Communication method and communication device

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method and a communication device. The method comprises the following steps: receiving configuration information from network equipment; the configuration information is used for indicating a transmission resource of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), the configuration information is also used for indicating the number R of streams transmitted on a first DMRS port or M DMRSs, R is an integer greater than 1, M is an integer greater than 1, and the first DMRS port is a DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resource; and sending or receiving the R DMRSs on the transmission resource through the first DMRS port, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs on the transmission resource through the first DMRS port. According to the method and the device, data transmission with a higher spatial flow number can be supported, and meanwhile, additional DMRS overhead is not increased.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Currently, in the demodulation reference signal (DMRS) channel detection method, the DMRS can occupy one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol or two OFDM symbols. Each OFDM symbol supports a maximum of 12 DMRS ports (i.e., supports a maximum of 12-stream transmission), that is, the dual OFDM symbols support a maximum of 24-stream transmission.

[0003] In the process of evolving from low frequency (sub 6GHz) to high frequency (above 6GHz), as the scale of the antenna array expands, the number of spatial transmission streams also continuously increases. The number of data transmission streams in space increases by 5 times from 10 to 20 streams, and the peak number of streams is close to 100 streams. In order to ensure the performance of data transmission, the number of OFDM symbols occupied by the DMRS can be increased, such as expanding from dual OFDM symbols by 4 times to 8 OFDM symbols, which can support a maximum of 96-stream transmission. However, such a method will cause the overhead of the DMRS to increase linearly, occupying a large amount of air interface resources in the 100-stream transmission scenario and seriously affecting the data transmission capacity. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application proposes a communication method and a communication device. Based on the method described in this application, it is possible to support data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams without increasing additional DMRS overhead.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a communication method, which includes: receiving configuration information from a network device; the configuration information is used to indicate the transmission resources of the demodulation reference signal DMRS, and the configuration information is also used to indicate the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port or M DMRSs, where R is an integer greater than or equal to 1, M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the first DMRS port is the DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resources; sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources.

[0006] Based on the method described in the first aspect, multiple streams of the terminal device can multiplex one DMRS port, and each DMRS port corresponds to a scalar sequence with a length equal to the number of streams to distinguish different transmission streams, so as to support data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams and without increasing additional DMRS overhead while improving the data transmission capacity.

[0007] In a possible implementation, the R DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device is 1; or, the M DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the M DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device is less than 1. Based on this method, it is beneficial to distinguish different transmission streams and does not increase the additional DMRS overhead.

[0008] In a possible implementation, the transmission resource is in a comb structure, and the frequency domain interval between two adjacent teeth in the transmission resource is the same; sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource, includes: sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on each tooth in the transmission resource, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on each tooth in the transmission resource. Based on this method, data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams can be supported.

[0009] In a possible implementation, each tooth includes a plurality of code domain resources; the R DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the plurality of code domain resources, or the M DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the plurality of code domain resources. Based on this method, data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams can be supported.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the DMRS satisfies:

[0011]

[0012] where q(s) is a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents the normalization coefficient, s represents the s-th DMRS, and w f (k′) represents the spreading sequence in the frequency domain of the first DMRS port, and w t (l′) represents the spreading sequence in the time domain of the first DMRS port, and r(4n + k′) represents the frequency domain sequence of the transmission resource.

[0013] In a possible implementation, the transmission resource is in a non-comb structure, and the transmission resource includes a plurality of code domain resources; the R DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the plurality of code domain resources, or the M DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the plurality of code domain resources. Based on this method, data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams can be supported.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the DMRS satisfies:

[0015]

[0016] Among them, q(s) is a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on this first DMRS port, Z(R) represents a normalization coefficient, and s represents the s-th DMRS.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the q(s) is a real pilot sequence, q(s) = 2R - 2s - 1, and there is a first association relationship between the R and the Z(R).

[0018] In a possible implementation, the q(s) is a complex pilot sequence, and there is a second association relationship among the q(s), the R, and the Z(R).

[0019] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, and the method includes: sending configuration information to a terminal device; the configuration information is used to indicate the transmission resource of the demodulation reference signal DMRS, and the configuration information is further used to indicate the number of streams R or M DMRSs transmitted on the first DMRS port, where R is an integer greater than or equal to 1, M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the first DMRS port is the DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resource; sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource.

[0020] For the beneficial effects of the possible implementation manners of the second aspect, reference may be made to the beneficial effects of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect, which will not be elaborated here.

[0021] In a possible implementation, there is one terminal device, and the R DMRSs corresponding to one terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs corresponding to one terminal device is 1.

[0022] In a possible implementation, there are multiple terminal devices, and the total number of DMRSs corresponding to the multiple terminal devices is R, the R DMRSs are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs is 1; the M DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the M DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device is less than 1, where the first terminal device is one of the multiple terminal devices and M is less than R.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the transmission resource has a comb structure, and the frequency-domain interval between two adjacent teeth of the transmission resource is the same; sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource, includes: sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on each tooth of the transmission resource, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on each tooth of the transmission resource.

[0024] In a possible implementation, each tooth includes a plurality of code-domain resources; one of the plurality of code-domain resources is occupied by the R DMRSs, or one of the plurality of code-domain resources is occupied by the M DMRSs.

[0025] In a possible implementation, the DMRS satisfies:

[0026]

[0027] where q(s) is a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents a normalization coefficient, s represents the s-th DMRS, and w f (k′) represents the spreading sequence in the frequency domain of the first DMRS port, and w t (l′) represents the spreading sequence in the time domain of the first DMRS port, and r(4n + k′) represents the frequency-domain sequence of the transmission resource.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the transmission resource has a non-comb structure, and the transmission resource includes a plurality of code-domain resources; one of the plurality of code-domain resources is occupied by the R DMRSs, or one of the plurality of code-domain resources is occupied by the M DMRSs.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the DMRS satisfies:

[0030]

[0031] where q(s) is a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents a normalization coefficient, and s represents the s-th DMRS.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the q(s) is a real pilot sequence, q(s) = 2R - 2s - 1, and the R and the Z(R) have a first association relationship.

[0033] In a possible implementation, the q(s) is a complex pilot sequence, and there is a second association relationship among the q(s), the R, and the Z(R).

[0034] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication device. The communication device includes a processor. When the processor calls a computer program in a memory, the method described in the first aspect or the second aspect is executed.

[0035] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication device. The communication device includes a processor and a memory, and the processor is coupled to the memory; the processor is configured to implement the method described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0036] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device. The communication device includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver. The processor is coupled to the memory; the transceiver is configured to transmit and receive data, and the processor is configured to implement the method described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0037] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a chip. The chip includes a processor and an interface, and the processor is coupled to the interface; the interface is configured to receive or output signals, and the processor is configured to execute code instructions to cause the method described in the first aspect or the second aspect to be executed.

[0038] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a communication device, the method described in the first aspect or the second aspect is implemented.

[0039] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication system. The communication system includes a terminal device and a network device. The terminal device is configured to execute the method described in the first aspect, and the network device is configured to execute the method described in the second aspect.

[0040] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product including instructions. When a computer reads and executes the computer program product, the computer is caused to execute the method described in the first aspect or the second aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of a type 1 DMRS pilot pattern used in PDSCH transmission provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of a type 2 DMRS pilot pattern used in PDSCH transmission provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the process for PDSCH channel estimation provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the process for a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 5 It is a design schematic diagram of a pilot signal for resolving ambiguity provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 6A It is a schematic diagram of a transmission resource provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Figure 6B It is a schematic diagram of another transmission resource provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Figure 6C It is a schematic diagram of a single-symbol DMRS pilot pattern with a non-comb structure provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] Figure 6D It is a schematic diagram of a double-symbol DMRS pilot pattern with a non-comb structure provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] Figure 7A It is a schematic diagram of another transmission resource provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] Figure 7B It is a schematic diagram of another transmission resource provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the process for another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram of the process for another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] Figure 10A It is a schematic diagram of another transmission resource provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] Figure 10B It is a schematic diagram of another transmission resource provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] Figure 11A It is a schematic diagram of another transmission resource provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] Figure 11B It is a schematic diagram of another transmission resource provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0059] Figure 12 It is a schematic diagram of the process for another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] Figure 13 It is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] Figure 14 It is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] Figure 15 It is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0063] Terms such as "first" and "second" in the specification, claims and drawings of the present application are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order. In addition, the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but optionally further includes steps or units not listed, or optionally further includes other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0064] Referring to "embodiment" herein means that a specific feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The phrase appears in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will explicitly and implicitly understand that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0065] In the present application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, "a plurality" means two or more, "at least two (items)" means two or three or more, and "and / or" is used to describe the corresponding relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist at the same time. Among them, A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally means that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (one) of the following" or a similar expression means any combination of these items, including any combination of single item (one) or plural items (ones). For example, at least one (one) of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0066] To better understand the embodiments of the present application, the system architecture related to the embodiments of the present application will be introduced first below:

[0067] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as satellite communication systems and traditional mobile communication systems. Among them, the satellite communication system can be integrated with the traditional mobile communication system (i.e., the terrestrial communication system). Mobile communication systems include, for example, wireless local area network (WLAN) communication systems, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) systems, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD), fifth generation (5G) systems or new radio (NR), and other future communication systems, such as sixth generation (6G) systems, etc. It also supports communication systems that integrate multiple wireless technologies. For example, it can also be applied to systems that integrate non-terrestrial networks (NTN) such as drones, satellite communication systems, and high altitude platform station (HAPS) communication with terrestrial mobile communication networks. In addition, it can also be applicable to low-frequency (sub 6GHz) and high-frequency (above 6GHz) communication scenarios. It should be understood that the system architecture described in the embodiments of this application is to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application.

[0068] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of this application. The communication system includes at least one network device and at least one terminal device. Figure 1 Taking a network device and multiple terminal devices as examples. These multiple terminal devices can be cellular phones, smart phones, portable computers, handheld communication devices, handheld computing devices, satellite radios, global positioning systems, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and / or any other suitable devices for communicating on a wireless communication system, and they can all be connected to the network device. The terminal devices can all communicate with the network device. In addition, communication can also be carried out between terminal devices, such as device-to-device (D2D) transmission. Of course, Figure 1 the number of terminal devices and network devices in [the figure] is only an example, and it can also be less or more. The following will separately describe Figure 1The terminal devices and network devices involved in the communication system are described in detail.

[0069] I. Terminal Devices

[0070] The terminal devices mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be devices with wireless transceiver functions. Specifically, they can refer to user equipment (UE), access terminals, subscriber units, user stations, mobile stations, remote stations, remote terminals, mobile devices, user terminals, wireless communication devices, user agents, or user devices. Terminal devices can also be satellite phones, cellular phones, smartphones, wireless data cards, wireless modems, machine type communication devices, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, PDAs, handheld devices with wireless communication functions, computing devices, or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, in-vehicle devices, communication devices carried on high-altitude airplanes, wearable devices, drones, robots, terminals in D2D communication, terminals in vehicle to everything (V2X), virtual reality (VR) terminal devices, augmented reality (AR) terminal devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical, wireless terminals in smart grid, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart city, wireless terminals in smart home, or terminal devices in future communication networks, etc. This application does not make any restrictions. Additionally, in this application, when not specifically stated, "terminal device" can refer to either the terminal device itself or a component within the terminal device, such as a chip system, SoC, and this component can be installed in the terminal device.

[0071] II. Network Devices

[0072] The network device mentioned in the embodiments of the present application has a wireless transceiver function and is used to communicate with terminals. Specifically, it may refer to a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a next-generation NodeB in a 6th generation (6G) mobile communication system, an access network device or a module of an access network device in an open RAN (ORAN) system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc. The network device may also be a module or unit capable of implementing some functions of the base station. For example, the network device may be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU) described below. Among them, in the ORAN system, the CU may also be referred to as an O-CU, the DU may also be referred to as an open (O)-DU, the CU-CP may also be referred to as an O-CU-CP, the CU-UP may also be referred to as an O-CUP-UP, and the RU may also be referred to as an O-RU. Exemplarily, the base station in the embodiments of the present application may include various forms of base stations, such as: macro base stations, micro base stations (also referred to as small stations), relay stations, access points, next-generation base stations (gNodeB, gNB), transmitting and receiving points (TRP), transmitting points (TP), mobile switching centers, and may also be devices that undertake wireless access functions in device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and Internet of Things (IoT) communication. In addition, in the present application, when not specifically stated, the "network device" may refer to the network device itself or a component in the network device, such as a chip system, a system-on-a-chip (SOC), and this component may be installed in the network device.

[0073] To facilitate the understanding of the solution provided by the embodiments of the present application, the following introduces the relevant concepts involved in the embodiments of the present application:

[0074] 1. Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS)

[0075] DMRS is used to estimate the equivalent channel matrix of the data channel or the control channel, and thus is used for data detection and demodulation. Exemplarily, the data channel can be a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), or a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH). Exemplarily, the control channel can be a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). Taking the data channel PDSCH as an example, DMRS is usually precoded in the same way as the transmitted data signal, so as to ensure that DMRS and the data experience the same equivalent channel.

[0076] Assume that the DMRS vector transmitted by the transmitter is s, the transmitted data signal (or data symbol) vector is x, and DMRS and the data are precoded in the same way (such as multiplying by the same precoding matrix P). After precoding, the data signal and DMRS are transmitted simultaneously and experience the same channel. The corresponding received signal vector at the receiver can be expressed as:

[0077] Data:

[0078] DMRS:

[0079] where y represents the data signal vector received by the receiver, r represents the DMRS vector received by the receiver, H represents the channel actually experienced by the data signal and DMRS, P represents the precoding matrix, and n represents the noise signal vector.

[0080] Since the equivalent channels experienced by the data and DMRS are both Therefore, the receiver can obtain an estimate of the equivalent channel based on the known DMRS vector s using a channel estimation algorithm, where the DMRS vector is composed of DMRS symbols corresponding to multiple DMRS ports; furthermore, the receiver can complete data detection and demodulation based on the equivalent channel. Among them, the channel estimation algorithm can be, for example, the Least Square (LS) channel estimation algorithm, the Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) channel estimation algorithm, or the time-delay domain channel estimation algorithm based on the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) / Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT).

[0081] 2. DMRS Ports

[0082] A port can refer to an antenna port. A port can be understood as the transmitting antenna recognized by the receiving end, or a spatially distinguishable transmitting antenna. For each virtual antenna, a port can be configured, and each virtual antenna can be a weighted combination of multiple physical antennas. A port used to transmit a reference signal can be called a reference signal port. The reference signal can be, for example, DMRS, channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or sounding reference signal (SRS), and is not specifically limited. Taking the DMRS port as an example, different DMRS ports can be distinguished by different indexes (or port numbers).

[0083] In the embodiments of the present application, the description will be made taking the port as the DMRS port as an example. It can be understood that the method provided by the embodiments of the present application is applicable not only to the DMRS port but also to other possible reference signal ports, such as the CSI-RS port and the SRS port.

[0084] 3. Configuration Types of DMRS

[0085] The configuration types of DMRS can include configuration type 1 (type1) and configuration type 2 (type2). The number of orthogonal DMRS ports supported by different configuration types and the time-frequency resource mapping rules are different.

[0086] When multiple parallel data streams are transmitted simultaneously on the same time-frequency resource, each data stream can be called a spatial layer or a spatial stream or a transmission stream. One DMRS port can correspond to one spatial layer or transmission stream. The time-domain symbol length occupied by the DMRS port (or the number of time-domain symbols occupied by the DMRS port) can be 1 or 2. When the time-domain symbol length occupied by the DMRS port is 1, it can be called single-symbol DMRS; when the time-domain symbol length occupied by the DMRS port is 2, it can be called double-symbol DMRS.

[0087] For type 1, the single-symbol DMRS supports a maximum of 4 orthogonal DMRS ports, and the double-symbol DMRS supports a maximum of 8 orthogonal DMRS ports; for type 2, the single-symbol DMRS supports a maximum of 6 orthogonal DMRS ports, and the double-symbol DMRS supports a maximum of 12 orthogonal DMRS ports. For example, X transport streams include transport stream 0 and transport stream 1. When the DMRS port indexes allocated by the network device for the terminal device are "0, 1", transport stream 0 corresponds to DMRS port 0, and transport stream 1 corresponds to DMRS port 1; when the DMRS port indexes allocated by the network device for the terminal device are "2, 3", transport stream 0 corresponds to DMRS port 2, and transport stream 1 corresponds to DMRS port 3.

[0088] With the continuous development of communication technology, 12 DMRS ports are increasingly unable to meet the communication requirements. Therefore, in the R18 version, the number of DMRS ports is expanded (or referred to as extended). As one way, the DMRS of type 1 can be enhanced. After the enhancement of type 1, the upper limit of the number of DMRS ports corresponding to the single-symbol DMRS can be 8, and the upper limit of the number of DMRS ports corresponding to the double-symbol DMRS can be 16. As another way, the DMRS of type 2 can be enhanced. After the enhancement of type 2, the upper limit of the number of DMRS ports corresponding to the single-symbol DMRS can be 12, and the upper limit of the number of DMRS ports corresponding to the double-symbol DMRS can be 24.

[0089] Each transport stream of each UE corresponds to a DMRS port, and several DMRS ports form a group. Each group of DMRS ports sends DMRS on the same RE, occupies one or more OFDM symbols within each time slot in the time domain, and is sent at a certain interval in the frequency domain, showing a comb structure; different port groups are distinguished in the frequency domain by using different combs.

[0090] Exemplarily, as Figure 2A shown, Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of a type 1 DMRS pilot pattern adopted for PDSCH transmission provided by an embodiment of the present application. For the single-symbol DMRS in the PDSCH DMRS type 1 pilot pattern, the first group of DMRS ports includes ports 0, 1, 8, 9, and the second group of DMRS ports includes ports 2, 3, 10, 11. The first group of DMRS ports and the second group of DMRS ports are distinguished in the frequency domain by using different combs; for the double-symbol DMRS in the PDSCH DMRS type 1 pilot pattern, the first group of DMRS ports includes ports 0, 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, and the second group of DMRS ports includes ports 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15. The first group of DMRS ports and the second group of DMRS ports are distinguished in the frequency domain by using different combs.

[0091] Exemplarily, as Figure 2B shown, Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of a type 2 DMRS pilot pattern adopted for PDSCH transmission provided by an embodiment of the present application. For the single-symbol DMRS in the PDSCH DMRS type 2 pilot pattern, the first group of DMRS ports includes ports 0, 1, 12, and 13, the second group of DMRS ports includes ports 2, 3, 14, and 15, and the third group of DMRS ports includes ports 4, 5, 16, and 17. The first group of DMRS ports, the second group of DMRS ports, and the third group of DMRS ports are distinguished in the frequency domain using different combs; for the double-symbol DMRS in the PDSCH DMRS type 2 pilot pattern, the first group of DMRS ports includes ports 0, 1, 6, 7, 12, 13, 18, and 19, the second group of DMRS ports includes ports 2, 3, 8, 9, 14, 15, 20, and 21, and the third group of DMRS ports includes ports 4, 5, 10, 11, 16, 17, 22, and 23. The first group of DMRS ports, the second group of DMRS ports, and the second group of DMRS ports are distinguished in the frequency domain using different combs.

[0092] 3. Time-frequency resource mapping of DMRS ports

[0093] For a DMRS port, the DMRS port can correspond to one or more DMRS signal symbols (also referred to as DMRS modulation symbols, or simply DMRS symbols). In order to perform channel estimation on different time-frequency resources, multiple DMRS symbols corresponding to the DMRS port can be transmitted within multiple time-frequency resources. Also, in order to ensure the quality of channel estimation, usually different DMRS ports are orthogonal ports to avoid interference between different DMRS ports.

[0094] Multiple DMRS symbols corresponding to a DMRS port can correspond to a DMRS sequence, and a DMRS sequence includes multiple DMRS sequence elements. The DMRS sequence corresponding to a DMRS port can be mapped to the corresponding time-frequency resource after being multiplied by the corresponding mask sequence through the time-frequency resource mapping rule. For example, for DMRS port p, the m-th DMRS sequence element r(m) in the DMRS sequence corresponding to it can be mapped to the resource element (resource element, RE) with index (k, l) p,μ according to the time-frequency resource mapping rule. Among them, the RE with index (k, l) p,μ can correspond to the time-domain symbol with index l within a time slot in the time domain and the sub-carrier with index k in the frequency domain. Among them, the time-frequency resource mapping rule can satisfy the following formula (1):

[0095]

[0096] In formula (1),

[0097]

[0098] k′ = 0, 1, 2, 3

[0099]

[0100] n = 0, 1, 2,...

[0101] p = 0, 1, 2,...

[0102] where μ represents the sub - carrier spacing parameter; k represents the frequency - domain position of transmitting DMRS (i.e., sub - carrier index); l represents the time - domain position of transmitting DMRS (i.e., OFDM symbol index); represents the DMRS modulation symbol corresponding to port p mapped to the RE with index (k, l) p,μ ; represents the symbol index of the starting OFDM symbol occupied by the DMRS modulation symbol or the symbol index of the reference OFDM symbol; r(4n + k′) represents the frequency - domain sequence; Δ represents the comb number occupied by the current port group, and different port groups occupy different combs in the frequency domain for frequency - division multiplexing; w f (k′) represents the spreading sequence in the frequency domain of DMRS port p (i.e., the frequency - domain mask element corresponding to the sub - carrier with index k′); w t (l′) represents the spreading sequence in the time domain of DMRS port p (i.e., the time - domain mask element corresponding to the OFDM symbol with index l′). Each port of the current port group uses different spreading sequences for code - division multiplexing on the same RE.

[0103] 4. Channel Estimation

[0104] The so - called channel estimation is the process of estimating the model parameters of a supposed channel model from the received data. The terminal device can perform channel estimation through the DMRS received by the above - mentioned RE, and the common detection process is as Figure 3 shown. Exemplarily, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the process of PDSCH channel estimation provided by an embodiment of the present application. For a RE, the DMRS received by the terminal device can be written as formula (2):

[0105]

[0106] In formula (2), A j (k, l) represents the equivalent channel with precoding; N p(k, l) represents noise and other interferences. Since orthogonal time-domain spreading sequences are adopted, the terminal device first performs despreading to obtain Equation (3):

[0107] y′ p (k) = A p (k)r(4n + k′) + N′ p (k) (3)

[0108] Then, the equivalent channel A(k) at each comb of each OFDM symbol is estimated through LS. For an OFDM symbol, the frequency-domain received signal model is Equation (4): p p

[0109] Y p = A p X p + N p (4)

[0110] Using the channel estimation of DMRS at RE The channel estimation result on the data RE can be obtained through frequency-domain filtering and time-domain linear interpolation for subsequent MIMO equalization and data restoration.

[0111] Based on the above, since in the current DMRS channel detection method, DMRS can occupy one OFDM symbol or two OFDM symbols. Each OFDM symbol supports up to 12 DMRS ports (i.e., up to 12-stream transmission), that is, two OFDM symbols support up to 24-stream transmission. In the process of evolving from low frequency (sub 6 GHz) to high frequency (above 6 GHz), as the scale of the antenna array expands, the number of spatial transmission streams also continuously increases. The number of data transmission streams in space increases by 5 times from 10 to 20 streams, and the peak number of streams approaches 100 streams. In order to ensure the performance of data transmission, the number of OFDM symbols occupied by DMRS can be increased, such as expanding from two OFDM symbols by 4 times to 8 OFDM symbols, which can support up to 96-stream transmission at most. However, such a method will cause a linear increase in the overhead of DMRS, occupying a large amount of air interface resources in the 100-stream transmission scenario and seriously affecting the data transmission capacity.

[0112] In order to support data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams without increasing additional DMRS overhead, this application provides a communication method and a communication device. The communication method and the communication device provided by the embodiments of this application are further described in detail below.

[0113] 1. Multiple streams of a terminal device occupy the same time-frequency resources.

[0114] 1. Downlink transmission

[0115] Figure 4It is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 4 shown, the communication method includes the following steps S401 and S402. For a terminal device, Figure 4 the execution subject of the method shown can be the terminal device and the network device. Or, Figure 4 the execution subject of the method shown can be the chip in the terminal device and the chip in the network device, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Figure 4 Taking the terminal device and the network device as the execution subjects of the method as an example for illustration. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application are illustrated by taking the pilot signal as DMRS.

[0116] S401. The network device sends configuration information to the terminal device. The configuration information is used to indicate the transmission resources of DMRS, and the configuration information is also used to indicate the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the configuration information from the network device.

[0117] S402. The network device sends R DMRSs to the terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives R DMRSs from the network device.

[0118] In the embodiments of the present application, based on the above, assuming that the frequency-domain received signal model is Y = AX + N, a feasible idea for reducing the DMRS overhead is to use the received data signal to assist in channel estimation. For example, the blind detection method is a type of method that avoids DMRS pilots, and its principle is to use the constellation information carried after modulation of the data signal for channel estimation.

[0119] Taking maximum likelihood (ML) detection as an example, for the n-stream transmission problem, assuming that the noise follows a complex Gaussian distribution, the ML detector is used to jointly estimate the equivalent channel A and the data signal X, and the channel estimation problem is defined as: where G is the transmit constellation.

[0120] Due to the symmetry of G, the blind detection method has the problem of detection ambiguity. Taking the quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) constellation as an example, its n-stream constellation is a set of points that are symmetric about the coordinate axes and the center in the high-dimensional negative space C n and the outer contour is an n-order complex cube. Directly using the blind detection method, the obtained channel estimation cannot distinguish between axisymmetric and central symmetric transformations. For example, from Y = AX = (-A)(-X), it is impossible to distinguish which of (A, X) and (-A, -X) is the correct estimation.

[0121] To break the above ambiguity, a pilot signal is required to provide additional information. This application proposes a method that can break the ambiguity of blind detection, such as Figure 5 As shown, assuming the initial pilot signal is p and has R streams, then the initial pilot signal can be regarded as the permutation matrix T obtained by sorting the restored pilot signal Uq in ascending order of absolute value perm , and then the flip matrix T is obtained according to the positive and negative of the elements flip That is, T flip T perm Uq = p, which can thus solve the ambiguity problem existing in the blind detection method. Therefore, the focus of this application lies in the design of the pilot signal for breaking the ambiguity.

[0122] Taking the pilot signal as DMRS as an example, the mapping pattern of DMRS to physical resources (i.e., the transmission resources of DMRS) can adopt a comb structure or a non-comb structure. The following will elaborate on DMRS in different situations.

[0123] Situation 1: The transmission resources of DMRS are in a comb structure (i.e., the mapping pattern of DMRS to physical resources adopts a comb structure)

[0124] In specific implementation, when the transmission resources of DMRS are in a comb structure, the frequency-domain interval between two adjacent combs in this transmission resource is the same. Taking the first DMRS port as an example, the first DMRS port occupies a time-frequency resource, and the R DMRSs of a terminal device (such as the first terminal device) are multiplexed. At this time, DMRS needs to satisfy the following formula (5).

[0125]

[0126] Among them, q(s) represents a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents the normalization coefficient, s represents the s-th DMRS, and w f (k′) represents the spreading sequence in the frequency domain of the first DMRS port, and w t (l′) represents the spreading sequence in the time domain of the first DMRS port, and r(4n + k′) represents the frequency-domain sequence of the transmission resources.

[0127] According to the DMRS design of the above formula (5), R DMRSs can be determined. Taking a terminal device as an example, the network device needs to send configuration information to the terminal device. The configuration information needs to indicate the transmission resources of the DMRS and also needs to indicate the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port. In this way, the network device can send R DMRSs to the terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, and the terminal device can receive the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the corresponding transmission resources, realizing the multiplexing of multiple streams of a terminal device on one DMRS port, which can support data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams.

[0128] Wherein, R is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the first DMRS port is the DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resources. It can be understood that the first DMRS port is any one of the DMRS ports corresponding to the transmission resources, that is, the number of streams transmitted on each DMRS port indicated by the configuration information is R. For example, the configuration information indicates that the number of streams transmitted on each DMRS port is 4.

[0129] It can also be understood that the first DMRS port is a specific DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resources, that is, the number of streams transmitted on a specific DMRS port indicated by the configuration information is R. In this way, the number of streams transmitted on each DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resources can be the same or different, which is beneficial to improving the flexibility of the transmission stream number configuration. For example, the configuration information indicates that the number of streams transmitted on DMRS port 1 is 4. Another example is that the number of streams transmitted on DMRS port 2 is 2.

[0130] In a possible implementation manner, the transmission resources include multiple combs, and the R DMRSs can be code-division multiplexed on each comb or not. The following describes these two methods separately.

[0131] Method 1: The R DMRSs are not code-division multiplexed on each comb

[0132] That is: when the network device sends R DMRSs to the terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, the specific implementation manner can be: the network device sends R DMRSs to the terminal device through the first DMRS port on each comb in the transmission resources.

[0133] Correspondingly, when the terminal device receives R DMRSs from the network device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, the specific implementation manner can be: the terminal device receives R DMRSs from the network device through the first DMRS port on each comb in the transmission resources.

[0134] Such as Figure 6AAs shown in the figure, the transmission resources of DMRS adopt a comb structure. Taking the first DMRS port as an example, assuming that the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port is 4, the transmission resources corresponding to the first DMRS port have 4 combs (i.e., comb 0, comb 1, comb 2, comb 3). The network device can send 4 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS0, DMRS1, DMRS2, DMRS3) to the terminal device 0 on each of these 4 combs. Correspondingly, the terminal device 0 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on each comb.

[0135] Optionally, for a terminal device, the R DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device is 1. It can be understood that the R DMRSs of a terminal device occupy the same time domain resources. In order to distinguish different transmission streams, it is necessary to ensure that the R DMRSs are different. At the same time, in order not to increase the additional pilot overhead, the pilot signals on the original same time domain resource are split into multiple pilot signals for use. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs corresponding to a terminal device is 1. Experiments have shown that while supporting data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams, up to 75% of the DMRS overhead can be reduced.

[0136] Method 2: R DMRSs are code-division multiplexed on each comb

[0137] That is, when the network device sends R DMRSs to the terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, the specific implementation method can be: the network device sends R DMRSs to the terminal device through the first DMRS port on each comb in the transmission resources.

[0138] Correspondingly, when the terminal device receives R DMRSs from the network device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, the specific implementation method can be: the network device receives R DMRSs from the network device through the first DMRS port on each comb in the transmission resources.

[0139] Among them, each comb includes multiple code domain resources, and the R DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the multiple code domain resources.

[0140] As Figure 6B shown in the figure, the transmission resources of DMRS adopt a comb structure. Taking the first DMRS port as an example, assuming that the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port is 4, the transmission resources corresponding to the first DMRS port have 4 combs (i.e., comb 0, comb 1, comb 2, comb 3). For each comb, there are 4 code domain resources (i.e., code domain resource 0, code domain resource 1, code domain resource 2, code domain resource 3).

[0141] The network device can send 4 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0, DMRS 1, DMRS 2, DMRS 3) to the terminal device 0 on the code domain resource 0 in each comb; correspondingly, the terminal device 0 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on the code domain resource 0 in each comb;

[0142] The network device can also send 4 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS0, DMRS 1, DMRS 2, DMRS 3) to the terminal device 1 on the code domain resource 1 in each comb; correspondingly, the terminal device 1 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on the code domain resource 1 in each comb;

[0143] The network device can also send 4 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS0, DMRS 1, DMRS 2, DMRS 3) to the terminal device 2 on the code domain resource 2 in each comb; correspondingly, the terminal device 2 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on the code domain resource 2 in each comb;

[0144] The network device can send 4 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0, DMRS 1, DMRS 2, DMRS 3) to the terminal device 3 on the code domain resource 3 in each comb; correspondingly, the terminal device 3 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on the code domain resource 3 in each comb.

[0145] In summary, the R DMRSs of a terminal device occupy the same time domain resource and code domain resource in each comb.

[0146] Optionally, for a terminal device, the R DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device is 1. It can be understood that the R DMRSs of a terminal device occupy the same time domain resource. In order to distinguish different transmission streams, it is necessary to ensure that the R DMRSs are different; at the same time, in order not to increase the additional pilot overhead, the pilot signals on the original same time domain resource are split into multiple pilot signals for use. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs corresponding to a terminal device is 1. Experiments show that while supporting data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams, up to 75% of the DMRS overhead can be reduced.

[0147] Case 2: The transmission resource of DMRS is a non-comb structure (i.e., the mapping pattern of DMRS to physical resources adopts a non-comb structure)

[0148] In a specific implementation, when the transmission resource of DMRS is a non-comb structure, taking the first DMRS port as an example, the first DMRS port occupies a time-frequency resource and is multiplexed by the R DMRSs of a terminal device (such as the first terminal device). At this time, DMRS needs to satisfy the following formula (6).

[0149]

[0150] Among them, q(s) represents a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents a normalization coefficient, and s represents the s-th DMRS.

[0151] In addition, for a non-comb structure, it is necessary to redefine the pilot pattern for transmitting DMRS, that is, in formula (6):

[0152] s = 0, 1,..., R - 1

[0153]

[0154]

[0155] n = 0, 1,...

[0156] j = 0, 1,..., v - 1

[0157] Here, k represents the frequency-domain position of transmitting DMRS (i.e., subcarrier index); l represents the time-domain position of transmitting DMRS (i.e., OFDM symbol index); represents the symbol index of the starting OFDM symbol occupied by the DMRS modulation symbol or the symbol index of the reference OFDM symbol; j is the port number, and v represents the total number of ports, represents a blind estimation unit (such as a PRG).

[0158] Let the DMRS port be defined as p j = 0, 1, 2, 3,..., and the following will separately describe single-symbol DMRS and double-symbol DMRS:

[0159] (1) For configuration type 1 (i.e., single-symbol DMRS):

[0160]

[0161] l′ = 0

[0162] Supports at most ports, with a total of streams. The specific DMRS pilot pattern is as Figure 6C shown.

[0163] (2) For configuration type 2 (i.e., double-symbol DMRS):

[0164]

[0165]

[0166] Supports up to A total of streams. The specific DMRS pilot pattern is as Figure 6D shown.

[0167] According to the DMRS design of the above formula (6), R DMRSs can be determined. Taking a terminal device as an example, the network device needs to send configuration information to the terminal device. The configuration information needs to indicate the transmission resources of the DMRS and also needs to indicate the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port. In this way, the network device can send R DMRSs to the terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, and the terminal device can receive these R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the corresponding transmission resources, realizing the multiplexing of multiple streams of a terminal device on one DMRS port, which can support data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams.

[0168] Among them, R is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the first DMRS port is the DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resources. It can be understood that the first DMRS port is any one of the DMRS ports corresponding to the transmission resources, that is, the number of streams transmitted on each DMRS port indicated by the configuration information is R. It can also be understood that the first DMRS port is a specific DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resources, that is, the number of streams transmitted on a specific DMRS port indicated by the configuration information is R. In this way, the number of streams transmitted on each DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resources can be the same or different, which is beneficial to improving the flexibility of the transmission stream number configuration.

[0169] In a possible implementation manner, the R DMRSs can be code-division multiplexed on the transmission resources or not. The following describes these two methods separately.

[0170] Method a: No code-division multiplexing on the transmission resources

[0171] That is: The network device sends R DMRSs to the terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources.

[0172] Such as Figure 7AAs shown in the figure, the transmission resources of the DMRS adopt a non-comb structure. Taking the first DMRS port as an example, assuming that the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port is 4, the transmission resources corresponding to the first DMRS port are a RE resource within a blind estimation unit (such as a PRG). The network device can send 4 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0, DMRS 1, DMRS 2, DMRS 3) to terminal device 0 on RE0. Correspondingly, terminal device 0 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on this transmission resource. The network device can send 4 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0, DMRS 1, DMRS 2, DMRS 3) to terminal device 4 on RE4. Correspondingly, terminal device 4 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on this transmission resource.

[0173] Method b: There is code division multiplexing on this transmission resource

[0174] That is: this transmission resource includes multiple code domain resources, and R DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the multiple code domain resources.

[0175] Such as Figure 7B As shown in the figure, the transmission resources of the DMRS adopt a non-comb structure. Taking the first DMRS port as an example, assuming that the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port is 4, the transmission resources corresponding to the first DMRS port are a RE resource within a blind estimation unit (such as a PRG), and this transmission resource has 4 code domain resources (i.e., code domain resource 0, code domain resource 1, code domain resource 2, code domain resource 3).

[0176] The network device can send 4 DMRSs to terminal device 0 on code domain resource 0 in RE0; correspondingly, terminal device 0 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on code domain resource 0 in this transmission resource;

[0177] The network device can also send 4 DMRSs to terminal device 1 on code domain resource 1 in RE0; correspondingly, terminal device 1 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on code domain resource 1 in this transmission resource;

[0178] The network device can also send 4 DMRSs to terminal device 2 on code domain resource 2 in RE0; correspondingly, terminal device 2 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on code domain resource 2 in this transmission resource;

[0179] The network device can send 4 DMRSs to terminal device 3 on code domain resource 3 in RE0; correspondingly, terminal device 3 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on code domain resource 3 in this transmission resource;

[0180] In summary, the R DMRSs of each terminal device occupy one code domain resource in the transmission resource.

[0181] In a possible implementation, the DMRS can be a real sequence or a complex sequence. The following specifically describes the two cases.

[0182] Case 1: The DMRS is a real sequence

[0183] In a specific implementation, when the DMRS is a real sequence, q(s) is a real pilot sequence, q(s)=2R - 2s - 1, and R has a first association relationship with Z(R).

[0184] Optionally, the first association relationship can be represented by a first mapping table, and the first mapping table includes Table 1 below:

[0185] Table 1

[0186] R Z(R) 1 1 2 10 3 35 4 84 5 165 6 286 7 455 8 680

[0187] Of course, the first mapping relationship can also be represented by other means, which is not limited here.

[0188] Case 2: The DMRS is a complex sequence

[0189] In a specific implementation, when the DMRS is a complex sequence, there is a second association relationship among q(s), R, and Z(R).

[0190] Optionally, the second association relationship can be represented by a second mapping table, and the second mapping table includes Table 2 below:

[0191] Table 2

[0192]

[0193] Of course, the second mapping relationship can also be represented by other means, which is not limited here.

[0194] It can be seen that based on the method described above, the network device sends R DMRSs to the terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource of the DMRS. Correspondingly, the terminal device can receive R DMRSs from the network device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource. It can be understood that multiple streams of one terminal device multiplex one DMRS port, and each DMRS port corresponds to a scalar sequence with a length equal to the number of streams to distinguish different transmission streams, so as to support data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams and increase the data transmission capacity without increasing additional DMRS overhead.

[0195] 2. Uplink transmission

[0196] Figure 8 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 8 shown, the communication method includes the following steps S801 and S802. For a terminal device, Figure 8 the execution subject of the method shown can be the terminal device and the network device. Or, Figure 8 the execution subject of the method shown can be the chip in the terminal device and the chip in the network device, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Figure 8 Taking the terminal device and the network device as the execution subjects of the method as an example for illustration. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application are illustrated by taking the pilot signal as DMRS as an example.

[0197] S801. The network device sends configuration information to the terminal device. The configuration information is used to indicate the transmission resource of the DMRS, and the configuration information is also used to indicate the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the configuration information from the network device.

[0198] In the embodiments of the present application, R is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the first DMRS port is the DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resource.

[0199] S802. The terminal device sends R DMRSs to the network device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource. Correspondingly, the network device receives the R DMRSs from the terminal device.

[0200] Among them, taking the terminal device as one example, Figure 4 the main difference between the described method and Figure 8 the described method is that the execution subject of sending R DMRSs is different. Figure 4 It is that the network device sends R DMRSs to the terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource. Figure 8 It is that the terminal device sends R DMRSs to the network device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource. The specific implementation manners of steps S801 and S802 can refer to the specific implementation manners of the above steps S401 and S402, and will not be elaborated here.

[0201] It can be seen that based on the method described above, the terminal device sends R DMRSs to the network device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource of the DMRS. Correspondingly, the network device can receive the R DMRSs from the terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource. It can be understood that multiple streams of one terminal device multiplex one DMRS port, and each DMRS port corresponds to a scalar sequence with a length of the number of streams to distinguish different transmission streams, so as to support data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams and increase the data transmission capacity without increasing additional DMRS overhead.

[0202] Second, multiple streams of multiple terminal devices occupy the same time-frequency resource.

[0203] 1. Downlink transmission

[0204] Figure 9 It is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 9 shown, the communication method includes the following steps S901 and S902. For multiple terminal devices, Figure 9 the execution subject of the method shown can be the first terminal device and the network device. Or, Figure 9 the execution subject of the method shown can be the chip in the first terminal device and the chip in the network device, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 9 Taking the first terminal device and the network device as the execution subjects of the method as an example for illustration. It should be noted that the first terminal device is one of the multiple terminal devices. The embodiment of the present application is illustrated by taking the pilot signal as DMRS.

[0205] S901. The network device sends configuration information to the first terminal device. The configuration information is used to indicate the transmission resource of DMRS, and the configuration information is also used to indicate M DMRSs transmitted on the first DMRS port. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the configuration information from the network device.

[0206] S902. The network device sends M DMRSs to the first terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives M DMRSs from the network device.

[0207] In the embodiment of the present application, similar to the Figure 4 method described, the focus of the present application also lies in the design of the pilot signal for resolving ambiguity. Taking the pilot signal as DMRS as an example, the mapping pattern of DMRS to physical resources (i.e., the transmission resource of DMRS) can adopt a comb structure or a non-comb structure. The DMRS in different cases is described in detail below.

[0208] Case 1: The transmission resource of DMRS is a comb structure (i.e., the mapping pattern of DMRS to physical resources adopts a comb structure)

[0209] In specific implementation, when the transmission resource of DMRS is a comb structure, the frequency-domain interval between two adjacent combs in the transmission resource is the same. Taking the first DMRS port as an example, the first DMRS port occupies a time-frequency resource, and can be multiplexed by R DMRSs corresponding to multiple terminal devices (such as the first terminal device and the second terminal device). At this time, DMRS needs to satisfy the above formula (5).

[0210] According to the DMRS design of the above formula (5), R DMRSs can be determined. For the first terminal device among multiple terminal devices, the network device needs to send configuration information to the first terminal device. The configuration information needs to indicate the transmission resources of the DMRS and also needs to indicate M DMRSs transmitted on the first DMRS port. Among them, these M DMRSs are M DMRSs among the R DMRSs. M is less than R. In this way, the network device can send M DMRSs to the first terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, and the first terminal device can receive these M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the corresponding transmission resources.

[0211] It can be understood that Figure 9 the described method and Figure 4 the main difference of the described method lies in: Figure 4 in the described method, the configuration information indicates the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port, while Figure 8 in the described method, the configuration information directly indicates M DMRSs transmitted by the first terminal device on the first DMRS port, that is, directly indicates the M DMRS sequences. That is to say, the network device directly indicates M DMRSs that the first terminal device needs to receive. In this way, when the network device sends M DMRSs, the first terminal device can receive these M DMRSs.

[0212] Of course, the network device can also send the configuration information to other terminal devices. For example, the network device can send the configuration information to the second terminal device. The total number of DMRSs corresponding to all terminal devices is R. In this way, multi-stream multiplexing of a DMRS port for multiple terminal devices can be achieved, and data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams can be supported.

[0213] For example, the network device indicates 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0 and DMRS 1) transmitted on the first DMRS port to terminal device 0; after the network device sends 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0 and DMRS 1) to terminal device 0, terminal device 0 can receive 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0 and DMRS 1) from the network device through the first DMRS port.

[0214] For another example, the network device indicates 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2 and DMRS 3) transmitted on the first DMRS port to terminal device 1; after the network device sends 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2 and DMRS 3) to terminal device 1, terminal device 1 can receive 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2 and DMRS 3) from the network device through the first DMRS port.

[0215] Wherein, R is an integer greater than or equal to 1, M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and M is less than R. The first DMRS port is the DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resource. It can be understood that the first DMRS port is any one of the DMRS ports corresponding to the transmission resource, that is, the configuration information indicates M DMRSs transmitted on each DMRS port. For example, the configuration information indicates 2 DMRSs transmitted on each DMRS port.

[0216] It can also be understood that the first DMRS port is a specific DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resource, that is, M DMRSs transmitted on a specific DMRS port indicated by the configuration information. In this way, the number of DMRSs transmitted on different DMRS ports corresponding to the transmission resource can be the same or different, which is beneficial to improving the flexibility of transmission stream number configuration. For example, the configuration information indicates 2 DMRSs transmitted on DMRS port 1. Another example, the configuration information indicates 4 DMRSs transmitted on DMRS port 2.

[0217] It should be noted that the number of DMRSs transmitted on the first DMRS port by different terminal devices among multiple terminal devices can be the same or different, that is, the number of DMRSs corresponding to different terminal devices can be the same or different.

[0218] For example, the network device instructs the terminal device 0 to transmit 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0 and DMRS 1) on the first DMRS port; after the network device sends 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0 and DMRS 1) to the terminal device 0, the terminal device 0 can receive 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0 and DMRS 1) from the network device through the first DMRS port. The network device instructs the terminal device 1 to transmit 3 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2, DMRS 3, and DMRS 4) on the first DMRS port; after the network device sends 3 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2, DMRS 3, and DMRS 4) to the terminal device 1, the terminal device 1 can receive 3 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2, DMRS 3, and DMRS 4) from the network device through the first DMRS port.

[0219] In a possible implementation, the transmission resource includes multiple combs. M DMRSs of a terminal device can be code-division multiplexed on each comb, or can be not code-division multiplexed. The following describes these two methods separately.

[0220] Method 1: M DMRSs are not code-division multiplexed on each comb

[0221] That is, when the network device sends M DMRSs to the first terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource, the specific implementation manner may be: the network device sends M DMRSs to the first terminal device through the first DMRS port on each comb of the transmission resource.

[0222] Correspondingly, when the first terminal device receives M DMRSs from the network device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource, the specific implementation manner may be: the first terminal device receives M DMRSs from the network device through the first DMRS port on each comb of the transmission resource.

[0223] As Figure 10A shown, the transmission resource of DMRS adopts a comb structure. Taking the first DMRS port as an example, the total number of DMRSs corresponding to two terminal devices (terminal device 0 and terminal device 1) is 4. Assume that the first terminal device is terminal device 0, and there are 2 DMRSs transmitted by terminal device 0 on the first DMRS port. The transmission resource corresponding to the first DMRS port has 4 combs (i.e., comb 0, comb 1, comb 2, comb 3). The network device can send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0, DMRS 1) to terminal device 0 on each of these 4 combs. Correspondingly, terminal device 0 can receive 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0, DMRS 1) from the network device on each comb. Of course, assume that there are 2 DMRSs transmitted by terminal device 1 on the first DMRS port. Then the network device can send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2, DMRS 3) to terminal device 1 on each of these 4 combs. Correspondingly, terminal device 1 can receive 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2, DMRS 3) from the network device on each comb.

[0224] Optionally, for multiple terminal devices, the total number of DMRSs corresponding to the multiple terminal devices is R, the R DMRSs are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs is 1. The M DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device are different, the sum of the powers of the M DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device is less than 1, the first terminal device is one of the multiple terminal devices, and M is less than R.

[0225] It can be understood that the R DMRSs corresponding to multiple terminal devices can reuse the same DMRS port, and a terminal device can transmit M of the R DMRSs on this DMRS port. Since the R DMRSs occupy the same time-domain resources, in order to distinguish different transmission streams, it is necessary to ensure that the R DMRSs are different, that is, the M DMRSs are also different. In order not to increase the extra pilot overhead, the pilot signals on the original same time-domain resource are split into multiple pilot signals for use. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs corresponding to multiple terminal devices adds up to 1, that is, the sum of the powers of the M DMRSs corresponding to a terminal device is less than 1. Experiments have shown that while supporting data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams, up to 75% of the DMRS overhead can be reduced.

[0226] For example, assume that R is 4, the terminal devices include the first terminal device and the second terminal device, 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device, and 2 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device. The 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device are different, and the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device are different. The sum of the powers of the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device is less than 1, and the sum of the powers of the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device is less than 1. The sum of the powers of the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device plus the sum of the powers of the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device gives a value of 1, that is, the sum of the powers of the 4 DMRSs corresponding to the two terminal devices is 1.

[0227] Another example, assume that R is 5, the terminal devices include the first terminal device and the second terminal device, 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device, and 3 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device. The 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device are different, and the 3 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device are different. The sum of the powers of the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device is less than 1, and the sum of the powers of the 3 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device is less than 1. The sum of the powers of the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device plus the sum of the powers of the 3 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device gives a value of 1, that is, the sum of the powers of the 5 DMRSs corresponding to the two terminal devices is 1.

[0228] Method 2: M DMRSs perform code-division multiplexing on each comb

[0229] That is: when the network device sends M DMRSs to the first terminal device through the first DMRS port on this transmission resource, the specific implementation method can be: the network device sends M DMRSs to the first terminal device through the first DMRS port on each comb in this transmission resource.

[0230] Accordingly, when the first terminal device receives M DMRSs from the network device on the transmission resource through the first DMRS port, the specific implementation manner may be: the first terminal device receives M DMRSs from the network device through the first DMRS port on each comb of the transmission resource.

[0231] Wherein, each comb includes a plurality of code domain resources, and one of the plurality of code domain resources is occupied by the M DMRSs.

[0232] Such as Figure 10B As shown, the transmission resource of the DMRS adopts a comb structure. Taking the first DMRS port as an example, the total number of DMRSs corresponding to 8 terminal devices (terminal device 0, terminal device 1, terminal device 2, terminal device 3, terminal device 4, terminal device 5, terminal device 6, terminal device 7) is 16. Assume that the first terminal device is terminal device 0, and the 2 DMRSs transmitted by terminal device 0 on the first DMRS port. The transmission resource corresponding to the first DMRS port has 4 combs (i.e., comb 0, comb 1, comb 2, comb 3), and each comb has 4 code domain resources (i.e., code domain resource 0, code domain resource 1, code domain resource 2, code domain resource 3).

[0233] The network device may send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0, DMRS 1) to terminal device 0 on code domain resource 0 in each comb; accordingly, terminal device 0 may receive 2 DMRSs from the network device on code domain resource 0 in each comb; the network device may also send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2, DMRS 3) to terminal device 1 on code domain resource 0 in each comb; accordingly, terminal device 1 may receive 2 DMRSs from the network device on code domain resource 0 in each comb;

[0234] The network device may further send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0, DMRS 1) to terminal device 2 on code domain resource 1 in each comb; accordingly, terminal device 2 may receive 2 DMRSs from the network device on code domain resource 1 in each comb; the network device may also send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2, DMRS 3) to terminal device 3 on code domain resource 1 in each comb; accordingly, terminal device 3 may receive 2 DMRSs from the network device on code domain resource 1 in each comb;

[0235] The network device may also send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS0 and DMRS1) to the terminal device 4 on the code domain resource 2 in each comb; correspondingly, the terminal device 4 may receive 2 DMRSs from the network device on the code domain resource 2 in each comb; the network device may also send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS2 and DMRS3) to the terminal device 5 on the code domain resource 2 in each comb; correspondingly, the terminal device 5 may receive 2 DMRSs from the network device on the code domain resource 2 in each comb;

[0236] The network device may also send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS0 and DMRS1) to the terminal device 6 on the code domain resource 3 in each comb; correspondingly, the terminal device 6 may receive 2 DMRSs from the network device on the code domain resource 3 in each comb; the network device may also send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS2 and DMRS3) to the terminal device 7 on the code domain resource 3 in each comb; correspondingly, the terminal device 7 may receive 2 DMRSs from the network device on the code domain resource 3 in each comb.

[0237] Generally speaking, the M DMRSs corresponding to one terminal device among multiple terminal devices occupy the same time domain resource and code domain resource in each comb. Among them, the total number of DMRSs corresponding to different terminal devices may be the same or different, and the total number of DMRSs corresponding to multiple terminal devices is R.

[0238] Optionally, for multiple terminal devices, the total number of DMRSs corresponding to the multiple terminal devices is R, the R DMRSs are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs is 1. The M DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device are different, the sum of the powers of the M DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device is less than 1, the first terminal device is one of the multiple terminal devices, and M is less than R.

[0239] It can be understood that the R DMRSs corresponding to multiple terminal devices can share the same DMRS port, and one terminal device can transmit M of the R DMRSs on this DMRS port. Since the R DMRSs occupy the same time domain resource, in order to distinguish different transmission streams, it is necessary to ensure that the R DMRSs are different, that is, the M DMRSs are also different. In order not to increase the additional pilot overhead, the pilot signals on the original same time domain resource are split into multiple pilot signals for use. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs corresponding to multiple terminal devices is 1 when added together, that is, the sum of the powers of the M DMRSs corresponding to one terminal device is less than 1. Experiments show that while supporting data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams, up to 75% of the DMRS overhead can be reduced.

[0240] For example, assume R is 4. The terminal devices include a first terminal device and a second terminal device. The first terminal device corresponds to 2 DMRSs, and the second terminal device corresponds to 2 DMRSs. The 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device are different, and the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device are different. The sum of the powers of the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device is less than 1, and the sum of the powers of the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device is less than 1. The sum of the powers of the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device plus the sum of the powers of the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device gives a value of 1, that is, the sum of the powers of the 4 DMRSs corresponding to the two terminal devices is 1.

[0241] For another example, assume R is 5. The terminal devices include a first terminal device and a second terminal device. The first terminal device corresponds to 2 DMRSs, and the second terminal device corresponds to 3 DMRSs. The 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device are different, and the 3 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device are different. The sum of the powers of the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device is less than 1, and the sum of the powers of the 3 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device is less than 1. The sum of the powers of the 2 DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device plus the sum of the powers of the 3 DMRSs corresponding to the second terminal device gives a value of 1, that is, the sum of the powers of the 5 DMRSs corresponding to the two terminal devices is 1.

[0242] Case 2: The transmission resource of the DMRS is a non-comb structure (that is, the mapping pattern of the DMRS to the physical resource adopts a non-comb structure)

[0243] In a specific implementation, when the transmission resource of the DMRS is a non-comb structure, taking the first DMRS port as an example, the first DMRS port occupies a time-frequency resource, and the R DMRSs of multiple terminal devices (such as the first terminal device and the second terminal device) are multiplexed. At this time, the DMRS needs to satisfy the above formula (6).

[0244] According to the DMRS design of the above formula (6), R DMRSs can be determined. For the first terminal device among multiple terminal devices, the network device needs to send configuration information to the first terminal device. The configuration information needs to indicate the transmission resource of the DMRS and also needs to indicate the M DMRSs transmitted by the first terminal device on the first DMRS port. Among them, these M DMRSs are M of the R DMRSs. M is less than R. In this way, the network device can send M DMRSs to the first terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource, and the first terminal device can receive these M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the corresponding transmission resource.

[0245] It can be understood that Figure 9 The method described Figure 4 The main difference from the method described is:Figure 4 In the described method, the configuration information indicates the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port, and Figure 8 in the described method, the configuration information directly indicates M DMRSs transmitted by the first terminal device on the first DMRS port, that is, directly indicates M DMRS sequences. That is to say, the network device directly indicates M DMRSs that the first terminal device needs to receive, so that when the network device transmits M DMRSs, the first terminal device can receive the M DMRSs.

[0246] Of course, the network device can also send the configuration information to other terminal devices. For example, the network device can send the configuration information to the second terminal device. The total number of DMRSs corresponding to all terminal devices is R. In this way, multi-stream multiplexing of a DMRS port by multiple terminal devices can be achieved, and data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams can be supported.

[0247] Wherein, R is an integer greater than or equal to 1, M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and M is less than R. The first DMRS port is the DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resource. It can be understood that the first DMRS port is any one of the DMRS ports corresponding to the transmission resource, that is, the configuration information indicates M DMRSs transmitted on each DMRS port. For example, the configuration information indicates 2 DMRSs transmitted on each DMRS port.

[0248] It can also be understood that the first DMRS port is a specific DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resource, that is, M DMRSs transmitted on a specific DMRS port indicated by the configuration information. In this way, the number of DMRSs transmitted on each DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resource can be the same or different, which is beneficial to improving the flexibility of transmission stream number configuration.

[0249] In a possible implementation manner, the M DMRSs can be code-division multiplexed on the transmission resource or not. The following describes these two methods separately.

[0250] Method a: The M DMRSs are not code-division multiplexed on the transmission resource

[0251] That is: The network device transmits M DMRSs to the first terminal device on the transmission resource through the first DMRS port. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives M DMRSs from the network device on the transmission resource through the first DMRS port.

[0252] Such as Figure 11AAs shown, the transmission resources of the DMRS adopt a non-comb structure. Taking the first DMRS port as an example, the total number of DMRSs corresponding to 2 terminal devices (terminal device 0 and terminal device 1, or terminal device 2 and terminal device 3) is 4. Assume that there are 2 DMRSs transmitted by terminal device 0 on the first DMRS port, 2 DMRSs transmitted by terminal device 1 on the first DMRS port, 2 DMRSs transmitted by terminal device 2 on the first DMRS port, and 2 DMRSs transmitted by terminal device 3 on the first DMRS port.

[0253] The transmission resources corresponding to this first DMRS port are one RE resource within a blind estimation unit (such as a PRG). The network device can send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0, DMRS 1) to terminal device 0 on RE0, and send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2, DMRS 3) to terminal device 1 on RE0. Correspondingly, terminal device 0 can receive 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0, DMRS 1) from the network device on this transmission resource, and terminal device 1 can receive 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2, DMRS 3) from the network device on this transmission resource.

[0254] The network device can also send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0, DMRS 1) to terminal device 2 on RE4, and send 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2, DMRS 3) to terminal device 3 on RE4. Correspondingly, terminal device 2 can receive 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 0, DMRS 1) from the network device on this transmission resource, and terminal device 3 can receive 2 DMRSs (i.e., DMRS 2, DMRS 3) from the network device on this transmission resource.

[0255] Method b: There is code division multiplexing of M DMRSs on this transmission resource

[0256] That is: This transmission resource includes multiple code domain resources, and M DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the multiple code domain resources.

[0257] Such as Figure 11BAs shown, the transmission resources of DMRS adopt a non-comb structure. Taking the first DMRS port as an example, the total number of DMRSs corresponding to 4 terminal devices (terminal device 0, terminal device 1, terminal device 2, and terminal device 3) is 16. Assume that there are 4 DMRSs transmitted by terminal device 0 on the first DMRS port, 4 DMRSs transmitted by terminal device 1 on the first DMRS port, 4 DMRSs transmitted by terminal device 2 on the first DMRS port, and 4 DMRSs transmitted by terminal device 3 on the first DMRS port. The transmission resource corresponding to this first DMRS port is a RE resource within a blind estimation unit (such as a PRG), and this transmission resource has 4 code domain resources (i.e., code domain resource 0, code domain resource 1, code domain resource 2, and code domain resource 3).

[0258] The network device can send 4 DMRSs to terminal device 0 on code domain resource 0 in RE0; correspondingly, terminal device 0 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on code domain resource 0 in this transmission resource;

[0259] The network device can also send 4 DMRSs to terminal device 1 on code domain resource 1 in RE0; correspondingly, terminal device 1 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on code domain resource 1 in this transmission resource;

[0260] The network device can also send 4 DMRSs to terminal device 2 on code domain resource 2 in RE0; correspondingly, terminal device 2 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on code domain resource 2 in this transmission resource;

[0261] The network device can send 4 DMRSs to terminal device 3 on code domain resource 3 in RE0; correspondingly, terminal device 3 can receive 4 DMRSs from the network device on code domain resource 3 in this transmission resource;

[0262] In summary, the M DMRSs of each terminal device occupy one code domain resource in this transmission resource. Among them, the total number of DMRSs corresponding to different terminal devices can be the same or different, and the total number of DMRSs corresponding to multiple terminal devices is R.

[0263] In a possible implementation, DMRS can be a real number sequence or a complex number sequence. The following specifically describes the two cases.

[0264] Case 1: DMRS is a real number sequence

[0265] In a specific implementation, when DMRS is a real number sequence, q(s) is a real pilot sequence, q(s)=2R - 2s - 1, and R has a first association relationship with Z(R).

[0266] Optionally, the first association relationship can be represented by a first mapping table, and the first mapping table includes Table 1 above. Of course, the first mapping relationship can also be represented in other ways, which is not limited herein.

[0267] Case 2: The DMRS is a complex sequence

[0268] In a specific implementation, when the DMRS is a complex sequence, there is a second association relationship among q(s), R, and Z(R).

[0269] Optionally, the second association relationship can be represented by a second mapping table, and the second mapping table includes Table 2 above. Of course, the second mapping relationship can also be represented in other ways, which is not limited herein.

[0270] It can be seen that based on the method described above, the network device can send M DMRSs to the first terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource of the DMRS. Correspondingly, the first terminal device can receive M DMRSs from the network device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource. Similarly, the network device can send M DMRSs to the second terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource of the DMRS. Correspondingly, the second terminal device can receive M DMRSs from the network device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource. It can be understood that multiple data streams of multiple terminal devices multiplex one DMRS port, and each DMRS port corresponds to a scalar sequence with a length equal to the number of data streams to distinguish different transmission streams, so as to support data transmission with a higher number of spatial data streams and increase the data transmission capacity without increasing additional DMRS overhead.

[0271] 2. Uplink transmission

[0272] Figure 12 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 12 shown, the communication method includes the following steps S1201 and S1202. For multiple terminal devices, Figure 12 the execution subject of the method shown can be the first terminal device and the network device. Or, Figure 12 the execution subject of the method shown can be the chip in the first terminal device and the chip in the network device, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Figure 12 Taking the first terminal device and the network device as the execution subjects of the method as an example for illustration. It should be noted that the first terminal device is one of the multiple terminal devices. The embodiments of the present application are illustrated by taking the pilot signal as the DMRS as an example.

[0273] S1201. The network device sends configuration information to the first terminal device. The configuration information is used to indicate the transmission resources of the DMRS, and the configuration information is also used to indicate M DMRSs transmitted on the first DMRS port. Correspondingly, the first terminal device receives the configuration information from the network device.

[0274] In the embodiment of the present application, M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the first DMRS port is the DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resources.

[0275] S1202. The first terminal device sends M DMRSs to the network device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources. Correspondingly, the network device receives M DMRSs from the first terminal device.

[0276] Wherein, taking the terminal device being multiple as an example, the first terminal device is one of the multiple terminal devices. Figure 12 The described method and Figure 9 The main difference between the described method is that the execution entity for sending M DMRSs is different. Figure 9 It is that the network device sends M DMRSs to the first terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources. Figure 12 It is that the first terminal device sends M DMRSs to the network device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources. The specific implementation manners of steps S1201 and S1202 can refer to the specific implementation manners of the above steps S901 and S902, which will not be elaborated here.

[0277] It can be seen that based on the method described above, the first terminal device can send M DMRSs to the network through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources of the DMRS. Correspondingly, the network device can receive M DMRSs from the first terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources. Similarly, the second terminal device can send M DMRSs to the network device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources of the DMRS. Correspondingly, the network device can receive M DMRSs from the second terminal device through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources. It can be understood that multiple streams of multiple terminal devices multiplex one DMRS port, and each DMRS port corresponds to a scalar sequence with a length equal to the number of streams to distinguish different transmission streams, so as to support data transmission with a higher number of spatial streams and increase the data transmission capacity without increasing additional DMRS overhead.

[0278] Please refer to Figure 13 , Figure 13 which shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1300 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 13The communication device shown can be a terminal device or a network device, or a device in a terminal device or a network device, or a device that can be used in matching with a terminal device or a network device. Specifically, as Figure 13 shown, the communication device 1300 may include a communication unit 1301 and a processing unit 1302. Among them, the processing unit 1302 is used for data processing. The communication unit 1301 is used for communication. Optionally, the communication unit 1301 integrates a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The communication unit 1301 can also be called a transceiver unit. Alternatively, the communication unit 1301 can be split into a receiving unit and a transmitting unit.

[0279] In one implementation manner, when the communication device 1300 is a terminal device, or a device in a terminal device, or a device that can be used in matching with a terminal device, where:

[0280] The communication unit 1301 is used to receive configuration information from a network device; the configuration information is used to indicate the transmission resources of the demodulation reference signal DMRS, and the configuration information is also used to indicate the number of streams R or M DMRSs transmitted on the first DMRS port, where R is an integer greater than 1, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the first DMRS port is the DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resources;

[0281] The communication unit 1301 is further used to send or receive the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, or send or receive the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources.

[0282] In a possible implementation manner, the R DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device is 1; or, the M DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the M DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device is less than 1.

[0283] In a possible implementation manner, the transmission resources are in a comb structure, and the frequency domain interval between two adjacent teeth in the transmission resources is the same; when the communication unit 1301 sends or receives the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, or sends or receives the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, it is specifically used for: sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on each tooth in the transmission resources, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on each tooth in the transmission resources.

[0284] In a possible implementation, each comb tooth includes multiple code domain resources; one of the multiple code domain resources is occupied by the R DMRSs, or one of the multiple code domain resources is occupied by the M DMRSs.

[0285] In a possible implementation, the DMRS satisfies:

[0286]

[0287] where q(s) is a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents a normalization coefficient, s represents the s-th DMRS, and w f (k′) represents the spreading sequence in the frequency domain of the first DMRS port, and w t (l′) represents the spreading sequence in the time domain of the first DMRS port, and r(4n + k′) represents the frequency domain sequence of the transmission resource.

[0288] In a possible implementation, the transmission resource has a non-comb structure, and the transmission resource includes multiple code domain resources; one of the multiple code domain resources is occupied by the R DMRSs, or one of the multiple code domain resources is occupied by the M DMRSs.

[0289] In a possible implementation, the DMRS satisfies:

[0290]

[0291] where q(s) is a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents a normalization coefficient, and s represents the s-th DMRS.

[0292] In a possible implementation, the q(s) is a real pilot sequence, q(s) = 2R - 2s - 1, and the R and the Z(R) have a first association relationship.

[0293] In a possible implementation, the q(s) is a complex pilot sequence, and there is a second association relationship among the q(s), the R, and the Z(R).

[0294] In an implementation, when the communication device 1300 can be a network device, or a device in a network device, or a device that can be used in matching with a network device, where:

[0295] A communication unit 1301 is configured to send configuration information to a terminal device. The configuration information is used to indicate transmission resources of demodulation reference signals (DMRS), and is also used to indicate the number of streams R transmitted on a first DMRS port or M DMRSs, where R is an integer greater than 1, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The first DMRS port is the DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resources.

[0296] The communication unit 1301 is further configured to send or receive the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, or send or receive the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources.

[0297] In a possible implementation, there is one terminal device, and the R DMRSs corresponding to one terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs corresponding to one terminal device is 1.

[0298] In a possible implementation, there are multiple terminal devices, and the total number of DMRSs corresponding to the multiple terminal devices is R. The R DMRSs are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs is 1. The M DMRSs corresponding to a first terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the M DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device is less than 1. The first terminal device is one of the multiple terminal devices, and M is less than R.

[0299] In a possible implementation, the transmission resources are in a comb structure, and the frequency-domain interval between adjacent two teeth of the transmission resources is the same. When the communication unit 1301 sends or receives the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, or sends or receives the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, it is specifically configured to: send or receive the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on each tooth of the transmission resources, or send or receive the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on each tooth of the transmission resources.

[0300] In a possible implementation, each tooth includes multiple code-domain resources. The R DMRSs occupy one code-domain resource among the multiple code-domain resources, or the M DMRSs occupy one code-domain resource among the multiple code-domain resources.

[0301] In a possible implementation, the DMRS satisfies:

[0302]

[0303] where q(s) is a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents a normalization coefficient, s represents the s-th DMRS, and w f(k′) represents the spreading sequence in the frequency domain of the first DMRS port, w t (l′) represents the spreading sequence in the time domain of the first DMRS port, and r(4n + k′) represents the frequency domain sequence of the transmission resource.

[0304] In a possible implementation, the transmission resource is a non-comb structure, and the transmission resource includes a plurality of code domain resources; the R DMRSs occupy one of the plurality of code domain resources, or the M DMRSs occupy one of the plurality of code domain resources.

[0305] In a possible implementation, the DMRS satisfies:

[0306]

[0307] Among them, q(s) is a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents the normalization coefficient, and s represents the s-th DMRS.

[0308] In a possible implementation, the q(s) is a real pilot sequence, q(s) = 2R - 2s - 1, and the R and the Z(R) have a first association relationship.

[0309] In a possible implementation, the q(s) is a complex pilot sequence, and there is a second association relationship among the q(s), the R, and the Z(R).

[0310] Figure 14 The structural schematic diagram of another communication device is given. The communication device 1400 may be the terminal device or the network device in the above method embodiments, or may also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the terminal device or the network device to implement the above method. The communication device can be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiments, and for details, reference can be made to the description in the above method embodiments.

[0311] The communication device 1400 may include one or more processors 1401. The processor 1401 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, etc. For example, it may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal, a terminal chip, a DU or a CU, etc.), execute software programs, and process the data of the software programs.

[0312] Optionally, the communication device 1400 may include one or more memories 1402, on which instructions 1404 may be stored, and the instructions may be executed on the processor 1401, so that the communication device 1400 performs the method described in the above method embodiment. Optionally, data may also be stored in the memory 1402. The processor 1401 and the memory 1402 may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0313] Optionally, the communication device 1400 may further include a transceiver 1405 and an antenna 1406. The transceiver 1405 may be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, or a transceiver circuit, etc., for implementing a transceiver function. The transceiver 1405 may include a receiver and a transmitter, the receiver may be referred to as a receiver or a receiving circuit, etc., for implementing a receiving function; the transmitter may be referred to as a transmitter or a transmitting circuit, etc., for implementing a transmitting function. Among them, Figure 13 The processing unit 1302 shown may be a processor 1401. The communication unit 1301 may be a transceiver 1405.

[0314] In another possible design, the processor 1401 may include a transceiver for implementing the receiving and sending functions. For example, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit, or an interface, or an interface circuit. The transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit for implementing the receiving and sending functions may be separate or integrated. The above-mentioned transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be used for reading and writing code / data, or the above-mentioned transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be used for transmitting or delivering signals.

[0315] In another possible design, optionally, the processor 1401 may store an instruction 1403, and the instruction 1403 runs on the processor 1401, so that the communication device 1400 can execute the method described in the above method embodiment. The instruction 1403 may be solidified in the processor 1401, in which case the processor 1401 may be implemented by hardware.

[0316] In yet another possible design, the communication device 1400 may include circuitry that can implement the functions of transmitting, receiving, or communicating in the foregoing method embodiments. The processor and transceiver described in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented on an integrated circuit (IC), analog IC, radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), mixed-signal IC, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), printed circuit board (PCB), electronic device, etc. The processor and transceiver may also be fabricated using various IC process technologies, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS), P-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS), bipolar junction transistor (BJT), BiCMOS, silicon germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), etc.

[0317] The communication device described in the above embodiments may be a terminal device or a network device, but the scope of the communication device described in the embodiments of the present application is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device may not be restricted by Figure 14 . The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be:

[0318] (1) An independent integrated circuit (IC), or chip, or chip system or subsystem;

[0319] (2) A collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data and instructions;

[0320] (3) An ASIC, such as a modem (MSM);

[0321] (4) A module that can be embedded in other devices;

[0322] (5) A receiver, terminal, smart terminal, cellular phone, wireless device, handset, mobile unit, vehicle-mounted device, network device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.;

[0323] (6) Others, etc.

[0324] For the case where the communication device can be a chip or a chip system, refer to Figure 15 the structural schematic diagram of the chip shown. Figure 15 The chip 1500 shown includes a processor 1501 and an interface 1502. Optionally, it may further include a memory 1503. Among them, the number of processors 1501 can be one or more, and the number of interfaces 1502 can be multiple.

[0325] For the case where the chip is used to implement the terminal device or network device in the embodiments of the present application:

[0326] The interface 1502 is used to receive or output signals;

[0327] The processor 1501 is used to perform data processing operations of the terminal device or network device.

[0328] It can be understood that some optional features in the embodiments of the present application can, in some scenarios, be implemented independently without relying on other features, such as the current scheme it is based on, to solve the corresponding technical problems and achieve the corresponding effects. In some scenarios, they can also be combined with other features according to requirements. Correspondingly, the communication device given in the embodiments of the present application can also implement these features or functions accordingly, which will not be elaborated here.

[0329] It should be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application can be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above method embodiments can be completed by the integrated logic circuit in the hardware of the processor or the instructions in software form. The above processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components.

[0330] It can be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchlink dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus random access memory (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include but not be limited to these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0331] The present application also provides a computer-readable medium, in which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer program or instruction is executed by a communication device, the functions of any of the above method embodiments are implemented.

[0332] The present application also provides a computer program product including instructions. When a computer reads and executes the computer program product, the computer is enabled to implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0333] The present application provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device and a network device; wherein, the terminal device is used to execute the method executed by the terminal device in the above embodiments, and the network device is used to execute the method executed by the network device in the above embodiments.

[0334] In the above embodiments, they can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center in a wired manner (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wirelessly (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or a data center that includes one or more integrated available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (such as a high-definition digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (such as a solid state disk (SSD)), etc.

[0335] As described above, the above are only the specific embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application can easily think of changes or substitutions, which should all be covered by the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, the method includes: receiving configuration information from a network device; the configuration information is used to indicate the transmission resource of the demodulation reference signal DMRS, and the configuration information is further used to indicate the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port or M DMRSs, where R is an integer greater than or equal to 1, M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the first DMRS port is the DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resource; sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, the R DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device is 1; or, the M DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the M DMRSs corresponding to the terminal device is less than 1.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the transmission resource is a comb structure, and the frequency domain interval between two adjacent teeth in the transmission resource is the same; the sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resource, includes: sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on each tooth in the transmission resource, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on each tooth in the transmission resource.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, each tooth includes a plurality of code domain resources; the R DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the plurality of code domain resources, or the M DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the plurality of code domain resources.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, the DMRS satisfies: Among them, q(s) is a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents a normalization coefficient, s represents the s-th DMRS, and w f (k′) represents the spreading sequence in the frequency domain of the first DMRS port, and w t (l′) represents the spreading sequence in the time domain of the first DMRS port, and r(4n + k′) represents the frequency domain sequence of the transmission resource.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the transmission resource is a non-comb structure, and the transmission resource includes a plurality of code domain resources; the R DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the plurality of code domain resources, or the M DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the plurality of code domain resources.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, the DMRS satisfies: where q(s) is a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents a normalization coefficient, and s represents the s-th DMRS.

8. The method according to claim 5 or 7, characterized in that, the q(s) is a real pilot sequence, q(s)=2R - 2s - 1, and R has a first correlation with Z(R).

9. The method according to claim 5 or 7, characterized in that, The q(s) is a complex pilot sequence, and there is a second correlation relationship among the q(s), the R, and the Z(R).

10. A communication method Characterized in that the method includes: sending configuration information to a terminal device; the configuration information is used to indicate the transmission resources of the demodulation reference signal DMRS, and the configuration information is further used to indicate the number of streams R transmitted on the first DMRS port or M DMRSs, where R is an integer greater than or equal to 1, M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the first DMRS port is the DMRS port corresponding to the transmission resources; sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources.

11. The method according to claim 10, Characterized in that there is one terminal device, and the R DMRSs corresponding to the one terminal device are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs corresponding to the one terminal device is 1.

12. The method according to claim 10, Characterized in that there are multiple terminal devices, the total number of DMRSs corresponding to the multiple terminal devices is R, the R DMRSs are different, and the sum of the powers of the R DMRSs is 1; the M DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device are different, the sum of the powers of the M DMRSs corresponding to the first terminal device is less than 1, the first terminal device is one of the multiple terminal devices, and M is less than R.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10-12, Characterized in that the transmission resources are in a comb structure, and the frequency domain interval between two adjacent teeth in the transmission resources is the same; the sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on the transmission resources, includes: sending or receiving the R DMRSs through the first DMRS port on each tooth in the transmission resources, or sending or receiving the M DMRSs through the first DMRS port on each tooth in the transmission resources.

14. The method according to claim 13, Characterized in that each tooth includes multiple code domain resources; the R DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the multiple code domain resources, or the M DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the multiple code domain resources.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, Characterized in that the DMRS satisfies: Among them, q(s) is a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents a normalization coefficient, s represents the s-th DMRS, and w f (k′) represents the spreading sequence in the frequency domain of the first DMRS port, and w t (l′) represents the spreading sequence in the time domain of the first DMRS port, and r(4n + k′) represents the frequency domain sequence of the transmission resource.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10-12, Characterized in that the transmission resources are in a non-comb structure, the transmission resources include multiple code domain resources; the R DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the multiple code domain resources, or the M DMRSs occupy one code domain resource among the multiple code domain resources.

17. The method according to claim 16, Characterized in that the DMRS satisfies: Among them, q(s) is a real pilot sequence or a complex pilot sequence, R represents the number of streams transmitted on the first DMRS port, Z(R) represents a normalization coefficient, and s represents the s-th DMRS.

18. The method according to claim 15 or 17, wherein, the q(s) is a real pilot sequence, q(s)=2R - 2s - 1, and the R and the Z(R) have a first association relationship.

19. The method according to claim 15 or 17, wherein, the q(s) is a complex pilot sequence, and there is a second association relationship among the q(s), the R, and the Z(R).

20. A communication system, wherein, comprising a terminal device and a network device; among them, the terminal device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-9, and the network device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 10-19.

21. A communication device, wherein, comprising a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 1-9, or comprising a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 10-19.

22. A communication device, wherein, comprising a processor and a memory, the processor and the memory are coupled, and the processor is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-9, or the processor is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 10-19.

23. A chip, wherein, comprising a processor and an interface, the processor and the interface are coupled; the interface is used to receive or output signals, and the processor is used to execute code instructions to cause the method according to any one of claims 1-9 to be executed, or to cause the method according to any one of claims 10-19 to be executed.

24. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein, the computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, and when the computer-executable instructions are called by the computer, the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-9 above, or the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 10-19 above.

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