Communication method and device, and storage medium

Abstract

A communication method and device, and a storage medium, the method comprising: a base station generating a signal frame, the signal frame comprising a synchronization sequence and N pieces of hopping beam pointing information, the N pieces of hopping beam pointing information being respectively used for indicating pointing of M beams in N hopping beam scheduling, one hopping beam scheduling being one update of the pointing information of the M beams, and one hopping beam scheduling being one update of the pointing information of the M beams; n is greater than 1, and M is a positive integer; and the base station sends the signal frame to the satellite. By adopting the communication scheme provided by the invention, the signal frame sent by the base station to the satellite comprises one synchronization sequence and at least two pieces of hopping beam pointing information, and the at least two pieces of hopping beam pointing information share one synchronization sequence, so that the communication efficiency is improved compared with a scheme that one piece of hopping beam pointing information corresponds to one synchronization sequence. And the requirement of the signal frame on the transmission rate is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to communication methods, devices, and storage media. Background Art

[0002] In the satellite communication scenario, the beam hopping (BH) technology, with its superior flexibility, good resource utilization efficiency, and anti-interference ability, has become an essential communication means for satellites to provide broadband access services to ground users.

[0003] In the scenario where the satellite communication mode is the transparent payload mode, the beam hopping control information related to beam hopping scheduling is formulated by a ground base station and forwarded to the satellite through a gateway station, so that the satellite performs corresponding beam hopping based on the pointing information (also understood as the beam pattern) of the beam indicated by the beam hopping control information.

[0004] Currently, the beam hopping control information in the signal frame sent by the base station to the satellite includes the beam pointing information for one-time beam hopping scheduling. In addition, in order for the satellite to identify and capture the signal frame, each signal frame carries a synchronization sequence, and the synchronization sequence generally occupies 64 bits (bit) or 128 bits. One signal frame corresponds to one-time beam hopping scheduling, but the effective duration of each beam hopping scheduling is generally short, such as 0.25 milliseconds. That is to say, the base station needs to send signal frames containing synchronization sequences and beam pointing information to the satellite relatively frequently. How to reduce the requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frame has become a key research topic for those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method, device, and storage medium. In the communication solution provided by this application, the signal frame sent by the base station to the satellite for carrying beam hopping control information includes a synchronization sequence and at least two beam hopping pointing information. By sharing one synchronization sequence with at least two beam hopping pointing information, the requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frame is reduced.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a communication method, where the method includes: generating a signal frame, where the signal frame includes a synchronization sequence and N beam hopping pointing information, and the N beam hopping pointing information are respectively used to indicate the pointing of M beams in N beam hopping schedulings, where one beam hopping scheduling is an update of the pointing information of the M beams, N is greater than 1, and M is a positive integer; and sending the signal frame.

[0007] By using the communication method provided in this application, one signal frame corresponds to N times of hopping beam scheduling, and the N hopping beam pointing information in one signal frame shares the same synchronization sequence. On the one hand, it is possible to reduce the redundancy of the repeated information (such as the transmission data including the synchronization sequence) in the signal frame corresponding to N times of hopping beam scheduling, so as to improve the transmission rate requirement of the signal frame without changing the continuous effective duration of one hopping beam scheduling, and it is also possible to reduce the requirement for the satellite's ability to quickly analyze and process the signal frame. On the other hand, because the requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frame is reduced, the redundant space of the parity bits for channel coding the signal frame becomes larger, and thus the transmission reliability of the signal frame can be further improved.

[0008] In some possible implementation manners, the signal frame further includes N first time information corresponding to the N hopping beam pointing information, and the first time information is used to indicate the effective time of the corresponding hopping beam pointing information.

[0009] By adopting this method, each of the N hopping beam pointing information corresponds to a first time information, so the effective duration of each hopping beam pointing information can be the same or different. On the one hand, the flexibility of the aging design of the hopping beam pointing information is better and the limitation is smaller.

[0010] On the other hand, the requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frame is closely related to the total effective duration of the N hopping beam pointing information carried in the signal frame. For example, the minimum transmission rate of the signal frame is the ratio of the bit size of the signal frame to the first duration, and the first duration is the sum of the effective durations of the N hopping beam pointing information. Thus, each hopping beam pointing information corresponds to a first time information, rather than being limited to the effective duration of each hopping beam pointing information being a generally recognized reference duration (such as 0.25 ms). The effective duration corresponding to the first time information can be greater than the reference duration (such as twice, three times, etc. of the reference duration), so as to increase the effective duration of the signal frame, further reduce the requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frame, increase the redundant space of the parity bits for channel coding, and provide greater possibilities for further improving the transmission reliability of the signal frame.

[0011] As an example, if the G hopping beam pointing information corresponding to G consecutive hopping beam scheduling is the same (G is a positive integer), that is, the hopping beam pointing information does not change, then these G hopping beam scheduling can be merged into one hopping beam scheduling. These G hopping beam scheduling share one hopping beam pointing information (such as hopping beam pointing information 1) and the same first time information (such as time information 1). This time information 1 is used to indicate the total effective duration of this hopping beam pointing information in these G hopping beam scheduling. The above signal frame includes one hopping beam pointing information 1, one time information 1, and N - 1 other hopping beam pointing information and their corresponding N - 1 first time information.

[0012] In some possible implementation manners, the signal frame further includes second time information, and the second time information is used to indicate the effective time of at least one hopping beam pointing information among the N hopping beam pointing information.

[0013] In the embodiments of the present application, when the effective durations T of the N hopping beam pointing information in the signal frame are equal, the signal frame can carry the second time information, and based on the second time information, the effective times of the N beam pointing information can be analyzed.

[0014] As an example, the second time information can be the effective start time t0 of the first effective hopping beam pointing information among the N hopping beam pointing information. The effective start time of the i-th hopping beam pointing information (i is greater than or equal to 1) in the signal frame is [t0+(i - 1)*T].

[0015] In some possible implementation manners, the data volume sizes of the first time information and the second time information are equal or differ slightly.

[0016] Adopting this method, the effective times of the N hopping beam pointing information can be inferred through one second time information, that is, the N hopping beam pointing information share the same second time information, which can further reduce the data volume size of the signal frame. And the requirement of the signal frame for the transmission rate is closely related to the size of the data carried in the signal frame. Therefore, the requirement of the signal frame for the transmission rate can be further reduced, increasing the redundant space of the parity bits of the channel coding, providing a greater possibility for further improving the transmission reliability of the signal frame.

[0017] In some possible implementation manners, the hopping beam pointing information includes M beam weight information and / or M beam angle information, and the beam weight information is a parameter related to the beam pointing determined based on the beam angle information.

[0018] In some possible implementations, the signal frame further includes at least one of the following information: version information, associated window indication information, cyclic redundancy check information, and the associated window indication information is used to indicate the time window of the next signal frame.

[0019] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method includes: receiving a signal frame, the signal frame includes a synchronization sequence and N hopping beam pointing information, the N hopping beam pointing information is respectively used to indicate the pointing of M beams in N hopping beam scheduling, where one hopping beam scheduling is an update of the pointing information of the M beams, N is greater than 1, and M is a positive integer; determining the beam pointing of the M beams in the N hopping beam scheduling based on the N hopping beam control information.

[0020] By using the communication method provided in the present application, one signal frame corresponds to N hopping beam scheduling, and the N hopping beam pointing information in one signal frame shares the same synchronization sequence. On the one hand, it is possible to reduce the redundancy of the repeated information (such as the transmission data including the synchronization sequence) in the signal frames corresponding to N hopping beam scheduling, so as to improve the requirement for the reception rate of the satellite receiving signal frames without changing the duration of one hopping beam scheduling in effect, and it is also possible to reduce the requirement for the satellite's ability to quickly analyze and process signal frames. On the other hand, because the requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frame is reduced, the redundant space of the parity bits for channel coding the signal frame becomes larger, and thus the transmission reliability of the signal frame can be further improved.

[0021] In some possible implementations, the signal frame further includes N first time information corresponding to the N hopping beam pointing information, and the first time information is used to indicate the effective time of the corresponding hopping beam pointing information.

[0022] In some possible implementations, the signal frame further includes second time information, and the second time information is used to indicate the effective time of at least one of the N hopping beam pointing information.

[0023] In some possible implementations, the hopping beam pointing information includes M beam weight information and / or M beam angle information, and the beam weight information is a parameter related to the beam pointing determined based on the beam angle information.

[0024] In some possible implementations, the signal frame further includes at least one of the following information: version information, associated window indication information, cyclic redundancy check information, and the associated window indication information is used to indicate the time window of the next signal frame.

[0025] In a third aspect, a communication device according to the present application, the device includes a unit for performing the method shown in the first aspect or any implementation manner of the first aspect.

[0026] In some possible implementation manners, the communication device includes: a processing unit, configured to generate a signal frame, the signal frame includes a synchronization sequence and N hopping beam pointing information, the N hopping beam pointing information are respectively used to indicate the pointing of M beams in N hopping beam scheduling, where one hopping beam scheduling is an update of the pointing information of the M beams, N is greater than 1, and M is a positive integer; a sending unit, configured to send the signal frame.

[0027] In some possible implementation manners, the signal frame further includes N first time information corresponding to the N hopping beam pointing information, and the first time information is used to indicate the effective time of the corresponding hopping beam pointing information.

[0028] In some possible implementation manners, the signal frame further includes second time information, and the second time information is used to indicate the effective time of at least one hopping beam pointing information among the N hopping beam pointing information.

[0029] In some possible implementation manners, the hopping beam pointing information includes M beam weight information and / or M beam angle information, and the beam weight information is a parameter related to beam pointing determined based on the beam angle information.

[0030] In some possible implementation manners, the signal frame further includes at least one of the following information: version information, correlation window indication information, cyclic redundancy check information, and the correlation window indication information is used to indicate the time window of the next signal frame.

[0031] In a fourth aspect, a communication device according to the present application, the device includes a unit for performing the method shown in the second aspect or any implementation manner of the second aspect.

[0032] In some possible implementation manners, the communication device includes: a receiving unit, configured to receive a signal frame, the signal frame includes a synchronization sequence and N hopping beam pointing information, the N hopping beam pointing information are respectively used to indicate the pointing of M beams in N hopping beam scheduling, where one hopping beam scheduling is an update of the pointing information of the M beams, N is greater than 1, and M is a positive integer; a processing unit, configured to determine the beam pointing of the M beams in the N hopping beam scheduling based on the N hopping beam control information.

[0033] In some possible implementations, the signal frame further includes N first time information corresponding to the N hopping beam pointing information, and the first time information is used to indicate the effective time of the corresponding hopping beam pointing information.

[0034] In some possible implementations, the signal frame further includes second time information, and the second time information is used to indicate the effective time of at least one hopping beam pointing information among the N hopping beam pointing information.

[0035] In some possible implementations, the hopping beam pointing information includes M beam weight information and / or M beam angle information, and the beam weight information is a parameter related to beam pointing determined based on the beam angle information.

[0036] In some possible implementations, the signal frame further includes at least one of the following information: version information, correlation window indication information, cyclic redundancy check information, and the correlation window indication information is used to indicate the time window of the next signal frame.

[0037] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which includes a processor, and the processor is configured to read and execute a computer program stored in a memory to implement the method shown in the first aspect or any implementation manner of the first aspect, and the method shown in the second aspect or any implementation manner of the second aspect.

[0038] In some possible implementations, the communication device further includes the above-mentioned memory. Optionally, the processor and the memory are integrated together.

[0039] In a possible implementation manner, the above-mentioned processor is configured to support the device to execute corresponding functions in the above-mentioned communication method, and the memory is used to store necessary computer programs (or computer executable instructions) and / or data of the device.

[0040] In some possible implementations, the device further includes a communication interface, and the communication interface is used to support communication between the device and other network elements, such as sending or receiving data and / or signals. Exemplarily, the communication interface can be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module or other types of communication interfaces.

[0041] In some possible implementations, the device is a chip.

[0042] Sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which includes a processor and a transceiver device. The processor is coupled to the transceiver device. The processor is configured to execute computer programs or instructions to control the transceiver device to receive and send information. When the processor executes the computer programs or instructions, the processor is further configured to implement the above method through a logic circuit or by executing code instructions. Wherein, the transceiver device may be a transceiver, a transceiver circuit or an input / output interface, and is configured to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device. When the communication device is a chip, the transceiver device is a transceiver circuit or an input / output interface.

[0043] Seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which includes a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device is configured to execute the method shown in any implementation manner corresponding to the first aspect in the embodiments of the present application, and the second communication device is configured to execute the method shown in any implementation manner corresponding to the second aspect in the embodiments of the present application.

[0044] Eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product containing instructions. When the computer program product runs on an electronic device, it causes the electronic device to execute the method shown in any implementation manner corresponding to the corresponding aspect in the embodiments of the application.

[0045] Ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is configured to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed, it causes the method shown in any implementation manner corresponding to the corresponding aspect in the embodiments of the present application.

[0046] It can be understood that the above-provided communication device, communication system, computer storage medium, computer program, computer program product, and chip system are all configured to execute the method shown in any implementation manner corresponding to the corresponding aspect in the embodiments of the present application. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects in the corresponding method, and will not be elaborated here. Description of the Drawings

[0047] Figure 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a wireless communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of an NTN scenario based on a transparent payload;

[0049] Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of an NTN scenario based on a regenerated payload;

[0050] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a scenario where a satellite performs beam hopping scheduling provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of a format of a signal frame for carrying the hopping beam control information in other communication methods of hopping beam scheduling;

[0052] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of another format of a signal frame for carrying the hopping beam control information in other communication methods of hopping beam scheduling;

[0053] Figure 6 Schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] Figure 7A Schematic diagram of a format of a signal frame in the communication solution provided by an embodiment of the present application when N takes the value of 4;

[0055] Figure 7B Schematic diagram of a format of a signal frame in the communication solution provided by an embodiment of the present application when N takes the value of 8;

[0056] Figure 8A Schematic diagram of another format of a signal frame in the communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application when N takes the value of 4;

[0057] Figure 8B Schematic diagram of another format of a signal frame in the communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application when N takes the value of 8;

[0058] Figure 9A and Figure 9B are respectively schematic diagrams of a scenario of hopping beam scheduling using two adjacent hopping beam pointing information in the same signal frame based on the communication solution provided by the present application;

[0059] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of the structure of another communication transpose provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0062] The embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0063] The technology provided by this application can be applied to various communication systems. For example, the communication system can be a fourth-generation (4G) communication system (such as a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) system), a fifth-generation (5G) communication system, a non-terrestrial network (NTN), or a fusion system of multiple systems, or a future communication system, such as a 6G communication system, etc. Among them, the 5G communication system can also be referred to as a New Radio (NR) system.

[0064] A network element in a communication system can send signals to another network element or receive signals from another network element. The signals can include information, signaling, data, etc. Herein, the network element can also be replaced with an entity, a network entity, a device, a terminal device, a communication module, a node, a communication node, etc. In this application, the network element is taken as an example for description. For example, a communication system can include at least one terminal device and at least one access network device. The access network device can send downlink signals to the terminal device, and / or the terminal device can send uplink signals to the access network device. In addition, it can be understood that if there are multiple terminal devices in the communication system, signals can also be sent between the multiple terminal devices, that is, both the signal sending network element and the signal receiving network element can be terminal devices.

[0065] See Figure 1 , Figure 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of the wireless communication system provided by the embodiments of this application. As Figure 1 shown, the wireless communication system includes a radio access network 100. The radio access network 100 can be a next-generation (such as 6G or higher) radio access network, or a traditional (such as 5G, 4G) radio access network. One or more terminal devices (120a - 120g, collectively referred to as 120) can be connected to each other or connected to one or more network devices (110a - 110c, collectively referred to as 110) in the radio access network 100, and the connection method can be wired or wireless. Optionally, Figure 1 This is just a schematic diagram. The wireless communication system may also include other devices, such as a core network device, a wireless relay device, and / or a wireless backhaul device, etc., which are not drawn in Figure 1 .

[0066] Optionally, in practical applications, the wireless communication system can include multiple network devices (also referred to as access network devices) at the same time, and can also include multiple terminal devices at the same time. One network device can serve one or more terminal devices at the same time. One terminal device can also access one or more network devices at the same time. The embodiments of this application do not limit the number of terminal devices and network devices included in the wireless communication system.

[0067] Among them, the network device can be an entity on the network side for transmitting or receiving signals. The network device can be an access device for the terminal device to access the wireless communication system wirelessly. For example, the network device can be a base station. The base station can generally cover various names in the following, or be replaced with the following names. For example: RAN node, Node B, evolved Node B (eNB), next generation Node B (gNB), access network device in open radio access network (O-RAN), relay station, access point, transmitting and receiving point (TRP), transmitting point (TP), master serving eNB (MeNB), secondary serving eNB (SeNB), multi-standard radio (MSR) node, home base station, network controller, access node, wireless node, access point (AP), transmission node, transceiver node, building baseband unit (BBU), remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), remote radio head (RRH), centralized unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), radio unit (RU), centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) node, centralized unit user plane (CU-UP) node, positioning node, etc. The base station can be a macro base station, micro base station, relay node, donor node or the like, or a combination thereof. The network device can also refer to a communication module, a modem or a chip disposed in the foregoing device or apparatus. The network device can also be a mobile switching center and a device that undertakes the function of a base station in device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, a network-side device in a 6G network, a device that undertakes the function of a base station in a future communication system, etc. The network device can support networks with the same or different access technologies. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technologies and specific device forms adopted by the network device.

[0068] The network device can be fixed or mobile. For example, base stations 110b and 110c are stationary and are responsible for wireless transmission and reception in one or more cells from the terminal device 120. Figure 1 The helicopter or drone 120c shown in can be configured to act as a mobile base station, and one or more cells can move according to the position of the mobile base station 120c. In other examples, the helicopter or drone (120c) can be configured to be used as a terminal device communicating with the satellite 110a or the base station 110b.

[0069] In this application, the communication device for implementing the access network function can be an access network device, or a network device with partial functions of the access network, or a device capable of supporting the implementation of the access network function, such as a chip system, a hardware circuit, a software module, or a combination of a hardware circuit and a software module. This device can be installed in the access network device or used in matching with the access network device. In the method of this application, the access network device is taken as an example for the communication device for implementing the access network function to describe, which does not limit the solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0070] In a possible implementation manner, the communication solution provided in this application can be applied to Figure 1 the scenario where the satellite communication mode is a transparent payload in the communication system shown, where the execution entity for generating and sending the signal frame can be Figure 1 the ground base station 110b in the communication system shown, and the execution entity for receiving the signal frame and performing beam hopping scheduling based on the signal frame can be Figure 1 the satellite 110a in the communication system.

[0071] A terminal device can be an entity on the user side for receiving or transmitting signals, such as a mobile phone. The terminal device can be used to connect people, things, and machines. The terminal device can communicate with one or more core networks through network devices. The terminal device includes a handheld device with wireless connection capabilities, other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, or in-vehicle devices, etc. The terminal device can be a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-integrated, or in-vehicle mobile device. The terminal device 120 can be widely applied in various scenarios, such as cellular communication, D2D, V2X, end-to-end (point-to-point, P2P), machine-to-machine (M2M), machine type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart city, drones, robots, remote sensing, passive sensing, positioning, navigation, autonomous delivery and mobility, etc.Some examples of the terminal device 120 are: user equipment (UE) compliant with the 3GPP standard, fixed device, mobile device, handheld device, wearable device, cellular phone, smart phone, session initiated protocol (SIP) phone, laptop computer, personal computer, smart book, vehicle, satellite, global positioning system (GPS) device, target tracking device, unmanned aerial vehicle, helicopter, aircraft, ship, remote control device, smart home device, industrial device, personal communication service (PCS) phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless network camera, tablet computer, palm computer, mobile internet device (MID), wearable devices such as smart watches, VR devices, AR devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, terminals in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in smart grid, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart city such as smart fuel dispensers, terminal devices on high-speed trains, and wireless terminals in smart home, such as smart speakers, smart coffee machines, smart printers, etc. The terminal device 120 can be a wireless device in the above various scenarios or a device used to be disposed in a wireless device. For example, communication modules, modems or chips in the above devices, etc. The terminal device can also be referred to as a terminal, terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc. The terminal device can also be a terminal device in a future wireless communication system. The terminal device can be used in a dedicated network device or a general device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technologies and specific device forms adopted by the terminal device.

[0072] Optionally, the terminal device can be used to act as a base station. For example, a UE can act as a scheduling entity that provides sidelink signals between UEs in V2X, D2D, or P2P, etc. As Figure 1As shown, the cellular phone 120a and the vehicle 120b communicate with each other using sidelink signals. Communication occurs between the cellular phone 120a and the smart home device 120e without relaying the communication signals through the base station 110b.

[0073] It should be understood that Figure 1 the number and type of each device in the shown communication system are only for illustration, and this application is not limited thereto. In practical applications, the communication system may further include more terminal devices, more access network devices, and may also include other network elements, such as core network devices, and / or network elements for implementing artificial intelligence functions.

[0074] It can be understood that all or part of the functions implemented by one or more of the terminal device, access network device, core network device, or network element for implementing artificial intelligence functions can be virtualized, that is, implemented by one or more of a dedicated processor or a general-purpose processor and corresponding software modules. Among them, since the terminal device and the access network device involve the interface for air interface transmission, the transceiver function of this interface can be implemented by hardware. Core network devices, such as operation administration and maintenance (OAM) network elements, can all be virtualized. Optionally, one or more functions of the virtualized terminal device, access network device, core network device, or network element for implementing artificial intelligence functions can be implemented by a cloud device, such as a cloud device in an over the top (OTT) system.

[0075] The following introduces several concepts that this application may involve:

[0076] (1) NTN network:

[0077] The NTN network refers to a network that uses radio frequency resources on satellites (or unmanned aircraft system (UAS) platforms, high altitude platform stations (HAPS)). Compared with terrestrial cellular networks (such as 5G mobile communication systems), the NTN network features wide coverage, low latency, broadbandization, and low cost. As a supplement and extension of the terrestrial network, the NTN network can achieve wide-area seamless coverage that cannot be achieved by wired telephone networks and terrestrial mobile communication networks, effectively solving the problem of Internet access in areas lacking communication infrastructure. A large number of satellites are deployed in low Earth orbit, significantly reducing the round-trip transmission delay between satellites and ground terminals to a relatively low level of dozens of milliseconds. The use of technologies such as high-frequency bands, multi-point beams, and frequency reuse has significantly enhanced the communication capabilities of satellites, reduced the unit broadband cost, and can meet the requirements of high-information-rate services. Compared with communication infrastructure such as terrestrial 5G base stations and undersea fiber optic cables, NTN has a significant cost advantage. The research and development and manufacturing costs of modern small satellites are low, and software-defined technologies can further extend the service life of on-orbit satellites. The NTN network can be used in scenarios such as global coverage (such as remote areas, ocean-going ships, etc.), emergency disaster relief (such as disaster monitoring, emergency communication), Internet of Everything, and high-speed mobility (such as high-speed trains, airplanes).

[0078] Typical scenarios where the NTN network provides terminal device access include transparent payload and regenerative payload. For example Figure 2A As shown in the schematic diagram of the NTN scenario based on transparent payload, the transparent payload is a payload that changes the frequency carrier of the uplink radio frequency signal and filters and amplifies it before downlink transmission. This payload only has a radio frequency processing unit and does not have baseband demodulation, decoding, and other processing. Therefore, the signal waveform remains unchanged and is repeated. As Figure 2B Shown in the schematic diagram of the NTN scenario based on regenerative payload, the regenerative payload is a payload that transforms and amplifies the uplink radio frequency (RF) signal before downlink transmission. The transformation of the signal refers to digital processing, which may include demodulation, decoding, re-encoding, re-modulation, and / or filtering. This is actually equivalent to having all or part of the base station functions on a satellite (or UAS platform).

[0079] The above NTN network generally has the following elements:

[0080] (1) There is one or more gateways that connect the NTN network and the common data network.

[0081] (2) Feeder link: The wireless link between the gateway station and the satellite (or UAS platform).

[0082] (3) Service link: The wireless link between the terminal device and the satellite (or UAS platform).

[0083] (4) The satellite (or UAS platform) can implement transparent payload and regenerative payload.

[0084] (5) Whether the satellite constellation has an inter-satellite link (ISL) is optional. The inter-satellite link requires the satellite to be a regenerative payload (i.e., if there is an inter-satellite link, the satellite must be a regenerative payload). The ISL can operate in the RF frequency or optical band.

[0085] (6) The terminal device is served by the satellite (or UAS platform) within the target service area.

[0086] In this article, "the base station sends to the satellite" means "the base station sends to the satellite through the gateway station", where the gateway station does not process data or information and is only used to forward data or information from the base station to the satellite.

[0087] (II) Hopping beam:

[0088] Generally speaking, the coverage range of a single satellite is relatively wide, with a coverage radius of up to several thousand or even tens of thousands of kilometers, while the coverage range of a single beam can be as small as dozens or even several kilometers at least. Therefore, in order to support wide-area coverage, a single high-throughput satellite usually needs to be equipped with hundreds or even thousands of beams, which poses a huge challenge to the payload of the satellite, especially low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. In order to alleviate the contradiction between the small payload of a single satellite and the wide coverage range, the hopping beam satellite communication system came into being. Specifically, in the hopping beam satellite system, a single satellite is only equipped with a small number of beams (such as eight beams or dozens of beams), and the beams serve all the coverage areas of the single satellite in a time-division manner.

[0089] As an example, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the scenario of satellite hopping beam scheduling provided by the embodiment of the present application. As Figure 3 shown, a certain beam emitted by the satellite covers (or irradiates, lights up) different wave positions at different time periods, that is, it provides services for different wave positions in a time-division multiplexing manner, or it can also be described as the beam sequentially scanning each wave position. Among them, the wave position can be understood as dividing the satellite coverage area with the single-beam coverage area as the unit, and the coverage area of each beam is called a wave position. As Figure 3 shown, Figure 3The wave positions are represented by circles, and all wave positions form the coverage area of a satellite. Services are uploaded to the satellite through the gateway station and then transmitted to ground users through the hopping beam downlink. The downlink adopts a time-division multiplexing system, and different time units cover different wave positions. For example, the two solid arrows pointing from the satellite side to the ground wave position are used to indicate that the beam covers the position corresponding to wave position 1 in the current hopping beam scheduling, and the other two dashed arrows are used to indicate that the beam will cover the position corresponding to wave position 7 in the next hopping beam scheduling.

[0090] (III) Synchronization sequence, correlation window:

[0091] In the satellite communication scenario, time and frequency synchronization between the satellite and the base station are based on the synchronization sequence. As an example, the signal frame sent by the base station to the satellite will carry the synchronization sequence. The satellite searches for and identifies the synchronization sequence. If the satellite searches for the synchronization sequence, it means that the satellite has identified the signal frame. The satellite then performs a cross-correlation operation on the searched synchronization sequence and the local synchronization sequence to obtain the position of the start frame of the signal frame and correctly parse the signal frame.

[0092] Generally, under the condition that the synchronization sequence is detected and the current time is within the time window of the correlation window corresponding to the synchronization sequence, the satellite performs a cross-correlation between the detected synchronization sequence and the locally stored synchronization sequence. In the embodiments of the present application, the base station can carry correlation window indication information in the signal frame, and the correlation window indication information is used to indicate the time window for the satellite to receive the next signal frame.

[0093] In the scenario where the satellite communication mode of NTN is a transparent payload, the hopping beam control information related to the hopping beam is formulated by the ground base station and sent to the satellite so that the satellite performs corresponding beam hopping based on the hopping beam control information. In this scenario, the implementation difficulties of the hopping beam technology include: 1) The base station generates hopping beam control information and sends it to the satellite, requiring that the transmission rate required for the base station to send a signal frame containing the hopping beam control information should be as small as possible; 2) The satellite needs to meet a certain reception rate and parsing and processing capabilities for the signal frame.

[0094] Generally, a signal frame sent by the base station to the satellite containing one piece of hopping beam control information corresponds to one hopping beam scheduling, but the time interval between every two hopping beam schedulings is generally short, such as 0.25 milliseconds. In addition, in order for the satellite to identify the signal frame, each signal frame will carry a synchronization sequence, and the synchronization sequence generally occupies 64 bits (bit) or 128 bit.

[0095] As an example, in some other communication methods of hopping beam scheduling, the format of the signal frame for carrying hopping beam control information is as Figure 4As shown, the hopping beam control information is used to indicate the pointing of the hopping beam and the beam activation time for precise on-satellite control. The signal frame includes a synchronization sequence, a second synchronization identifier, beam activation time information, and beam adjustment information. The synchronization sequence is used to indicate the starting position of the hopping beam control information in the hopping beam control information. The second synchronization identifier indicates the control of the beam. The beam activation time information includes the system frame number (SFN), sub-frame number, and time slot number. The beam adjustment information includes the beam sequence number (beam ID), subcarrier spacing, beam position number, beam dwell granularity, and beam dwell duration. As another example, in some other communication methods for hopping beam scheduling, such as Figure 5 As shown, the signal frame for carrying the hopping beam control information includes a fixed-length PN acquisition sequence (i.e., the synchronization sequence) and control information (i.e., the hopping beam control information), where the code length of the fixed-length PN acquisition sequence is greater than 128 bits, and the control information includes beam hopping switch control information.

[0096] In the two other communication methods for hopping beam scheduling in the above examples, a signal frame (for carrying the hopping beam control information) corresponds to only one hopping beam scheduling. The effective duration of one scheduling is generally 0.25 ms. To enable the satellite to continuously perform hopping beam scheduling, the base station needs to send a signal frame to the satellite at least once every 0.25 ms. Each sent signal frame contains a 64-bit or 128-bit synchronization sequence. In this hopping beam scheduling method, the data redundancy of the synchronization sequences carried in multiple signal frames is relatively large, resulting in a relatively high requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frames.

[0097] In view of this, the present application provides a communication method. A signal frame sent by the base station to the satellite carries a synchronization sequence and N hopping beam pointing information respectively corresponding to N hopping beam schedulings, where N is greater than 1, that is, the N hopping beam pointing information share the same synchronization sequence. On the one hand, the redundancy of the synchronization sequences in multiple signal frames can be reduced, so as to improve the requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frames for carrying the hopping beam control information without changing the continuous effective duration of one hopping beam scheduling, and further reduce the requirement for the satellite's parsing and processing capabilities. On the other hand, because the requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frames is reduced, the redundant space of the parity bits for channel coding of the signal frames becomes larger, and thus the transmission reliability of the signal frames can be further improved by appropriately increasing the redundancy of the parity bits of the channel coding.

[0098] Exemplarily, assuming that the effective duration of one hopping beam pointing information is 0.25 ms, and a signal frame only contains the synchronization sequence and the hopping beam pointing information, Figure 4 or Figure 5The transmission rate of the N hopping beam pointing information shown is (N synchronization sequences + N hopping beam pointing information) / N * 0.25, while adopting the communication method provided in this application, the transmission rate of the N hopping beam pointing information is (1 synchronization sequence + N hopping beam pointing information) / N * 0.25. It can be seen that within the same duration, the amount of data to be transmitted by the communication method provided in this application is smaller, thereby reducing the requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frame on the base station, and further reducing the requirement for the reception rate of the signal frame on the satellite, as well as reducing the requirement for the parsing and processing ability of the hopping beam pointing information on the satellite. In addition, the redundant data volume of the synchronization sequence is reduced in exchange for the redundant data volume of the check bits, increasing the reliability of the communication between the satellite and the base station. Thus, while reducing the requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frame, the transmission reliability of the signal frame is improved; or, while maintaining the same transmission rate, the transmission reliability of the signal frame is improved.

[0099] As Figure 6 shown, it is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of this application. Exemplarily, the method may include the following steps:

[0100] S601, the base station generates a signal frame, and the signal frame includes a synchronization sequence and N hopping beam pointing information, where N is greater than 1.

[0101] In the embodiment of this application, the signal frame includes a synchronization sequence and hopping beam control information, and the hopping beam control information includes N hopping beam pointing information, and the N hopping beam pointing information are respectively used to indicate the pointing of M beams in N hopping beam scheduling. Wherein, one hopping beam scheduling is an update of the pointing information of M beams, that is, the signal frame corresponds to N hopping beam scheduling, N is an integer greater than 1, and M is a positive integer.

[0102] It should be noted that one hopping beam scheduling corresponds to an update of the pointing information of M beams. This "update" does not mean that the pointing information of each beam in every two adjacent hopping beam scheduling of the M beams must change. Specifically, it may be that the pointing information of some or all of the M beams changes or the pointing information of all of the M beams does not change. This is not limited herein.

[0103] In the embodiment of this application, the synchronization sequence is used to indicate the satellite to identify the signal frame, or it can also be understood that the synchronization sequence is used to indicate the starting position of the signal frame.

[0104] As an example, the synchronization sequence can be a pseudorandom noise sequence (PN sequence) of a fixed length. The PN sequence can be a maximum-length sequence (m sequence), a Zadoff-Chu sequence (ZC sequence), a Gold sequence, etc., which are not limited in this article. As another example, the synchronization sequence can also be generated according to a preset algorithm, which is not limited in this article.

[0105] In some possible implementation manners, the above signal frame further includes at least one of the following information: version information, correlation window indication information, and cyclical redundancy check (CRC) information. Among them, the correlation window indication information is used to indicate the time window for the satellite to receive the next signal frame. The version information is used to indicate the communication software version, and specifically, the version information can be a version number. The cyclical redundancy check information is used for data verification. Exemplarily, the base station calculates the CRC value and includes the CRC in the signal frame and sends it to the satellite. The satellite recalculates the CRC based on the received signal frame and compares it with the CRC carried in the received signal frame. If the two CRC values are the same, it indicates that the data communication is correct. If the two CRC values are different, it indicates that an error has occurred in the data communication.

[0106] In the embodiments of the present application, the above M beams belong to the beams supported by the target satellite. The source end of the signal frame is the base station, and the destination end is the target satellite. In the description of this article, the target satellite is simply referred to as the satellite. Denote the number of beams supported by the satellite as H (H is greater than or equal to 1), then M is less than or equal to H. It should be noted that each of the above N hopping beam pointing information corresponding to the M beams may be completely the same or partially the same, which is not limited in this article. For example, the satellite supports 8 beams (beams A to beam I). The above N hopping beam pointing information includes hopping beam pointing information 1 and hopping beam pointing information 2. Then the M beams corresponding to the hopping beam pointing information 1 and the M beams corresponding to the hopping beam pointing information 2 are all or partially the same. For example, the M beams corresponding to the hopping beam pointing information 1 and the hopping beam pointing information 2 are all beams A to beam I. Or, the M (M = 8) beams corresponding to the first hopping beam pointing information are beams A to beam I, and the M (M = 7) beams corresponding to the second hopping beam pointing information are beams A to beam H, which is not limited in this article.

[0107] In some possible implementations, the N hopping beam pointing information can be arranged in the signal frame according to a preset rule. As an example, the preset rule includes dividing priorities based on the earlier or later effective time of the hopping beam pointing information among the N hopping beam pointing information, arranging them in the order of priorities, and the higher the priority, the more forward the arrangement. For example, the earlier the effective time, the higher the priority, and they are arranged from left to right in the order from the highest priority to the lowest priority.

[0108] S602, the base station sends the signal frame to the satellite. Correspondingly, the satellite receives the signal frame.

[0109] In the embodiments of the present application, there is a communication connection between the base station and the gateway station, and there is a communication connection between the satellite and the gateway station. The gateway station plays a transparent transmission role in the communication between the base station and the satellite.

[0110] In some possible implementations, the above signal frame further includes effective time information, and the effective time information is used to indicate the effective time of the above N hopping beam pointing information.

[0111] Exemplarily, there are the following two ways (Way 1 and Way 2) to carry the effective time information in the signal frame. Under these two different ways, the minimum transmission rate of the signal frame can also be different.

[0112] Way 1:

[0113] The signal frame further includes N pieces of first time information corresponding to the N hopping beam pointing information, and the first time information is used to indicate the effective time of the corresponding hopping beam pointing information.

[0114] For ease of description, hereinafter, the hopping beam pointing information corresponding to the first time information among the above N hopping beam pointing information is referred to as the first hopping beam pointing information.

[0115] Optionally, the correspondence between the first time information and the first hopping beam pointing information can be represented by the adjacent bit positions of the first time information and the first hopping beam pointing information in the signal frame. Alternatively, the correspondence between the first time information and the first hopping beam pointing information can also adopt other suitable representation methods, which are not limited herein.

[0116] In the embodiments of the present application, the first time information corresponding to each hopping beam pointing information can specifically be moment information or time period information.

[0117] As an example, when the effective duration T of each hopping beam pointing information carried in every two signal frames is equal and the satellite stores the value of T, the first time information may be the first moment. The first moment may be any moment within the effective time period of the first hopping beam pointing information corresponding to the first time information. The satellite may determine the effective time period of the first hopping beam pointing information based on the first moment and the value of T. For example, the first moment may be the starting moment or the ending moment when the first hopping beam pointing information becomes effective. It should be noted that the first moment may also be any moment other than the starting moment and the ending moment within the effective time period of the first hopping beam pointing information, as long as both the satellite and the base station are aware of the specific meaning of the first moment and the satellite can analyze the effective time period of the first hopping beam pointing information based on the first moment.

[0118] As another example, the first time information may also include the above-mentioned first moment and the target effective duration T1, where T1 is the effective duration of the first hopping beam pointing information corresponding to the first time information.

[0119] As another example, the first time information may also be the effective time period information of the first hopping beam pointing information. For example, the first time information may include the starting moment and the ending moment, or the first time information may include the starting moment and the target effective duration, or the first time information may include the ending moment and the target effective duration. The satellite may determine the effective time period of the first hopping beam pointing information based on the first time information.

[0120] It should be noted that the continuously effective durations indicated by the first time information corresponding to the N hopping beam pointing information may be equal or unequal. For example, the N hopping beam pointing information includes hopping beam pointing information 1 and hopping beam pointing information 2, and the effective duration 1 indicated by the time information 1 corresponding to the hopping beam pointing information 1 and the effective duration 2 indicated by the time information 2 corresponding to the hopping beam pointing information 2 are equal or unequal.

[0121] As an example, assuming N is equal to 4 and M is equal to 8, the arrangement format and size of the data carried in the signal frame may be as Figure 7A shown. Among them, the signal frame sequentially includes:

[0122] (1) A 128-bit synchronization sequence.

[0123] (2) 2-bit version information, for example, the version information is specifically the version number.

[0124] (3) 1-bit correlation window indication information.

[0125] (4) Hopping beam control information: It includes 4 (N = 4) first time information and 4 hopping beam pointing information. Each first time information is 24 bits, and each hopping beam pointing information includes the pointing information of M = 8 beams. The pointing information of each beam is 24 bits, that is, the data volume of each hopping beam pointing information is 24 bits * 8 = 192 bits.

[0126] The above 4 first time information and 4 hopping beam pointing information, in the order of arrangement, can be: effective time information 1, hopping beam pointing information 1, effective time information 2, hopping beam pointing information 2, effective time information 3, hopping beam pointing information 3, effective time information 4, and hopping beam pointing information 4.

[0127] (5) 8-bit CRC.

[0128] Exemplarily, assuming that the effective duration of each hopping beam pointing information is 0.25 ms, to ensure that the satellite performs hopping beam scheduling every 0.25 ms, in Figure 7A the shown case, the base station needs to send this signal frame to the satellite at least once every (0.25 ms * 4) = 1 ms, that is, the minimum transmission rate of this signal frame is [(28 + 2 + 1 + 24 * 4 + 192 * 4 + 8) bit / 1 ms] = 1003 bit / 1 ms = 1.003 megabits per second (Mbps).

[0129] As another example, assuming N is equal to 8 and M is equal to 8, the format of the signal frame and the size of the data carried in the signal frame can be as Figure 7B shown. Among them, the signal frame sequentially includes:

[0130] (1) 128-bit synchronization sequence.

[0131] (2) 2-bit version information, for example, this version information is specifically the version number.

[0132] (3) 1-bit correlation window indication information.

[0133] (4) Hopping beam control information, including 8 (N = 8) first time information and 4 hopping beam pointing information. Each first time information is 24 bits, and the data volume of each hopping beam pointing information is 24 bits * 8 = 192 bits.

[0134] The above 8 first time information and 8 hopping beam pointing information, in the order of arrangement, are: effective time information 1, hopping beam pointing information 1, effective time information 2, hopping beam pointing information 2, effective time information 3, hopping beam pointing information 3, effective time information

[0135] 4. Hopping beam pointing information 4. Effective time information 5. Hopping beam pointing information 5. Effective time information 6. Hopping beam pointing information 6. Effective time information 7. Hopping beam pointing information 7. And effective time information 8. Hopping beam pointing information 8.

[0136] (5) 8-bit CRC.

[0137] In some possible implementation manners, the minimum transmission rate of the signal frame (including the minimum sending rate and / or the minimum receiving rate) is the ratio of the data volume size of the signal frame to the first duration, and the first duration is the sum of the effective durations corresponding to the above N hopping beam pointing information.

[0138] Exemplarily, assuming that the effective duration of each hopping beam pointing information is 0.25 ms, to ensure that the satellite performs hopping beam scheduling every 0.25 ms, Figure 7B in the shown case, the base station needs to send the signal frame to the satellite at least once every (0.25 ms * 4) = 1 ms, and the minimum sending rate corresponding to the signal frame is 1867 bit / 2 ms = 933.5 kilobits per second (Kbps).

[0139] However, if referring to Figure 4 or Figure 5 the idea, when the signal frame carries a hopping beam pointing information, a synchronization sequence, and the above version information, related window indication information, and CRC, its sending rate is [(28 + 2 + 1 + 24 + 192 + 8) bit / 0.25 ms] = 355 bit / 0.25 ms = 1.42 Mbps.

[0140] That is to say, by adopting the method provided in this application, when N takes values of 4 and 8 respectively, and the data included in the signal frame is as Figure 7A and Figure 7B shown respectively, the requirements for the sending rate of the signal frame to the base station are 1.003 Mbps or 933.5 Kbps respectively. Compared with a communication method where a signal frame only carries one hopping beam pointing information (the requirement for the sending rate to the base station is 1.42 Mbps), the requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frame is reduced, the requirement for the satellite's parsing and processing ability of the hopping beam control information is also reduced, and a larger redundant space for check bits can be provided for the channel coding of the signal frame, further improving the reliability of communication between the satellite and the base station.

[0141] Mode 2:

[0142] The signal frame further includes second time information, and the second time information is used to indicate the effective time of at least one hopping beam pointing information among the above N hopping beam pointing information.

[0143] In the embodiments of the present application, the second time information may specifically be moment information or time period information.

[0144] As an example, when the effective duration T of each hopping beam pointing information carried in every two signal frames is equal and the satellite side stores this effective duration, the second time information may be the second moment t0, which is related to the effective time period of one of the above N hopping beam pointing information. Based on this second moment and T, the effective time period of each of the N hopping beam pointing information can be determined. For example, the N hopping beam pointing information are arranged in the signal frame from left to right in order of decreasing priority, where the earlier the effective time of the hopping beam pointing information, the higher the priority. The t0 is the effective start moment of the first hopping beam pointing information among the N hopping beam pointing information (it can also be understood that the t0 is the effective start moment of the hopping beam pointing information with the earliest effective start moment), then the effective start moment of the i-th (i is greater than or equal to 1) hopping beam pointing information in the signal frame is [t0+(i - 1)*T].

[0145] As another example, when the effective duration T of each of the above N hopping beam pointing information is equal, the second time information may also include the above second moment and the T value.

[0146] As another example, when the preset effective duration T of each hopping beam pointing information is the same, the second time information may also be the effective time period information of any one of the above N hopping beam pointing information. Among them, the effective time period information may include the start moment and / or end moment of the corresponding hopping beam pointing information, and may also include the T value. Based on the effective time period information, the effective time periods corresponding to the N hopping beam pointing information can be analyzed.

[0147] As an example, assume N is equal to 4, M is equal to 8, and the format of the signal frame and the size of the data carried in the signal frame may be as Figure 8A shown. Among them, the signal frame sequentially includes:

[0148] (1) A 128-bit synchronization sequence.

[0149] (2) 2-bit version information.

[0150] (3) 1-bit correlation window indication information.

[0151] (4) 24-bit second time information.

[0152] (5) 4 pieces of 24-bit * 8 = 192-bit hopping beam pointing information.

[0153] (6) 8-bit CRC.

[0154] As another example, assume N equals 8, M equals 8, the format of the signal frame and the size of the data carried in the signal frame can be as Figure 8B shown. Among them, the signal frame successively includes:

[0155] (1) 128-bit synchronization sequence.

[0156] (2) 2-bit version information.

[0157] (3) 1-bit related window indication information.

[0158] (4) 24-bit second time information.

[0159] (5) 8 pieces of 24-bit * 8 = 192-bit hopping beam pointing information.

[0160] (6) 8-bit CRC.

[0161] In some possible implementation manners, the minimum transmission rate of the signal frame (including the minimum sending rate and / or the minimum receiving rate) is the ratio of the data volume size of the signal frame to the first duration, and the first duration is the total sum of the effective durations corresponding to the above N pieces of hopping beam pointing information.

[0162] As an example, assume that the effective duration of each piece of hopping beam pointing information is 0.25 ms, in order to ensure that the satellite performs hopping beam scheduling every 0.25 ms. In Figure 8A the shown case, the base station needs to send the signal frame to the satellite at least once every (0.25 ms * 4) = 1 ms, that is, the minimum sending rate of the signal frame is [(28 + 2 + 1 + 24 + 192 * 4 + 8) bit / 1 ms] = 931 bit / 1 ms = 931 Kbps. Using the same calculation method, Figure 8B in the shown case, the minimum sending rate corresponding to the signal frame is 1699 bit / 2 ms = 849.5 Kbps. And according to the idea of Figure 4 or Figure 5 , when the signal frame only carries one piece of hopping beam pointing information, its sending rate is 355 bit / 0.25 ms = 1.42 Mbps.

[0163] That is to say, by using the method provided in this application, when N takes values of 4 and 8 respectively, and the formats of the signal frames are respectively as Figure 8A and Figure 8BIn the shown cases, the requirements for the transmission rate of the signal frame to the base station are 931 Kbps or 849.5 Kbps respectively. Compared with a communication method where a signal frame carries only one hopping beam pointing information (the requirement for the transmission rate to the base station is 1.42 Mbps), it reduces the requirements for the transmission rate of the signal frame to the base station and the satellite, also reduces the requirement for the parsing and processing ability of the satellite for the signal frame, and can also provide a larger redundant space for parity bits for the channel coding of the signal frame, further improving the reliability of communication between the satellite and the base station.

[0164] In some possible implementation manners, a hopping beam pointing information may specifically include M beam weight information and / or M beam angle information, and the beam weight information is a parameter related to the pointing of the beam obtained by transforming based on the beam angle information. In the embodiments of the present application, the beam weight information may be determined by the base station based on the angle information of the beam, and then the base station carries the beam weight information in the signal frame and sends it to the satellite. Or the base station may also carry the beam angle information in the signal frame as the hopping beam pointing information, and the satellite determines the corresponding beam weight information based on the beam angle information after receiving the signal frame.

[0165] As an example, a hopping beam pointing information may include M beam identifiers, and one or more of M wave position numbers, angle pointings, or beam weight information, bandwidth information corresponding one by one to the M beam identifiers.

[0166] In some other possible implementation manners, the signal frame sent by the base station to the satellite may also not include the effective time information.

[0167] As an example, the preset effective duration T of each hopping beam pointing information carried in every two signal frames is equal, and the N hopping beam pointing information are arranged in the signal frame in the above preset rule. And the satellite stores the target end time of the last effective hopping beam pointing information before the above N hopping beam pointing information become effective, or the satellite can obtain the target end time based on the data stored locally. Then the satellite can determine the corresponding effective times of the N hopping beam pointing information in the signal frame based on the target end time and the T. Thus, the signal frame may not include the effective time information, further reducing the data volume of the signal frame and reducing the requirement for the transmission rate of the signal frame.

[0168] As another example, the first signal frame sent by the base station to the satellite includes effective time information, which can specifically be the above-mentioned first time information or second time information. However, the second signal frame sent by the base station to the satellite (the second signal frame is the signal frame after the first signal frame) may not include effective time information. Based on the effective time information and the T included in the first signal frame, the satellite can analyze and obtain the target end time of the last effective hopping beam pointing information in the first signal frame. Then, based on the target end time and the T, the satellite can sequentially deduce the effective time information of the N hopping beam pointing information carried in the second signal frame. Thus, the second signal frame may not include effective time information, further reducing the data volume of the second signal frame and lowering the requirement for the transmission rate of the second signal frame. It should be noted that the signal frame described in the above steps S601 - S602 may be the first signal frame or the second signal frame.

[0169] S603. The satellite determines the beam pointing of the M beams in the N hopping beam scheduling based on the N hopping beam pointing information.

[0170] In the embodiment of the present application, after receiving the above signal frame and parsing to obtain the above N hopping beam pointing information, the satellite determines the beam pointing of the corresponding M beams in the N hopping beam scheduling based on the N hopping beam pointing information.

[0171] As an example, after receiving the above signal frame, the satellite performs cross-correlation between the synchronization sequence in the signal frame and the local synchronization sequence (for example, both are PN sequences) to obtain the start position of the signal frame, and parses the signal frame to obtain the above N hopping beam pointing information.

[0172] In some possible implementation manners, when the signal frame includes effective time information, and the effective time information is N first time information corresponding to the N hopping beam pointing information (that is, the manner of carrying the effective time information in the signal frame is the above-mentioned manner 1), after the satellite obtains the above N hopping beam pointing information, it can determine the pointing of the M beams within the effective time period based on the corresponding beam pointing information according to the effective time indicated by the first time information corresponding to each hopping beam pointing information, in the order of the effective time information from early to late.

[0173] In some possible implementations, the signal frame includes effective time information, and the effective time information carried in the signal frame is the above-mentioned second time information. The N hopping beam pointing information is sorted in the signal frame in the order from the earliest to the latest effective time and from left to right. After the satellite obtains the above-mentioned N hopping beam pointing information, based on the arrangement of the N hopping beam pointing information in the signal frame (for example, the arrangement of the N hopping beam pointing information in the signal frame can be the arrangement from the earliest to the latest effective time and from left to right), and based on the second time information, the beam pointing of the M beams within the corresponding effective time is determined.

[0174] As an example, the second time information is the start time of the effective period of the first hopping beam pointing information (for example, t0 = 2023-12-20 10:20:20 ms), and the effective duration of each hopping beam pointing information is T = 0.25 ms. Then the start time of the effective period of the i-th hopping beam pointing information is [t0+(i - 1)*T], where i is greater than or equal to 1 and the increment corresponding to i is 1. Assume that N is 4 and M is 8, and the first (i = 1) and the second (i = 2) hopping beam pointing information among the N hopping beam pointing information are respectively labeled as hopping beam pointing information 1 and hopping beam pointing information 2. Then, the wave positions covered by the satellite in the time period from t0 to (t0 + 0.25 ms) can be as Figure 9A shown, and the schematic diagram of the wave positions covered in the time period from (t0 + 0.25 ms) to (t0 + 0.5 ms) can be as Figure 9B shown. It should be noted that Figure 9A and Figure 9B show the covered wave positions taking the non-existence of repeated wave positions as an example, but in fact Figure 9A and Figure 9B the covered wave positions may have partially or fully repeated wave positions, which are not limited in this article.

[0175] In some other possible implementations, the above-mentioned signal frame does not include effective time information, and the satellite can determine the effective time of the above-mentioned N hopping beam pointing information based on the effective time corresponding to the previous hopping beam pointing information.

[0176] As an example, the satellite can obtain the target end time based on the effective time information stored locally. The target end time is the end time of the last effective hopping beam pointing information in the last hopping beam scheduling of the satellite before the satellite performs hopping beam scheduling based on the N hopping beam pointing information. Then, based on the target end time and the preset effective duration T (where T represents the effective duration of each hopping beam pointing information), the effective time of the N hopping beam pointing information is calculated. For example, if the target end time is t0 and the preset effective duration is T, the effective start time of the i-th hopping beam pointing information among the N hopping beam pointing information is [t0+(i - 1)*T].

[0177] By using the communication method provided in this application, a signal frame carries a synchronization sequence and at least two hopping beam pointing information (that is, a signal frame corresponds to at least two hopping beam schedulings). Compared with a signal frame carrying a synchronization sequence and a hopping beam pointing information (that is, a signal frame corresponds to one hopping beam scheduling), without changing the effective duration of one hopping beam scheduling, the requirement of the signal frame carrying hopping beam control information for the transmission rate is reduced. Furthermore, the requirement of the hopping beam control information for the satellite's parsing and processing ability is improved, and the parity bit redundancy space for channel coding of the signal frame carrying hopping beam control information is increased, improving the transmission reliability of the signal frame and reducing the probability of satellite - base station synchronization failure.

[0178] As Figure 10 As shown in the figure, it is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of this application. The communication device includes units for executing the methods or steps implemented by the ground base station in the communication method provided in this application, and it includes:

[0179] A processing unit 1001, configured to generate a signal frame, where the signal frame includes a synchronization sequence and N hopping beam pointing information, and the N hopping beam pointing information are respectively used to indicate the pointing of M beams in N hopping beam schedulings. Wherein, one hopping beam scheduling is an update of the pointing information of the M beams, N>1, and M is a positive integer;

[0180] A sending unit 1002, configured to send the signal frame.

[0181] In some possible implementation manners, the signal frame further includes N first time information corresponding to the N hopping beam pointing information, and the first time information is used to indicate the effective time of the corresponding hopping beam pointing information.

[0182] In some possible implementation manners, the signal frame further includes second time information, and the second time information is used to indicate the effective time of at least one hopping beam pointing information among the N hopping beam pointing information.

[0183] In some possible implementations, the hopping beam pointing information includes M beam weight information and / or M beam angle information, and the beam weight information is a parameter related to the beam pointing determined based on the beam angle information.

[0184] In some possible implementations, the signal frame further includes at least one of the following information: version information, correlation window indication information, cyclic redundancy check information, and the correlation window indication information is used to indicate the time window of the next signal frame.

[0185] In some possible implementations, the minimum transmission rate of the signal frame is the ratio of the size of the signal frame to the first duration, and the first duration is the sum of the effective durations of the N hopping beam pointing information.

[0186] In some possible implementations, the above processing unit 1001 is further configured to perform channel coding on the signal frame to obtain a channel-coded signal frame. The above sending unit 1002 is specifically configured to send the channel-coded signal frame to the satellite.

[0187] For the related descriptions of the synchronization sequence, hopping beam control information, first time information, hopping beam pointing information, second time information, beam weight information, beam angle information, version information, correlation window indication information, and channel coding, etc., reference can be made to the relevant descriptions in the above communication method, and details are not described herein again.

[0188] As Figure 11 shown, it is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication device includes a unit for executing the method or steps implemented by the satellite in the communication method provided by the present application, and it includes:

[0189] A receiving unit 1101, configured to receive a signal frame, where the signal frame includes a synchronization sequence and N hopping beam pointing information, and the N hopping beam pointing information is respectively used to indicate the pointing of M beams in N hopping beam scheduling. Wherein, one hopping beam scheduling is an update of the pointing information of the M beams, N is greater than 1, and M is a positive integer;

[0190] A processing unit 1102, configured to determine the beam pointing of the M beams in the N hopping beam scheduling based on the N hopping beam control information.

[0191] In some possible implementations, the signal frame further includes N first time information corresponding to the N hopping beam pointing information, and the first time information is used to indicate the effective time of the corresponding hopping beam pointing information.

[0192] In some possible implementations, the signal frame further includes second time information, which is used to indicate the effective time of at least one of the N hopping beam pointing information.

[0193] In some possible implementations, the hopping beam pointing information includes M beam weight information and / or M beam angle information, and the beam weight information is a parameter related to beam pointing determined based on the beam angle information.

[0194] In some possible implementations, the signal frame further includes at least one of the following information: version information, correlation window indication information, cyclic redundancy check information, and the correlation window indication information is used to indicate the time window of the next signal frame.

[0195] In some possible implementations, the minimum reception rate of the signal frame is the ratio of the size of the signal frame to the first duration, and the first duration is the sum of the effective durations of the N hopping beam pointing information.

[0196] In some possible implementations, the signal frame is a signal frame after channel coding.

[0197] For the related descriptions of the synchronization sequence, hopping beam control information, first time information, hopping beam pointing information, second time information, beam weight information, beam angle information, version information, correlation window indication information, and channel coding, etc., reference can be made to the relevant descriptions in the above communication method, and details are not described herein again.

[0198] It should be noted that Figure 10 and Figure 11 The specific steps or functions executed by the communication device in

[0199] It can be understood that the above Figure 10 and / or Figure 11 The communication device shown may also have multiple product forms. Exemplarily, as Figure 12 shown, it is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1200 includes one or more processors 1201 (one processor is illustrated in the figure). Optionally, the communication device 1200 may further include a memory 1203 (shown by a dashed line in the figure). The memory 1203 is used to store instructions executed by the processor 1201, or store input data required for the processor 1201 to run instructions, or store data generated after the processor 1201 runs instructions. Optionally, the communication device 1200 may further include an interface circuit 1202 (shown by a dashed line in the figure), and the processor 1201 and the interface circuit 1202 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the interface circuit 1202 may be a transceiver or an input / output interface.

[0200] In some possible implementations, the processor 1201 can be used to implement the steps or functions performed by the above-mentioned processing unit 1001, and the interface circuit 1202 can be used to implement the steps or functions performed by the above-mentioned sending unit 1002.

[0201] In some possible implementations, the processor 1201 can be used to implement the steps or functions performed by the above-mentioned processing unit 1102, and the interface circuit 1202 can be used to implement the steps or functions performed by the above-mentioned receiving unit 1101 of the sending unit.

[0202] The division of modules in this application is illustrative, merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. Additionally, in each example of this application, the various functional modules can be integrated in one processor, can exist separately physically, or two or more modules can be integrated in one module. The above-mentioned integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules.

[0203] It can be understood that the processor in the embodiments of this application can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0204] The embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium, in which computer programs or instructions are stored. When the computer programs or instructions are executed, the methods in the above-mentioned embodiments are implemented.

[0205] The embodiments of this application also provide a computer program product containing instructions. When the instructions run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the methods in the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0206] This application also provides a computer program, which is used to implement the methods in the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0207] This application also provides a communication device, including a processor, and the processor is used to execute the methods in the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0208] An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, which includes a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device is configured to execute the steps or methods performed by the base station in the method of the above embodiment, and the second communication device is configured to execute the steps or methods performed by the satellite in the method of the above embodiment.

[0209] An embodiment of the present application further provides a circuit, which is coupled to a memory and is configured to execute the method shown in the above embodiment. The circuit may include a chip circuit.

[0210] It should be noted that one or more of the above units can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of both. When any of the above units is implemented by software, the software exists in the form of computer program instructions and is stored in the memory. The processor can be configured to execute the program instructions and implement the above method flow.

[0211] In the present application, the processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field-programmable gate array, or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components. Alternatively, all or part of the circuits for implementing the processing function in the foregoing devices can implement or execute the various methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the present application. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the method disclosed in combination with the present application can be directly implemented by the execution of the hardware processor, or implemented by the combination of the hardware and software modules in the processor.

[0212] When the above unit or units are implemented by hardware, the hardware can be any one or any combination of a CPU, a microprocessor, a digital signal processing (DSP) chip, a microcontroller unit (MCU), an artificial intelligence processor, an ASIC, an SoC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device (PLD), a dedicated digital circuit, a hardware accelerator, or a non-integrated discrete device, which can run the necessary software or execute the above method flow without relying on software.

[0213] Optionally, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system, including at least one processor and an interface. The at least one processor is coupled to a memory through the interface. When the at least one processor runs the computer program or instructions in the memory, the chip system executes the method in any of the above method embodiments. Optionally, the chip system can be composed of chips or can include chips and other discrete devices. The present application embodiment does not make specific limitations on this.

[0214] The memory in this application can also be a circuit or any other device capable of implementing a storage function, for storing program instructions and / or data. A memory is any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. For example, the memory can be a non-volatile memory, such as a digital versatile disc (DVD), a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid-state drive (SSD), etc., or can also be a volatile memory, such as a random-access memory (RAM).

[0215] It should be understood that in the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, " / " indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can represent A or B; where A and B can be singular or plural. Also, in the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, at least one (item) indicates one (item) or more (items). Multiple (items) means two (items) or more than two (items). "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects and indicates that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (of the following)" or its similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single (item) or plural items (items). For example, at least one (of) a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, a - b, a - c, b - c, or a - b - c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple. Additionally, for the convenience of clearly describing the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, in the embodiments of this application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish the same items or similar items with basically the same functions and roles. Those skilled in the art can understand that terms such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and terms such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily mean different. At the same time, in the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to represent examples, illustrations, or explanations. Any embodiment or design solution described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being more preferred or having more advantages than other embodiments or design solutions. Rather, using words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present relevant concepts in a specific manner for easy understanding.

[0216] As used in the following description of the present application, the terms "comprising" and "having" 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 may optionally further include other steps or units not listed, or may optionally further include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices. It should be noted that in the present application, words such as "as an example", "exemplary" or "for example" are used to represent examples, illustrations or explanations. Any method or design described in the present application as "as an example", "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other methods or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "as an example", "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0217] As used herein, "embodiment" means that the specific features, structures or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment may be included in one or more embodiments of the present application. The phrase appears in various places in the specification and 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 can explicitly and implicitly understand that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0218] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, 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 program 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 may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions may 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 may be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center by wire (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wirelessly (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.).

[0219] Although the present application has been described in conjunction with various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that, in practicing the claimed present application, other variations of the disclosed embodiments may be understood and achieved by viewing the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may implement several functions recited in the claims. Certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims, but this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce good results.

[0220] It should be understood that the various numerical numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The magnitude of the sequence numbers of the above processes does not mean the order of execution. The order of execution of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

[0221] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of the various embodiments have their own emphases. For the parts not detailed in a certain embodiment, reference may be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0222] The components in the device embodiments of the present application can be combined, divided, and deleted according to actual needs. Those skilled in the art can combine or combine the different embodiments and the features of different embodiments described in this specification.

[0223] In the present application, on the premise of no logical contradiction, the examples can be cited from each other. For example, the methods and / or terms between method embodiments can be cited from each other, for example, the functions and / or terms between device embodiments can be cited from each other, for example, the functions and / or terms between device examples and method examples can be cited from each other.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Generating a signal frame, where the signal frame includes a synchronization sequence and N hopping beam pointing information, and the N hopping beam pointing information is respectively used to indicate the pointing of M beams in N hopping beam scheduling. Here, one hopping beam scheduling is an update of the pointing information of the M beams, N is greater than 1, and M is a positive integer; Transmitting the signal frame.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The signal frame further includes N first time information corresponding to the N hopping beam pointing information, and the first time information is used to indicate the effective time of the corresponding hopping beam pointing information.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein The signal frame further includes second time information, and the second time information is used to indicate the effective time of at least one hopping beam pointing information among the N hopping beam pointing information.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The hopping beam pointing information includes M beam weight information and / or M beam angle information, and the beam weight information is a parameter related to the beam pointing determined based on the beam angle information.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The signal frame further includes at least one of the following information: version information, correlation window indication information, cyclic redundancy check information, and the correlation window indication information is used to indicate the time window of the next signal frame.

6. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receiving a signal frame, where the signal frame includes a synchronization sequence and N hopping beam pointing information, and the N hopping beam pointing information is respectively used to indicate the pointing of M beams in N hopping beam scheduling. Here, one hopping beam scheduling is an update of the pointing information of the M beams, N is greater than 1, and M is a positive integer; Determining the beam pointing of the M beams in the N hopping beam scheduling based on the N hopping beam control information.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The signal frame further includes N first time information corresponding to the N hopping beam pointing information, and the first time information is used to indicate the effective time of the corresponding hopping beam pointing information.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein The signal frame further includes second time information, and the second time information is used to indicate the effective time of at least one hopping beam pointing information among the N hopping beam pointing information.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6-8, characterized in that, The hopping beam pointing information includes M beam weight information and / or M beam angle information, and the beam weight information is a parameter related to the beam pointing determined based on the beam angle information.

10. The method according to any one of claims 6-9, characterized in that, The signal frame further includes at least one of the following information: version information, correlation window indication information, cyclic redundancy check information, and the correlation window indication information is used to indicate the time window of the next signal frame.

11. A communication device, characterized in that, The apparatus includes a unit for performing the method according to any one of claims 1-10.

12. A communication device, characterized in that, Including a processor, where the processor is used to read and execute a computer program stored in a memory to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-10.

13. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program, and when the computer program is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1-10 is executed.

14. A computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed, the method according to any one of claims 1-10 is executed.

Images