Communication method and communication device

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method and a communication device. The method may comprise: receiving a synchronization signal; and receiving indication information, the indication information indicating that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a first cell, or the indication information indicating that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a second cell, the first cell and the second cell are respectively cells of a certain type, and specifically, one first cell is associated with one or more second cells. Therefore, the signals sent by the second cell are reduced, the dormancy opportunity of the second cell can be improved, and the power consumption of the network equipment is reduced. And the network equipment indicates the cell type of the current synchronization signal of the terminal equipment, so that the probability that the terminal equipment searches the first cell can be improved, and the network searching speed is accelerated.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of wireless communication, and more particularly, to a communication method and a communication apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0002] When a terminal device is powered on or moves, it can select a suitable cell for camping through cell selection or cell reselection. In addition, when there is a service demand or a system information change, the terminal device initiates random access from an idle state.

[0003] Currently, the main deployment mode of a cell is distributed homogenization deployment. The so-called distributed homogenization deployment refers to that the cellular cells are loosely coupled or not coupled, and each cell transmits the synchronization signal, system information, paging and other information of the cell, so as to enable each cell to provide camping and access functions for an idle state terminal device. However, this deployment mode increases the power consumption of the network device side and the cell search speed of the terminal device. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus, which can reduce the power consumption of the network device side and improve the cell search speed of the terminal device.

[0005] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be applied to the terminal side, that is, the method can be executed by a terminal device or a component (such as a chip or a chip system or a circuit or a communication module) of the terminal device, and the present application does not limit this. Hereinafter, the terminal device will be mainly taken as an example for description.

[0006] The method can include: receiving a synchronization signal; and receiving indication information, the indication information indicating that a cell where the synchronization signal is located is a first cell, or the indication information indicating that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a second cell, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells.

[0007] Here, the first cell does not refer to a specific cell but refers to a type of cell. Similarly, the second cell does not refer to a specific cell but refers to a type of cell.

[0008] Considering that the terminal device may search for a first cell or a second cell when searching for a cell, based on the above technical solution, the terminal device can determine whether the cell corresponding to the current synchronization signal is a first cell or a second cell based on the indication of the network device, and then can facilitate the terminal device to quickly identify whether the cell corresponding to the current synchronization signal is a first cell or a second cell, and then perform subsequent operations. For example, if it is not a first cell, the cell search can be performed again to search for a first cell. In this way, the probability of searching for a first cell by the terminal device can be improved, and the network search speed can be accelerated.

[0009] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the one first cell is associated with one or more second cells, and wherein the system information on the one first cell comprises cell configuration information of the second cells associated with the one first cell.

[0010] Based on the above technical solution, the cell configuration information of the second cell can be sent on the first cell, so that the second cell does not need to send these information, thereby improving the opportunity of the second cell to sleep, thereby reducing the power consumption of the network device. In addition, for the terminal device, the cell configuration information of multiple cells (for example, one first cell and associated second cells) can be received on the first cell at one time, thereby avoiding (or reducing) temporary reading of the cell configuration information of the new cell as much as possible when the cell is reselected, accelerating the reselection speed, and reducing the interruption time of the reselection. In addition, since some cell configuration information (such as basic configuration information of the network) of the second cell is sent through the associated first cell, that is, the terminal device needs to rely on the information / signals related to the first cell and the second cell to work on the second cell. When the terminal device searches the second cell through cell search, it can not work on the second cell. By indicating to the terminal device whether the cell corresponding to the current synchronization signal is the first cell or the second cell, the probability of the terminal device searching for a cell that can normally work can be improved.

[0011] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the indication information indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a second cell, and the indication information further indicates a frequency location of a first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

[0012] Based on the above technical solution, if the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a second cell, the network device can further indicate the frequency location of the associated first cell to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can receive the information / signals on the first cell based on the frequency location, thereby improving the probability of the terminal device searching for the first cell and accelerating the network search speed.

[0013] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further comprises: receiving system information on the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located based on the frequency location of the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

[0014] In some implementations of the first aspect, the indication information further indicates a frequency location of a second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located, including: the indication information further indicates an absolute radio channel number or a global synchronization channel number of the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located; or the indication information further indicates a difference of an absolute radio channel number or a difference of a global synchronization channel number between the cell where the synchronization signal is located and the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

[0015] According to the above technical solution, when the network device indicates the frequency location of the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located to the terminal device, the absolute position can be indicated, or the relative position can be indicated, so that a suitable indication manner can be selected according to the actual situation, and the flexibility and applicable scenarios of the scheme are improved.

[0016] In some implementations of the first aspect, the indication information indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a first cell, and the indication information further indicates a frequency location of a second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

[0017] According to the above technical solution, if the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a first cell, the network device can further indicate the frequency location of the second cell associated with the cell to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can receive information / signals on the second cell based on the frequency location, and the speed of reselecting the terminal device to the second cell is improved.

[0018] In some implementations of the first aspect, the indication information further indicates a frequency location of a second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located, including: the indication information further indicates an absolute radio channel number or a global synchronization channel number of the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located; or the indication information further indicates a difference of an absolute radio channel number or a difference of a global synchronization channel number between the cell where the synchronization signal is located and the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

[0019] The second aspect provides a communication method. The method can be applied to the network device side, that is, the method can be executed by the network device, or can be executed by a component (such as a chip or a chip system or a circuit or a communication module) of the network device, and the present application does not limit this. Hereinafter, the network device will be mainly taken as an example for description.

[0020] The method can include: transmitting a synchronization signal; and transmitting indication information, the indication information indicating that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a first cell, or the indication information indicating that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a second cell, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells.

[0021] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the system information on the first cell comprises cell configuration information of the second cell associated with the first cell.

[0022] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the indication information indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the second cell, and the indication information further indicates a frequency location of the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

[0023] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the indication information further indicates a frequency location of the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located, including that the indication information further indicates an absolute radio frequency channel number or a global synchronization channel number of the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located; or the indication information further indicates a difference value of an absolute radio frequency channel number or a difference value of a global synchronization channel number between the cell where the synchronization signal is located and the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

[0024] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the indication information indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the first cell, and the indication information further indicates a frequency location of the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

[0025] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the indication information further indicates a frequency location of the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located, including that the indication information further indicates an absolute radio frequency channel number or a global synchronization channel number of the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located; or the indication information further indicates a difference value of an absolute radio frequency channel number or a difference value of a global synchronization channel number between the cell where the synchronization signal is located and the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

[0026] The beneficial effects and possible designs of the second aspect can refer to the related description in the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0027] The third aspect provides a communication method. The method can be applied to the terminal side, that is, the method can be executed by a terminal device, or can be executed by a component (such as a chip or a chip system or a circuit or a communication module) of the terminal device, which is not limited in the present application. Hereinafter, the terminal device will be mainly taken as an example for description.

[0028] The method can comprise: determining a frequency location of the first cell, the frequency location of the first cell belonging to a first frequency range, the first frequency range being different from a second frequency range, the second frequency range being a frequency range to which a frequency location of the second cell belongs, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells; and detecting a synchronization signal of the first cell at the frequency location of the first cell.

[0029] Considering that, when a terminal device performs cell search, the terminal device can search for a first cell or a second cell, based on the technical scheme, the frequency locations of the first cell and the second cell belong to different frequency ranges, so that the synchronization signal of the first cell can be detected based on the frequency range of the first cell, the probability of the terminal device searching for the first cell is improved, and the network search speed is accelerated.

[0030] With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells comprises: system information on one first cell comprising cell configuration information of the second cell associated with the first cell.

[0031] With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, in a case where the synchronization signal of the first cell is not detected at the frequency location of the first cell, the method further comprises: detecting a synchronization signal of the second cell at the frequency location of the second cell.

[0032] With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the method further comprises: receiving indication information, the indication information indicating a frequency location of the second cell associated with the first cell.

[0033] A fourth aspect provides a communication method. The method can be applied to a network device side, that is, the method can be executed by a network device or a component (for example, a chip or a chip system or a circuit or a communication module) of the network device, and the present application does not limit this. Hereinafter, the network device is mainly taken as an example for description

[0034] The method can comprise: determining a frequency location of the first cell, the frequency location of the first cell belonging to a first frequency range, the first frequency range being different from a second frequency range, the second frequency range being a frequency range to which a frequency location of the second cell belongs, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells; and detecting a synchronization signal of the first cell at the frequency location of the first cell.

[0035] With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells comprises: system information on one first cell comprising cell configuration information of the second cell associated with the first cell.

[0036] In some implementations of the fourth aspect, in combination with the fourth aspect, the method further includes: sending indication information, the indication information indicating a frequency location of a second cell associated with the first cell.

[0037] In some implementations of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the indication information indicating the frequency location of the second cell associated with the first cell includes: the indication information indicating an absolute radio frequency channel number of the second cell associated with the first cell; or the indication information indicating a difference between an absolute radio frequency channel number of the first cell and an absolute radio frequency channel number of the second cell associated with the first cell.

[0038] In some implementations of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the first frequency range and the second frequency range satisfy any of the following: the first frequency range is a frequency range of a synchronization signal raster, and the second frequency range is a frequency range outside the frequency range of the synchronization signal raster; or the first frequency range is a first partial frequency range of a synchronization signal raster, and the second frequency range is a second partial frequency range of the synchronization signal raster, the first partial frequency range having a higher priority than the second partial frequency range; or the first frequency range is a frequency range of a synchronization signal raster, and the second frequency range is a partial frequency range of the synchronization signal raster.

[0039] Based on the above technical solutions, the priority of the frequency range of the first cell can be higher than the priority of the frequency range of the second cell, so that the terminal device can search for a frequency point with a higher priority, thereby increasing the probability of the terminal device searching for the first cell and speeding up the network search speed.

[0040] The beneficial effects and possible designs of the fourth aspect can be referred to the related description in the third aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0041] The fifth aspect provides a communication method. The method can be applied to the terminal side, that is, the method can be executed by a terminal device, or can be executed by a component (such as a chip or a chip system or a circuit or a communication module) of the terminal device, which is not limited in the present application. Hereinafter, the terminal device will be mainly taken as an example for description.

[0042] The method can include: receiving a synchronization signal of a first cell and / or a synchronization signal of a second cell, the synchronization signal of the first cell being generated based on a first sequence, the first sequence belonging to a first sequence set, the synchronization signal of the second cell being generated based on a second sequence, the second sequence belonging to a second sequence set, the first sequence set and the second sequence set having no intersection, and one first cell being associated with one or more second cells.

[0043] In consideration of the fact that the terminal device may search for the first cell or the second cell during cell search, based on the above technical solution, the sequences of the synchronization signals of the first cell and the second cell belong to different sequence sets, so that the terminal device can search for the synchronization signal of the first cell during network search (i.e., during cell search), thereby improving the probability of searching for the first cell by the terminal device and accelerating the network search speed.

[0044] With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementations of the fifth aspect, one first cell is associated with one or more second cells, including that: system information on one first cell includes cell configuration information of the second cell associated with the first cell.

[0045] With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementations of the fifth aspect, receiving the synchronization signal of the first cell, the method further includes: performing correlation operation based on the synchronization signal of the first cell and a local sequence.

[0046] The sixth aspect provides a communication method. The method can be applied to the network device side, i.e., the method can be executed by the network device or a component (e.g., a chip or a chip system or a circuit or a communication module) of the network device, and the present application does not limit this. Hereinafter, the network device will be mainly taken as an example for description

[0047] The method can include: transmitting a synchronization signal of a first cell and / or a synchronization signal of a second cell, the synchronization signal of the first cell being generated based on a first sequence, the first sequence belonging to a first sequence set, the synchronization signal of the second cell being generated based on a second sequence, the second sequence belonging to a second sequence set, the first sequence set having no intersection with the second sequence set, and one first cell being associated with one or more second cells.

[0048] With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, one first cell is associated with one or more second cells, including that: system information on one first cell includes cell configuration information of the second cell associated with the first cell.

[0049] For technical effects not described in detail in the second aspect to the sixth aspect, reference can be made to the related description in the first aspect, which will not be described here.

[0050] The seventh aspect provides a communication apparatus, which is configured to execute the method in any one of the first aspect to the sixth aspect and any possible implementation manner thereof. Specifically, the apparatus can include units and / or modules for executing the method in any one of the first aspect to the sixth aspect and any possible implementation manner thereof, such as a processing unit and / or a communication unit.

[0051] In an implementation, the apparatus is a communication device (e.g., a terminal device, or a network device). When the apparatus is a communication device, the communication unit can be a transceiver, or an input / output interface; the processing unit can be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0052] In another implementation, the apparatus is a chip, chip system or circuit, or a communication module for a communication device (e.g., a terminal device, or a network device). When the apparatus is a chip, chip system or circuit for a communication device, the communication unit can be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin or related circuitry, etc. on the chip, chip system or circuit; the processing unit can be at least one processor, a processing circuit or a logic circuit, etc.

[0053] In an eighth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises at least one processor configured to cause the apparatus to perform the method in any one of the first aspect to the sixth aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0054] Optionally, the at least one processor is configured to execute computer programs or instructions to perform the method in any one of the first aspect to the sixth aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0055] Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a memory configured to store the computer programs or instructions.

[0056] Optionally, the at least one processor is coupled with the memory configured to store the computer programs or instructions. The memory can be disposed outside the apparatus.

[0057] Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a communication interface through which the processor reads the instructions on the memory. It can be understood that the communication interface is coupled with the processor, and can be used to input the computer programs or instructions to the processor, or output the information in the processor.

[0058] For the sending and obtaining / receiving operations involved, if no special description is made, or if it does not contradict the actual role or inherent logic in the related description, it can be understood as output, input, etc. operations, or as sending and receiving operations performed by the radio frequency circuit and the antenna, which are not limited in the present application.

[0059] In an implementation, the apparatus is a communication device (e.g., a terminal device, or a network device).

[0060] In another implementation, the apparatus is a chip, chip system or circuit or communication module for a communication device (e.g., a terminal device, or a network device). Optionally, the chip is a Modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system on chip (SoC) chip or a system in package (SIP) chip containing a modem core.

[0061] In a ninth aspect, a computer readable storage medium is provided, the computer readable medium having stored thereon computer programs (e.g., program codes) or instructions which, when executed on a communication apparatus, cause the communication apparatus to perform the method in any one of the first aspect to the sixth aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0062] In a tenth aspect, a computer program product is provided, the computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method in any one of the first aspect to the sixth aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0063] In an eleventh aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus. The first communication apparatus is configured to perform the method provided in any one of the first aspect and possible implementations thereof, and the second communication apparatus is configured to perform the method provided in any one of the second aspect and possible implementations thereof; or the first communication apparatus is configured to perform the method provided in any one of the third aspect and possible implementations thereof, and the second communication apparatus is configured to perform the method provided in any one of the fourth aspect and possible implementations thereof; or the first communication apparatus is configured to perform the method provided in any one of the fifth aspect and possible implementations thereof, and the second communication apparatus is configured to perform the method provided in any one of the sixth aspect and possible implementations thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0064] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system suitable for embodiments of the present application.

[0065] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an ORAN system suitable for embodiments of the present application.

[0066] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an access network device suitable for embodiments of the present application.

[0067] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a non-homogeneous deployment.

[0068] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 500 provided by embodiments of the present application.

[0069] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 600 provided by embodiments of the present application.

[0070] Figure 7 FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 700 provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0071] Figure 8 FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 800 provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0072] Figure 9 FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus 900 provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0073] Figure 10 FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of another communication apparatus 1000 provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0074] Figure 11 FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a chip system 1100 provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] The technical solutions in the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0076] Before introducing the solutions of the present application, the following points are explained.

[0077] (1) In the present application, “indication” can include direct indication, indirect indication, explicit indication, implicit indication, etc. When describing that certain indication information indicates A, it can be understood that the indication information carries A, carries an identifier of A, carries B having a correlation relationship with A, carries an identifier of B having a correlation relationship with A, etc. In other words, if the receiving side of certain indication information can determine A according to the indication information, it can be described that the indication information indicates A, and the specific determination is not limited. When it is understood that the indication information carries A, “indication” can be replaced by “includes”, at this time, similar to the expression “sending / receiving indication information, the indication information indicates A”, it can be replaced by “sending / receiving A”.

[0078] In the present application, the information indicated by the indication information is referred to as to-be-indicated information. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the to-be-indicated information, for example, but not limited to, the to-be-indicated information can be directly indicated, such as the to-be-indicated information itself or the index of the to-be-indicated information. The to-be-indicated information can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, wherein the other information and the to-be-indicated information have an association relationship. The to-be-indicated information can also be only indicated in part, and the other part of the to-be-indicated information is known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of a specific information can also be achieved by means of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (for example, the protocol stipulates), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. In addition, the to-be-indicated information can be sent as a whole, or can be sent separately into multiple sub-information, and the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different.

[0079] (2) In the present application, the expression " / " is used to represent that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship; for example, A / B can represent A or B. The expression "and / or" is used to represent that the objects associated before and after can be in an "and" association relationship or an "or" association relationship; for example, A and / or B can represent the following cases: A exists alone, B exists alone, A and B exist together, wherein A and B can be single or multiple. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions are used to represent any combination of the listed items; for example, at least one of A, B and (or) C can represent the following cases: A exists alone, B exists alone, C exists alone, A and B exist together, B and C exist together, A and C exist together, A, B and C exist together, wherein A, B and C can be single or multiple.

[0080] (3) In the present application, "sending" and "receiving" represent the direction of signal transmission. For example, "sending information to XX" can be understood as that the destination of the information is XX, which can include direct sending through the air interface, or indirect sending through the air interface by other units or modules. "Receiving information from YY" can be understood as that the source of the information is YY, which can include direct receiving from YY through the air interface, or indirect receiving from YY through the air interface from other units or modules. "Sending" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receiving" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can be carried out between devices, for example, between network devices and terminal devices, or can be carried out within a device, for example, between components, between modules, between chips, between software modules or hardware modules within a device through a bus, a wire or an interface.

[0081] (4) In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features of different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0082] (5) In this application, "first," "second," and "#1," "#2," and "#A" are merely for descriptive convenience and are used to distinguish objects, and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. They are not used to describe the order or sequence of features. It should be understood that such described objects can be interchanged where appropriate in order to describe solutions other than those in the embodiments of this application.

[0083] (6) In this application, "predefined" can mean a standard protocol predefined, or it can mean a pre-agreed or pre-negotiated agreement between devices. Here, "protocol" can refer to a standard protocol in the field of communications, for example, it may include fourth-generation (4G) protocols. th Generation 4G network, fifth generation (5G) network th This application does not limit the scope to network protocols such as 5G (generation, 5G), New Radio (NR), 5.5G, and related protocols applied in future communication networks.

[0084] (7) In this application, the words “exemplary,” “for example,” etc., are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as an “example” in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the word “example” is intended to present the concept in a concrete manner. In the embodiments of this application, “of,” “corresponding, relevant,” and “corresponding” may sometimes be used interchangeably, and it should be noted that their intended meanings are consistent unless their distinction is emphasized.

[0085] (8) In this application, mod() represents the modulo or remainder operation.

[0086] First, let me introduce the communication system to which this application applies.

[0087] The technical solutions provided in the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, a 5th generation (5G) or new radio (NR) system, a long term evolution (LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, and the like. The technical solutions provided in the present application can also be applied to future communication network systems. The technical solutions provided in the present application can also be applied to device to device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine to machine (M2M) communication, machine type communication (MTC), and internet of things (IoT) communication systems. The technical solutions provided in the present application can also be applied to non-terrestrial network (NTN) systems such as inter-satellite communication and satellite communication.

[0088] As an example, a satellite communication system includes a satellite base station and a terminal device. The satellite base station provides communication services for the terminal device. The satellite base station can also communicate with a base station. The satellite can act as a base station or a terminal device. The satellite can refer to a drone, a hot air balloon, a low earth orbit satellite, a medium earth orbit satellite, a high earth orbit satellite, and the like. The satellite can also refer to a non-ground base station or a non-ground device, and the like.

[0089] As an example, V2X communication can include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication, and vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication.

[0090] A device in a communication system can send a signal to another device or receive a signal from another device. The signal can include information, signaling, or data, and the like. The device can also be replaced by an entity, a network entity, a communication device, a communication module, a node, a communication node, and the like. The device is taken as an example for description in the embodiments of the present application.

[0091] The terminal device in the embodiments of the present application can be a device or module with corresponding communication functions for accessing the above-mentioned communication system. The terminal device can include various devices with wireless communication functions, which can be used to connect people, things, machines, etc. The terminal device can be widely used in various scenarios, such as cellular communication, D2D, V2X, peer to peer (P2P), M2M, MTC, IoT, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, autonomous driving, remote medical treatment, smart power grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city UAV, robot, remote sensing, passive sensing, positioning, navigation and tracking, autonomous delivery, etc. The terminal device can be a terminal in any of the above scenarios, such as an MTC terminal, an IoT terminal, etc. The terminal device can be a user equipment (UE) of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) standard, a terminal, a fixed device, a mobile station device or a mobile device, a subscriber unit, a handset, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a computer, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a wireless modem, a handset, a laptop computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a smart book, a vehicle, a satellite, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a target tracking device, an aircraft (such as a drone, a helicopter, a multi-copter, a quad-copter, or an airplane, etc.), a ship, a remote control device, a smart home device, an industrial device, a transport vehicle with wireless communication function, a communication module, a road side unit (RSU) with terminal function, or a device built in the above-mentioned device (such as a communication module, a modem or a chip in the above-mentioned device, etc.), or other processing devices connected to the wireless modem.

[0092] It should be understood that in some scenarios, the UE can also be used as a base station. For example, the UE can act as a scheduling entity that provides sidelink signals between UEs in V2X, D2D or P2P scenarios, etc.

[0093] In embodiments of the present application, the apparatus for implementing the function of the terminal device, i.e., the terminal apparatus, can be a terminal device or an apparatus capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the function, such as a chip system or a chip or a circuit or a communication module (i.e., a communication module performing a communication function), which can be installed in the terminal device. In embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip or can include a chip and other discrete devices. In addition, the apparatus can further be configured with program instructions for performing the corresponding communication function.

[0094] The network device in embodiments of the present application can be a device or module having a corresponding communication function. The network device can be a device for communicating with the terminal device, and the network device can also be referred to as an access network device or a radio access network device, such as a network device, which can be a base station. The network device in embodiments of the present application can refer to a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) for accessing the terminal device to a wireless network. The base station can broadly cover various names in the following or be replaced by the following names, such as: Node B (NodeB), evolved Node B (eNB), next generation Node B (gNB), relay station, access point, transmitting and receiving point (TRP), transmission point, primary station, secondary station, multi-standard radio (MSR) node, home base station, network controller, access node, wireless node, access point (AP), transmission node, transceiver node, baseband unit (BBU), remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), remote radio head (RRH), central unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), positioning node, etc. The base station can be a macro base station, a micro base station, a relay node, a donor node, or the like, or a combination thereof. The base station can also refer to a communication module, modem, or chip for being disposed in the foregoing devices or apparatuses. The base station can also be a mobile switching center and a device assuming a base station function in D2D, V2X, M2M communication, a network side device in a future communication network, a device assuming a base station function in a future communication system, etc. The base station can support networks of the same or different access technologies. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technologies and specific device forms adopted by the network device.

[0095] A base station can be fixed, or mobile. For example, a helicopter or drone can be configured to act as a mobile base station, with one or more cells moving according to the location of the mobile base station. In other examples, a helicopter or drone can be configured to act as a device that communicates with another base station.

[0096] In some deployments, the network device mentioned in embodiments of the present application can be a device including a CU, or a DU, or a device including a CU and a DU, or a control plane CU node (central unit-control plane (CU-CP)) and a user plane CU node (central unit-user plane (CU-UP)), and a DU node.

[0097] In some deployments, a plurality of RAN nodes cooperate to assist a terminal device to implement wireless access, and different RAN nodes respectively implement part of the functions of a base station. For example, a RAN node can be a CU, a DU, a CU-CP, a CU-UP, or a radio unit (RU), etc. The CU and the DU can be separately arranged, or can also be included in the same network element, such as a BBU. The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as an RRU, an AAU, or an RRH.

[0098] In different systems, the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU can also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, the wireless access network can also be an open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture, in which 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), the CU-CP can also be referred to as an open CU-CP (O-CU-CP), the CU-UP can also be referred to as an open CU-UP (O-CU-UP), and the RU can also be referred to as an open RU (O-RU). Any of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in the present application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0099] In an embodiment of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the network device can be a network device, or a device capable of supporting the network device to implement the function, such as a chip system or a chip or a circuit or a communication module (i.e., a communication module performing a communication function), which can be installed in the network device. In an embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices. In addition, program instructions for performing corresponding communication functions can also be configured in the device. In an embodiment of the present application, only the device for implementing the function of the network device is taken as an example of the network device, and the scheme of the embodiment of the present application is not limited.

[0100] The network device and the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on water; and can also be deployed on aircraft, balloons and satellites. The scenario in which the network device and the terminal device are located is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0101] In combination Figure 1 A communication system suitable for the embodiments of the present application is briefly introduced as follows.

[0102] Referring to Figure 1 , as an example, Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system suitable for the embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 1 , the wireless communication system includes a wireless access network 100. The wireless access network 100 can be a next-generation (for example, future or higher version) wireless access network, or a traditional (for example, 5G, 4G, 3G or 2G) wireless access network. One or more terminal devices (120a-120j, collectively referred to as 120) can be connected to each other or connected to one or more network devices (110a, 110b, collectively referred to as 110) in the wireless access network 100. The network elements in the wireless communication system are connected through an interface (for example, NG, Xn), or connected through an air interface.

[0103] Among them, when the network device and the terminal device communicate, the network device can manage one or more cells, and each cell can include at least one terminal device. The cell can be understood as an area within the coverage range of the wireless signal of the network device.

[0104] Figure 1 This is only a schematic diagram, and the wireless communication system can also include other devices, such as core network devices, wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices, etc., which are not drawn in Figure 1 .

[0105] Referring to Figure 2 , as an example, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an ORAN system suitable for the embodiments of the present application. The ORAN system includes a core network, an access network device and a UE. As an example, the ORAN system can also includeFigure 2 The components shown are exemplary in nature and are not limited to this application in particular.

[0106] The access network device can communicate with a core network (CN) through a backhaul. The access network device can communicate with a UE through an air interface. Specifically, a BBU in the access network device communicates with the core network through the backhaul. An RU in the access network device communicates with at least one UE through the air interface. The BBU communicates with at least one RU through a fronthaul, and the BBU and the RU can be co-located or not. The BBU includes at least one CU and at least one DU, and the CU and the DU can communicate through at least one midhaul.

[0107] Referring to Figure 3 , as an example, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an access network device suitable for embodiments of the present application.

[0108] Optionally, the access network device includes a CU. The CU is a logical node that carries the radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and other control functions of the access network device. The CU can be connected to network nodes such as core networks through some interfaces. For example, the E2 interface. The CU can have part of the functions of the core network. The CU (e.g., the PDCP layer and / or higher layers of the CU) is connected to the DU (e.g., the radio link control (RLC) layer and lower layers of the DU) through some interfaces. For example, the F1 interface. Optionally, the F1 interface can provide control plane (C-Plane) and user plane (U-Plane) functions (e.g., interface management, system information management, UE context management, RRC message transmission, etc.). F1AP is the application protocol of the F1 interface, which defines the signaling procedures of F1 in some examples. The F1 interface supports control plane F1-C and user plane F1-U.

[0109] As an example, the CU includes a CU-CP and a CU-UP. Among them, the CU-CP is a logical node carrying the control plane part of PDCP (PDCP-C) layer of RRC layer and packet data convergence protocol layer, used to implement the control plane function of the CU. The CU-CP can interact with a network element in the core network for implementing the control plane function. The network element in the core network for implementing the control plane function can be an access and mobility function network element, such as an access and mobility management (AMF) in a 5G system. The AMF network element is used to be responsible for the mobility management in the mobile network, such as location update of the terminal device, registration network of the terminal device, handover of the terminal device, etc. The CU-UP is a logical node carrying the user plane part of PDCP (PDCP-U) layer of SDAP layer and packet data convergence protocol layer, used to implement the user plane function of the CU. The CU-UP can interact with a network element in the core network for implementing the user plane function. The network element in the core network for implementing the user plane function, for example, a user plane function (UPF) in a 5G system, is used to be responsible for the forwarding and receiving of data in the terminal device. The above configuration of the CU and the DU is only an example, and in actual application, the CU and the DU can also be configured to have functions according to needs. For example, the CU or the DU can be configured to have more functions of protocol layers, or the CU or the DU can be configured to have partial processing functions of protocol layers. For example, part of the functions of the RLC layer and the functions of the protocol layers above the RLC layer are arranged in the CU, and the remaining functions of the RLC layer and the functions of the protocol layers below the RLC layer are arranged in the DU. For another example, the functions of the CU or the DU can be divided according to the service type or other system requirements, for example, according to the delay, the functions that need to meet the delay requirement are arranged in the DU, and the functions that do not need to meet the delay requirement are arranged in the CU.

[0110] Optionally, the access network device includes a DU. As shown in Figure 3 the DU is a logical node carrying an RLC layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, a higher physical (Higher PHY) layer, and other functions. In some examples, the DU can control at least one RU. The DU is connected to the RU through some interfaces, which can be a front-haul interface. In some examples, the Higher PHY layer includes part of the PHY layer processing, such as forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation and demodulation, etc.

[0111] Optionally, the access network device includes a RU. As shown, the RU is a logical node that carries lower physical layer (Lower PHY) and radio frequency (RF) processing. In some examples, the RU can be a 3GPP transmission reception point (TRP) or a remote radio head (RRH) or other similar functional entity. In some examples, the Low-PHY includes portions of PHY processing such as fast fourier transform (FFT), inverse fast fourier transformation (IFFT), digital beamforming and filtering, and other processing functions. The RU communicates with one or more UEs over a wireless link. Figure 3

[0112] The DU and the RU can or can not be co-located. The DU and the RU exchange control plane information and user plane information over a fronthaul link via a lower-layer split-CUS-plane (LLS-CUS) interface. The LLS-CUS can include a lower-layer split control (LLS-C) interface and a lower-layer split user (LLS-U) interface that provide control plane (C-Plane) and user plane (U-Plane), respectively. In some examples, the control plane (C-Plane) refers to real-time control between the DU and the RU. The DU and the RU have a LLS-M interface of the fronthaul link to exchange management information, and the management plane (M-Plane) refers to non-real-time management operations between the DU and the RU.

[0113] The DU and the RU can cooperate to collectively implement the functionality of the PHY layer. One DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functionalities that the DU and the RU have can be configured in multiple ways according to design. For example, the DU is configured to implement baseband functionality, and the RU is configured to implement mid- RF functionality. As another example, the DU is configured to implement high-layer functionality in the PHY layer, and the RU is configured to implement low-layer functionality in the PHY layer or to implement the low-layer functionality and RF functionality. The high-layer functionality in the PHY layer can include a portion of the functionality of the PHY layer that is closer to the MAC layer, and the low-layer functionality in the PHY layer can include another portion of the functionality of the PHY layer that is closer to the mid-RF side.

[0114] The above Figures 1 to 3 ​For illustrative purposes only, the embodiments described in this application are not limited thereto.

[0115] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, a brief explanation of the background and terminology involved in this application is provided.

[0116] 1. Community residency mechanism

[0117] When a terminal device is powered on or moved, it needs to find a cell to camp on. This process mainly includes cell selection and cell reselection.

[0118] Cell Selection: When a terminal device is in an idle / inactive state, it will perform a cell search process and select a suitable cell to camp on as quickly as possible. This process is called cell selection. Specifically, after powering on or recovering from no coverage, the terminal device searches for synchronization signals of surrounding cells and, based on radio resource management (RRM) measurements, finds a cell that meets signal conditions (such as reference signal receiving power (RSRP) or reference signal received quality (RSRQ) exceeding a certain threshold). It then reads the system information of the selected cell and monitors for possible paging from network devices and can initiate random access through that cell. This process is called the terminal device camping on that cell.

[0119] Cell reselection: When a terminal device camps on a cell, it may need to switch to a cell with higher priority or better signal strength as it moves. This process is called cell reselection. Specifically, once a terminal device is camped on a cell, it can monitor the signal conditions of other nearby cells. If the terminal device discovers a cell that is better than its current camped cell, for example, if it meets certain cell reselection criteria, then the terminal device can perform cell reselection to camp on the better cell.

[0120] In short, choosing a neighborhood is the process of finding a suitable neighborhood as quickly as possible, while re-choosing a neighborhood is the process of choosing a more suitable neighborhood.

[0121] 2. Initial Access Mechanism of the Cell

[0122] After completing cell camping, the IDLE state terminal device can continuously perform signal measurement of the camping cell and neighboring cells to ensure possible cell reselection under mobility; the terminal device can also periodically monitor the paging sent by the network device on the camping cell to find whether there is service triggering or whether system information has changed. If there is service demand, the terminal device initiates random access from the IDLE state to enter the connected state. For example, if there is downlink service demand, the network device can send a paging to the terminal device in a larger tracking area, and the terminal device can receive the paging on the cell in which it camps, and then initiate random access to enter the connected state from the IDLE state to perform service transmission. If there is uplink service demand, the terminal device can directly initiate random access to the terminal device camping cell to enter the connected state from the IDLE state to perform service transmission.

[0123] 3. Frequency location indication mode

[0124] As an example, currently, two possible indication modes of frequency location are absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN) and global synchronization channel number (GSCN). Before introducing ARFCN and GSCN, first introduce the synchronization raster (SYNC raster) (or also referred to as synchronization signal raster).

[0125] The SYNC raster is a series of frequency locations. Specifically, when the terminal device performs cell search after being powered on, the terminal device generally detects a synchronization signal to perform downlink time-frequency synchronization according to an operator and a frequency band supported by the terminal device. Since the granularity of the global frequency raster is small, the value range of the ARFCN can be large, and if blind detection is directly performed according to the global frequency raster, the synchronization delay / searching delay can be large. Therefore, in order to effectively reduce the delay of this process, the 3GPP defines the concept of the SYNC raster, and the search range is limited by the GSCN. In the following examples, the SYNC raster is taken as an example for illustration, but it can be understood that in future communication networks, other terms can also be used to represent the same or similar meaning as the SYNC raster.

[0126] ARFCN, which can be understood as an index (or referred to as an identifier, or referred to as a number, or referred to as a serial number, etc.), can be used to identify a radio frequency channel. The term "ARFCN" originates from the global system for mobile communication (GSM) technology, and with the development of technology, other similar terms have been extended, such as "ARFCN" can be replaced by UARFCN, or EARFCN or NR-ARFCN, etc. In future communication systems, "ARFCN" may also be replaced by other names, which are not limited by the embodiments of the present application.

[0127] As an example, the relationship between ARFCN and frequency value satisfies: F REF = F REF-Offs + ΔF Global (N REF – N REF-Offs ). Wherein, N REF is ARFCN, F REF is frequency value, F REF-Offs and N REF-Offs can be determined by Table 1.

[0128] Table 1

[0129]

[0130] GSCN can be used to mark the channel number of a synchronization signal (such as a synchronization signal block (SSB)). Taking SSB as an example, each GSCN corresponds to a frequency domain position of an SSB (such as denoted as SS REF ) (that is, the starting frequency of the 0th subcarrier of the RB10 of the SSB). GSCN can be numbered in ascending order of the frequency domain. The frequency domain position SS REF of the SSB and the GSCN can refer to Table 2.

[0131] Table 2

[0132]

[0133] Taking Table 2 as an example, as an example, in the range of 0-3000MHz, the SYNC raster is 3 possible frequency positions for transmitting synchronization signals every 1200KHz; in the range of 3000-24250, the SYNC raster is 1 possible frequency position for transmitting synchronization signals every 1.44MHz; in the range of 24250-100000, the SYNC raster is 1 possible frequency position for transmitting synchronization signals every 17.28MHz.

[0134] The above description of ARFCN and GSCN is a simple example, and can be referred to the description in the protocol. In addition, if in the future communication network, ARFCN is replaced by other similar terms (that is, other terms are used to represent similar or identical meanings as ARFCN), or GSCN is replaced by other similar terms (that is, other terms are used to represent similar or identical meanings as GSCN), the scheme of the embodiments of the present application is also applicable.

[0135] One way of cell deployment is distributed homogeneous deployment. Distributed homogeneous deployment means that the cells are loosely or not coupled, and each cell transmits the synchronization signal, system information, paging, etc. of the cell to enable each cell to independently provide the camping and access functions of the IDLE state terminal device.

[0136] Another way of cell deployment is non-homogeneous deployment. The following describes Figure 4 this deployment mode.

[0137] Referring to Figure 4 , as an example, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of non-homogeneous deployment. As shown in Figure 4 , non-homogeneous deployment can be understood as an anchoring cell + non-anchoring cell networking mode. As shown in Figure 4 , as an example, the anchoring cell can transmit the synchronization signal (such as SSB), the system information block (SIB) of the anchoring cell, and the SIB of the non-anchoring cell associated with the anchoring cell. The non-anchoring cell can not transmit the SIB, that is, the SIB of the non-anchoring cell is transmitted on the anchoring cell. Alternatively, part of the information of the SIB of the non-anchoring cell can be transmitted on the anchoring cell, and the remaining information is still transmitted on the non-anchoring cell. In this way, for the network device, the signals transmitted by the non-anchoring cell are reduced, which can improve the opportunity for the non-anchoring cell to sleep, thereby reducing the power consumption of the network device. For the terminal device, the SIB of multiple cells (for example, one anchoring cell and multiple associated non-anchoring cells) can be received on the anchoring cell at one time, thereby avoiding (or reducing) temporary reading of the SIB of the new cell as much as possible when the cell is reselected, accelerating the reselection speed, and reducing the interruption time of reselection. As shown in Figure 4 , the non-anchoring cell can transmit a synchronization signal, which can be used by the terminal device to perform synchronization, measurement, etc., so that the terminal device can also work on the non-anchoring cell. As an example, in a high-low frequency hybrid heterogeneous network, the anchoring cell can be a low-frequency underlay network, and the non-anchoring cell can be a high-frequency supplemental heating network.

[0138] The synchronization signal is usually deployed at some specific frequency locations, and the terminal device can search for and attempt to find a cell at these frequency locations when searching for a network. For example, in the NR system, the center frequency point of the SSB falls on the SYNC raster. If the cells are deployed in the manner of anchor cell + non-anchor cell, the terminal device may first search for a non-anchor cell when searching for a cell. However, some important information (such as SIB) will not be sent on the non-anchor cell, so the terminal device cannot work independently on the non-anchor cell, that is, the terminal device needs to rely on the information / signals of the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell to work on the non-anchor cell, and the terminal device may need to search for other frequency locations after failing to receive the SIB, which will slow down the network searching speed.

[0139] Therefore, the present application proposes that the network device indicates to the terminal device whether the cell corresponding to the current synchronization signal is an anchor cell or a non-anchor cell, so that the terminal device can quickly identify whether the cell corresponding to the current synchronization signal is an anchor cell or a non-anchor cell, and then perform subsequent operations. Alternatively, the synchronization signals of the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell can be sent at different frequency locations, so that the terminal device can select a frequency location of the synchronization signal of the anchor cell to receive / detect a cell signal. In the network deployment manner of "anchor cell + non-anchor cell", the above method can improve the probability of the terminal device searching for an anchor cell and speed up the network searching speed.

[0140] The method provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments provided by the present application can be applied to the scenario shown in the above figure, without limitation. In addition, the terms involved below can refer to the previous explanation, which will not be repeated hereinafter. In addition, the following is described by taking a terminal device and a network device as examples for illustrative purposes. The terminal device can be replaced by a terminal device or a component (such as a chip or a chip system or a circuit or a communication module) of the terminal device, and the network device can be replaced by a component (such as a chip or a chip system or a circuit or a communication module) of the network device. In addition, the steps described below can also be divided into being executed by multiple execution subjects, which can be logically and / or physically separated.

[0141] Referring to Figure 5 , as an example, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 500 provided by an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 The method 500 shown can include the following steps.

[0142] S510, the terminal device receives a synchronization signal. Correspondingly, the network device sends the synchronization signal.

[0143] The synchronization signal can be used to implement a synchronization function. In addition, the synchronization signal can also be used to implement other functions, which are not limited. As an example, the synchronization signal can also be used to implement a measurement function, such as a radio resource management (RRM) measurement. As an example, the synchronization signal is an SSB.

[0144] S520, the terminal device receives indication information indicating that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is an anchor cell (an example of the first cell) or a non-anchor cell (an example of the second cell). Correspondingly, the network device sends the indication information.

[0145] S510 and S520 can be executed at the same time, that is, the terminal device receives the synchronization signal and the indication information at the same time; or S510 can be executed first, and S520 can be executed after a small interval between the terminal device receiving the synchronization signal and the indication information.

[0146] The cell where the synchronization signal is located can also be replaced by the cell corresponding to the synchronization signal or the cell of the synchronization signal. The terminal device can synchronize (downlink synchronization) with the cell where the synchronization signal is located based on the synchronization signal, or the terminal device can perform RRM measurement on the cell where the synchronization signal is located based on the synchronization signal.

[0147] First, the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell are introduced.

[0148] Anchor cell (first cell): It does not refer to a specific cell, but refers to a type of cell, such as the anchor cell shown in Figure 4 The anchor cell can send anchor cell related information / signals, and the anchor cell can also send non-anchor cell related information / signals. One possible implementation, the system information on the anchor cell includes the cell configuration information of the non-anchor cell associated with the anchor cell. That is, the anchor cell can send its own system information (such as SIB) on the anchor cell, and the anchor cell can also send the cell configuration information of the non-anchor cell. For the terminal device, the terminal device can receive the system information of the anchor cell on the anchor cell, and can also receive the cell configuration information of the non-anchor cell on the anchor cell. The cell configuration information of the non-anchor cell can include information related to the configuration of the non-anchor cell, for example, the cell configuration information of the non-anchor cell includes the system information (such as SIB) of the non-anchor cell, the frequency location of the non-anchor cell, etc.

[0149] Non-anchor cell (second cell): It does not refer to a specific cell, but refers to a type of cell, such as the non-anchor cell shown in Figure 4The non-anchor cell can not transmit some information / signals related to the non-anchor cell, which can be transmitted by the anchor cell. For example, the anchor cell can transmit the cell configuration information of the non-anchor cell, and the non-anchor cell can not transmit the cell configuration information of the non-anchor cell.

[0150] For example, if the cell #1 can transmit the cell configuration information of the cell #2, the cell #1 can be referred to as an anchor cell, and the cell #2 can be referred to as a non-anchor cell.

[0151] For example, if the cell #1 is an anchor cell, and the cell #2 and the cell #3 are non-anchor cells, if the cell configuration information of the cell #2 and the cell #3 is transmitted on the cell #1, it can be considered that the cell #1 is associated with the cell #2, and the cell #1 is associated with the cell #3. "One anchor cell is associated with one or more non-anchor cells" can be replaced by: one anchor cell can transmit information / signals (such as cell configuration information) related to one or more non-anchor cells; or, the system information on one anchor cell includes the cell configuration information of one or more non-anchor cells.

[0152] The above describes the related solutions of the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell. It can be understood that the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell are only named for distinction, for example, the anchor cell can also be referred to as a first cell, and the non-anchor cell can also be referred to as a second cell, and the names do not limit the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application. In the following, the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell are described for the convenience of understanding.

[0153] The indication information in the step S520 can be implemented by at least one bit. For example, the indication information is implemented by one bit. For example, if the bit value of the one bit is a first value, it indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is an anchor cell; if the bit value of the one bit is a second value, it indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a non-anchor cell. The first value and the second value are different, for example, the first value is "0", and the second value is "1"; or, the first value is "1", and the second value is "0".

[0154] The following describes two cases of the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

[0155] The first possible case is that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a non-anchor cell. That is, the indication information indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a non-anchor cell.

[0156] In this case, optionally, the indication information in S520 further indicates the frequency location of the anchor cell. Specifically, the indication information further indicates the frequency location of the anchor cell associated with the cell (i.e., the non-anchor cell) where the synchronization signal is located.

[0157] In the embodiments of the present application, the frequency location of the anchor cell is mentioned multiple times, which is described uniformly here. The frequency location of the anchor cell can be the frequency location of the synchronization signal of the anchor cell, for example, one or more of the following: the center frequency location, the highest frequency location, and the lowest frequency location of the synchronization signal of the anchor cell.

[0158] The indication information indicating the frequency location of the anchor cell includes at least the following two implementation manners.

[0159] In one possible implementation manner, the indication information indicates the absolute value of the frequency location of the anchor cell, in other words, the indication information indicates the absolute position of the anchor cell. For example, the indication information indicates the ARFCN or GSCN of the anchor cell.

[0160] In another possible implementation manner, the indication information indicates the relative value of the frequency location of the anchor cell relative to the non-anchor cell (i.e., the cell where the synchronization signal is located), in other words, the indication information indicates the relative position of the anchor cell relative to the non-anchor cell (i.e., the cell where the synchronization signal is located). For example, the indication information indicates the difference of the ARFCN or the difference of the GSCN of the anchor cell relative to the non-anchor cell (i.e., the cell where the synchronization signal is located).

[0161] It can be understood that the above description is exemplified by taking ARFCN and GSCN as examples, which is not limited thereto. The ARFCN is replaced by other similar terms (i.e., other terms representing similar or identical meanings as the ARFCN), or the GSCN is replaced by other similar terms (i.e., other terms representing similar or identical meanings as the GSCN).

[0162] The indication information can jointly indicate that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the non-anchor cell and the frequency location of the anchor cell through one parameter, or can separately indicate that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the non-anchor cell and the frequency location of the anchor cell through different parameters, which is not limited thereto. The following describes the two implementation manners.

[0163] In a possible implementation, the indication information includes a first parameter (referred to as first parameter #1 for differentiation) and a second parameter (referred to as second parameter #1 for differentiation), the first parameter #1 indicates (or is said to represent or indicate) that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a non-anchor cell, and the second parameter #1 indicates (or is said to represent or indicate) the frequency location of the anchor cell. Based on this, the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a non-anchor cell and the frequency location of the anchor cell can be indicated by different parameters respectively. At this time, the first parameter #1 and the second parameter #1 can be carried in one signaling or can be carried in different signaling, which is not limited.

[0164] The first parameter #1 can be implemented by 1 bit. Taking the foregoing example as an example, the first parameter #1 takes the second value, which indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a non-anchor cell. The second parameter #1 can be implemented by L bits, where L is an integer greater than 1 or equal to 1, such as L being an integer greater than 1.

[0165] In another possible implementation, the indication information includes a third parameter (referred to as third parameter #1 for differentiation), the third parameter #1 indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a non-anchor cell, and the third parameter #1 also indicates the frequency location of the anchor cell. Based on this, the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a non-anchor cell and the frequency location of the anchor cell can be jointly indicated by one parameter.

[0166] The third parameter #1 can be implemented by X bits, where X is an integer greater than 1 or equal to 1, such as X being an integer greater than 1.

[0167] In this case, further optionally, the method 500 further includes: receiving, by the terminal device, system information on the anchor cell based on the frequency location of the anchor cell (that is, the anchor cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located) indicated by the indication information; in other words, the terminal device receives the system information on the anchor cell at the frequency location of the anchor cell.

[0168] In a second possible case, the cell where the synchronization signal is located is an anchor cell. That is, the indication information indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is an anchor cell.

[0169] In this case, optionally, the indication information in S520 further indicates the frequency location of the non-anchor cell. Specifically, the indication information further indicates the frequency location of the non-anchor cell associated with the cell (that is, the anchor cell) where the synchronization signal is located. It can be understood that the frequency location of the non-anchor cell can also be carried in the cell configuration information, that is, the system information sent by the network device on the anchor cell includes the cell configuration information of the non-anchor cell, and the cell configuration information includes the frequency location of the non-anchor cell.

[0170] In the embodiments of the present application, the frequency location of the non-anchor cell is mentioned many times, which is uniformly described here. The frequency location of the non-anchor cell can be the frequency location of the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell, for example, one or more of the following: the center frequency location, the highest frequency location, and the lowest frequency location of the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell.

[0171] The indication information indicates the frequency location of the non-anchor cell, and at least includes the following two implementation manners.

[0172] In one possible implementation manner, the indication information indicates the absolute value of the frequency location of the non-anchor cell, in other words, the indication information indicates the absolute position of the non-anchor cell. For example, the indication information indicates the ARFCN or GSCN of the non-anchor cell.

[0173] In another possible implementation manner, the indication information indicates the relative value of the frequency location of the non-anchor cell relative to the anchor cell (i.e., the cell where the synchronization signal is located), in other words, the indication information indicates the relative position of the non-anchor cell relative to the anchor cell (i.e., the cell where the synchronization signal is located). For example, the indication information indicates the difference value of the ARFCN or the difference value of the GSCN of the non-anchor cell relative to the anchor cell (i.e., the cell where the synchronization signal is located).

[0174] The indication information can jointly indicate that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the anchor cell and the frequency location of the non-anchor cell through one parameter, or can separately indicate that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the anchor cell and the frequency location of the non-anchor cell through different parameters, which is not limited. The following introduces the two implementation manners.

[0175] In one possible implementation manner, the indication information includes a first parameter (referred to as a first parameter #2 for distinction) and a second parameter (referred to as a second parameter #2 for distinction), the first parameter #2 indicates (or is referred to as characterizes or represents) that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the anchor cell, and the second parameter #2 indicates (or is referred to as characterizes or represents) the frequency location of the non-anchor cell. Based on this, the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the anchor cell and the frequency location of the non-anchor cell can be separately indicated through different parameters. At this time, the first parameter #2 and the second parameter #2 can be carried in one signaling or can be carried in different signaling, which is not limited.

[0176] The first parameter #2 can be implemented through 1 bit. Taking the previous example as an example, the first parameter #2 takes the first value, which indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the anchor cell. The second parameter #2 can be implemented through W bits, and W is an integer greater than 1 or equal to 1, such as W being an integer greater than 1.

[0177] As an example, the W bits are length-aligned with the preceding L bits (i.e., the L bits of the second parameter #1), in other words, W = L. Specifically, the frequency location of the anchor cell or the non-anchor cell can be indicated by one parameter, and the bit length of the parameter is W (i.e., W = L), and the value of the parameter can determine the frequency location of the non-anchor cell associated with the anchor cell when the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the anchor cell, or the frequency location of the anchor cell associated with the non-anchor cell when the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the non-anchor cell.

[0178] In another possible implementation, the indication information includes a third parameter (for differentiation, referred to as third parameter #2), and the third parameter #2 indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the anchor cell, and the third parameter #2 further indicates the frequency location of the non-anchor cell. Based on this, the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the anchor cell and the frequency location of the non-anchor cell can be jointly indicated by one parameter.

[0179] The third parameter #2 can be implemented by Y bits, and Y is an integer greater than 1 or equal to 1, for example, Y is an integer greater than 1. As an example, the Y bits are length-aligned with the preceding X bits (i.e., the X bits of the third parameter #1), in other words, Y = X. Specifically, when a joint coding manner is used, that is, the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the anchor cell or the non-anchor cell, and the frequency location of the anchor cell or the non-anchor cell is jointly indicated by one parameter, the bit length of the parameter (i.e., the third parameter #1 and the third parameter #2) is Y (i.e., Y = X), and the value of the parameter can determine whether the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the anchor cell or the non-anchor cell, and the frequency location of the non-anchor cell associated with the anchor cell when the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the anchor cell, or the frequency location of the anchor cell associated with the non-anchor cell when the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the non-anchor cell.

[0180] In this case, further optionally, the method 500 further includes: receiving, by the terminal device, the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell (i.e., the non-anchor cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located) based on the frequency location of the non-anchor cell indicated by the indication information; in other words, the terminal device receives the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell at the frequency location of the non-anchor cell. Specifically, after the terminal device discovers the anchor cell, it is determined that the terminal device needs to be reselected or handed over to the non-anchor cell, and then the terminal device receives the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell at the frequency location of the non-anchor cell.

[0181] The above describes a scheme in which the network device indicates to the terminal device whether the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the anchor cell or the non-anchor cell, and the following describes a scheme in which the synchronization signals of the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell are transmitted at different frequency locations.

[0182] Referring to Figure 6 , as an example, Figure 6FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 600 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 The method 600 shown can include the following steps.

[0183] The method 600 includes step S630. Optionally, the method 600 further includes step S610 and / or S620.

[0184] S610, the terminal device determines a frequency location of an anchor cell (i.e., an example of the first cell).

[0185] S620, the terminal device determines a frequency location of a non-anchor cell (i.e., an example of the second cell).

[0186] The frequency location of the anchor cell belongs to a first frequency range, and the frequency location of the non-anchor cell belongs to a second frequency range. In step S610, the terminal device determines the frequency location of the anchor cell, which can be understood as that the terminal device detects the anchor cell (e.g., a signal (e.g., a synchronization signal) on the anchor cell) in the first frequency range. Similarly, in step S620, the terminal device determines the frequency location of the non-anchor cell, which can be understood as that the terminal device detects the non-anchor cell (e.g., a signal (e.g., a synchronization signal) on the non-anchor cell) in the second frequency range. The first frequency range and the second frequency range can be predefined or indicated by the network device.

[0187] The first frequency range is different from the second frequency range, i.e., the frequency locations contained in the first frequency range and the frequency locations contained in the second frequency range are not completely the same. Specifically, the first frequency range includes F1 frequency locations, and the second frequency range includes F2 frequency locations, and the F1 frequency locations and the F2 frequency locations are not completely the same. For example, the F1 frequency locations and the F2 frequency locations have no intersection; for another example, the F1 frequency locations and the F2 frequency locations are partially the same, e.g., the F1 frequency locations include part or all of the F2 frequency locations; and the like, which are not limited herein. F1 and F2 are integers greater than 1 or equal to 1.

[0188] In the embodiments of the present application, the frequency location of the anchor cell can be the frequency location of the synchronization signal of the anchor cell (i.e., the frequency location of the synchronization signal on the anchor cell), e.g., one or more of the following: a center frequency location, a highest frequency location, and a lowest frequency location of the synchronization signal of the anchor cell. The frequency location of the non-anchor cell can be the frequency location of the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell, e.g., one or more of the following: a center frequency location, a highest frequency location, and a lowest frequency location of the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell.

[0189] One anchor cell is associated with one or more non-anchor cells. For the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell, reference can be made to the related description in the method 500, which is not repeated here.

[0190] S630, the terminal device detects the synchronization signal of the anchor cell at the frequency location of the anchor cell. Correspondingly, the network device transmits the synchronization signal of the anchor cell at the frequency location of the anchor cell.

[0191] Further optionally, in the case that the terminal device does not detect the synchronization signal of the first cell at the frequency location of the anchor cell, the method 600 further comprises: the terminal device detects the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell at the frequency location of the non-anchor cell.

[0192] The first frequency range and the second frequency range comprise at least the following implementation manners.

[0193] In a first possible implementation manner, the first frequency range is a frequency range of a SYNC raster, and the second frequency range is a frequency range outside the frequency range of the SYNC raster.

[0194] Specifically, the synchronization signal of the anchor cell can be predefined to be transmitted in the frequency range of the SYNC raster, and the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell can be predefined to be transmitted in a frequency range outside the frequency range of the SYNC raster. For the terminal device, the terminal device can search in the frequency range of the SYNC raster when searching for a network (or when searching for a cell), so that the cell searched by the terminal device is the anchor cell but not the non-anchor cell, i.e., the probability of searching for the anchor cell by the terminal device is improved. For the network device, the anchor cell can be deployed in the frequency range of the SYNC raster, and the non-anchor cell can be deployed in a frequency range outside the frequency range of the SYNC raster; in other words, the network device transmits anchor cell related information / signals, such as the synchronization signal of the anchor cell, the SIB of the anchor cell, the SIB of the non-anchor cell, etc., in the frequency range of the SYNC raster, and transmits non-anchor cell related information / signals, such as the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell, etc., in a frequency range outside the frequency range of the SYNC raster.

[0195] As an example, the second frequency range is a predefined frequency range, such as a predefined candidate frequency range, and the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell is transmitted in the predefined frequency range. For the terminal device, the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell can be received in the second frequency range.

[0196] Optionally, the method 600 further comprises: the terminal device receives indication information indicating the frequency location of the non-anchor cell. Specifically, the indication information indicates the frequency location of the non-anchor cell associated with the anchor cell. As an example, the indication information indicates the frequency location of the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell.

[0197] In a possible implementation, the indication information indicates an absolute value of the frequency location of the non-anchor cell, in other words, the indication information indicates an absolute position of the non-anchor cell. For example, the indication information indicates an ARFCN of the non-anchor cell.

[0198] In another possible implementation, the indication information indicates a relative value of the frequency location of the non-anchor cell relative to the anchor cell, in other words, the indication information indicates a relative position of the non-anchor cell relative to the anchor cell. For example, the indication information indicates a difference value of an ARFCN of the non-anchor cell relative to the anchor cell.

[0199] It can be understood that the above example is described by taking the ARFCN as an example, and the example is not limited in this way. The ARFCN is replaced by another similar term (that is, another term is used to represent a similar or same meaning as the ARFCN).

[0200] In a second possible implementation, the first frequency range is a first partial frequency range of the SYNC raster, and the second frequency range is a second partial frequency range of the SYNC raster, and the first partial frequency range has a higher priority than the second partial frequency range.

[0201] Specifically, the priorities of the frequency points in the frequency range of the SYNC raster can be predefined, and the synchronization signal of the anchor cell is transmitted in the frequency range of the SYNC raster with a high priority, and the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell is transmitted in the frequency range of the SYNC raster with a low priority. For the terminal device, the terminal device can first search for a frequency point with a high priority and then search for a frequency point with a low priority when searching for a network (or when searching for a cell), which can improve the probability that the terminal device searches for the anchor cell first. For the network device, the anchor cell can be deployed in the frequency range of the SYNC raster with a high priority, and the non-anchor cell can be deployed in the frequency range of the SYNC raster with a low priority; in other words, the network device transmits information / signals related to the anchor cell, such as the synchronization signal of the anchor cell, the SIB of the anchor cell, the SIB of the non-anchor cell, and the like, in the frequency range of the SYNC raster with a high priority, and transmits information / signals related to the non-anchor cell, such as the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell, and the like, in the frequency range of the SYNC raster with a low priority.

[0202] In the embodiments of the present application, the synchronization signal is transmitted on the anchor cell or the synchronization signal is transmitted on the non-anchor cell is mentioned multiple times, which is uniformly described here. The synchronization signal is transmitted on the anchor cell, which means that the frequency resource occupied by the synchronization signal is located in the frequency resource range of the anchor cell. Similarly, the synchronization signal is transmitted on the non-anchor cell, which means that the frequency resource occupied by the synchronization signal is located in the frequency resource range of the non-anchor cell.

[0203] In a third possible implementation, the first frequency range is a frequency range of the SYNC raster, and the second frequency range is a partial frequency range of the SYNC raster.

[0204] In particular, priorities of each frequency point in the frequency range of the SYNC raster can be predefined, and the synchronization signal of the anchor cell can be sent in the frequency range of any priority of the SYNC raster (such as the frequency range of a high priority and the frequency range of a low priority), and the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell is sent in the frequency range of a low priority of the SYNC raster. For the terminal device, the terminal device can first search for a high priority frequency point and then search for a low priority frequency point when searching for a network (or when searching for a cell), which can improve the probability of the terminal device searching for an anchor cell first. For the network device, the anchor cell can be deployed in the frequency range of any priority of the SYNC raster, and the non-anchor cell can be deployed in the frequency range of a low priority of the SYNC raster; in other words, the network device can send information / signals related to the anchor cell in the frequency range of any priority of the SYNC raster, such as the synchronization signal of the anchor cell, the SIB of the anchor cell, the SIB of the non-anchor cell, and the like, and send information / signals related to the non-anchor cell in the frequency range of a low priority of the SYNC raster, such as the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell.

[0205] The above several implementation manners are mainly described by taking the SYNC raster as an example, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. As described above, the SYNC raster can be replaced by other similar descriptions, for example, if a frequency range (or a frequency raster) similar to the SYNC raster is defined in a future communication network, the scheme of the embodiments of the present application is also applicable.

[0206] The following describes several possible implementation manners of the priorities of the frequency range of the SYNC raster by taking the GSCN as an example.

[0207] In a possible implementation, the GSCN corresponding to the SYNC raster of different priorities is calculated based on different formulas.

[0208] For example, taking Table 2 as an example, assuming that the frequency position of the synchronization signal in the range of 3000-24250 MHz is 3000+N*1.44 (MHz), and GSCN=7499+N. As an example, the frequency position of the high priority is 3000+N*2.88 (MHz), and GSCN=7499+N*2; the frequency position of the low priority is 3000+N*2.88+1.44 (MHz)+1.44, and GSCN=7499+N*2+1. Based on this manner, the high priority frequency position and the low priority frequency position can be alternately arranged in the SYNC raster range.

[0209] In another possible implementation manner, the GSCN corresponding to all SYNC rasters is calculated based on a formula, and it can be predefined which GSCN is the high priority frequency position and which GSCN is the low priority frequency position.

[0210] For example, when GSCN mod 3=0, the GSCN is the high priority, and the rest are the low priority. In this way, one high priority and two low priorities can be arranged in every three frequency positions in the SYNC raster range. The "3" can also be replaced by other positive numbers, which are not limited.

[0211] It can be understood that the above manner of determining the priority of each frequency point in the frequency range of the SYNC raster is only illustrative, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. As long as a scheme for dividing the priorities of the frequency points in the frequency range of the SYNC raster can be implemented, it is applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

[0212] The above describes the scheme of transmitting the synchronization signals of the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell at different frequency positions in combination with the method 600. The following describes the related scheme of the sequence of the synchronization signals of the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell in combination with the method 700.

[0213] Referring to Figure 7 , as an example, Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 700 provided by the embodiments of the present application. Figure 7 The method 700 shown can include the following steps.

[0214] S710, the terminal device receives the synchronization signal of the anchor cell and / or the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell. Correspondingly, the network device transmits the synchronization signal of the anchor cell and / or the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell. Specifically, the network device transmits the synchronization signal of the anchor cell, and the terminal device receives the synchronization signal of the anchor cell; and / or, the network device transmits the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell, and the terminal device receives the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell.

[0215] One anchor cell is associated with one or more non-anchor cells. For the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell, refer to the related description in the method 500, which is not repeated here.

[0216] The synchronization signal of the anchor cell is generated based on a first sequence, the first sequence belongs to a first sequence set, and the synchronization signal of the non-anchor cell is generated based on a second sequence, the second sequence belongs to a second sequence set.

[0217] The first sequence set and the second sequence set have no intersection. For example, it is assumed that the sequences in the first sequence set include sequence #A1, sequence #A2, sequence #A3, and sequence #An, and the sequences in the second sequence set include sequence #B1, sequence #B2, sequence #B3, and sequence #Bm. The sequence #Ai is different from any sequence in the second sequence set, and the sequence #Bj is different from any sequence in the first sequence set, where i = 1, 2, 3, …, n; j = 1, 2, 3, …, m. Based on this, the sequences of the synchronization signals of the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell are different, so that when the terminal device searches for a network (that is, when a cell is searched), the terminal device can search for the synchronization signal of the anchor cell, improve the probability of searching for the anchor cell by the terminal device, and speed up the network search speed.

[0218] Optionally, the method 700 further includes step S720.

[0219] S720, the terminal device performs correlation operation based on the received signal and the local sequence.

[0220] Taking the terminal device searching for the synchronization signal of the anchor cell as an example, the terminal device can perform correlation operation based on the local sequence and the received signal to determine that the signal with large correlation is the synchronization signal of the anchor cell. The local sequence can be indicated to the terminal device by the network device in advance.

[0221] Referring to Figure 8 , as an example, Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 800 provided by an embodiment of the present application. Figure 8 The method 800 shown can include the following steps.

[0222] S810, the terminal device receives the synchronization signal. Correspondingly, the network device sends the synchronization signal.

[0223] The cell identifier of the cell where the synchronization signal is located can be used to indicate that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is an anchor cell or a non-anchor cell. One anchor cell is associated with one or more non-anchor cells. For the anchor cell and the non-anchor cell, refer to the related description in the method 500, which is not repeated here.

[0224] Optionally, the method 800 includes step S820.

[0225] S820, the terminal device determines, based on the cell identifier of the cell in which the synchronization signal is located, whether the cell in which the synchronization signal is located is an anchor cell or a non-anchor cell.

[0226] Specifically, after receiving the synchronization signal, the terminal device can obtain the cell identifier of the cell in which the synchronization signal is located according to the synchronization signal, and then determine whether the cell in which the synchronization signal is located is an anchor cell or a non-anchor cell based on the value range to which the cell identifier belongs. For example, if the cell identifier of the cell in which the synchronization signal is located belongs to a first value range, the terminal device determines that the cell in which the synchronization signal is located is an anchor cell; if the cell identifier of the cell in which the synchronization signal is located belongs to a second value range, the terminal device determines that the cell in which the synchronization signal is located is a non-anchor cell.

[0227] The value range (such as the first value range) of the cell identifier of the anchor cell includes one or more cell identifiers, and the value range (such as the second value range) of the cell identifier of the non-anchor cell includes one or more cell identifiers. As an example, the value range (such as the first value range) of the cell identifier of the anchor cell and the value range (such as the second value range) of the cell identifier of the non-anchor cell can be predefined or indicated by the network device, and are not limited in this regard.

[0228] The above describes the method provided by the embodiments of the present application in combination with Figures 5 to 8 The method provided by the embodiments of the present application is described in detail. The following describes the apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application in combination with Figures 9 to 11 The apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application is described in detail. It should be understood that the description of the apparatus embodiments corresponds to the description of the method embodiments, and therefore, the content not described in detail can be referred to the foregoing method embodiments, and is not described herein for brevity.

[0229] Referring to Figure 9 As an example, Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus 900 provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication apparatus 900 includes a transceiver unit 910. The transceiver unit 910 can be used to implement the corresponding communication function. The transceiver unit 910 can also be referred to as a communication interface or a communication unit. Optionally, the communication apparatus 900 further includes a processing unit 920. The processing unit 920 can be used for processing, such as determining whether the cell of the synchronization signal is a first cell or a second cell, and such as performing correlation operation on the received signal and the local sequence.

[0230] Optionally, the apparatus 900 can further include a storage unit, which can be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing unit 920 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage unit, so that the apparatus implements the foregoing method embodiments.

[0231] The first possible design, the apparatus 900 can be a terminal device in the foregoing embodiments, and the apparatus 900 can implement steps or procedures corresponding to steps or procedures performed by the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments. Among them, the transceiver unit 910 can be configured to perform transceiver-related operations (such as operations of transmitting and / or receiving data or messages) of the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments, and the processing unit 920 can be configured to perform processing-related operations or operations other than transceiving (such as operations other than transmitting and / or receiving data or messages) of the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0232] The first possible implementation, the transceiver unit 910 is configured to receive a synchronization signal; the transceiver unit 910 is further configured to receive indication information, the indication information indicating that a cell where the synchronization signal is located is a first cell, or the indication information indicating that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a second cell, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells. Optionally, the processing unit 920 is configured to determine whether the cell where the synchronization signal is located is the first cell or the second cell.

[0233] Optionally, the transceiver unit 910 is further configured to receive system information on the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located based on a frequency location of the first cell.

[0234] The second possible implementation, the processing unit 920 is configured to determine a frequency location of the first cell, the frequency location of the first cell belonging to a first frequency range, the first frequency range being different from a second frequency range, the second frequency range being a frequency range to which a frequency location of the second cell belongs, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells; and the transceiver unit 910 is configured to detect a synchronization signal of the first cell at the frequency location of the first cell.

[0235] Optionally, in a case where the synchronization signal of the first cell is not detected at the frequency location of the first cell, the transceiver unit 910 is further configured to detect a synchronization signal of the second cell at a frequency location of the second cell.

[0236] Optionally, the transceiver unit 910 is further configured to receive indication information, the indication information indicating the frequency location of the second cell associated with the first cell.

[0237] The third possible implementation, the transceiver unit 910 is configured to receive a synchronization signal of the first cell and / or a synchronization signal of the second cell, the synchronization signal of the first cell being generated based on a first sequence, the first sequence belonging to a first sequence set, the synchronization signal of the second cell being generated based on a second sequence, the first sequence set and the second sequence set having no intersection, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells.

[0238] Optionally, the processing unit 920 is configured to perform a correlation operation based on the synchronization signal of the first cell and a local sequence.

[0239] The apparatus 900 can be a network device in the foregoing embodiments, and can implement steps or procedures corresponding to steps or procedures performed by the network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The transceiver unit 910 can be configured to perform transceiver-related operations (e.g., operations of sending and / or receiving data or messages) of the network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The processing unit 920 can be configured to perform processing-related operations or operations other than transceiving (e.g., operations other than sending and / or receiving data or messages) of the network device in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0240] In a first possible implementation, the transceiver unit 910 is configured to send a synchronization signal. The transceiver unit 910 is further configured to send indication information, the indication information indicating that a cell where the synchronization signal is located is a first cell, or the indication information indicating that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a second cell, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells.

[0241] In a second possible implementation, the processing unit 920 is configured to determine a frequency location of the first cell, the frequency location of the first cell belonging to a first frequency range, the first frequency range being different from a second frequency range, the second frequency range being a frequency range to which a frequency location of the second cell belongs, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells. The transceiver unit 910 is configured to send the synchronization signal of the first cell at the frequency location of the first cell.

[0242] Optionally, the transceiver unit 910 is further configured to send indication information, the indication information indicating the frequency location of the second cell associated with the first cell.

[0243] In a third possible implementation, the transceiver unit 910 is configured to send the synchronization signal of the first cell and / or the synchronization signal of the second cell, the synchronization signal of the first cell being generated based on a first sequence, the first sequence belonging to a first sequence set, the synchronization signal of the second cell being generated based on a second sequence, the second sequence belonging to a second sequence set, the first sequence set containing sequences completely different from sequences contained in the second sequence set, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells.

[0244] It should be understood that the specific processes by which the units perform the corresponding steps described above have been described in detail in the foregoing method embodiments, and thus will not be described here again for brevity.

[0245] It should also be understood that the apparatus 900 herein is embodied in the form of a functional block diagram. The term "unit" herein can refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (for example, a shared processor, a dedicated processor, or a group processor, etc.) and a memory for executing one or more software or firmware programs, a combination of logical circuit and / or other suitable components supporting the described functions. In an optional example, those skilled in the art can understand that the apparatus 900 can be embodied in the communication device in the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be used to execute the processes and / or steps corresponding to the communication device in the above-mentioned method embodiments. To avoid repetition, details are not described here.

[0246] The apparatus 900 of each of the above-mentioned schemes has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the communication device (such as a terminal device, and such as a network device) in the above-mentioned methods. The function can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions; for example, the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transceiver (for example, the transmitting unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transmitter, and the receiving unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a receiver), and other units, such as the processing unit, can be replaced by a processor, which respectively performs the transceiving operations and related processing operations in each of the method embodiments.

[0247] In addition, the transceiver unit 910 described above can also be a transceiver circuit (for example, which can include a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit), and the processing unit can be a processing circuit.

[0248] It should be noted that, Figure 9 The apparatus in the above-mentioned embodiments can be a communication device (such as a terminal device, and such as a network device), or a chip or a chip system, for example, a system on chip (SoC). The transceiver unit can be an input / output circuit, a communication interface; and the processing unit can be a processor or a microprocessor integrated on the chip or an integrated circuit. Here, no limitation is made.

[0249] Referring to Figure 10 , as an example, Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another communication device 1000 provided by the embodiments of the present application. The device 1000 includes a processor 1010, and the processor 1010 is coupled with a memory 1020, the memory 1020 is used to store computer programs or instructions and / or data, and the processor 1010 is used to execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 1020, or read the data stored in the memory 1020, to execute the methods in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0250] Optionally, the processor 1010 is one or more.

[0251] Optionally, the memory 1020 is one or more.

[0252] Optionally, the memory 1020 is integrated with the processor 1010, or is separately arranged.

[0253] Optionally, as Figure 10 indicated, the apparatus 1000 further includes a transceiver 1030, configured to receive and / or send signals. For example, the processor 1010 is configured to control the transceiver 1030 to receive and / or send signals.

[0254] As an example, the processor 1010 can have the functions of the processing unit 920 as indicated in Figure 9 , the memory 1020 can have the function of the storage unit, and the transceiver 1030 can have the function of the transceiving unit 910 as indicated in Figure 9 .

[0255] As an example, the apparatus 1000 is configured to implement operations performed by a communication apparatus (such as a terminal device, or a network device) in each of the method embodiments.

[0256] For example, the processor 1010 is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 1020, to implement related operations of the communication apparatus in each of the method embodiments.

[0257] It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or the processor can also be any conventional processor.

[0258] It should also be understood that the memory referred to in the embodiments of the application can be a volatile memory and / or a non-volatile memory. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically EPROM (EEPROM) or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM). For example, the RAM can be used as an external cache. As an example but not limitation, the RAM includes the following various forms: static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchronous link DRAM (SLDRAM) and direct memory bus random access memory (direct rambus RAM, DR RAM).

[0259] It should be noted that when the processor is a general processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) can be integrated in the processor.

[0260] It should also be noted that the memory described herein is intended to include, but not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0261] Referring to Figure 11 , as an example, Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a chip system 1100 provided by an embodiment of the application. The chip system 1100 (or also can be called a processing system) includes a logic circuit 1110 and an input / output interface 1020.

[0262] The logic circuit 1110 can be a processing circuit in the chip system 1100. The logic circuit 1110 can be coupled to a storage unit, invoke instructions in the storage unit, so that the chip system 1100 can implement the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application. The input / output interface 1120 can be an input / output circuit in the chip system 1100, output the information processed by the chip system 1100, or input the data or signaling information to be processed by the chip system 1100.

[0263] As an option, the chip system 1100 is configured to implement the operations performed by the communication apparatus (e.g., the terminal device, or the network device) in the above method embodiments.

[0264] For example, the logic circuit 1110 is configured to implement the processing-related operations performed by the communication apparatus (e.g., the terminal device, or the network device) in the above method embodiments; and the input / output interface 1120 is configured to implement the sending and / or receiving-related operations performed by the communication apparatus (e.g., the terminal device, or the network device) in the above method embodiments.

[0265] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instructions for implementing the method performed by the communication apparatus (e.g., the terminal device, or the network device) in the above method embodiments. For example, the computer program or instructions, when running on the communication apparatus, enable the communication apparatus (e.g., the terminal device, or the network device) to perform the above method (e.g., the method 500 or the method 600 or the method 700 or the method 800).

[0266] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product containing instructions, which, when executed by a computer, implement the method performed by the communication apparatus (e.g., the terminal device, or the network device) in the above method embodiments. For example, when the computer program or instructions run on the communication apparatus, the communication apparatus (e.g., the terminal device, or the network device) performs the above method (e.g., the method 500 or the method 600 or the method 700 or the method 800).

[0267] The embodiments of the present application also provide a communication system, which includes the terminal device and / or the network device in the above embodiments. For example, the system includes Figure 5 the terminal device and the network device in the embodiments. For another example, the system includes Figure 6 the terminal device and the network device in the embodiments. For another example, the system includes Figure 7 the terminal device and the network device in the embodiments. For another example, the system includes Figure 8 the terminal device and the network device in the embodiments.

[0268] The explanations and beneficial effects of the related contents in any of the above provided devices can refer to the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and will not be repeated here.

[0269] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other manners. For example, the above described device embodiments are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. There can be another division manner for the actual implementation. For example, a plurality of units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections can be indirect couplings or communication connections through some interfaces, devices or units, and can be electrical, mechanical or in other forms.

[0270] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. For example, the computer can be a personal computer, a server, a network device, etc. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website site, computer, server or data center to another website site, computer, server or data center through wired (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) manner. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. integrated with one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media (such as floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), optical media (such as DVD), or semiconductor media (such as solid state disk (SSD), etc. For example, the foregoing available media includes but is not limited to: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk or optical disk, etc. Various media that can store program codes.

[0271] The above merely provides the specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited to this. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of the changes or replacements within the technical range disclosed by the present application, which should be covered in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: receiving a synchronization signal; receiving indication information, the indication information indicating that a cell where the synchronization signal is located is a first cell, or the indication information indicating that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a second cell, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The indication information indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a second cell, and the indication information further indicates a frequency location of a first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving system information on the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located based on the frequency location of the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The indication information further indicates the frequency location of the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located, comprising: The indication information further indicates an absolute radio frequency channel number or a global synchronization channel number of the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located; or The indication information further indicates a difference value of an absolute radio frequency channel number or a difference value of a global synchronization channel number between the cell where the synchronization signal is located and the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, The indication information indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a first cell, and the indication information further indicates a frequency location of a second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The indication information further indicates the frequency location of the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located, comprising: The indication information further indicates an absolute radio frequency channel number or a global synchronization channel number of the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located; or The indication information further indicates a difference value of an absolute radio frequency channel number or a difference value of a global synchronization channel number between the cell where the synchronization signal is located and the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

7. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: sending a synchronization signal; sending indication information, the indication information indicating that a cell where the synchronization signal is located is a first cell, or the indication information indicating that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a second cell, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, The indication information indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a second cell, and the indication information further indicates a frequency location of a first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The indication information further indicates the frequency location of the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located, comprising: The indication information further indicates an absolute radio frequency channel number or a global synchronization channel number of the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located; or The indication information further indicates a difference value of an absolute radio frequency channel number or a difference value of a global synchronization channel number between the cell where the synchronization signal is located and the first cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein, The indication information indicates that the cell where the synchronization signal is located is a first cell, and the indication information further indicates a frequency location of a second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, The indication information further indicates the frequency location of the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located, comprising: The indication information further indicates an absolute radio frequency channel number or a global synchronization channel number of the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located; or The indication information further indicates a difference value of an absolute radio frequency channel number or a difference value of a global synchronization channel number between the cell where the synchronization signal is located and the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located. The indication information further indicates a difference of absolute radio channel numbers or a difference of global synchronization channel numbers between the cell where the synchronization signal is located and the second cell associated with the cell where the synchronization signal is located.

12. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: determining a frequency location of a first cell, the frequency location of the first cell belonging to a first frequency range, the first frequency range being different from a second frequency range, the second frequency range being a frequency range to which a frequency location of a second cell belongs, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells; detecting a synchronization signal of the first cell at the frequency location of the first cell.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, In a case where the synchronization signal of the first cell is not detected at the frequency location of the first cell, the method further comprises: detecting a synchronization signal of the second cell at the frequency location of the second cell.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving indication information, the indication information indicating a frequency location of a second cell associated with the first cell.

15. A method of communication, comprising: The method comprises: determining a frequency location of a first cell, the frequency location of the first cell belonging to a first frequency range, the first frequency range being different from a second frequency range, the second frequency range being a frequency range to which a frequency location of a second cell belongs, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells; transmitting a synchronization signal of the first cell at the frequency location of the first cell.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, The method further comprises: transmitting indication information, the indication information indicating a frequency location of a second cell associated with the first cell.

17. The method of claim 14 or 16, wherein, The indication information indicating the frequency location of the second cell associated with the first cell comprises: The indication information indicates an absolute radio channel number of the second cell associated with the first cell; or The indication information indicates a difference of absolute radio channel numbers between the first cell and the second cell associated with the first cell.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that, One first cell being associated with one or more second cells comprises: system information on one first cell comprising cell configuration information of a second cell associated with the first cell.

19. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 18, characterized in that, The first frequency range and the second frequency range satisfy any one of the following: The first frequency range is a frequency range of a synchronization signal raster, and the second frequency range is a frequency range outside the frequency range of the synchronization signal raster; or The first frequency range is a first partial frequency range of a synchronization signal raster, and the second frequency range is a second partial frequency range of the synchronization signal raster, the first partial frequency range having a higher priority than the second partial frequency range; or The first frequency range is a frequency range of a synchronization signal raster, and the second frequency range is a partial frequency range of the synchronization signal raster.

20. A method of communication, comprising: The method comprises: receiving a synchronization signal of a first cell and / or a synchronization signal of a second cell, the synchronization signal of the first cell being generated based on a first sequence, the first sequence belonging to a first sequence set, the synchronization signal of the second cell being generated based on a second sequence, the first sequence set and the second sequence set having no intersection, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, Receiving a synchronization signal of a first cell, the method further comprises: Correlating operations based on the synchronization signal of the first cell and the local sequence.

22. A method of communication, comprising: Comprising: Transmitting a synchronization signal of a first cell and / or a synchronization signal of a second cell, the synchronization signal of the first cell being generated based on a first sequence, the first sequence belonging to a first sequence set, the synchronization signal of the second cell being generated based on a second sequence, the first sequence belonging to a second sequence set, the first sequence set containing sequences completely different from the sequences contained in the second sequence set, one first cell being associated with one or more second cells.

23. The method of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein, One first cell being associated with one or more second cells comprises: system information on one first cell including cell configuration information of the second cell associated with the first cell.

24. A communications device, characterized by Comprising a module or unit for performing the method of any of claims 1 to 23.

25. A communications device, characterized by Comprising a processor configured to cause the communication apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 23.

26. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium has stored thereon computer programs or instructions, which, when executed on the communication apparatus, cause the communication apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 23.

27. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product comprises computer programs or instructions, which, when executed on the communication apparatus, cause the communication apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 23. The computer program product comprises computer programs or instructions, which, when executed on the communication apparatus, cause the communication apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 23.

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