving the second target synchronization signal block from the network device at a second period T2; wherein, T1 is greater than T2.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, the first target SIB1 is further used to indicate that the terminal device continues to receive the second synchronization signal block at a second period T2; receiving the second synchronization signal block from the network device at a second period T2 includes: receiving the second target synchronization signal block from the network device at the second period T2 according to the indication of the first target SIB1.

15. The method according to claim 13, It is characterized in that receiving a second target synchronization signal block from the network device in a second period T2, including: when the identifier of the first target synchronization signal block is within a first set range, determining that the first target synchronization signal is transmitted through a first type of beam; the first set range is set for the first type of beam; determining a synchronization signal block reception period T2 corresponding to a second type of beam; the coverage range of a single beam in the second type of beam is smaller than the coverage range of a single beam in the first type of beam; receiving a second target synchronization signal block from the network device in the second period T2; wherein, the second target synchronization signal block is transmitted through the second type of beam.

16. The method according to claim 13, It is characterized in that receiving a second target synchronization signal block from the network device in a second period T2, including: determining that the first target synchronization signal is transmitted through a first type of beam according to a first indication field included in the first target SIB1; determining a synchronization signal block reception period T2 corresponding to a second type of beam; the coverage range of a single beam in the second type of beam is smaller than the coverage range of a single beam in the first type of beam; receiving a second target synchronization signal block from the network device in the second period T2; wherein, the second target synchronization signal block is transmitted through the second type of beam.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12-16, It is characterized in that the second target synchronization signal block includes second target information for scheduling a second target SIB1; the method further includes: receiving the second target SIB1 from the network device according to the second target synchronization signal block; the second target SIB1 is used to indicate a second target RO; the first target RO and the second target RO do not overlap in the frequency domain or the time domain; transmitting a second random access signal on the second target RO.

18. The method according to claim 17, It is characterized in that the second target SIB1 is further used to indicate that the terminal device subsequently receives a first synchronization signal block in a first period T1; after receiving the second target synchronization signal block from the network device, the method further includes: receiving a first synchronization signal block from the network device in the first period T1 according to the indication of the second target SIB1.

19. The method according to claim 17, It is characterized in that after receiving the second target synchronization signal block from the network device, the method further includes: when the identifier of the second target synchronization signal block is within a second set range, determining that the second target synchronization signal is transmitted through a second type of beam; the second set range is set for the second type of beam; determining a synchronization signal block reception period T1 corresponding to a first type of beam; the coverage range of a single beam in the second type of beam is smaller than the coverage range of a single beam in the first type of beam; receiving a first synchronization signal block from the network device in the first period T1.

20. The method according to claim 17, It is characterized in that After receiving the second target synchronization signal block from the network device, the method further includes: Determining that the second target synchronization signal is transmitted through a second type of beam according to a second indication field included in the second target SIB1; Determining a reception period T1 of a synchronization signal block corresponding to a first type of beam; a coverage range of a single beam in the second type of beam is smaller than a coverage range of a single beam in the first type of beam; Receiving a first synchronization signal block from the network device at the first period T1.

21. A communication device, Characterized in that, Comprising: A communication unit, configured to receive and transmit data; A processing unit, configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-20.

22. A communication device, Characterized in that, Comprising: A transceiver, configured to receive and transmit signals; A processor, configured to execute program instructions to cause the communication device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-20.

23. A communication system, Characterized in that, Comprising: A network device configured to execute any one of claims 1-11, and a first terminal device configured to execute any one of claims 12-20.

24. A computer-readable storage medium, Characterized in that, A computer program is stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program runs on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-20.

25. A chip, Characterized in that, The chip is coupled to a memory and configured to read and execute program instructions stored in the memory to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-20.

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