Communication method and device, storage medium and computer program product

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method and device, a storage medium and a computer program product, which are used for improving the performance of a communication system. In the application, a terminal device receives first information from a first network device. The first information includes information for indicating a second network device. And the terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device according to the first information. Since the first information carries the information used for indicating the second network device, the terminal device can identify which network device scheduled by the first network device carries out data transmission with the terminal device according to the received information. Therefore, the first network device can have the capability of scheduling the first network device and other network devices to perform data transmission with the terminal device, so that the data transmission throughput can be improved, the communication performance can be improved, and the resource overhead can be saved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of communication, and in particular to a communication method and device, a storage medium, and a computer program product. BACKGROUND

[0002] At present, the 5th generation (5G) new radio (NR) technology is evolving from revision (R) 18 to R19. At the same time, the NR technology has also entered the commercial deployment stage from the standardization stage. The NR standard protocol can be a wireless communication technology designed for terrestrial network (TN) scenarios, which can provide users with ultra-low latency, ultra-reliability, ultra-high rate, and ultra-large connection wireless communication services. Compared with TN communication, non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication has the characteristics of large coverage area and flexible networking, and can achieve seamless global network coverage. NTN communication includes networking using unmanned aerial vehicles, high-altitude platforms, satellites, and other devices to provide data transmission, voice communication, and other services for user equipment (UE). In TN and / or NTN networks, how to improve data transmission throughput is a problem that needs to be solved at present. SUMMARY

[0003] The present application provides a communication method and device, a storage medium, and a computer program product, which are used to enable a first network device to have the ability to schedule data transmission between other network devices and a terminal device in addition to the first network device. In the case where the first network device schedules data transmission between multiple network devices and a terminal device, the data transmission throughput can be improved.

[0004] The scheme provided by the present application can be applied to NTN networks, TN networks, and TN and NTN integrated networks. In one possible implementation, a terminal device can communicate with multiple communication devices. For example, the terminal device can establish a radio resource control (RRC) connection with one communication device and does not establish an RRC connection with other communication devices. For example, the communication device that establishes an RRC connection with the terminal device can be referred to as a primary communication device, and the communication device that does not establish an RRC connection with the terminal device can be referred to as a secondary communication device.

[0005] Since the terminal device establishes an RRC connection with the primary communication device and does not establish an RRC connection with the secondary communication device, the primary communication device cannot currently schedule data transmission between other communication devices and the terminal device, which in turn leads to low data transmission throughput.

[0006] Based on the above problems, the present application provides a solution. In the solution, the first network device can send first information. The first information includes information indicating the second network device. The terminal device can determine, based on the first information, that the first network device schedules data transmission between the second network device and the terminal device through the first information. As can be seen, since the first network device carries information indicating the network device in the signaling for scheduling data transmission between the terminal device and the network device (e.g., the second network device), the first network device can schedule data transmission between the terminal device and the network device (e.g., the second network device) other than the first network device. Since the first network device has the ability to schedule data transmission between the terminal device and the network device other than the first network device, in the present application, the first network device can schedule data transmission between the terminal device and multiple network devices (e.g., the first network device and the second network device), thereby improving data transmission throughput.

[0007] In a possible implementation, the first network device sends second information to the terminal device, and the second information includes information indicating the first network device. The terminal device can determine, based on the second information, that the first network device schedules data transmission between the first network device and the terminal device through the second information. For example, the first network device can schedule data transmission between the first network device and the terminal device on different resources. For another example, the first network device can schedule data transmission between the first network device and the terminal device on the same resource. In the present application, the "same resource" can be replaced by "the same time domain resource" or "the same frequency domain resource", or "the same time domain resource and frequency domain resource". For example, the first network device can schedule data transmission between the first network device and the terminal device on the same frequency domain resource (e.g., the same carrier).

[0008] For example, the first network device corresponds to the first carrier, and the second network device also corresponds to the first carrier. According to the solution provided in the present application, the first network device can schedule data transmission between the terminal device and the first network device on the first carrier through the second information, and the first network device can schedule data transmission between the terminal device and the second network device on the first carrier through the first information. As can be seen, even if the resources (e.g., carriers) for data transmission between the first network device and the terminal device are the same, the present application can schedule multiple network devices to perform data transmission with the terminal device on the same carrier through the first network device. This example provides a solution for data scheduling of different network devices on the same carrier.

[0009] For another example, the first network device and the second network device can be network devices in an NTN communication system. For example, the first network device is a first satellite device, and the second network device is a second satellite device. This scheme can enable the first satellite device to schedule data transmission between the terminal device and the first satellite device by sending the second information. The first satellite device can schedule data transmission between the terminal device and the second satellite device by sending the first information. The first satellite device and the second satellite device can perform data transmission with the terminal device on the same resource (for example, the same frequency domain resource, for example, the same time domain resource, for example, the same frequency domain and time domain resource) or different resources. As can be seen, this example can improve the data transmission throughput in a satellite communication scenario.

[0010] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be performed by a terminal device. The terminal device can include a terminal device or a chip system inside the terminal device.

[0011] The terminal device receives first information from a first network device. The first information includes information for indicating a second network device. The first information indicates that the terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device. The terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device according to the first information. In the present application, the first network device can schedule the second network device to send data to the terminal device by the first information, or schedule the terminal device to send data to the second network device by the first information.

[0012] Since the first network device has the ability to schedule other network devices in addition to the first network device to perform data transmission with the terminal device, in the present application, the first network device can schedule multiple network devices (for example, the first network device and the second network device) to perform data transmission with the terminal device, thereby improving the data transmission throughput.

[0013] In a possible implementation, the terminal device can receive second information from the first network device. The second information includes information for indicating the first network device. The second information indicates that the terminal device performs data transmission with the first network device. The terminal device performs data transmission with the first network device according to the second information. In the present application, the first network device can schedule the first network device to send data to the terminal device by the second information, or schedule the terminal device to send data to the first network device by the second information. As can be seen, since the second information includes information for indicating the first network device, the terminal device can identify which network device is scheduled to perform data transmission with the terminal device according to the received information. The information for scheduling the first network device sent by the first network device can be distinguished from the information for scheduling the second network device. In this way, the first network device can schedule itself and other network devices to perform data transmission with the terminal device by the information, thereby improving the data transmission throughput.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the terminal device acquires information indicating a first resource, and the terminal device can perform data transmission with the second network device on the first resource. For example, the terminal device acquires information indicating a second resource, and the terminal device can perform data transmission with the first network device on the second resource. For example, the first resource can be replaced with “a first time-domain resource”. For example, the first resource can be replaced with “a first frequency-domain resource”. For example, the first resource can be replaced with “a first time-domain resource and a first frequency-domain resource”. For example, the second resource can be replaced with “a second time-domain resource”. For example, the second resource can be replaced with “a second frequency-domain resource”. For example, the second resource can be replaced with “a second time-domain resource and a second frequency-domain resource”. For example, the information indicating the first resource can be carried in the same message as the first information or in different messages. Alternatively, part of the information indicating the first resource can be carried in the same message as the first information, and another part of the information indicating the first resource can be carried in another message. For example, the information indicating the second resource can be carried in the same message as the second information. Alternatively, part of the information indicating the second resource can be carried in the same message as the second information, and another part of the information indicating the first resource can be carried in another message.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the first information is carried in a first DCI. For example, the second information is carried in a second DCI. In this way, the present application can be more compatible with the prior art. The following describes the carrying manner of the first information in the first DCI. The carrying manner of the second information in the second DCI is similar, and is not described herein.

[0016] Example 1. The information indicating the second network device is carried in a first field in the first DCI. For example, the first field can be a newly added field in the first DCI. For example, the first field can be a field that is not included in a DCI format to which the first DCI belongs and is defined in an existing standard.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the terminal device can further receive information indicating whether the first field is included in the first DCI. When the terminal device receives information indicating that the first field is included in the first DCI, the terminal device determines, according to the information, that the first field is included in the first DCI. Then, the terminal device can more accurately estimate the number of fields included in the first DCI and the information length of the first DCI, thereby improving the success rate of decoding the first DCI. For example, when the terminal device does not receive information indicating that the first field is included in the first DCI, or when the terminal device receives information indicating that the first field is not included in the first DCI, the terminal device can determine that the first field is not included in the first DCI.

[0018] In another possible implementation, the first field can carry information indicating a network device (for example, a satellite device) in the NTN communication system. When the first network device needs to schedule data transmission between the network device (for example, a satellite device) in the NTN communication system and the terminal device, the first field can be added to the first DCI. When the first network device does not need to schedule data transmission between the network device (for example, a satellite device) in the NTN communication system and the terminal device, the first field can not be added to the first DCI.

[0019] In another possible implementation, the information indicating the first network device is carried in the first field in the second DCI. For example, the first field can be a newly added field in the second DCI. For example, the first field can be a field that is not included in a DCI format to which the second DCI belongs and is defined in an existing standard. In a possible implementation, the terminal device can further receive information indicating whether the first field is included in the second DCI. The related scheme is similar to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0020] In another possible implementation, the information indicating the first network device is carried in the first field in the second DCI. For example, the first field can be a newly added field in the second DCI. For example, the first field can be a field that is not included in a DCI format to which the second DCI belongs and is defined in an existing standard. In a possible implementation, the terminal device can further receive information indicating whether the first field is included in the second DCI. The related scheme is similar to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0021] In Example Three, the first DCI can use the first format when the first DCI includes the information for indicating the second network device. In another possible implementation, the second DCI can use the first format when the second DCI includes the information for indicating the first network device. For example, the first format can be a newly defined DCI format (e.g., the first format can be different from the DCI formats defined in the existing standards). For example, the first format defines a field for carrying the information for indicating the network device. In this example, the terminal device can determine whether the first DCI includes the information for indicating the second network device according to the format of the received first DCI. The terminal device can determine whether the second DCI includes the information for indicating the first network device according to the format of the received second DCI. For example, the terminal device determines that the first DCI includes a second field carrying the information for indicating the second network device in the first information when the format of the first DCI belongs to the first format. For another example, the terminal device determines that the first DCI does not include the second field when the format of the first DCI does not belong to the first format. For example, the terminal device determines that the second DCI includes a second field carrying the information for indicating the first network device in the second information when the format of the second DCI belongs to the first format. For another example, the terminal device determines that the second DCI does not include the second field when the format of the second DCI does not belong to the first format. In this scheme, the DCI format is used to distinguish whether the DCI includes the information for indicating the network device, and this scheme does not increase the number of fields in the existing DCI, thereby saving resource overhead.

[0022] In another possible implementation, in the scheme provided in Example Three, the DCI format can also be used to distinguish whether the DCI is used to schedule the network device (e.g., the satellite device) in the NTN communication system to transmit data to the terminal device. For example, the terminal device determines that the format of the received first DCI is the first format, and then determines that the first DCI includes a field for indicating the identification information of the network device (e.g., the satellite device), or determines that the first DCI is used to schedule the network device (e.g., the satellite device) to perform data transmission with the terminal device. For another example, the terminal device determines that the format of the received first DCI does not belong to the first format, and then determines that the first DCI does not include the field for indicating the identification information of the network device (e.g., the satellite device), or determines that the first DCI is not used to schedule the network device (e.g., the satellite device) to perform data transmission with the terminal device.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the time domain resource occupied by the first information belongs to / is for a first time unit. The terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device in a second time unit. The time domain resource in the first resource can include / be for the second time unit. The second time unit can be determined according to the first time unit and the first time length. The first time length is associated with the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device. In this way, the terminal device can determine the position of the second time unit based on the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device, and then can reduce or avoid the case that the second time unit corresponding to the second network device is later than the first time unit corresponding to the first network device, and then can improve the success rate of data transmission of the terminal device.

[0024] In another possible implementation, the time domain resource occupied by the second information belongs to / is for a fourth time unit. The terminal device performs data transmission with the first network device in a fifth time unit. The time domain resource in the second resource can include / be for the fifth time unit. The fifth time unit can be determined according to the fourth time unit. The fifth time unit can not be determined according to the first time length, or in other words, the fifth time unit can not be associated with the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device. In this scheme, the terminal device can determine the time unit for data transmission with the first network device in a different way from the way in which the terminal device determines the time unit for data transmission with the second network device. In this scheme, the terminal device can not consider the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device when determining the time unit for data transmission with the first network device, so as to shorten the time delay between the terminal device and the first network device for data transmission, and thus improve the data transmission efficiency.

[0025] In another possible implementation, the fifth time unit can also be determined according to the first time length. In this way, the terminal device can determine the time unit for data transmission with the first network device in the same way as the way in which the terminal device determines the time unit for data transmission with the second network device, which can reduce the complexity of the scheme on the terminal device side.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the terminal device receives information indicating the first time length. For example, the terminal device can receive information indicating the first time length from the first network device. The first network device can determine the first time length according to the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device. This scheme can reduce the complexity of the scheme on the terminal device side.

[0027] In a possible implementation, the terminal device sends information indicating the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device. This information can assist the first network device to determine the first time length, so as to reduce the complexity of the scheme on the first network device side.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the first time length is a time length of S1 time units, S1 is a positive integer, and a value of S1 includes: an up-round or down-round value of a quotient of the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device and a time length of a single time unit. In this scheme, the first time length can be set as an integer number of time units, so that the complexity of the scheme of the terminal device can be reduced, and the signaling overhead of indicating the first time length can also be reduced.

[0029] In a possible implementation, for example, in a case where the terminal device performs downlink transmission with the second network device in the second time unit, the second time unit is determined according to the first time length, and the second time unit can also be determined according to the value of K0. The value of K0 is associated with a time delay of processing uplink information and / or a time delay of processing downlink information of the terminal device. For example, a difference between an index value of the first time unit and an index value of the second time unit is determined according to a sum of the first time length and the value of K0. For another example, the fifth time unit is also determined according to the value of K0. For example, in a case where the terminal device performs downlink transmission with the first network device in the fifth time unit, the difference between the index value of the fifth time unit and the index value of the fourth time unit can be determined according to the value of K0 (for example, not according to the first time length); or, the difference between the index value of the fifth time unit and the index value of the fourth time unit is determined according to the sum of the first time length and the value of K0. In this scheme, the time delay of processing uplink information and / or the time delay of processing downlink information of the terminal device can be considered, so that a more reasonable second time unit can be determined, and then the success rate of data transmission of the terminal device can be improved.

[0030] In a possible implementation, for example, in a case where the terminal device performs uplink transmission (for example, PUSCH) with the second network device in the second time unit, the second time unit is determined according to the first time length, and the second time unit can also be determined according to the value of K2 and a time unit offset value. The value of K2 is associated with a time delay of processing uplink information and / or a time delay of processing downlink information of the terminal device. The time unit offset value is associated with a corresponding timing advance (TA) of the first network device. For another example, the fifth time unit is determined according to the first time length, the value of K2 and the time unit offset value. In this scheme, the value of K2 and the time unit offset value can be considered, so that a more reasonable second time unit can be determined, and then the success rate of data transmission of the terminal device can be improved.

[0031] In the above embodiments, the time unit offset value used by the terminal device when sending data to the first network device can be the same as the time unit offset value used when sending data to the second network device. Since the terminal device can determine the time unit offset value based on the TA corresponding to the first network device, the value can be a small value, so that the terminal device does not have to send data to the first network device with too large a time delay. On the other hand, since the time unit offset value is set to be small, when calculating the time unit for sending data to the second network device, the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device is additionally considered, so that the time delay for sending data to the second network device can be extended, and problems caused by the time delay for sending data by the second network device being too small (for example, the case where the fifth time unit is before the fourth time unit) can be reduced or avoided, so that the success rate of sending data to the second network device can be improved, and the communication performance can be improved.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the first network device can schedule the second network device to send data to the terminal device through the first information, and the terminal device can further send response information corresponding to the data from the second network device to the first network device. For example, the first network device can schedule the first network device to send data to the terminal device through the second information. In this implementation, the terminal device can further send response information corresponding to the data from the first network device to the first network device.

[0033] For example, the terminal device acquires a first time length. The terminal device sends first response information at a third time unit. The first response information is response information for data received from the second network device at a second time unit. The third time unit is determined according to the second time unit, the value of K, the time unit offset value, and the first time length. The related content of the first time length can be referred to the foregoing description. The time unit offset value can be associated with the TA used by the terminal corresponding to the first network device, and not associated with the timing difference between the second network device and the first network device. In this scheme, since the sending of the first response information further considers the first time length, the scheme can increase the feedback time delay of the second network device, so that the case where the sending of the first response information is before the terminal device receives data from the second network device can be reduced or avoided, so that the success rate of sending the first response information can be improved, and the communication performance can be improved.

[0034] For example, the terminal device sends the second response information in a sixth time unit. The second response information is the response information of the data received from the first network device in the fifth time unit. The sixth time unit is determined according to the fifth time unit, the value of K and the time unit offset value. The value of K is associated with the time delay of the terminal device in processing the downlink information from the first network device and / or processing the uplink information (for example, the uplink response information), and the time unit offset value is associated with the TA used by the terminal corresponding to the first network device. The time unit offset value corresponding to the first response information can be the same as the time unit offset value corresponding to the second response information. In this scheme, since the time unit offset value is associated with the TA used by the terminal corresponding to the first network device, and the timing difference between the second network device and the first network device is not considered, the time unit offset value can be set to a smaller value, and then the time length between the second response information and the data transmitted by the first network device can be shortened, thereby reducing the feedback delay of the first network device.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the first time length in the present application can also be referred to as other parameter names, for example, can be referred to as offset, offset value or offset, etc. The determination of the sixth time unit can not consider the first time length. Or the determination of the sixth time unit considers the first time length, but in the calculation of the sixth time unit, the value of the first time length (or offset) is set to zero. In the determination process of the third unit, the first time length needs to be considered, and the first time length is not zero.

[0036] As can be seen from the above scheme, the terminal device can determine the time unit offset value based on the TA used by the terminal corresponding to the first network device, so that the value can be a smaller value, so that the feedback delay of the first network device can not be too large. On the other hand, since the time unit offset value is set to be small, in the calculation of the sending of the first response information, the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device is additionally considered, so that the sending of the first response information can be reduced or avoided before the terminal device receives the data from the second network device, thereby improving the success rate of sending the first response information and improving the communication performance.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the terminal device sends third information, and the third information is used to indicate the received signal noise ratio (SNR) difference and / or received power difference from the first network device and the second network device. The third information is used for the first network device and / or the second network device to adjust the transmission power. The first network device and / or the second network device can adjust the transmission power based on the third information. In order to make the SNR difference between the first network device and the second network device close to zero, thereby improving the transmission spectrum efficiency.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the device type of the first network device and the second network device can be the same or different. For example, the first network device is a satellite device, and the second network device is a satellite device. Alternatively, the first network device is a network device deployed on the ground or a chip system inside a network device, and the second network device is a satellite device. Alternatively, the first network device is a satellite device, and the second network device is a network device deployed on the ground or a chip system inside a network device. Alternatively, the first network device and the second network device are network devices deployed on the ground or chip systems inside network devices.

[0039] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be performed by a first network device. The first network device can include a network device or a chip system inside a network device. For example, the first network device can include a satellite device or a chip (or chip system) inside a satellite device. For another example, the first network device can include a ground station or a chip (or chip system) inside a ground station. The ground station can include a network device (for example, an access network device) deployed on the ground.

[0040] The first network device sends first information. The first information includes information for indicating the second network device. The first information indicates that the terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device. The terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device according to the first information.

[0041] In a possible implementation, the first network device sends second information, and the second information includes information for indicating the first network device. The second information indicates that the terminal device performs data transmission with the first network device. The terminal device performs data transmission with the first network device according to the second information.

[0042] In a possible implementation, the first information is carried in a first DCI. For another example, the second information is carried in a second DCI.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the information for indicating the second network device is carried in a first field in the first DCI. The first network device sends information for indicating that the first field is included in the first DCI.

[0044] In a possible implementation, the information for indicating the second network device is carried in a carrier indication field or a reserved field in the first DCI.

[0045] In a possible implementation, the first network device determines that the format of the first DCI belongs to a first format in a case where the first network device carries, in the first DCI, information for indicating the second network device. The first format of the first DCI includes a second field, and the second field carries information for indicating the first network device.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the time domain resource occupied by the first information belongs to a first time unit, and the terminal device and the second network device perform data transmission in a second time unit. The second time unit is determined according to the first time unit and a first time length. The first time length is associated with a timing difference between the first network device and the second network device.

[0047] In a possible implementation, the first network device sends information used for indicating the first time length.

[0048] In a possible implementation, the first network device receives information used for indicating a timing difference between the first network device and the second network device.

[0049] In a possible implementation, the first time length is a time length of S1 time units, S1 is a positive integer, and a value of S1 includes: an up-rounding or down-rounding value of a quotient of the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device and a time length of a single time unit.

[0050] In a possible implementation, for example, in a case where the terminal device and the second network device perform downlink transmission in the second time unit, the second time unit is further determined according to a value of K0, and the value of K0 is associated with a time delay of processing uplink information and / or a time delay of processing downlink information of the terminal device.

[0051] In a possible implementation, for example, in a case where the terminal device and the second network device perform uplink transmission in the second time unit, the second time unit is further determined according to a value of K2 and a time unit offset value. The value of K2 is associated with a time delay of processing uplink information and / or a time delay of processing downlink information of the terminal device. The time unit offset value is associated with a TA used by the terminal corresponding to the first network device. For another example, the fifth time unit is further determined according to the value of K2 and the time unit offset value.

[0052] In a possible implementation, a difference between index values of time units of the first time unit and the second time unit is determined according to a sum of the first time length and the value of K0.

[0053] In a possible implementation, the terminal device and the second network device perform data transmission in a second time unit. The first network device receives first response information. The first response information occupies a third time unit. The first response information is response information of data received from the second network device in the second time unit, and the third time unit is determined according to the second time unit, a value of K, a time unit offset value and the first time length, and the first time length is associated with a timing difference between the first network device and the second network device.

[0054] In a possible implementation, the first network device receives third information. The third information is used to indicate the SNR difference and / or the received power difference of the received signals from the first network device and the second network device. The first network device adjusts the transmit power according to the third information. So as to make the SNR difference between the first network device and the second network device close to zero, and then improve the transmission spectrum efficiency.

[0055] In a possible implementation, the first network device sends sixth information to the second network device, the sixth information being used to instruct the second network device to adjust the transmit power. The sixth information can be determined based on the third information. For example, the sixth information can be the third information. Or the sixth information is used to indicate the target SNR of the second network device. Or, the sixth information is used to indicate the target transmit power of the second network device.

[0056] The related description and beneficial effects of the second aspect and possible implementations of the second aspect can be referred to the related description of the first aspect and possible implementations of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0057] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be performed by a second network device. The second network device can include a network device or a chip system inside the network device. For example, the second network device can include a satellite device or a chip (or chip system) inside the satellite device. For another example, the second network device can include a ground station or a chip (or chip system) inside the ground station. The ground station can include a network device (for example, an access network device) deployed on the ground.

[0058] In a possible implementation, the second network device receives seventh information, the seventh information indicating that the second network device transmits data with the terminal device. The second network device transmits data with the terminal device.

[0059] In another possible implementation, the second network device can receive the sixth information and adjust the transmit power based on the sixth information. So as to make the SNR difference between the first network device and the second network device close to zero, and then improve the transmission spectrum efficiency. For example, the sixth information can be the third information. Or the sixth information is used to indicate the target SNR of the second network device. Or, the sixth information is used to indicate the target transmit power of the second network device.

[0060] The related description and beneficial effects of the third aspect and possible implementations of the third aspect can be referred to the related description of the first aspect, possible implementations of the first aspect, the second aspect and possible implementations of the second aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0061] In a fourth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which can be the terminal apparatus, the first network apparatus or the second network apparatus. The communication apparatus can comprise a communication unit and a processing unit to perform any of the first aspect to the third aspect, or perform any possible implementation of the first aspect to the third aspect. The communication unit is configured to perform functions related to transmitting and receiving. The communication unit can be referred to as a transceiver. Optionally, the communication unit comprises a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. In one design, the communication apparatus is a communication chip, the processing unit can be one or more processors or processor cores, and the communication unit can be input / output circuits, input / output interfaces or antenna ports of the communication chip.

[0062] In another design, the communication unit can be a transmitter and a receiver, or the communication unit is a transmitter and a receiver.

[0063] Optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises various modules to perform any of the first aspect to the third aspect, or perform any possible implementation of the first aspect to the third aspect.

[0064] In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which can be the terminal apparatus, the first network apparatus or the second network apparatus. The communication apparatus can comprise a processor and a memory to perform any of the first aspect to the third aspect, or perform any possible implementation of the first aspect to the third aspect. Optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises a transceiver. The memory is configured to store a computer program or instructions. The processor is configured to invoke and run the computer program or instructions from the memory. When the processor executes the computer program or instructions in the memory, the communication apparatus performs any of the first aspect to the third aspect, or performs any possible implementation of the first aspect to the third aspect.

[0065] Optionally, the processor is one or more, and the memory is one or more.

[0066] Optionally, the memory can be integrated with the processor, or the memory is disposed separately from the processor.

[0067] Optionally, the transceiver can comprise a transmitter (transmitter) and a receiver (receiver).

[0068] In a sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which can be the terminal apparatus, the first network apparatus or the second network apparatus. The communication apparatus can comprise a processor to perform any of the first aspect to the third aspect, or perform any possible implementation of the first aspect to the third aspect. The processor is coupled to a memory. Optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises the memory. Optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface.

[0069] In an implementation form, the communication interface can be a transceiver, or an input / output interface, when the communication apparatus is a terminal apparatus, a first network apparatus or a second network apparatus. Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0070] In yet another implementation form, when the communication apparatus is a chip or a chip system, the communication interface can be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin or related circuitry, etc. on the chip or chip system. The processor can also be embodied as a processing circuit or a logic circuit.

[0071] In a seventh aspect, a system is provided, and the system comprises the terminal apparatus.

[0072] In a possible implementation form, the system can further comprise the first network apparatus and the second network apparatus.

[0073] In an eighth aspect, a computer program product is provided, and the computer program product comprises a computer program (which can also be referred to as code or instructions), which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, or perform any one of the possible implementation forms of the first aspect to the third aspect.

[0074] In a ninth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, and the computer-readable medium stores a computer program (which can also be referred to as code or instructions), which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, or perform any one of the possible implementation forms of the first aspect to the third aspect.

[0075] In a tenth aspect, a processing apparatus is provided, and the processing apparatus comprises an interface circuit and a processing circuit. The interface circuit can comprise an input circuit and an output circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal through the input circuit, and transmit a signal through the output circuit, so that any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, or any one of the possible implementation forms of the first aspect to the third aspect is implemented.

[0076] In the implementation process, the processing apparatus can be a chip, the input circuit can be an input pin, the output circuit can be an output pin, and the processing circuit can be a transistor, a gate circuit, a flip-flop, various logic circuits, etc. The input signal received by the input circuit can be received and input by, for example but not limited to, a receiver, the output signal output by the output circuit can be output to and transmitted by, for example but not limited to, a transmitter, and the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as the input circuit and the output circuit at different times. The specific implementation form of the processor and various circuits is not limited in the present application.

[0077] In an implementation form, the communication device is a terminal device, a first network device or a second network device. The interface circuitry can be a radio frequency processing chip in the terminal device, the first network device or the second network device, and the processing circuitry can be a baseband processing chip in the terminal device, the first network device or the second network device.

[0078] In yet another implementation form, the communication device can be a part of a device, such as a system on chip or a communication chip, in the terminal device, the first network device or the second network device. The interface circuitry can be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin or related circuitry on the chip or chip system. The processing circuitry can be a logic circuit on the chip. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0079] Figure 1A A schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applicable;

[0080] Figure 1B A schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applicable;

[0081] Figure 1C A schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applicable;

[0082] Figure 1D A schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applicable;

[0083] Figure 1E A schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applicable;

[0084] Figure 1F A schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applicable;

[0085] Figure 1G A schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applicable;

[0086] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a possible procedure of a communication method provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0087] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of possible positions of time domain resources of a PDSCH scheduled by a PDCCH by a first network device provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0088] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of possible positions of time domain resources of a PDSCH scheduled by a PDCCH by a first network device provided by embodiments of the present application;

[0089] Figure 5 A possible flowchart of another communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0090] Figure 6 A possible position diagram of time domain resource of PDSCH scheduled by a first network device provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0091] Figure 7 A possible position diagram of time domain resource of response information sent by a terminal device provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0092] Figure 8 A possible flowchart of another communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0093] Figure 9 A possible position diagram of time domain resource of response information sent by a terminal device provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0094] Figure 10 A possible flowchart of another communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0095] Figure 11 A possible position diagram of time domain resource of PUSCH scheduled by a first network device provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0096] Figure 12 A possible flowchart of another communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0097] Figure 13 A possible structure diagram of a communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0098] Figure 14 Another possible structure diagram of a communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0099] Figure 15 Another possible structure diagram of a communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0100] The following introduces the terms and names related to the embodiments of the present application.

[0101] (1) Resource.

[0102] The resource in the embodiments of the present application may, for example, include time domain resource and / or frequency domain resource.

[0103] (1.1) Time domain resource.

[0104] A time domain resource can include at least one of a radio frame, a subframe, a slot, a mini slot, or a symbol (e.g., orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), such as discrete fourier transform (DFT)-spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM), orthogonal time frequency and space (OTFS), etc.).

[0105] A time unit can include a radio frame, a subframe, a slot, a mini slot, or an OFDM symbol. A time unit can also include a resource aggregated by multiple radio frames or multiple subframes or multiple slots or multiple mini slots or multiple OFDM symbols. Wherein, a radio frame can include multiple subframes, a subframe can include one or more slots, and a slot can include at least one symbol. Alternatively, a radio frame can include multiple slots, and a slot can include at least one symbol. It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, an OFDM symbol can also be referred to as a symbol.

[0106] According to different subcarrier spacings, the length of each symbol can be different, and thus the length of a slot can be different. For example, the length of a slot corresponding to a subcarrier spacing of 15 kilo mega hertz (kHz) is 0.5 ms, the length of a slot corresponding to a subcarrier spacing of 60 kHz is 0.125 ms, and so on.

[0107] In the embodiments of the present application, the time unit can also be replaced by a time domain resource unit or a time domain unit, etc.

[0108] (1.2) Frequency domain resource.

[0109] In the frequency domain, a frequency domain resource can include one or more frequency domain units. A frequency domain unit can be a resource block (RB), a physical resource block (PRB), a subcarrier, a resource block group (RBG), a predefined subband, a precoding resource block group (PRG), a resource pool, a bandwidth part (BWP), a resource element (RE) (also referred to as a resource unit or resource particle), a carrier, a serving cell, etc. A PRB and an RB can be used interchangeably. Optionally, a resource pool can include one or more resources, which can include at least one of a time domain resource, a frequency domain resource, a code domain resource, or a space domain resource. The number and size of resources included in a resource pool can be predetermined or configured by signaling.

[0110] A subcarrier or a RE refers to a smallest frequency domain unit in a specific symbol in a multi-carrier system. Sub-carrier spacing (SCS) is the interval between the center positions or peak positions of two adjacent subcarriers in the frequency domain in an OFDM system. In 5G NR, multiple subcarrier spacings are introduced, and different carriers can have different subcarrier spacings. The baseline is 15 kHz, which can be 15 kHz x 2n, where n is an integer, from 3.75, 7.5, to 480 kHz. In the embodiments of the present application, a RE can refer to a resource unit of a time-frequency resource, which can be regarded as the smallest time-frequency resource unit. In the present application, subcarriers and REs can be used interchangeably, and they contain the same information.

[0111] A subchannel is the smallest unit of frequency domain resources occupied by a physical sidelink shared channel, and a subchannel can include one or more resource blocks (RBs). The bandwidth of a wireless communication system in the frequency domain can include multiple RBs, for example, in the LTE system, the included physical resource blocks (PRBs) can be 6, 15, 25, 50, etc. In the frequency domain, an RB can include a number of subcarriers, for example, in the LTE system, an RB includes 12 subcarriers, wherein each subcarrier interval can be 15 kHz, of course, other subcarrier intervals can also be used, such as 3.75 kHz, 30 kHz, 60 kHz, or 120 kHz subcarrier intervals, which are not limited here.

[0112] A frequency domain unit may include a RE, an RB, a channel, a subchannel, a carrier, or a bandwidth part (BWP). A frequency domain unit may also include resources aggregated from multiple REs, multiple RBs, multiple subchannels, multiple carriers, or multiple BWPs. In the embodiments of this application, a channel can be equivalently replaced by a resource block set (RB set), and the frequency domain bandwidth of an RB set can be 20 MHz.

[0113] In this embodiment, the frequency domain unit can also be replaced by: frequency domain resource unit or frequency unit, etc.

[0114] A frequency domain resource set may include one or more frequency domain elements. A frequency domain resource set may also be called a frequency domain resource collection, frequency domain resource group, etc. For example, a frequency domain resource set may include a resource block set (RBset), a resource block (RB), a subchannel, a resource pool, a carrier, and a resource pool (BWP).

[0115] Figure 1A An exemplary schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system 1000 to which this application embodiment applies is shown. For example... Figure 1A As shown, the communication system includes a wireless access network 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may also include an Internet 300. The wireless access network 100 may include at least one wireless access network device (such as...). Figure 1A 110a and 110b in the above), may also include at least one terminal device (such as Figure 1A (Referring to 120a-120j in the original text). Terminal devices connect wirelessly to wireless access network (WLAN) devices, which in turn connect wirelessly or via wired connections to the core network. The core network devices and WLAN devices can be independent physical devices, or they can integrate the functions of the core network devices and the logical functions of the WLAN devices onto a single physical device. Alternatively, a single physical device can integrate some core network device functions and some WLAN device functions. Terminal devices and WLAN devices can be interconnected via wired or wireless connections. Figure 1A This is just an illustration; the communication system may also include other network devices, such as wireless repeaters and wireless backhaul devices. Figure 1A It is not shown in the middle.

[0116] The network device involved in the embodiments of the present application includes, for example, a radio access network (RAN) device. The radio access network device can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a transmission point (TP), a base station in a 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, an access node in a WiFi system, and the like; or can be a module or unit that completes part of the functions of a base station, for example, can be a central unit (CU), can be a distributed unit (DU), and can also be a radio unit (RU). The CU here completes the functions of the radio resource control protocol and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the base station, and can also complete the function of the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP); the DU completes the functions of the radio link control layer and the medium access control (MAC) layer of the base station, and can also complete part of the physical layer or the entire physical layer; the specific description of the above-mentioned protocol layers can refer to the relevant technical specifications of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP). The CU and the DU can be separately arranged, or can also be included in the same network element, for example, in a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, for example, included in a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna processing unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH). In different systems, the CU, the DU, or the RU can also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open radio access network (ORAN) system, the CU can also be referred to as an open-CU (O-CU), the DU can also be referred to as an open-DU (O-DU), and the RU can also be referred to as an open-RU (O-RU).Any of the CU (or CU control plane (CU-CP), CU user plane (CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module. The CU-CP can also be referred to as an open CU-CP (O-CU-CP), and the CU-UP can also be referred to as an open CU-UP (O-CU-UP).

[0117] Figure 1B An O-RAN system architecture diagram provided by an embodiment of the application is exemplarily shown. The O-RAN system in the embodiment provided by the application can include Figure 1B In addition to the components shown in Figure 1B The access network device (RAN, for example, can be an eNB or gNB or an access network device in a future mobile communication system) communicates with the core network (CN) through a backhaul link and communicates with the user equipment (UE) through an air interface. For example, the baseband unit (BBU) in the access network device communicates with the core network through a backhaul link, and the radio unit (RU) in the access network device communicates with at least one UE through an air interface. The BBU communicates with at least one RU through a fronthaul link, and the BBU and the RU can be co-located or not co-located. The BBU includes at least one control unit (CU) and at least one distributed unit (DU), which can communicate through at least one midhaul link. In the embodiment of the application, the first network device can send signaling for scheduling the first network device and / or the auxiliary communication device to the terminal device (for example, the UE), and the sending of the signaling can be sent by the CU and / or the DU in the first network device to the terminal device.

[0118] Figure 1C An O-RAN system architecture diagram provided by an embodiment of the application is exemplarily shown. As Figure 1CAs shown, O-RAN can include O-CU-CP, O-CU-UP, O-DU, and O-RU. The system architecture can also include an open cloud (O-cloud), a service management and orchestration framework, an open eNB (O-eNB), a near-real-time (RT) RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), and a non-real-time RIC. The non-RTIC can monitor, configure, manage, and control radio resources of at least one of multiple O-CU-CP, O-CU-UP, DU, or O-eNB. Figure 1C As shown, the interfaces defined by 3GPP include, for example, E1, F1 (e.g., F1-c, F1-u), NG (e.g., NG-c, NG-u), Xn (e.g., Xn-c, Xn-u), and X2 (e.g., X2-c, X2-u). For example, O-RAN communication systems also include interfaces such as O1, O2, E2, A1, and Open Fronthaul (FH) interfaces (e.g., Open-FH Control (M)-plane, and Open-FH Control, User and Synchronization (CUS)-plane). Figure 1C The names of the interfaces and the connection methods of the units shown are examples. In actual applications, the O-RAN system may include more or fewer interfaces, or more or fewer units.

[0119] Wireless access network equipment can be macro base stations (such as...) Figure 1A 110a in the text), can also be a micro base station or an indoor station (such as... Figure 1A 110b) in the text can also be a relay node or a donor node, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used in the wireless access network equipment. For ease of description, the following description uses a base station as an example of a wireless access network device.

[0120] The terminal device can also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal device, etc. The terminal device can be widely applied to various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, automatic driving, remote medical treatment, smart power grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal device can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver function, wearable device, vehicle, unmanned aerial vehicle, helicopter, airplane, ship, robot, mechanical arm, smart home device, sensor, etc. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device.

[0121] The terminal device can establish a connection with the operator network through an interface (such as N1, etc.) provided by the operator network, and use data and / or voice services provided by the operator network. The terminal device can also access the domain name system (DNS) through the operator network, use operator services deployed on the DNS, and / or services provided by a third party. The third party can be a service provider other than the operator network and the terminal device, and can provide the terminal device with data and / or voice services. The specific form of the third party can be determined according to the actual application scenario, and is not limited here.

[0122] The terminal device can also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal device, etc. The terminal device can be widely applied to various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, automatic driving, remote medical treatment, smart power grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal device can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver function, wearable device, vehicle, unmanned aerial vehicle, helicopter, airplane, ship, robot, mechanical arm, smart home device, road side unit (RSU), etc. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device.

[0123] The base station and the terminal device can be fixed in position or mobile. The base station and the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can be deployed on water; and can be deployed on an airplane, a balloon, and a man-made satellite in the air. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the application scenarios of the base station and the terminal device.

[0124] The roles of the base station and the terminal device can be relative, for example, Figure 1A The helicopter or the unmanned aerial vehicle 120i in FIG. 1 can be configured as a base station, and for those terminal devices 120j that access the wireless access network 100 through the 120i, the terminal device 120i is a base station; but for the base station 110a, the 120i is a terminal device, that is, the 110a and the 120i communicate with each other through a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, the 110a and the 120i can also communicate with each other through a base station-to-base station interface protocol, and in this case, the 120i is also a base station relative to the 110a. Therefore, the base station and the terminal device can be collectively referred to as a communication device, Figure 1A The 110a and the 110b in FIG. 1 can be referred to as a communication device with a base station function, Figure 1A The 120a-120j in FIG. 1 can be referred to as a communication device with a terminal device function.

[0125] The base station and the terminal device, the base station and the base station, and the terminal device and the terminal device can communicate through a licensed frequency spectrum, can communicate through an unlicensed frequency spectrum, and can simultaneously communicate through the licensed frequency spectrum and the unlicensed frequency spectrum; can communicate through a frequency spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), can communicate through a frequency spectrum above 6 GHz, and can simultaneously use the frequency spectrum below 6 GHz and the frequency spectrum above 6 GHz. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the frequency spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0126] In embodiments of the present application, the functions of the base station can also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the base station or by a control subsystem containing the functions of the base station. The control subsystem containing the functions of the base station herein can be a control center in the above-mentioned application scenarios such as smart grids, industrial control, intelligent transportation, and smart cities. The functions of the terminal device can also be performed by a module (such as a chip or a modem) in the terminal device or by a device containing the functions of the terminal device.

[0127] In this application, the base station sends downlink signals or downlink information to the terminal device, and the downlink information is carried on the downlink channel; the terminal device sends uplink signals or uplink information to the base station, and the uplink information is carried on the uplink channel. In order to communicate with the base station, the terminal device needs to establish a wireless connection with the cell controlled by the base station. The cell that establishes a wireless connection with the terminal device is called the service cell of the terminal device. When the terminal device communicates with the service cell, it will also be interfered by the signals from the neighboring cells.

[0128] The core network involved in the embodiments of the present application can include network devices for processing and forwarding signaling and data of users. For example, it includes core network devices such as access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), user plane gateway, and positioning management device. The user plane gateway can be a server with functions of mobility management, routing, forwarding, etc. for user plane data, and is generally located at the network side, such as a serving gateway (SGW), a packet data network gateway (PGW), a user plane function (UPF), etc. The AMF and the SMF are equivalent to the mobility management entity (MME) in the long term evolution (LTE) system. The AMF is mainly responsible for admission, and the SMF is mainly responsible for session management. Of course, other network elements can also be included in the core network, which are not listed one by one here.

[0129] Figure 1A 、 Figure 1B and Figure 1C It is only a schematic diagram, and other devices such as core network devices, wireless relay devices, and / or wireless backhaul devices can also be included in the wireless communication system, and not all of them are shown in the figure.

[0130] Figure 1D and Figure 1E Exemplary network architecture diagrams of several communication systems to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable are shown. The communication system can include satellites, network devices, and terminal devices, etc. The communication system can also include gateways and core network devices. Figure 1D and Figure 1E An integrated network architecture of NTN and terrestrial network is exemplarily shown. The following will be introduced in conjunction with the drawings.

[0131] The satellite can be a highly elliptical orbiting (HEO) satellite, a GEO satellite, a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite, and a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the working mode of the satellite. For example, the working mode of the satellite can be a transparent mode or a regenerative mode. Figure 1D is schematically shown by taking the working mode of the satellite as the transparent mode, Figure 1E is schematically shown by taking the working mode of the satellite as the regenerative mode.

[0132] When the satellite works in the transparent mode, the satellite has the function of transparent forwarding of relaying. The gateway has the function of a network device (such as a base station) or part of the function of a network device (such as a base station), at this time, the gateway can be regarded as a network device (such as a base station). Alternatively, the network device (such as a base station) can be deployed separately from the gateway, and then the delay of the feeder link includes the delay of the satellite to the gateway and the delay of the gateway to the gNB. The transparent mode discussed later is an example of the gateway and the gNB being together or close in position. For the case where the gateway is far away from the gNB, the delay of the feeder link is the sum of the delay of the satellite to the gateway and the delay of the gateway to the gNB.

[0133] When the satellite works in the regenerative mode, the satellite has data processing capability and has the function of a network device (such as a base station) or part of the function of a network device (such as a base station), at this time, the satellite can be regarded as a network device (such as a base station).

[0134] The satellite can perform wireless communication with the terminal through broadcast communication signals and navigation signals. Optionally, each satellite can provide communication services, navigation services, and positioning services for terminal devices through multiple beams. For example, each satellite uses multiple beams to cover a service area, and the relationship between different beams can be one or more of time division, frequency division, and space division.

[0135] The gateway (or ground station, earth station, gateway station, gateway station) can be used to connect the satellite and the network device on the ground (such as the base station on the ground). One or more satellites can be connected to one or more network devices on the ground (such as base stations on the ground) through one or more gateways, which are not limited herein. The link between the satellite and the terminal is called a service link, and the link between the satellite and the gateway is called a feeder link. The network device can be deployed separately from the gateway, and then the delay of the feeder link can include the delay of the satellite to the gateway and the delay of the gateway to the network device.

[0136] The network device in the embodiments of the present application can include a network device deployed on a satellite (such as a satellite base station), can include a network device deployed on a gateway, and can include a network device deployed on the ground (such as a ground base station). For example, the network device can be a radio access network (RAN) node, a RAN node in an O-RAN system, and the like as shown in Figure 1A 、 Figure 1B and Figure 1C . For related content, please refer to the foregoing description, which will not be repeated here.

[0137] The core network (CN) is a device set on the ground and capable of communicating with the NTN device in the NTN system. For example, the CN can be the CN involved in Figure 1A 、 Figure 1B and Figure 1C . For related content, please refer to the foregoing description, which will not be repeated here.

[0138] The terminal can be the terminal involved in Figure 1A 、 Figure 1B and Figure 1C . For related content, please refer to the foregoing description, which will not be repeated here.

[0139] The embodiments of the present application can also be applicable to other communication system architectures, such as an air-to-ground (ATG) communication system, which includes at least one network device and at least one high-altitude terminal. The high-altitude terminal includes, for example, a high-altitude aircraft and an on-board terminal, and the like. The satellite in the above Figure 1D and Figure 1E may be replaced by other relay devices, such as other NTN devices such as high altitude platform stations (HAPS). Figure 1D or Figure 1E The communication system as shown in is only an example and does not limit the communication system to which the method provided by the embodiments of the present application is applicable.

[0140] It can be understood that the embodiments of the present application can also be applicable to an air-to-ground (ATG) communication system. As an example, please refer to Figure 1F , which is a network architecture diagram of another communication system to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable. The communication system includes at least one network device and at least one high-altitude terminal device. The high-altitude terminal device includes, for example, a high-altitude aircraft and an on-board terminal device, and the like.

[0141] Figure 1GAn example is shown to illustrate another possible communication system architecture to which embodiments of the present application can be applied. A terminal device can communicate with two communication devices, or more communication devices. For example, the terminal device can communicate with one primary communication device, and one or more secondary communication devices. For example, the primary communication device and the at least one secondary communication device transmit data to the terminal device on the same resource. In the present application, the "same resource" can be replaced by "the same time domain resource", or replaced by "the same frequency domain resource", or replaced by "the same time domain resource and the same frequency domain resource". The description of "the same resource" at other locations herein is referred to, and is not repeated. The primary communication device and the at least one secondary communication device can also transmit data to the terminal device on different resources (e.g. different time domain resources, different frequency domain resources, or different time domain resources and different frequency domain resources).

[0142] Figure 1G In the present application, the communication system includes a first network device and a second network device and a terminal device. In the present application, the first network device is taken as the primary communication device, and the second network device is taken as the secondary communication device, Figure 1G The communication system shown can also include more other secondary communication devices, which are not shown. In the present application, the primary communication device and / or the secondary communication device can be a satellite device, or can be other ground-deployed network devices, such as ground-deployed base stations, etc. Figure 1G In the present application, the first network device is taken as the primary satellite device, and the second network device is taken as the secondary satellite device. As shown in Figure 1G The terminal device can establish an RRC connection with the primary satellite device, and does not establish an RRC connection with the secondary satellite device. The primary satellite device and the secondary satellite device can communicate with the terminal device, for example, the primary satellite device and the secondary satellite device transmit data to the terminal device on the same resource.

[0143] Figure 1G The terminal device in the present application can be Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 1C , Figure 1D , Figure 1E or Figure 1F the terminal or the chip system inside the terminal involved. Figure 1G The first network device in the present application can be Figure 1D , Figure 1E or Figure 1F the satellite or the chip system inside the satellite in Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 1C , Figure 1D , Figure 1E or Figure 1F the network device (such as an access network device, a ground station, etc.) or the chip system inside the network device involved in the present application. Figure 1GThe second network device in the method can be Figure 1D , Figure 1E or Figure 1F a satellite or a chip system inside the satellite in Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 1C , Figure 1D , Figure 1E or Figure 1F relates to a network device (such as an access network device, a ground station, etc.) in or a chip system inside the network device.

[0144] The communication device (such as the first network device and / or the second network device) in the embodiments of the present application can also be replaced by a cell or a transmission reception point (TRP). For example, the first network device is replaced by a cell, a first cell or a primary cell. The second network device is replaced by a cell, a second cell or a secondary cell. The first cell and the second cell can belong to cells in different coverage ranges of network devices respectively, or belong to cells in the same coverage range of a network device, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0145] Any two of the first network device and the second network device in the embodiments of the present application can be devices of the same type or devices of different types. For example, the first network device is a first satellite device (such as a primary satellite device), and the second network device is a second satellite device (such as a secondary satellite device). The satellite device (such as the first satellite device and the second satellite device) in the embodiments of the present application can be a satellite or a chip system inside the satellite in Figure 1D , Figure 1E or Figure 1F . In the embodiments of the present application, when any one of the first network device and the second network device is a satellite device, the working mode of the satellite device can be a transparent mode or a regenerative mode. The working modes of any two of the first network device and the second network device can be the same or different. For another example, the first network device is a satellite device, and the second network device is a network device deployed on the ground (such as an access network device, a ground station, etc.). For another example, the first network device and the second network device are network devices deployed on the ground (such as an access network device, a ground station, etc.).

[0146] Based on the content shown in at least one of Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 1C , Figure 1D , Figure 1E , Figure 1F and Figure 1G and other content described above, Figure 2 exemplarily shows a possible flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. For ease of understanding, Figure 2 The interaction among the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device is taken as an example for description. The related examples of the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device can be found in the foregoing description of the related examples of the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device, which will not be repeated here. Figure 1G The interaction among the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device is taken as an example for description. The related examples of the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device can be found in the foregoing description of the related examples of the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device, which will not be repeated here.

[0147] In the embodiments of the present application, the first network device is taken as the primary communication device and the second network device is taken as the secondary communication device. The terminal device can establish an RRC connection with the primary communication device (the first network device) and can not need to establish an RRC connection with the secondary communication device (the second network device). The terminal device can communicate (for example, transmit uplink or downlink data) with the primary communication device (the first network device) and can also communicate (for example, transmit uplink or downlink data) with the secondary communication device (the second network device). The terminal device can communicate with at least one secondary communication device, and the embodiments of the present application take one secondary communication device (the second network device) as an example for description. The related schemes of other secondary communication devices can be found in the foregoing description of the second network device, which will not be repeated here.

[0148] The embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0149] In step 201, the first network device transmits first information.

[0150] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first information from the first network device.

[0151] The first information indicates that the terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device. In a possible implementation, the first information can include / be: information used for indicating the second network device. The information used for indicating the second network device can include, for example, an identifier of the second network device, an index of the second network device, a satellite identifier of the second network device or a satellite orbit identifier of the second network device, and the like. The information used for indicating the second network device can indicate that the terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device. For example, after receiving the first information, the terminal device determines to perform data transmission with the second network device according to the information used for indicating the second network device.

[0152] The data in the embodiments of the present application can be carried in a channel, for example, can be carried in a "shared channel (SCH)", for example, a downlink data channel (physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH) or an uplink data channel (physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH). The "terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device" in the embodiments of the present application can include: the terminal device receives data (for example, PDSCH) from the second network device, and / or, the terminal device sends data (for example, PUSCH) to the second network device. The first information indicating that the terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device can also be replaced by at least one of the following: the first information indicating the second network device, the first information indicating that the terminal device receives PDSCH from the second network device, or the first information indicating that the terminal device sends PUSCH to the second network device.

[0153] In step 202, the first network device sends second information.

[0154] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second information from the first network device.

[0155] The second information indicates that the terminal device performs data transmission with the first network device. In a possible implementation, the second information can include / be: information for indicating the first network device. The information for indicating the first network device can include, for example, an identifier of the first network device, an index of the first network device, a satellite identifier of the first network device, or a satellite orbit identifier of the first network device, and the like. The information for indicating the first network device can indicate that the terminal device performs data transmission with the first network device. For example, after receiving the second information, the terminal device determines that data transmission with the first network device is needed according to the information for indicating the first network device.

[0156] The "terminal device performs data transmission with the first network device" in the embodiments of the present application can include: the terminal device receives data from the first network device, and / or, the terminal device sends data to the first network device. The second information indicating that the terminal device performs data transmission with the first network device can also be replaced by at least one of the following: the second information indicating the first network device, the second information indicating that the terminal device receives PDSCH from the first network device, or the second information indicating that the terminal device sends PUSCH to the first network device.

[0157] In step 202 and step 201, in one possible implementation, the information (e.g., the first information and / or the second information) sent by the first network device for indicating the network device can be carried in a downlink control information (DCI). The first network device can schedule data transmission (e.g., PDSCH and / or PUSCH) between the network device and the terminal device through the DCI. The first network device can schedule data transmission between the first network device and the terminal device through the DCI (e.g., the information for indicating the first network device is carried in the DCI sent by the first network device), and the first network device can also schedule data transmission between the second network device (e.g., the second network device) and the terminal device through the DCI (e.g., the information for indicating the second network device is carried in the DCI sent by the first network device). The first network device can schedule data transmission between one network device and the terminal device through one DCI (e.g., the information for indicating the one network device is carried in the DCI sent by the first network device), or schedule data transmission between multiple network devices and the terminal device through one DCI (e.g., the information for indicating the multiple network devices is carried in the DCI sent by the first network device). For example, the first information and the second information can be carried in two different DCIs, or carried in the same DCI. For ease of understanding, the following examples are described by taking the first information as carried in the first DCI and the second information as carried in the second DCI.

[0158] The following examples are described by taking the first information as an example, and the information for indicating the second network device in the first information carried in the first DCI is described by taking embodiment A1 and embodiment A2 as examples. In embodiment A1, the information for indicating the second network device in the first information can be carried in the first DCI. In embodiment A1, the format of the first DCI can not be limited, for example, the first DCI can be a DCI format defined in the standard. In embodiment A2, the first information can be carried in the first DCI of the first format. The related embodiments of the second information carried in the second DCI are similar, and are not described herein.

[0159] In embodiment A1, the information for indicating the second network device in the first information can be carried in the first DCI.

[0160] For example, the format of the first DCI (and / or the format of the second DCI) can be a DCI format defined in the standard, for example, the format of the first DCI can include DCI format (format) 1_0, DCI format (format) 1_1, DCI format (format) 0_0, DCI format (format) 0_1, and the like defined in the current protocol standard, and can also include a DCI format defined in the future protocol.

[0161] In embodiment A1, the information for indicating the second network device in the first information can be carried in a first field (e.g., a newly added field, see embodiment A1.1) in the first DCI, or can be an existing field multiplexed with the first DCI (see embodiment A1.2).

[0162] Embodiment A1.1, the information for indicating the second network device in the first information can be carried in a first field in the first DCI.

[0163] The scheme provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to an NTN network, can also be applied to a TN network, and can also be applied to a network integrating NTN and TN. The first field in the embodiments of the present application is defined for distinguishing the name, and the first field can be replaced by other names, for example, can be replaced by a satellite indicator field, a network device indication field, or a communication device indication field, etc.

[0164] The first field in the embodiments of the present application can be, for example, a newly added field of the first DCI. For example, the first field is a field not in the DCI format defined in the standard. For example, the position of the first field can be after the last field of the DCI format defined in the standard.

[0165] In a possible implementation, the scheme provided by the embodiments of the present application is applicable to an NTN communication system or a communication system integrating TN and NTN. The first field can carry information for indicating a network device (e.g., a satellite device) in the NTN communication system. When the first network device needs to schedule data transmission between the network device (e.g., a satellite device) in the NTN communication system and the terminal device, the first field can be added in the first DCI. When the first network device does not need to schedule data transmission between the network device (e.g., a satellite device) in the NTN communication system and the terminal device, the first field can not be added in the first DCI.

[0166] In a possible implementation, the first network device can further send information for indicating whether the first field is included in a DCI to the terminal device. For example, the information for indicating whether the first field is included in a DCI can be carried in radio resource control (RRC) or media access control (MAC) control element (CE) signaling.

[0167] For example, the first network device can further send information indicating that the first DCI includes the first field to the terminal device. The terminal device determines that the first DCI includes the first field according to the information indicating that the first DCI includes the first field. In this way, the terminal device can correctly determine the number of fields included in the first DCI and the information length in the first DCI, so as to avoid missing information, thereby improving the success rate of correct information reception. For another example, when the first network device does not include the first field in a DCI, the first network device can further send information indicating that the DCI does not include the first field to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can correctly determine the number of fields included in the DCI and the information length in the DCI when receiving the DCI, so as to avoid receiving too much information, thereby improving the success rate of correct information reception. It can be seen that the embodiment can make the DCI including the first field compatible with the DCI not including the first field, and can also reduce the operation complexity of the terminal device.

[0168] Similarly, the information indicating the first network device in the second information can be carried in the first field in the second DCI, and the first network device can further send information indicating that the second DCI includes the first field to the terminal device. The content is similar to the related content of the first DCI, and will not be repeated here.

[0169] The following Table 1 exemplarily introduces a format example of a DCI. As shown in Table 1, the DCI can include a first field, and the first field can carry information indicating a network device. For example, the DCI in Table 1 is a first DCI, and the first field carries information indicating a second network device. For another example, the DCI in Table 1 is a second DCI, and the first field carries information indicating a first network device. Table 1 exemplarily shows part of the fields included in the DCI, the functions corresponding to the fields, and a possible example of the number of bits occupied by part of the fields. For related content, please refer to Table 1, which will not be repeated here.

[0170] Table 1: Example of DCI Including First Field

[0171]

[0172]

[0173] Embodiment A1.2: The information indicating the second network device in the first information can be carried in an existing field in the first DCI.

[0174] For example, the information for indicating the second network device in the first information can be carried in a reserved field in the first DCI. For another example, the information for indicating the second network device in the first information is carried in a carrier indicator field in the first DCI, which can also be understood as that the carrier indicator field is given a new meaning or a new definition, or the carrier indicator field is redefined, for example, the carrier indicator field can be redefined as a satellite indicator field, a network device indicator field, or a communication device indicator field, etc. These embodiments can not add a new field to the DCI, thereby reducing the length of the DCI and saving resource overhead.

[0175] Similarly, the information for indicating the first network device in the second information can be carried in an existing field in the second DCI, and the content is similar and will not be repeated.

[0176] Embodiment A2, the first information is carried in the DCI of the first format.

[0177] In embodiment A2, when the first network device needs to schedule data transmission (such as PDSCH and / or PUSCH) between the network device and the terminal device through one DCI, the first network device can schedule through the DCI of the first format. When the first network device does not need to schedule data transmission (such as PDSCH and / or PUSCH) between the network device and the terminal device through one DCI, the first network device can send a DCI of other formats.

[0178] For example, the first network device sets the first DCI to the first format in the case that the first DCI includes information for indicating the second network device. The terminal device determines that the received first DCI includes information for indicating the network device in the case that the terminal device determines that the format of the received first DCI is the first format. For another example, the first network device sets the second DCI to the first format in the case that the second DCI includes information for indicating the first network device. The terminal device determines that the received second DCI includes information for indicating the network device in the case that the terminal device determines that the format of the received second DCI is the first format.

[0179] In another possible implementation, the method provided by the embodiments of the present application is applicable to an NTN communication system or a communication system integrating TN and NTN. The first network device can distinguish, by a DCI format, whether the DCI is used for scheduling the network device (e.g., a satellite device) in the NTN communication system to transmit data to the terminal device. For example, the terminal device determines that the received first DCI format is a first format, and then determines that the first DCI includes a field for indicating information of the network device (e.g., a satellite device) in the NTN communication system, or determines that the first DCI is used for scheduling the network device(s) (e.g., a satellite device) in the NTN communication system to perform data transmission with the terminal device.

[0180] For another example, the terminal device determines that the received first DCI format is not the first format, and then determines that the first DCI does not include a field for indicating identification information of the network device (e.g., a satellite device) in the NTN communication system, or determines that the first DCI is not used for scheduling the network device (e.g., a satellite device) in the NTN communication system to perform data transmission with the terminal device (e.g., the first DCI can be used for other purposes, such as scheduling a base station (e.g., a base station in a cellular network) in a TN communication system to perform data transmission with the terminal device), or determines that the first DCI is not used for scheduling multiple network devices (e.g., satellite devices) in the NTN communication system to perform data transmission with the terminal device (e.g., the first DCI can be used for scheduling one network device to perform data transmission with the terminal device).

[0181] By the scheme provided in the implementation A2, the terminal device can identify, by a DCI format, whether the received DCI includes information for indicating the network device (e.g., the first network device and / or the second network device), so as to save signaling overhead. In this scheme, the first network device side does not need to notify, by other signaling, whether the DCI includes information for indicating the network device, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0182] In step 203, the terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device according to the first information.

[0183] In step 203, the terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device according to the first information. For example, the terminal device can send data (e.g., PUSCH) to the second network device according to the first information, and / or the terminal device can receive data (e.g., PDSCH) from the second network device according to the first information. For example, the first information is carried in the first DCI, and the terminal device can distinguish, by a format of the first DCI, whether the first DCI is used for scheduling uplink data or downlink data. For another example, the terminal device can distinguish, by information such as a search space or a scrambling code corresponding to the first DCI, whether the first DCI is used for scheduling uplink data or downlink data.

[0184] In a possible implementation, the terminal device acquires information indicating the first resource, on which the terminal device can perform data transmission with the second network device. For example, the first resource can be replaced with "a first time domain resource". For another example, the first resource can be replaced with "a first frequency domain resource". For yet another example, the first resource can be replaced with "a first time domain resource and a first frequency domain resource". For example, the information indicating the first resource can be carried in the same message (e.g., the first DCI) as the first information or in a different message. Alternatively, part of the information indicating the first resource is carried in the same message as the first information, and another part of the information indicating the first resource is carried in another message. For example, the first network device indicates the information of the first resource through the frequency domain resource assignment and time domain resource assignment fields in the first DCI.

[0185] In a possible implementation, the first network device can send seventh information to the second network device. The seventh information can indicate that the second network device performs data transmission with the terminal device. The second network device can further acquire information indicating the first resource, and perform data transmission with the terminal device on the first resource. The information indicating the first resource can be pre-configured at the second network device, or indicated to the second network device by the first network device or another network device. The seventh information and the information indicating the first resource can be the same information or two different information.

[0186] For example, in a case where the second network device needs to send data (e.g., PDSCH) to the terminal device, the second network device can further acquire information indicating the data (e.g., PDSCH). The information indicating the data (e.g., PDSCH) can be generated by the second network device, or indicated to the second network device by the first network device or another network device. The seventh information and the information indicating the data (e.g., PDSCH) can be the same information or two different information.

[0187] In step 204, the terminal device performs data transmission with the first network device according to the second information.

[0188] In step 204, the terminal device performs data transmission with the first network device according to the second information. For example, the terminal device can send data (e.g., PUSCH) to the first network device according to the second information, and / or the terminal device can receive data (e.g., PDSCH) from the first network device according to the second information. For example, the second information is carried in a second DCI, and the terminal device can distinguish whether the second DCI is used for scheduling uplink or downlink data by the format of the second DCI. For another example, the terminal device can distinguish whether the second DCI is used for scheduling uplink or downlink data by the information of the search space or scrambling code corresponding to the second DCI.

[0189] In a possible implementation, the terminal device acquires information indicating a second resource, and the terminal device can perform data transmission with the first network device in the second resource. For example, the second resource can be replaced by “a second time domain resource”. For another example, the second resource can be replaced by “a second frequency domain resource”. For yet another example, the second resource can be replaced by “a second time domain resource and a second frequency domain resource”. For example, the information indicating the second resource can be carried in the same message (e.g., the second DCI) or different messages as the second information. Alternatively, part of the information indicating the second resource is carried in the same message as the second information, and another part of the information indicating the second resource is carried in other messages. For example, the first network device indicates the information of the second resource by the frequency domain resource assignment and time domain resource assignment fields in the second DCI.

[0190] In a possible implementation, the first resource belongs to a first resource set, and the second resource belongs to a second resource set. The first resource set and the second resource set can be the same resource set. Alternatively, at least one resource in the first resource set is different from each resource in the second resource set.

[0191] For example, the first time domain resource and the second time domain resource can be the same or different. For another example, the first frequency domain resource and the second frequency domain resource can be the same or different. For an example, the first frequency domain resource and the second frequency domain resource are both the first carrier, and the first time domain resource and the second time domain resource can be the same or different. The first network device can schedule the terminal device to transmit data with the first network device on the first carrier through the second information, and the first network device can schedule the terminal device to transmit data with the second network device on the first carrier through the first information. It can be seen that even if the resources (such as carriers) used by the first network device and the second network device for data transmission with the terminal device are the same, the embodiments of the present application can schedule multiple network devices to perform data transmission between the terminal device through the first network device on the same carrier. The example can provide a solution for data scheduling of different network devices on the same carrier.

[0192] Based on Figure 2 The embodiments provided, Figure 3 An exemplary schematic diagram of possible positions of time domain resources of PDSCH (or PUSCH) scheduled by the first network device through PDCCH is provided. Figure 3 The first network device is taken as the first satellite device, and the second network device is taken as the second satellite device as an example. As shown in Figure 3 The first network device transmits PDCCH#2 in the downlink time slot #n 14 corresponding to the first network device. The first network device can transmit PDCCH#1 in the downlink time slot #n 11 corresponding to the first network device. The downlink time slot #n 11 may be an example of the first time unit involved in the subsequent content of the present application. The downlink time slot #n 14 may be an example of the fourth time unit involved in the subsequent content of the present application. In the embodiments of the present application, the first time unit and the fourth time unit can be the same time unit (such as the same time slot), or can be different time units (such as two adjacent time slots). The second DCI can be included in the PDCCH#2, and the second DCI can include the second information (such as carrying information for indicating the first network device) described above. The second DCI is used to schedule the first network device to perform data transmission (such as PDSCH and / or PUSCH) with the terminal device, Figure 3 The terminal device transmits PDSCH (or PUSCH) in the downlink time slot #n 15Take receiving PDSCH#2 from the first network device as an example. Similarly, the first DCI can be included in PDCCH#1, and the first DCI can include the first information (for example, carrying information for indicating the second network device) described above. The first DCI is used to schedule the second network device and the terminal device to perform data transmission (for example, PDSCH and / or PUSCH), Figure 3 In the terminal device, the terminal device receives PDSCH#2 from the first network device according to the information in PDCCH#1 corresponding to the downlink time slot #n of the second network device 12 Take receiving PDSCH#1 from the second network device as an example. The downlink time slot #n 12 This can be an example of the second time unit referred to in the subsequent content of the present application. The downlink time slot #n 15 This can be an example of the fifth time unit referred to in the subsequent content of the present application. In the embodiments of the present application, the second time unit and the fifth time unit can be the same time unit (for example, the same time slot), or different time units (for example, two adjacent time slots).

[0193] In another possible implementation, PDSCH#1 and PDSCH#2 occupy the same frequency domain resources (for example, the same carrier) and the same time domain resources. In this way, the terminal device can receive data from multiple network devices on the same time domain resources and the same frequency domain resources, thereby improving the throughput of the communication system. Figure 3 In the embodiments of the present application, the time slots in each of the accompanying drawings provided by the present application can also be replaced by other time units, for example, one time slot can also be replaced by: one radio frame, one subframe, one mini slot or one OFDM symbol, etc.

[0194] From the above Figure 2 and Figure 3 It can be seen that the first network device can schedule data transmission between itself and / or other network devices and the terminal device by sending information (for example, DCI). This scheme can be applied to NTN networks, TN networks, or networks that integrate NTN and TN. For example, the first network device is a first satellite device, and the second network device is a second satellite device. The first satellite device can schedule data transmission between one or more satellite devices and the terminal device by sending information, thereby improving the throughput of the communication system. Further, the embodiments of the present application also provide a scheme for solving the problem of the sending mode of the information for indicating the network device sent by the first network device. For example, the information for indicating the network device sent by the first network device can be carried in a new field or an existing field of DCI, or in a new format of DCI. These DCIs carrying information for indicating the network device can be compatible with DCIs without carrying information for indicating the network device.

[0195] In the embodiments of the present application, the first network device can send one of the first information and the second information, in which case one of the steps 201 and 202 can not be performed. For example, the step 201 can not be performed (in which case the step 203 is also not performed), or the step 202 can not be performed (in which case the step 204 is also not performed). Figure 2 In the embodiments provided, the steps 201 and 202 are performed by the first network device as an example. The step 203 can be performed after the step 201, and there is no strict sequence between the step 203 and the step 204 (as well as the step 202), for example, the step 203 can be performed after the step 204, or before the step 202. The step 204 can be performed after the step 202, and there is no strict sequence between the step 204 and the step 203 (as well as the step 201), for example, the step 204 can be performed before the step 201, or before the step 203.

[0196] Based on Figure 2 And Figure 3 In a possible implementation of the scheme provided, the terminal device can receive the first information in the first time unit, and the terminal device can perform data transmission (such as PUSCH and / or PDSCH) with the second network device in the second time unit. The terminal device can receive the second information in the fourth time unit, and the terminal device can perform data transmission (such as PUSCH and / or PDSCH) with the first network device in the fifth time unit. Taking the terminal device receiving PDSCH from the second network device in the second time unit and the terminal device receiving PDSCH from the first network device in the fifth time unit as an example, the relationship between the second time unit and the first time unit can be seen from the following formula (1):

[0197] n2 = n1 + K0 …… formula (1)

[0198] In formula (1), n2 is the index value of the second time unit, and n1 is the index value of the first time unit. In the embodiments of the present application, the value of K0 is associated with the time delay of processing uplink information and / or the time delay of processing downlink information of the terminal device. The maximum value of K0 is 32, and the unit is the length of a time slot. For a subcarrier spacing of 120 kHz, the maximum value of K0 represents 4 milliseconds (ms). The meaning of K0 at other positions is described herein and will not be repeated.

[0199] During data transmission, there will be a delay in data transmission between multiple network devices, which will result in a timing difference when the terminal device receives data from multiple network devices. When the scenario applicable to the embodiments of this application includes communication devices (such as satellite devices) in an NTN communication system, the timing difference corresponding to data transmission between multiple network devices is likely to be large. As can be seen from the above formula (1), the interval between the second time unit and the first time unit is affected by K0. The maximum value of K0 (e.g., a maximum of 40ms) is also limited. Therefore, if the receiving timing difference is too large, the signaling (e.g., the first information) sent by the first network device for scheduling data transmission will be later than the time domain resources required for data transmission, which may lead to communication failure.

[0200] For ease of understanding, Figure 4 An exemplary diagram illustrates the possible locations of time-domain resources of a PDSCH scheduled by a first network device via a PDCCH, as provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 4 The example shown can be considered as Figure 3 One possible scenario for the provided example can be found in the following description. Figure 3 The content. With Figure 3 The difference is that, in Figure 4 In this process, there is a significant timing difference in reception between the first network device and the second network device. Figure 4 The duration t1 represents the first duration, which is related to the timing difference between the reception of the first and second network devices. It can be seen that because the duration t1 is too large, the downlink time slot #n corresponding to the second network device... 12 Later than the downlink time slot #n corresponding to the first network device 11 Thus, the terminal device in the downlink time slot #n corresponding to the first network device 11 Upon receiving PDCCH#1, it was determined that downlink time slot #n corresponding to the second network device was required. 12 Data transmission is performed, but the downlink time slot #n corresponding to the second network device 12 It is already earlier than the downlink time slot #n corresponding to the first network device. 11 Consequently, the terminal device is unable to access the downlink time slot corresponding to the second network device. 12 Data transmission may occur, potentially leading to communication failure.

[0201] Based on the above issues, Figure 5An example shows a possible flow diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. In this implementation, the second time unit is determined according to the first time unit and the first time length. The first time length is associated with the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device. Through this scheme, the time length between the time unit in which the terminal device performs data transmission and the time unit in which the second information and the first information are received can be increased, and then the case that the second time unit corresponding to the second network device is later than the first time unit corresponding to the first network device can be reduced or avoided, and then the success rate of data transmission of the terminal device can be improved.

[0202] The following will be described in conjunction with Figure 5 For ease of understanding, Figure 5 The interaction between the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device is taken as an example for description. The related examples of the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device can be referred to the foregoing Figure 2 and Figure 1G , and will not be described here.

[0203] In step 501, the terminal device acquires a first time length.

[0204] For example, the first time length is associated with the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device.

[0205] For example, the first time length is the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device, or the upward rounding of the timing difference, or the downward rounding of the timing difference. For another example, the first time length is the time length of S1 time unit quantity. S1 is a positive integer, and the value of S1 includes the value obtained by upward rounding or downward rounding of the quotient of the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device and the time length of a single time unit.

[0206] For example, the first time length can be determined by any one of the following formula (2):

[0207]

[0208] The above content takes three possible possibilities included in formula (2) as an example for description. In the formula shown in formula (2), t1 is the first time length, ΔT is the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device, and slot_duration is the time length of a single time unit. In the embodiments of the present application, indicates downward rounding, indicates upward rounding, and the meanings of these symbols at other positions can be referred to the description herein and will not be repeatedly described.

[0209] In a possible implementation, the terminal device can determine the first time length by itself according to the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device. In another possible implementation, the first network device can obtain the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device, then determine the first time length, and send information indicating the first time length to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the information indicating the first time length. The first network device can obtain the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device in various ways. For example, the terminal device reports the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device to the first network device (for example, the terminal device can determine the timing difference according to information received from the first network device and the second network device respectively). For another example, the first network device determines the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device according to location information of the second network device and location information of the terminal device, and the like.

[0210] The timing difference between the first network device and the second network device in the embodiments of the present application can refer to the difference between the timing of the terminal device receiving the first network device signal and the timing of the second network device signal. The first time length can be associated with the first network device and the second network device. The timing in the embodiments of the present application can be replaced by downlink timing, downlink synchronization timing, time synchronization or downlink time synchronization. The English of downlink timing can be called downlink timing. The downlink timing is used to make the terminal device determine the frame boundary, subframe boundary, slot boundary, symbol boundary or reception window position of the frame sent by the network device. For example, the difference between the downlink timing corresponding to the first network device and the downlink timing corresponding to the second network device can also be replaced by / including: the downlink timing difference of the first network device and the second network device, the difference of the frame boundary of the downlink frame of the first network device and the second network device, the downlink timing difference, the synchronization position difference, the time difference, the downlink time difference, the time difference of the received signal, etc. For another example, the difference between the downlink timing corresponding to the first network device and the downlink timing corresponding to the second network device can also be replaced by / including: the downlink timing difference of the terminal receiving data from the first network device and the second network device respectively, the difference of the frame boundary of the downlink frame of the terminal receiving data from the first network device and the second network device respectively, the downlink timing difference, the synchronization position difference, the time difference, the downlink time difference, the time difference of the received signal, etc. For another example, the difference between the downlink timing corresponding to the first network device and the downlink timing corresponding to the second network device can also be replaced by / including: the time difference of the frame boundary of the same frame number of the two downlink signals received by the terminal device from the first network device and the second network device respectively, the time difference of the same slot boundary of the same slot number, or the time difference of the same symbol boundary of the same symbol index number. The difference between the downlink timing corresponding to the first network device and the downlink timing corresponding to the second network device can be a variable, and the difference can be associated with the difference of the data transmission delay of the first network device and the second network device. The difference between the downlink timing corresponding to the first network device and the downlink timing corresponding to the second network device can be equal to or not equal to the difference of the data transmission delay of the first network device and the second network device.

[0211] In the embodiments of the present application, the first time length is associated with the first network device and the second network device. The values of the first time length corresponding to different network devices can be different or different. For example, the value of the first time length corresponding to network device #1 and network device #2 is T1, the value of the first time length corresponding to network device #1 and network device #3 is T2, and the value of the first time length corresponding to network device #4 and network device #5 is T3. Any two of T1, T2 and T3 can be equal or not equal.

[0212] In step 502, the first network device transmits first information in a first time unit.

[0213] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first information.

[0214] The content of step 502 can refer to the related description of the foregoing step 201, and will not be described herein again.

[0215] In step 503, the terminal device performs data transmission with the second network device according to the first information in a second time unit.

[0216] The content of step 503 can refer to the related description of the foregoing step 203, and will not be described herein again.

[0217] In a possible implementation, the second time unit is determined according to the first time unit and a first time length. In this way, the terminal device can determine the position of the second time unit based on the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device, and then can reduce or avoid the case that the second time unit corresponding to the second network device is later than the time unit occupied by the first information, and then can improve the success rate of data transmission of the terminal device. In another possible implementation, the second time unit is further determined according to a value of K0, and the value of K0 is associated with the time delay of the terminal device in processing uplink information and / or the time delay of the terminal device in processing downlink information. For example, the difference between the index value of the time unit of the first time unit and the index value of the time unit of the second time unit is determined according to the sum of the first time length and the value of K0.

[0218] In a possible example, for example, the relationship between the second time unit and the first time unit can refer to the following formula (3):

[0219] n2 = n1 + K0 + t1 …… Formula (3)

[0220] In formula (3), n2 is the index value of the second time unit, n1 is the index value of the first time unit, and t1 can be the first time length. t1 is a parameter for identifying the first time length, and the first time length can also be written as other names, for example, the first parameter is represented by offset, etc. The value of K0 is associated with the time delay of the terminal device in processing uplink information and / or the time delay of the terminal device in processing downlink information, and the related introduction can refer to the foregoing description, and will not be described herein again.

[0221] In a possible implementation, the units of n2, n1 and t1 are the same (for example, the time slot lengths of uplink transmission and downlink transmission are the same) or different (for example, the time slot lengths of uplink transmission and downlink transmission are different), and if the units of n2, n1 and t1 are the same, the foregoing formula (3) can be directly used.

[0222] In another possible example, the units of n2, n1 and t1 are different, and unit conversion can be considered. For example, n1 in the foregoing formula (3) can be replaced by or For another example, t1 in the foregoing formula (3) can be replaced by or The various parameters in the various formulas in the embodiments of the present application can be rounded (can be rounded up or rounded down), or can not be rounded (for example is an integer, In the formula, it can not be rounded). Based on the above description, for example, formula (3) can also be replaced by any of the following: or, Based on the above description, formula (3) can also be replaced by other forms, which are not listed here.

[0223] In the embodiments of the present application, represents rounding down, represents rounding up, and * represents multiplication. PDSCH The subcarrier spacing corresponding to the time unit corresponding to the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device, the subcarrier spacing corresponding to the time unit adopted by the first time length t1 is equal to kHz, PDCCH The subcarrier spacing corresponding to the PDCCH subcarrier spacing corresponding to the PDCCH subcarrier spacing is μ offset The subcarrier spacing corresponding to the time unit corresponding to the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device, the subcarrier spacing corresponding to the time unit adopted by the first time length t1 is equal to The meanings of the same parameters at other positions can be referred to the description here, and the other positions are not described again.

[0224] The units of the parameters in the various formulas (such as formula (3), formula (2) and formula (1)) in the embodiments of the present application can be time units, such as time slots, or other units, such as symbol corresponding time length, 1ms, 1 microsecond (microsecond, μs), 10ms, etc. The units of the parameters in other formulas have similar meanings, which are not described again.

[0225] Step 504, the first network device sends second information in the fourth time unit.

[0226] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second information.

[0227] The content of step 504 can be referred to the related description of the foregoing step 202, which is not described again.

[0228] Step 505, the terminal device performs data transmission with the first network device in the fifth time unit according to the second information.

[0229] The content of step 505 can be referred to the related description of the foregoing step 204, which is not described again.

[0230] There are several possible implementations for determining the fifth time unit. Two possible implementations are illustrated below through Example 1 and Example 2.

[0231] Example 1: The fifth time unit can be associated with the first duration. For example, the fifth time unit is determined based on the fourth time unit and the first duration. For example, the fifth time unit = the fourth time unit + K0 + t1. This implementation method can refer to the scheme related to the aforementioned formula (3), which is similar and will not be repeated here. In this implementation method, the value of t1 can be equal to the value of t1 in the aforementioned formula (3).

[0232] Example 2: The fifth time unit may be unrelated to the first time unit. For example, the relationship between the fifth time unit and the fourth time unit can be seen in the following formula (4):

[0233] n5=n4+K0……Formula (4)

[0234] In formula (4), n5 is the index value of the fifth time unit, and n4 is the index value of the fourth time unit. The meaning of K0 is as described above and will not be repeated here.

[0235] In formula (4), the units of n5 and n4 may be the same or different, and unit conversion can be considered. For example, n4 in formula (4) above can be replaced with or

[0236] Alternatively, in Example 2 above, formula (4) can also be written as n5 = n4 + K0 + t1, but the value of t1 is set to zero in this formula. The value of t1 is not zero in the aforementioned formula (3).

[0237] based on Figure 5 The embodiment shown, Figure 6 This example illustrates a schematic diagram of the possible locations of time-domain resources of a PDSCH scheduled by a first network device via a PDCCH, as provided in another embodiment of this application. Figure 6 The example shown can be considered as Figure 3 Another possible scenario for the provided example can be found in the relevant description. Figure 3 The content. Figure 6 The example shown can be considered as a... Figure 4 The example shown is a modified version of the previous embodiment. Figure 6 In this process, there is a significant timing difference in reception between the first network device and the second network device. Figure 6 The duration t1 represents the first duration. Figure 6 In the middle, with time slot #n 22 This represents an example of a second time unit. Figure 6 In the example shown, the second time unit (time slot #n) 22) and the first time unit (time slot #n 11 This satisfies the above formula (3). It can be seen that the second time unit (slot #n) 22 ) and the first time unit (time slot #n 11 The number of time units between them is larger, which can reduce or avoid the above. Figure 4 The second network device appearing in the second time unit (time slot #n) corresponds to the second time unit. 22 Later than the first time unit (time slot #n) corresponding to the first network device 11 This can improve the success rate of data transmission from the terminal device. Figure 6 Mid-time slot #n 15 The time delay can be determined based on Example 1 (e.g., fifth time unit = fourth time unit + K0 + t1) or Example 2 (e.g., formula (4)) in step 505 above. In this way, the data transmission delay of the first network device can be reduced.

[0238] In one possible implementation, after the terminal device transmits data (e.g., PDSCH) with the network device, it can send response information. Because of the RRC connection established between the terminal device and the first network device, the terminal device sends response information corresponding to the data from both the primary and secondary communication devices to the first network device. For example, after receiving data from the second network device, the terminal device can send a first response message to the first network device. Similarly, after receiving data from the first network device, the terminal device can send a second response message to the first network device. Figure 7 An exemplary diagram illustrates the possible location of temporal resources for response information sent by a terminal device according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 7 As shown, the first network device is in time slot #n 15 Send PDSCH#2 (time slot #n) to the terminal device 15 (This can be considered an example of a fifth time unit), the second network device in time slot #n 32 Send PDSCH#1 (time slot #n) to the terminal device 32 This can be considered an example of a second time unit. (Time slot #n) 32 and time slot #n 15 The time slot indices can be the same or different. The terminal device corresponds to the uplink time slot #n of the first network device. 33 Send the second response message and the first response message. In one possible example, time slot #n 33 With time slot #n 15 The relationship between them can be calculated using the following formula (5):

[0239]

[0240] In formula (5), the value of K is associated with the time delay of the terminal device processing downlink information from the first network device and / or the time delay of processing uplink information (for example, uplink response information), K offset is a time unit offset value.

[0241] In the embodiments of the present application, μ Koffset is associated with the corresponding subcarrier spacing, for example, K offset The corresponding subcarrier spacing is offset The corresponding subcarrier spacing is The meaning of the parameter at other positions is described herein and will not be described again.

[0242] In a possible implementation, the factors that the terminal device needs to consider when sending the first response information include: the TA used by the terminal device when sending uplink information to the first network device, and the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device. The standard defines K offset The maximum value of K can be 1023 milliseconds. Since the first response information considers the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device, K offset in the above formula (5) will be set to a larger value, which in turn causes the time slot #n 33 for feeding back the second response information to be far away from the time slot #n 15 , which in turn causes the second response information feedback delay to be large.

[0243] Based on the above problems, Figure 8 An exemplary possible flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application is shown. In this implementation, the terminal device can not consider the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device when sending the second response information to the first network device, and the terminal device needs to consider the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device when sending the first response information to the first network device. In this way, the feedback delay of the first network device can be reduced, and the feedback delay of the second network device can also be large to meet the above-mentioned factors that the first response information needs to consider.

[0244] The following will be described in conjunction with Figure 8 For ease of understanding, Figure 8 The interaction between the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device is taken as an example for description in the following. The related examples of the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device can be referred to the related descriptions of the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device in the foregoing Figure 2 and Figure 1G , which will not be described again.

[0245] In step 801, the second network device sends data in a second time unit, and the first network device sends data in a fifth time unit.

[0246] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives data (e.g., PDSCH) from the first network device and data (e.g., PDSCH) from the second network device.

[0247] The second time unit and the fifth time unit can be the same or different. The data transmitted by the first network device and the data transmitted by the second network device can be the same or different.

[0248] The content of step 801 can be referred to the related description of steps 203 and 204 described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0249] In step 802, the terminal device transmits second response information in a sixth time unit.

[0250] Correspondingly, the first network device receives the second response information.

[0251] The terminal device can feed back the decoding result of the data (e.g., PDSCH) received from the first network device to the first network device through the sixth time unit. The second response information is the response information of the data received from the first network device in the second time unit. The second response information includes ACK or NACK, for example. When the second response information is ACK, it means that the terminal device decodes the data (e.g., PDSCH) from the first network device successfully. When the second response information is NACK, it means that the terminal device fails to decode the data (e.g., PDSCH) from the first network device.

[0252] The sixth time unit can be determined according to the second time unit, the value of K, and the time unit offset value. For example, the difference between the time unit index of the sixth time unit and the time unit index of the second time unit is determined according to the sum of the value of K and the time unit offset value. For example, the difference between the time unit index of the sixth time unit and the time unit index of the second time unit is the sum of the value of K and the time unit offset value, or a value obtained by operating the sum of the value of K and the time unit offset value with other parameters. For example, the relationship between the sixth time unit and the fifth time unit can satisfy the following formula (6):

[0253]

[0254] In formula (6), n5 is the time unit index of the fifth time unit, n6 is the time unit index of the sixth time unit, K offset is the time unit offset value. The value of K in the embodiments of the present application can be a constant, and the value of K can be associated with the time delay of the terminal device in processing the downlink information from the first network device and / or the time delay of the terminal device in processing the uplink information (e.g., the uplink response information).

[0255] In the embodiments of the present application, μ is related to the uplink subcarrier spacing (e.g., PUCCH, the subcarrier spacing corresponding to PUCCH is, for example, 2 μ The remaining parameters are described in other formulas and will not be repeated.

[0256] In a possible implementation, the unit of n5 in formula (6) is the same as the unit of n6 (e.g., the time slot length of uplink transmission is the same as that of downlink transmission), and formula (6) can be directly used. The unit of n5 in formula (6) is different from the unit of n6, and unit conversion can be considered, for example, n5 can also be replaced by or

[0257] The time unit offset value K offset The TA corresponding to the first network device. In a possible implementation, the time unit offset value K offset is not related to the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device. In this way, K offset can be set to a smaller value, and then the time length between the second response information and the data transmitted by the first network device can be shortened, so that the feedback delay of the first network device can be reduced.

[0258] In step 803, the terminal device acquires the first time length.

[0259] The related content of the first time length and the manner in which the terminal device acquires the first time length can be referred to the foregoing description.

[0260] The content of step 803 can be referred to the related description of step 501, and will not be repeated.

[0261] In step 804, the terminal device sends the first response information in the third time unit.

[0262] Correspondingly, the first network device receives the first response information.

[0263] The terminal device can feed back the decoding result of the data (e.g., PDSCH) received from the second network device to the first network device through the third time unit. The first response information is the response information of the data received from the second network device in the second time unit. For example, the first response information includes ACK or NACK. The first response information is ACK, which can indicate that the terminal device decodes the data (e.g., PDSCH) from the second network device successfully. The first response information is NACK, which can indicate that the terminal device decodes the data (e.g., PDSCH) from the second network device unsuccessfully.

[0264] The time unit offset value can be associated with a TA corresponding to the first network device, and not associated with the timing difference between the second network device and the first network device. The time unit offset value used for calculating the third time unit is the same as the offset value used for calculating the sixth time unit. The third time unit is determined according to the second time unit, the value of K, the time unit offset value, and the first time length. Details of the first time length can be referred to the foregoing description. For example, the third time unit is a sum of the second time unit, the value of K, the time unit offset value, and the first time length, or a calculation result of the sum and a set value.

[0265] In a possible implementation, a difference between the index value of the third time unit and the index value of the sixth time unit is the first time length, or a calculation result of the first time length and another set value. Details of the first time length can be referred to the foregoing description, which will not be repeated. In this way, the time delay of the first response information can be increased, so that the sending of the first response information can be reduced or avoided before the terminal device receives data from the second network device, thereby improving the communication performance.

[0266] For example, the relationship between the third time unit and the second time unit can satisfy the following formula (7):

[0267]

[0268] In the formula (7), n3 is the time unit index of the third time unit, n2 is the time unit index of the second time unit, K offset is the time unit offset value, and t1 is the first time length. The parameters n2, K, and K offset in the formula (7) can be referred to the related description in the foregoing formula, which will not be repeated.

[0269] In a possible implementation, when the units of n2 and t1 are the same as the unit of n3 (for example, the time slot length of uplink transmission is the same as that of downlink transmission), the foregoing formula (7) can be directly used. For another example, the units (or time lengths of units) of at least two of n2, t1, and n3 in the formula (7) can be different, and unit conversion can be considered. For example, n2 in the formula (7) can be replaced by or t1 can be replaced by or The parameters in each formula in the embodiments of the present application can be rounded (can be rounded up or rounded down), or can not be rounded (for example is an integer, the formula can not be rounded). Based on the foregoing description, for example, the foregoing formula (7) can also be replaced by any of the following: or, Based on the above description, formula (7) can also be replaced with other ways of writing, which will not be listed here.

[0270] In another possible implementation, the above formula (6) can also be understood to have a parameter t1. For example, formula (6) can be replaced with: However, t1 is set to 0 in this formula. But t1 in formula (7) is not 0.

[0271] based on Figure 8 The provided embodiments are for ease of understanding. Figure 9 An exemplary diagram illustrates the possible location of temporal resources for response information sent by a terminal device according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 9 This can be seen as an improved version of the solution provided in point 7. For example... Figure 9 As shown, the first network device is in time slot #n 15 Send PDSCH#2 (time slot #n) to the terminal device 15 (This can be considered an example of a fifth time unit), the second network device in time slot #n 32 Send PDSCH#1 (time slot #n) to the terminal device 32 This can be considered an example of a second time unit. (Time slot #n) 32 and time slot #n 15 The time slot indices can be the same or different. The terminal device corresponds to the uplink time slot #n of the first network device. 46 Send second response information (slot #n) 46 This can be considered an example of a sixth time unit. The terminal device corresponds to the uplink time slot #n of the first network device. 43 Send first response information (slot #n) 43 This can be considered an example of a third time unit. Where, time slot #n 46 The time slot #n can be calculated using the formula (6) above. 43 It can be calculated using formula (7). It can be seen that the parameter K in formulas (6) and (7) is... offset Since the timing difference between the first and second network devices does not need to be considered, it can be set to a smaller value, thereby shortening the feedback delay of the PDSCH sent by the first network device. Furthermore, due to time slot #n 43 The calculation process takes into account the first duration, so the feedback delay of the second network device can also meet the requirements.

[0272] In the scheme provided by the embodiment of the present application, the first network device can also schedule the terminal device to send uplink data (e.g. PUSCH) to the first network device through the second information, and the first network device can also schedule the terminal device to send uplink data (e.g. PUSCH) to the second network device through the first information. The possible flowchart of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is exemplarily shown in the following. Figure 10 For the convenience of understanding, Figure 10 The interaction between the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device is taken as an example for introduction. The related examples of the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device can be referred to the foregoing description of the related examples of the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device, and will not be described herein. Figure 2 And Figure 1G The related description of the foregoing embodiment will not be described herein.

[0273] In the embodiment provided by the present application, Figure 10 In the embodiment provided by the present application, the time domain resource occupied by the uplink data sent by the terminal device to the first network device can not consider the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device, and the position of the time domain resource can refer to the related scheme of the time domain resource occupied by the second response information sent by the terminal device to the first network device in the foregoing embodiment provided by the present application. Figure 8 In the embodiment provided by the present application, the time domain resource occupied by the uplink data sent by the terminal device to the first network device can not consider the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device, and the position of the time domain resource can refer to the related scheme of the time domain resource occupied by the second response information sent by the terminal device to the first network device in the foregoing embodiment provided by the present application. Figure 8 In this way, the time delay of the uplink data (e.g. PUSCH) sent by the terminal device to the first network device is small, and the time delay of the uplink data (e.g. PUSCH) sent by the terminal device to the second network device is large, which can ensure that the uplink data is fed back to the first network device in time, and also ensure that the time delay of the uplink data fed back to the second network device meets the requirement of the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device.

[0274] The foregoing embodiment of the present application is described in detail in combination with the following. Figure 10

[0275] Step 1001, the first network device sends second information at a fourth time unit.

[0276] For example, the second information is used for scheduling the terminal device to send data (e.g. PUSCH) to the first network device.

[0277] The content of step 1001 can refer to the related description of step 202, and will not be described herein.

[0278] Step 1002, the terminal device sends fourth information at a fifth time unit.

[0279] ​Correspondingly, the first network device receives the fourth information.

[0280] The fourth information includes, for example, a PUSCH.

[0281] The determination scheme of the fifth time unit is similar to the determination scheme of the sixth time unit. For example, the fifth time unit is determined according to the fourth time unit, the value of K2, and a time unit offset value. For example, the difference between the time unit index of the fifth time unit and the time unit index of the fourth time unit is determined according to the sum of the value of K2 and the time unit offset value. For example, the difference between the time unit index of the fifth time unit and the time unit index of the fourth time unit is the sum of the value of K2 and the time unit offset value; or is the calculation result of the sum of the value of K2 and the time unit offset value and a set value.

[0282] For example, the relationship between the fifth time unit and the fourth time unit can satisfy formula (8):

[0283]

[0284] In formula (8), n5 is the time unit index of the fifth time unit, n4 is the time unit index of the fourth time unit, K2 is the value of K2, and K is the time unit offset value. The value of K2 in the embodiment of the application can be a constant or configured by the first network device to the terminal device. The value of K2 can be associated with the time delay of the terminal device processing the received downlink information sent by the network device and / or the time delay of the terminal device sending uplink information to the first network device. offset

[0285] In the embodiment of the application, μ PUSCH is related to the subcarrier spacing of the PUSCH, for example, the subcarrier spacing corresponding to the PUSCH is kilohertz (kHz).

[0286] In formula (8), the units of n5 and n4 can be the same or different, and unit conversion can be considered. For example, in the above formula (8), K2 and K can be replaced by or or For example, formula (8) can be replaced by: and other writings of formula (8) are not described in detail.

[0287] In the embodiment of the application, μ PUSCH is related to the subcarrier spacing corresponding to the PUSCH, for example, the subcarrier spacing corresponding to the PUSCH is, for example, The remaining parameters are described in other formulas and are not described in detail.

[0288] In the embodiment of the application, the time unit offset value K​offset The TA corresponding to the first network device. In one possible implementation, the time unit offset value K offset is not associated with the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device. Thus, K offset may be set as the smaller one, which in turn can make the fourth information transmitted faster, thereby reducing the feedback delay of the first network device. The time unit offset value K offset may refer to the foregoing description of the foregoing Figure 8 , and will not be repeated here.

[0289] The content of step 1002 can also refer to the foregoing description of step 204, and will not be repeated here.

[0290] Step 1003, the first network device transmits the first information in the first time unit.

[0291] For example, the first information is used to schedule the terminal device to transmit data (e.g., PUSCH) to the second network device.

[0292] The content of step 1003 can refer to the foregoing description of step 201, and will not be repeated here.

[0293] Step 1004, the terminal device acquires the first time length.

[0294] The content of the first time length, and the way the terminal device acquires the first time length can refer to the foregoing description.

[0295] The content of step 1004 can refer to the foregoing description of step 501, and will not be repeated here.

[0296] Step 1005, the terminal device transmits the fifth information in the second time unit.

[0297] Correspondingly, the second network device receives the fifth information.

[0298] The fifth information is, for example, PUSCH.

[0299] The second time unit is determined according to the first time unit, the value of K2, the time unit offset value and the first time length. The time unit offset value used for calculating the second time unit is the same as the offset value used for calculating the fifth time unit. For example, the difference between the index values of the time units of the fifth time unit and the second time unit is the first time length or the calculation result of the first time length and other set values. Since the terminal device can determine the time unit offset value based on the TA corresponding to the first network device, the value can be a smaller value, so that the terminal device does not have to send data to the first network device with too large a time delay. On the other hand, since the time unit offset value is set to be small, when calculating the time unit for sending data to the second network device, the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device is additionally considered, so that the time delay for sending data to the second network device can be prolonged, the problem that the time delay for sending data by the second network device is too small can be reduced or avoided, and the communication performance can be improved.

[0300] For example, the relationship between the first time unit and the second time unit can satisfy formula (9)

[0301]

[0302] In formula (9), n2 is the time unit index of the second time unit, n1 is the time unit index of the first time unit, K offset is the time unit offset value, and t1 is the first time length. The parameters n1, K2 and K offset in formula (9) can be referred to the related description in the foregoing formulas and will not be described again. Since K offset is set to be small, and the information sent by the terminal device to the second network device can consider the TA used by the terminal device when sending uplink information to the network device, and the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device. Therefore, in the scheme provided in the embodiments of the present application, the parameter t1 needs to be considered when determining the sixth time unit.

[0303] In a possible implementation, the units of n2, n1 and t1 are the same (for example, the time slot lengths of uplink transmission and downlink transmission are the same) or different (for example, the time slot lengths of uplink transmission and downlink transmission are different). If the units of n2, n1 and t1 are the same, the above formula (9) can be directly used.

[0304] In another possible example, the units of n2, n1 and t1 are different (for example, the time slot lengths of uplink transmission and downlink transmission are different), and unit conversion can be considered. For example, n1 in the above formula (9) can be replaced by or For example, t1 in the above formula (9) can be replaced by or In the embodiments of this application, the parameters in each formula can be rounded (rounded up or rounded down), or they can be left unrounded (e.g., ...). It is an integer. (Rounding is not required in the formula). Based on these descriptions, for example, formula (9) can also be replaced with: Based on the above description, formula (9) can also be replaced with other ways of writing, which will not be listed here.

[0305] In another possible implementation, the above formula (8) can also be understood to have a parameter t1, for example, formula (8) can be n5 = However, t1 in this formula is set to 0, while t1 in formula (9) is not 0. In another possible implementation, formula (8) can be... However, the t1 in this formula is the same as the t1 in formula (9), and neither of them can be zero.

[0306] The content of step 1002 can also be found in the relevant description of step 203 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0307] Figure 11 This illustration shows a schematic diagram illustrating the possible locations of time-domain resources of a PUSCH scheduled by a first network device via a PDCCH, according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 11 As shown, the first network device is in time slot #n 11 The first network device sends PDCCH#1 to the terminal device, and PDCCH#1 may include second information. The first network device sends PDCCH#1 in time slot #n. 14 The terminal device sends PDCCH#2, which may include the first information. The terminal device then sends the PDCCH#2 to the uplink time slot #n corresponding to the second network device. 52 (Second Time Unit) Send PUSCH#1 (Fifth Information), terminal device in the uplink time slot #n corresponding to the first network device 55 (Fifth time unit) Send PUSCH#2 (fourth information). Where, time slot #n 55 The time slot #n can be calculated using the formula (8) above. 52 It can be calculated using formula (9). It can be seen that the parameter K in formulas (8) and (9) is... offset Since the timing difference between the first and second network devices does not need to be considered, it can be set to a smaller value, thereby shortening the delay for the terminal device to send PUSCH to the first network device. Furthermore, due to time slot #n 52 The calculation process takes into account the first duration, so the latency for the terminal device to send PUSCH to the second network device can also meet the requirements.

[0308] Any two embodiments provided by the embodiments of the present application can be used in combination, for example, the first network device schedules the terminal device to send uplink data to the second network device through the first information (for example, refer to the embodiment shown in Figure 10 ), and the first network device schedules the terminal device to send downlink data to the terminal device through the second information (for example, refer to the embodiment shown in Figure 5 ). For another example, the first network device schedules the terminal device to send uplink data to the first network device through the second information (for example, refer to the embodiment shown in Figure 10 ), and the first network device schedules the second network device to send downlink data to the terminal device through the first information (for example, refer to the embodiment shown in Figure 5 ). The terminal device can only need to send response information to one network device (for example, the first network device or the second network device), and the sending mode of the response information can refer to the embodiment shown in Figure 8 .

[0309] Based on the above Figure 2 、 Figure 3 、 Figure 4 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 6 、 Figure 7 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 9 、 Figure 10 and Figure 11 , Figure 12 exemplarily shows a possible flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. In the embodiment, the first network device and the second network device can adjust the transmission power based on the information sent by the terminal device, so as to improve the transmission spectrum efficiency.

[0310] The following will be introduced in combination with Figure 12 . For the convenience of understanding, Figure 12 , the interaction of the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device is taken as an example for introduction. The related examples of the terminal device, the first network device and the second network device can refer to the related descriptions of the foregoing Figure 2 and Figure 1G , and will not be described herein again.

[0311] In step 1201, the terminal device sends third information.

[0312] Correspondingly, the first network device receives the third information.

[0313] The third information is used to indicate the SNR difference and / or the received power difference of the signals received from the first network device and the second network device. The third information is used for the first network device and / or the second network device to adjust the transmission power.

[0314] The SNR difference of the signals of the first network device and the second network device may, for example: comprise or be a value obtained by subtracting the SNR of the second network device from the SNR of the first network device; or may comprise or be a value obtained by subtracting the SNR of the first network device from the SNR of the second network device.

[0315] The received power difference of the signals of the first network device and the second network device may, for example: comprise or be a value obtained by subtracting the received power of the second network device from the received power of the first network device; or may comprise or be a value obtained by subtracting the received power of the first network device from the received power of the second network device.

[0316] In step 1202, the first network device adjusts the transmission power according to the third information.

[0317] In step 1203, the first network device sends sixth information to the second network device.

[0318] Correspondingly, the second network device receives the sixth information.

[0319] The sixth information is used to instruct the second network device to adjust the transmission power. The sixth information may be determined based on the third information. For example, the sixth information may be the third information. Or the sixth information is used to instruct the target SNR of the second network device. Or, the sixth information is used to instruct the target transmission power of the second network device. Or, the sixth information is used to instruct the second network device to increase or decrease the transmission power by a certain amount. Or, the sixth information is used to instruct the second network device to increase or decrease the SNR by a certain difference.

[0320] In step 1204, the second network device adjusts the transmission power based on the sixth information.

[0321] When the difference between the SNRs of the first network device and the second network device is closer to zero, the overall transmission spectrum efficiency of the system is higher. Based on this, the terminal device can provide a reference for the adjustment of the transmission power of the first network device and / or the second network device by reporting the third information, so as to improve the overall transmission performance and / or transmission spectrum efficiency of the system.

[0322] For example, the SNR of the signal received by UE#1 from the first network device (e.g., satellite #1) is 3 decibels (dB), and the SNR of the signal received by UE#1 from the second network device (e.g., satellite #2) is 5 dB. The SNR of the signal received by UE#2 from the first network device (e.g., satellite #1) is 3 dB, and the SNR of the signal received by UE#2 from the second network device (e.g., satellite #2) is 5 dB. The first network device and / or the second network device can adjust the power or energy allocation so that the SNR of the signals received by UE1 from the first network device (e.g., satellite #1) and the second network device (e.g., satellite #2) is 3 dB and 3 dB, respectively, and the SNR of the signals received by UE2 from the first network device (e.g., satellite #1) and the second network device (e.g., satellite #2) is 5 dB and 5 dB, respectively, to achieve high spectral efficiency of the overall system transmission.

[0323] The signaling or information (such as at least one of the first information, the second information, and the information for indicating the first time length) sent by the first network device in the embodiments of the present application can have multiple sending manners. For example, any of the signaling or information can be carried in at least one of the broadcast information of system information block (SIB) 1, SIB 19, other system information (OSI), master information block (MIB), and physical broadcast channel (PBCH) message. The signaling or information (such as at least one of the first information, the second information, and the information for indicating the first time length) sent by the first network device is broadcasted, groupcasted, or unicasted by the network device to the relay device. Broadcasting or groupcasting the above signaling to the relay device can avoid scheduling different resources for different relay devices to send the above signaling, saving the signaling overhead of scheduling resources and reducing the system scheduling complexity.

[0324] In another possible implementation, if the signaling or information (such as at least one of the first information, the second information, and the information for indicating the first time length) sent by the first network device is sent in a radio resource control (RRC) connection setup phase and a subsequent communication process, the signaling or information (such as at least one of the first information, the second information, and the information for indicating the first time length) sent by the first network device can be carried in at least one of RRC signaling (for example, an RRC setup message, RRC reconfiguration signaling, RRC resume signaling, or the like), DCI, group DCI, a media access control (MAC) control element (CE), or a timing advance command (TAC). The signaling or information (such as at least one of the first information, the second information, and the information for indicating the first time length) sent by the first network device can be indicated by information or a table, or unicast or groupcast to the relay device with data transmission or in a separately allocated PDSCH bearer. The advantage of sending the above signaling to the UE individually or in a group is that the parameter values of each / each group of UEs can be flexibly controlled, and different parameter values are configured to the UEs according to different locations or different areas where the UEs are located, to achieve the purpose of optimizing system parameters and optimizing UE communication performance / system communication performance. For example, different first time lengths can be configured according to different locations where the UEs are located, and the feedback delay of the multi-satellite joint transmission system can be optimized for the UEs in different locations, to reduce the feedback delay and improve the efficiency of system transmission.

[0325] It can be understood that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the terminal device, the relay device, and the network device can include corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for performing the functions. Those skilled in the art should easily understand that, in combination with the units and method steps of the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in the present application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is implemented in hardware or computer software driven hardware depends on the specific application scenarios and design constraints of the technical solutions.

[0326] Based on the same concept, Figure 13 , Figure 14 and Figure 15 a possible structure of a communication device provided for the embodiments of the present application is shown. Figure 13 , Figure 14 and Figure 15 The communication device shown in the above embodiments can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device, the first network device, or the second network device in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiments. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be, for example, Figure 1A, Figure 1B , Figure 1C , Figure 1D , Figure 1E , Figure 1F or Figure 1G terminal device as shown in Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 1C , Figure 1D , Figure 1E , Figure 1F or Figure 1G network device (such as a satellite device, or a network device deployed on the ground), and can also be a chip (or chip system) applied to a terminal device or a network device as shown in Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 1C , Figure 1D , Figure 1E , Figure 1F or Figure 1G .

[0327] As shown in Figure 13 , the communication apparatus 1300 comprises a processing unit 1310 and a transceiver unit 1320. The communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the functions of a terminal device, a first network device or a second network device in the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 . The transceiver unit 1320 can also be referred to as a communication unit. The transceiver unit 1320 can comprise a transmitting unit and a receiving unit.

[0328] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the functions of a terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 , in one possible implementation, the processing unit 1310 is configured to

[0329] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the functions of a terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 , in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is configured to receive first information from a first network device, and perform data transmission with a second network device according to the first information.

[0330] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the functions of a terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to perform the method embodiments illustrated by

[0331] In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to perform the method embodiments illustrated by Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, the transceiver 1320 is configured to receive information indicating that the first field is included in the first DCI, and the processing unit 1310 is configured to determine that the first field is included in the first DCI according to the information indicating that the first field is included in the first DCI.

[0332] In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to perform the method embodiments illustrated by Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, the processing unit 1310 is configured to determine that the second field is included in the first DCI in a case where the format of the first DCI belongs to the first format.

[0333] In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to perform the method embodiments illustrated by Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, the transceiver 1320 is configured to receive information indicating the first time length.

[0334] In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to perform the method embodiments illustrated by Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, the transceiver 1320 is configured to transmit information indicating the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device.

[0335] In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to perform the method embodiments illustrated by Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in

[0336] In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in

[0337] In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in

[0338] In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in

[0339] In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in

[0340] In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in

[0341] In a possible implementation, where the communication device 1300 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, where the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to perform the function of the first network device in the method embodiments shown in

[0342] In a possible implementation, where the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to perform the function of the first network device in the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, where the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to perform the function of the first network device in the method embodiments shown in

[0343] In a possible implementation, where the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to perform the function of the first network device in the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, where the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to perform the function of the first network device in the method embodiments shown in

[0344] In a possible implementation, where the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to perform the function of the first network device in the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, where the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to perform the function of the first network device in the method embodiments shown in

[0345] In a possible implementation, where the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to perform the function of the first network device in the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, where the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to perform the function of the first network device in the method embodiments shown in

[0346] In a possible implementation, where the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to perform the function of the first network device in the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 14 or Figure 12 In a possible implementation, where the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to perform the function of the first network device in the method embodiments shown in

[0347] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 as the function of the first network device, in a possible implementation, the transceiver 1320 is configured to receive the first response information.

[0348] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 as the function of the first network device, in a possible implementation, the transceiver 1320 is configured to receive information indicating the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device.

[0349] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 as the function of the first network device, in a possible implementation, the transceiver 1320 is configured to receive the fourth information.

[0350] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 as the function of the first network device, in a possible implementation, the transceiver 1320 is configured to receive the fifth information.

[0351] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 as the function of the first network device, in a possible implementation, the transceiver 1320 is configured to receive the third information, and the processing unit 1310 is configured to adjust the transmission power according to the third information.

[0352] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 as the function of the second network device, in a possible implementation, the transceiver 1320 is configured to send data to the terminal device on the first resource.

[0353] When the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 as the function of the second network apparatus, in one possible implementation, the transceiver 1320 is configured to receive the sixth information, and the processing unit 1310 is configured to adjust the transmission power based on the sixth information.

[0354] For more details of the processing unit 1310 and the transceiver 1320, please refer to the related description in the method embodiments shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 .

[0355] As shown in Figure 14 , the communication apparatus 1400 includes a processor 1410 and an interface circuit 1420. The processor 1410 and the interface circuit 1420 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the interface circuit 1420 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. The input / output interface is configured to input and / or output information. The output can be understood as transmission, and the input can be understood as reception. Optionally, the communication apparatus 1400 can further include a memory 1430 configured to store instructions executed by the processor 1410 or store input data required by the processor 1410 to execute instructions or store data generated after the processor 1410 executes instructions.

[0356] When the communication apparatus 1400 is configured to implement the method shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 , the processor 1410 is configured to implement the functions of the processing unit 1310, and the interface circuit 1420 is configured to implement the functions of the transceiver 1320.

[0357] Please refer to Figure 15 , Figure 15 , the communication apparatus can also be a possible architecture diagram of a baseband. As shown in Figure 15 , the communication apparatus can include a processing system, which can include one or more processors. The processor can be configured to execute processes, such as process #1…process #N shown in Figure 15 .

[0358] Processing systems can be implemented using a bus architecture, typically represented by a bus. A bus can include any number of interconnect buses and bridges, depending on the specific application and overall design constraints of the processing system. The bus communicatively couples various circuits together, including one or more processors (typically represented by a processor), memory, and computer-readable media (typically represented by a computer-readable medium, such as…). Figure 15 The computer-readable media #1...computer-readable media #N shown are illustrated. The bus can also link various other circuits, such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further. The bus interface provides the interface between the bus and the transceiver, as well as between the bus and the interface.

[0359] The communication device may also include a transceiver ( Figure 15 (Not shown in the image), the transceiver can also be replaced by interface circuitry or a communication interface, etc. The transceiver provides a communication interface or means for communicating with various other devices via a wireless transmission medium. The transceiver can be coupled to an antenna array, and the transceiver and antenna array can be used together for communication with the corresponding network type. At least one interface (e.g., a network interface and / or a user interface) provides a communication interface or means for communication via an internal bus or via an external transmission medium.

[0360] The processor is responsible for managing the bus and general processing, including executing software stored on a computer-readable medium. When executed by the processor, the software causes the processing system to perform the various functions described below for any particular device. Functions achievable by the processor, memory, and computer-readable medium may include one or more of the following: encoding, decoding, rate matching, rate dematching, scrambling, descrambling, modulation, demodulation, layer mapping, fast fourier transform (FFT), inverse fast fourier transform (IFFT), inverse discrete fourier transform (IDFT), precoding, resource element (RE) mapping, channel equalization, RE demapping, digital beamforming (BF), adding CP, removing CP, etc.

[0361] The signaling involved in the embodiments of this application (such as first information, second information, data, etc.) can be implemented by a processor, memory, and computer-readable medium. For example, the aforementioned signaling sent by the first network device (e.g., a satellite device) to the terminal device is implemented by... Figure 15 The processor, memory, and computer-readable medium in the device process the above parameters and then send them to the terminal device.

[0362] When Figure 15 the communication apparatus shown in Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 14 or Figure 12 is used to implement the method shown in

[0363] When the communication apparatus (for example, the communication apparatus shown in Figure 13 , Figure 14 or Figure 15 ) is a chip applied to a terminal, the terminal chip implements the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiments. The terminal chip receives information from the base station, which can be understood as the information being first received by other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the terminal and then being transmitted to the terminal chip by these modules. The terminal chip transmits information to the base station, which can be understood as the information being first transmitted to other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the terminal and then being transmitted to the base station by these modules.

[0364] When the communication apparatus (for example, the communication apparatus shown in Figure 13 , Figure 14 or Figure 15 ) is a chip applied to a base station (such as a satellite base station), the base station chip implements the functions of the network device in the above method embodiments. The base station chip receives information from the terminal, which can be understood as the information being first received by other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the base station and then being transmitted to the base station chip by these modules. The base station chip transmits information to the terminal, which can be understood as the information being first transmitted to other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the base station and then being transmitted to the terminal by these modules.

[0365] In this application, the sending of information from entity A to entity B can be directly from A to B, or indirectly from A to B via other entities. Similarly, the receiving of information from entity A by entity B can be directly from A to B, or indirectly from A to B via other entities. The entities A and B can be RAN nodes or terminals, or modules within RAN nodes or terminals. The sending and receiving of information can be the information exchange between RAN nodes and terminals, e.g., the information exchange between base stations and terminals; the sending and receiving of information can also be the information exchange between two RAN nodes, e.g., the information exchange between CU and DU; the sending and receiving of information can also be the information exchange between different modules within one apparatus, e.g., the information exchange between a terminal chip and other modules of the terminal, or the information exchange between a base station chip and other modules of the base station.

[0366] It can be understood that the processor (e.g., the processor 1410 in the apparatus 1400 and / or the processor in the processing system in the apparatus 1500) in the embodiments of the present application can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be other general-purpose processors, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) 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. Figure 14 Figure 15 It can be understood that the processor (e.g., the processor 1410 in the apparatus 1400 and / or the processor in the processing system in the apparatus 1500) in the embodiments of the present application can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be other general-purpose processors, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) 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.

[0367] ​The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions executable by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor, so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. The processor and the storage medium can also exist as discrete components in the base station or the terminal.

[0368] In the above embodiments, the implementation can be entirely or partially achieved by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, the implementation can be entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer programs or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions of the embodiments of the present application are entirely or partially executed. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user equipment, or other programmable devices. The computer programs or instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another, for example, the computer programs or instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another by wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. integrated with one or more available media. The available media can be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape; an optical medium, such as a digital video disc; or a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state disk. The computer-readable storage medium can be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or can include both volatile and non-volatile storage media.

[0369] In various embodiments of the present application, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be mutually referred to if there is no special description and no logical conflict. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0370] In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between the associated objects, which means that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist together, B exists alone, where A, B can be singular or plural. In the textual description of the present application, the character " / ", generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship; in the formula of the present application, the character " / ", indicates that the associated objects before and after are in a "division" relationship. "Including at least one of A, B and C" can mean: including A; including B; including C; including A and B; including A and C; including B and C; including A, B and C.

[0371] It can be understood that various numbers (such as numerical numbers "first", "second", and so on, such as letter numbers "embodiment A1", "embodiment A1.1", "embodiment C1", etc.) involved in the embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of differentiation for description, and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the serial number of the above processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of the processes should be determined according to its function and inherent logic.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: The terminal device receives first information from a first network device, the first information including information for instructing a second network device, the first information instructing the terminal device to transmit data with the second network device; Data is transmitted to the second network device based on the first information.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive second information from the first network device, the second information including information for instructing the first network device, the second information instructing the terminal device to perform data transmission with the first network device; Data is transmitted with the first network device based on the second information.

3. The method as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first information is carried in the first DCI.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The method further includes: the information for indicating the second network device is carried in a first field of the first DCI; Receive information indicating that the first DCI includes the first field, and determine that the first DCI includes the first field based on the information indicating that the first DCI includes the first field.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The information used to indicate the second network device is carried in the carrier indication field or reserved field in the first DCI.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the format of the first DCI is a first format, it is determined that the first DCI includes a second field, the second field carrying the information used to indicate the second network device.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The first information occupies a first time unit, and the terminal device and the second network device transmit data in a second time unit. The second time unit is determined based on the first time unit and a first duration. The first duration is associated with the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device.

8. The method as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive information indicating the first duration.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The terminal device and the second network device perform data transmission in a second time unit; The method further includes: A first duration is obtained, which is associated with the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device; In the third time unit, a first response information is sent. The first response information is a response information to the data received from the second network device in the second time unit. The third time unit is determined based on the second time unit, the value of K, the time unit offset value, and the first duration. The value of K is associated with the delay of the terminal device in processing downlink information from the first network device and / or processing uplink information. The time unit offset value is associated with the time advance TA corresponding to the first network device.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a third message, which is used to indicate the difference in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and / or received power of the signals received from the first network device and the second network device, and the third message is used by the first network device and / or the second network device to adjust the transmit power.

11. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is applicable to a first network device, and the method includes: Obtain first information, the first information including information for instructing a second network device, the first information instructing the terminal device to perform data transmission with the second network device; Send the first message.

12. The method as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a second message, the second message including information for instructing the first network device, the second message instructing the terminal device to transmit data with the first network device.

13. The method as described in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The first information is carried in the first DCI.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that, The method further includes: the information for indicating the second network device is carried in a first field of the first DCI; Send information indicating that the first field is included in the first DCI.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that, The information used to indicate the second network device is carried in the carrier indication field or reserved field in the first DCI.

16. The method according to any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the first DCI includes information for indicating the second network device, the format of the first DCI is set to a first format, wherein the first DCI in the first format includes a second field, and the second field carries the information for indicating the second network device.

17. The method according to any one of claims 11-16, characterized in that, The first information occupies a first time unit, and the terminal device and the second network device transmit data in a second time unit. The second time unit is determined based on the first time unit and a first duration. The first duration is associated with the timing difference between the first network device and the second network device.

18. The method as described in claim 17, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send information indicating the first duration.

19. The method according to any one of claims 11-18, characterized in that, The terminal device and the second network device perform data transmission in a second time unit; The terminal device receives a first response message, which is sent in a third time unit. The first response message is a response message to data received from the second network device in the second time unit. The third time unit is determined based on the second time unit, the value of K, the time unit offset value, and the first duration. The value of K is associated with the delay of the terminal device in processing downlink information from the first network device and / or processing uplink information. The time unit offset value is associated with the time advance TA corresponding to the first network device.

20. The method according to any one of claims 11-19, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive third information, the third information being used to indicate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) difference and / or received power difference of the signals received from the first network device and the second network device; Adjust the transmission power based on the third information.

21. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes a module for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, or includes a module for performing the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 20.

22. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices and transmit them to the processor or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices, and the processor is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, or the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 20, through logic circuits or execution code instructions.

23. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, or the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 20.

24. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product stores a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, or the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 20.

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