A communication method, apparatus, storage medium, and computer program product

Abstract

A communication method, device, storage medium and computer program product are used to improve transmission performance. A network device transmits a first signal. The first signal includes at least one of a first synchronization signal, a second synchronization signal or a first control channel. A synchronization signal block includes at least one of a primary synchronization signal, a secondary synchronization signal or a second control channel. The bandwidth of the first synchronization signal is the same as the bandwidth of the primary synchronization signal. The bandwidth of the second synchronization signal is the same as the bandwidth of the secondary synchronization signal. The number of frequency domain units occupied by the first signal is less than the number of frequency domain units occupied by the synchronization signal block. Therefore, the network device can increase the power value of at least one frequency domain unit occupied by the first signal, thereby improving the transmission performance of the first signal, and thereby improving the success rate of the terminal device receiving the first signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of mobile communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, device, storage medium, and computer program product. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the 5th generation (5G) New Radio (NR) technology is evolving from revision (R) 18 to revision (R19). Simultaneously, NR technology has moved from the standardization phase to the commercial deployment phase. The NR standard protocol is a wireless communication technology designed for terrestrial cellular network scenarios, providing users with ultra-low latency, ultra-reliability, ultra-high speed, and massive connectivity wireless communication services. Compared to terrestrial networks (TN) communication, non-terrestrial networks (NTN) communication features large coverage areas and flexible networking, achieving seamless global network coverage. NTN communication utilizes equipment such as drones, high-altitude platforms, and satellites to build networks, providing data transmission, voice communication, and other services to user equipment (UE).

[0003] In some scenarios of terrestrial and / or non-terrestrial communication, improving transmission performance becomes an urgent problem to be solved when there is significant transmission signal loss. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method, apparatus, storage medium, and computer program product for improving the transmission performance of a first signal.

[0005] To illustrate one possible implementation method provided in this application, in some scenarios of terrestrial and / or non-terrestrial communication, signal transmission suffers significant losses, resulting in poor signal quality, such as signal quality less than (or not greater than) a signal quality threshold. For example, in an NTN communication system, signals need to be transmitted from a satellite to a ground-based terminal device. During signal transmission, various types of obstructions occur, leading to significant transmission losses. In these scenarios, the received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is typically low, and these can also be referred to as low SNR scenarios. For example, a low SNR scenario refers to a scenario where the signal reception quality of the terminal device (e.g., the received signal SNR) is below the minimum operating SNR set by the TN network. For example, the minimum operating SNR refers to the SNR of the signal received by the terminal device. If it is lower than the minimum operating SNR, the terminal device cannot receive or demodulate the corresponding signal or channel. Exemplarily, the minimum operating SNR set by the TN network can be (-7) dB, (-6) dB, (-4) dB, etc. For example, in a TN network, different channels typically have different minimum operating signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). These may include scenarios with SNRs ranging from -15 dB to -20 dB, or other scenarios that can be set according to actual conditions, such as SNRs ranging from -10 dB to -20 dB, or SNRs ranging from -7 dB to -20 dB, or SNRs ranging from -7 dB to -15 dB. In these scenarios, terminal devices are affected by environmental factors, such as potentially experiencing 18 dB of clutter loss. This significant loss affects signal transmission, which in turn affects communication.

[0006] This application provides a possible implementation in which a network device transmits a first signal. The first signal occupies fewer frequency domain units than a synchronization signal block. The network device then increases the power value on at least one frequency domain unit occupied by the first signal, thereby improving the first signal's resistance to signal fading, increasing the SNR gain of the received signal, and improving signal transmission performance. This, in turn, increases the success rate of a terminal device receiving the first signal in scenarios with low signal quality (e.g., signal quality less than or not greater than a signal quality threshold).

[0007] In a first aspect, this application provides a communication method. This method is executed by a network device. The network device can be a network equipment or a chip (or chip system, circuit, unit, or module) within the network equipment.

[0008] The network device transmits a first signal. The number of frequency domain units occupied by the first signal is less than the number of frequency domain units occupied by the synchronization signal block. The first signal includes at least one of a first synchronization signal, a second synchronization signal, or a first control channel. The synchronization signal block includes at least one of a primary synchronization signal, a secondary synchronization signal, or a second control channel. The bandwidth of the first synchronization signal is the same as the bandwidth of the primary synchronization signal, and the bandwidth of the second synchronization signal is the same as the bandwidth of the secondary synchronization signal.

[0009] Since the first signal occupies fewer frequency domain units than the synchronization signal block, resource consumption can be saved.

[0010] In another possible implementation, since the number of frequency domain units occupied by the first signal is less than the number of frequency domain units occupied by the synchronization signal block, the network device can increase the power value of at least one frequency domain unit occupied by the first signal, thereby improving the transmission performance of the first signal and thus increasing the success rate of the terminal device in receiving the first signal.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the first signal is used for time-frequency synchronization. Since terminal devices in scenarios where signal quality is less than (or not greater than) a signal quality threshold may not be able to receive the synchronization signal block, but such terminal devices have a higher success rate in receiving the first signal, they can then perform time-frequency synchronization based on the first signal. This solution provides a time-frequency synchronization method for terminal devices in scenarios where signal quality is less than the signal quality threshold, thereby improving the success rate of time-frequency synchronization for such terminal devices.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the first signal satisfies at least one of the following: the sequence identifier of the first signal is different from that of the synchronization signal block; the frequency position of the first signal is different from that of the synchronization signal block; or, the beam footprint of the first signal is different from that of the synchronization signal block. Thus, the first signal and the synchronization signal block can be distinguished, and each terminal device can select the appropriate signal for time-frequency synchronization according to its actual needs. For example, a terminal device in a scenario where the signal quality is less than the signal quality threshold can identify the first signal and then perform time-frequency synchronization based on the first signal. A terminal device in a scenario where the signal quality is greater than the signal quality threshold can identify the synchronization signal block and then perform time-frequency synchronization based on the synchronization signal block. In one possible implementation, a terminal device in a scenario where the signal quality is equal to the signal quality threshold can use either the first signal for time-frequency synchronization or the synchronization signal block for synchronization. A scenario where the signal quality is equal to the signal quality threshold can be either a scenario with poor signal quality or a scenario without poor signal quality; the choice can be flexible in practical applications.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the sequence identifier of the first signal is associated with at least one of the identifier of the cell transmitting the first signal, the identifier of the beam of the first signal, or the beam footprint of the first signal. Thus, the terminal device can determine at least one of the cell, beam, or beam footprint corresponding to the first signal by detecting the sequence identifier of the first signal. It can be seen that these schemes can indicate more other parameters through the sequence identifier of the first signal, thereby saving resource overhead.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the first signal is a periodically transmitted signal, and the period of the first signal is longer than the period of the synchronization signal block. Because the first signal is periodically transmitted, this structure facilitates the network device's control over the resource overhead of the first signal and is beneficial for the detection by the terminal device, allowing the terminal device to detect the first signal at multiple times. Furthermore, since the number of terminal devices requiring time-frequency synchronization using the first signal is less than the number using the synchronization signal block, the longer period of the first signal compared to the synchronization signal block better meets practical needs and saves resource overhead.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the first signal and the synchronization signal block occupy different time-domain resources. In this way, the first signal and the synchronization signal block can be distinguished by time-domain resources, and each terminal device can select the appropriate signal for time-frequency synchronization according to its actual needs.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the first signal is a periodically transmitted signal, transmitted multiple times within one cycle, with at least two transmissions of the first signal within one cycle being quasi-co-located. Thus, when the receiving end detects the first signal, it can combine the energy of multiple detected first signals, thereby improving the detection success rate of the first signal.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the sequence identifiers of at least two transmissions of the first signal within one cycle of a first signal are identical. This reduces the complexity of the scheme for the terminal device to detect the first signal, thereby increasing the success rate of the terminal device in detecting the first signal.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the first signal and the synchronization signal block are quasi-co-located. This quasi-co-location allows the receiver to combine the energy of at least one detected first signal with that of the synchronization signal block when detecting the first signal, thereby improving the detection success rate of the first signal.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the relative position of the time-domain symbol occupied by the first signal within the time slot is the same as the relative position of the time-domain symbol occupied by the synchronization signal block within the time slot. This reduces the complexity of the standardization process for the first signal.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the first control channel occupies fewer frequency domain units than the second control channel. Therefore, the network device can increase the power value of at least one frequency domain unit occupied by the first control channel, thereby improving the transmission performance of the first control channel and thus increasing the success rate of the terminal device receiving the first control channel.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the power value corresponding to one frequency domain unit occupied by the first control channel is greater than the power value corresponding to one frequency domain unit in the bandwidth occupied by the second control channel. Therefore, the transmission performance of the first control channel is improved compared to the second control channel, and the success rate of the terminal device receiving the first control channel is also improved.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the frequency domain resources occupied by the first control channel in the first time domain are the first frequency domain resources;

[0023] In the first frequency domain resource, at least two adjacent frequency domain units are discontinuous frequency domain resources in the first bandwidth; or, in the first frequency domain resource, at least two adjacent frequency domain units are continuous frequency domain resources in the first bandwidth.

[0024] For example, the first control channel can occupy a portion of the first bandwidth. Since the bandwidth of the first control channel is relatively narrow, it can be said that the first message is transmitted via narrowband. In this scheme, the total bandwidth occupied by the first signal is relatively small. Therefore, the network device can concentrate the power value of the first bandwidth on the bandwidth occupied by the first control channel, thereby increasing the power value of the first control channel and thus improving its performance.

[0025] For example, a portion of the frequency domain resources in the first bandwidth occupied by the first control channel may be mapped onto the first bandwidth using a comb tooth value greater than 1. Therefore, the network device can concentrate the power value of the first bandwidth onto the frequency domain resources occupied by the first control channel, thereby increasing the power value of the first control channel and thus improving its performance.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the second control channel occupies a second bandwidth, and the size of the first bandwidth is the same as the size of the second bandwidth. This can reduce the complexity of the standardization process of the first signal.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the first bandwidth is: the bandwidth of a carrier, or the bandwidth of a partial bandwidth BWP, or the bandwidth configured in the cell. It can be seen that in these implementations, the network device can allocate a larger power value to the first frequency domain resources, thereby improving the transmission performance of the first message.

[0028] In one possible implementation, frequency domain resources in the first bandwidth, other than the first frequency domain resources, are not mapped to information and / or signals. For example, only the first control channel is transmitted in the first bandwidth, without transmitting other information or other signals. These implementations allow the network device to allocate more (or all) of the power values ​​configured on the first bandwidth to the first control channel, thereby improving the transmission performance of the first control channel.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the second synchronization signal occupies second time-domain resources, and the resources occupied by the first control channel also include second time-domain resources. In the second time-domain resources, the frequency-domain resources of the second synchronization signal differ from those occupied by the first control channel. Thus, the structure of the first control channel is quite similar to that of the second control channel, thereby reducing the complexity of the standardization process for the first signal.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the sequence type of the first synchronization signal is the same as that of the main synchronization signal; and / or, the sequence type of the second synchronization signal is the same as that of the auxiliary synchronization signal. In this way, the terminal device can reuse modules of already implemented synchronization signal blocks to detect the first signal, thereby reducing the hardware cost and implementation complexity of the terminal device.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the first control channel is rate-matched based on the frequency domain resources occupied by the first control channel. In this way, the network device can map the corresponding information bits and channel-coded modulation symbols onto the corresponding physical resources.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the center frequencies of any two of the first synchronization signal, the first control channel, or the second synchronization signal are correlated. For example, the center frequencies of any two of the first synchronization signal, the first control channel, or the second synchronization signal are the same or differ by a frequency domain offset value. This reduces the difficulty for the terminal device to detect the individual signals in the first signal, and also allows the terminal device to determine the center frequencies of other signals based on the center frequency of one of the first synchronization signal, the first control channel, or the second synchronization signal, thereby reducing the signaling overhead for the network device to configure these parameters.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the primary synchronization signal occupies one time-domain symbol and 127 resource elements in the frequency domain. The secondary synchronization signal occupies one time-domain symbol and 127 resource elements in the frequency domain. The second control channel occupies two time-domain symbols, with 240 resource elements in the frequency domain for each time-domain symbol; the second control channel also occupies the time-domain symbol occupied by the secondary synchronization signal, occupying frequency domain resources on both sides of the frequency domain resources occupied by the secondary synchronization signal, for a total of 48 resource elements in this time-domain symbol.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the network device sends a first message. The first message indicates to the terminal device that it may have missed a signal and / or message. Thus, the terminal device can know from the received first message that it may have missed a signal and / or message, allowing the user to perform remedial actions in areas with better signal quality.

[0035] In one possible implementation, a terminal device missing signals and / or messages includes at least one of the following: the terminal device has missed receiving information; the terminal device has missed receiving a phone call; the terminal device is paged but not paged; the terminal device fails to perform time-frequency synchronization; the terminal device fails to successfully access the network; or, the signal quality corresponding to the terminal device's signal is less than a signal quality threshold. In these scenarios, the terminal device may be in a state where it is difficult to receive signals and / or messages. In these scenarios, the network device sending a first message can inform the terminal device that it may have missed signals and / or messages, so that the user can perform some remedial actions in areas with better signal quality.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the first signal is a periodically transmitted signal, and the time-domain resources occupied by the first message are located within the period of the first signal. Because the first signal is periodically transmitted, this structure facilitates the network device's control over the resource overhead of the first signal and also benefits the terminal device's detection, allowing the terminal device to detect the first signal at multiple times. Since the first message is located within the period of the first signal, the success rate of receiving the first message can be improved after the terminal device performs time-frequency synchronization based on the first signal.

[0037] In one possible implementation, the network device sends information indicating time-domain and / or frequency-domain resources for the first message. This information can assist the terminal device in receiving the first message, improving the success rate of its reception.

[0038] In one possible implementation, information indicating the time-domain and / or frequency-domain resources for the first message is carried within system messages and / or user public messages. This increases the probability that the terminal device will successfully receive this information. For example, the terminal device can receive this information in an environment with good signal strength, and then, when entering a scenario with strong signal interference, receive the first message based on this pre-received information.

[0039] In one possible implementation, the network device sends first configuration information. The first configuration information includes information indicating at least one of the following: the period duration of the first signal; the time-domain resources of the first signal; the time-domain offset value of the first signal; the frequency-domain resources of the first signal; the frequency-domain offset value of the first signal; the number of transmissions of the first signal within one period of the first signal; or, the sequence identifier of the first signal. This information can assist the terminal device in receiving the first signal, improve the success rate of the terminal device in detecting the first signal, and improve the efficiency of the terminal device in detecting the first signal.

[0040] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information is carried in a system message and / or a user common message. This increases the probability that the terminal device can successfully receive the first configuration information. For example, the terminal device can receive the first configuration information in an environment with good signal, and then, when entering a scenario with strong signal interference, receive the first message based on the pre-received first configuration information. Since the first configuration information is carried through at least one of system messages, MIBs, or user common messages, this approach reduces the amount of data the terminal device needs to receive in scenarios with strong signal interference and also increases the probability that the terminal device can successfully receive the first configuration information.

[0041] In one possible implementation, the first control channel includes first configuration information, which indicates timing information of the first signal. Thus, the terminal device can determine the timing information based on the information in the first control channel within the first signal.

[0042] In one possible implementation, the timing information of the first signal is measured in units of the duration of the first signal's period. For example, the timing information of the first signal is used to indicate which first signal period the first signal belongs to. In this way, the timing information of the first signal can occupy fewer bits, thereby reducing the number of bits occupied by information in the first control channel. This allows the first control channel to occupy fewer frequency domain resources, enabling the network device to allocate more power to the frequency domain resources occupied by the first control channel, thereby improving the transmission performance of the first control channel and increasing the success rate of the terminal device receiving information from the first control channel.

[0043] In one possible implementation, the first control channel further includes information indicating the amount of resources available for the third control channel. Thus, the terminal device can receive the third control channel based on this information. The third control channel may, for example, include a PDCCH. The terminal device can then also receive a first message based on the information in the third control channel.

[0044] In one possible implementation, the first control channel further includes the frequency domain offset value of the third control channel. This information can assist the terminal device in receiving the third control channel and improve the efficiency of the terminal device in detecting the third control channel.

[0045] In one possible implementation, the frequency offset value of the third control channel is associated with the frequency offset value of the first signal. Thus, the network device can implicitly indicate the frequency offset value of the third control channel using the frequency offset value of the first signal, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0046] Secondly, this application provides a communication method. This method is executed by a terminal device. The network device can be a terminal device or a chip (or chip system, circuit, unit, or module) within the terminal device.

[0047] The terminal device receives a first signal. The number of frequency domain units occupied by the first signal is less than the number of frequency domain units occupied by the synchronization signal block. The first signal includes at least one of a first synchronization signal, a second synchronization signal, or a first control channel. The synchronization signal block includes at least one of a primary synchronization signal, an auxiliary synchronization signal, or a second control channel. The bandwidth of the first synchronization signal is the same as the bandwidth of the primary synchronization signal, and the bandwidth of the second synchronization signal is the same as the bandwidth of the auxiliary synchronization signal.

[0048] Since the first signal occupies fewer frequency domain units than the synchronization signal block, resource consumption can be saved.

[0049] In another possible implementation, since the number of frequency domain units occupied by the first signal is less than the number of frequency domain units occupied by the synchronization signal block, the network device can increase the power value of at least one frequency domain unit occupied by the first signal, thereby improving the transmission performance of the first signal and thus increasing the success rate of the terminal device in receiving the first signal.

[0050] The relevant descriptions and beneficial effects of the first signal, synchronization signal block, first control channel, second control channel, first bandwidth, and second bandwidth are as described in the foregoing first aspect or possible implementations of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0051] In one possible implementation, the terminal device receives a first message. The first message is used to indicate that the terminal device has missed receiving signals and / or messages. The description and beneficial effects of the first message, and the missed signals and / or messages, are as described in the foregoing first aspect or possible implementations of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0052] In one possible implementation, the terminal device receives information indicating time-domain resources and / or frequency-domain resources for the first message. The relevant descriptions and beneficial effects of the information indicating time-domain resources and / or frequency-domain resources carried in system messages and / or user public messages are as described in the foregoing first aspect or possible implementations of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0053] In one possible implementation, the terminal device receives first configuration information. The relevant description and beneficial effects of the first configuration information are as described in the foregoing first aspect or possible implementations thereof, and will not be repeated here.

[0054] In one possible implementation, the first control channel includes timing information for indicating the first signal. A description of the timing information and its beneficial effects are given in the foregoing description of the first aspect or possible implementations thereof, and will not be repeated here.

[0055] In one possible implementation, the terminal device receives the time offset value of the time domain resources of the first signal within the period of the first signal, and the terminal device also receives the timing information of the first signal. Based on the time offset value of the time domain resources of the first signal within the period of the first signal, the timing information of the first signal, and the received first signal, the terminal device determines the timing information of the location of the received first signal. It can be seen that in this scheme, the terminal device can combine two pieces of information to determine the timing information of the location of the first signal. These two pieces of information can be carried in different messages; for example, the timing information of the first signal can be carried in the first control channel, while the time offset value of the time domain resources of the first signal within the period of the first signal may not be carried in the first control channel, thereby reducing the number of bits in the first control channel and saving the resource overhead occupied by the first control channel.

[0056] The relevant descriptions and beneficial effects of the first and third control channels are as described in the foregoing first aspect or possible implementations of the first aspect, and will not be repeated hereafter.

[0057] Thirdly, a communication device is provided, which can be the aforementioned network device or terminal device. The communication device may include a communication unit and a processing unit to perform any one of the first to second aspects, or any possible implementation of the first to second aspects. The communication unit is used to perform functions related to sending and receiving. The communication unit may be referred to as a transceiver unit. Optionally, the communication unit includes a receiving unit and a sending unit. In one design, the communication device is a communication chip, the processing unit may be one or more processors or processor cores, and the communication unit may be the input / output circuit, input / output interface, or antenna port of the communication chip.

[0058] In another design, the communication unit can be a transmitter and a receiver, or the communication unit can be a transmitter and a receiver.

[0059] Optionally, the communication device may also include modules that can be used to perform any one of the first to second aspects described above, or to perform any possible implementation of the first to second aspects.

[0060] Fourthly, a communication device is provided, which can be the aforementioned network device or terminal device. The communication device may include a processor and a memory to execute any one of the first to second aspects, or any possible implementation of the first to second aspects. Optionally, it may also include a transceiver, the memory for storing computer programs or instructions, and the processor for retrieving and running the computer program or instructions from the memory. When the processor executes the computer program or instructions in the memory, the communication device executes any one of the first to second aspects, or any possible implementation of the first to second aspects.

[0061] Optionally, there may be one or more processors and one or more memories.

[0062] Optionally, the memory can be integrated with the processor, or the memory can be set up separately from the processor.

[0063] Optionally, the transceiver may include a transmitter and a receiver.

[0064] Fifthly, a communication device is provided, which can be the aforementioned network device or terminal device. The communication device may include a processor to execute any one of the first to second aspects, or to execute any possible implementation of the first to second aspects. For example, the processor executes any one of the first to second aspects, or to execute any possible implementation of the first to second aspects, through logic circuits or by executing computer programs or instructions in memory. The processor is coupled to a memory. Optionally, the communication device further includes a memory. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface.

[0065] In one implementation, when the communication device is a network device or a terminal device, the communication interface can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0066] In another implementation, when the communication device is a chip or chip system, the communication interface can be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, or related circuit on the chip or chip system. The processor can also be manifested as a processing circuit or logic circuit.

[0067] Sixthly, a system is provided that includes a network device.

[0068] In one possible implementation, the system may also include a terminal device.

[0069] In a seventh aspect, a chip system is provided, the chip system including at least one processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit and at least one processor being interconnected by a line, the processor executing a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) to cause any one of the first to second aspects described above, and any possible implementation of the first to second aspects, to be executed.

[0070] Eighthly, a computer program product is provided, comprising: a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when executed, causes a computer to perform any one of the first to second aspects described above, or to perform any possible implementation of the first to second aspects.

[0071] Ninth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided that stores a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the first to second aspects described above, or to perform any possible implementation of the first to second aspects.

[0072] A tenth aspect provides a processing apparatus, comprising: an interface circuit and a processing circuit. The interface circuit may include an input circuit and an output circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive signals through the input circuit and transmit signals through the output circuit, thereby enabling any of the first to second aspects described above, or any possible implementation of the first to second aspects, to be implemented.

[0073] In specific implementation, the aforementioned processing device can be a chip, the input circuit can be an input pin, the output circuit can be an output pin, and the processing circuit can be a transistor, gate circuit, flip-flop, and various logic circuits, etc. The input signal received by the input circuit can be received and input by, for example, but not limited to, a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit can be, for example, but not limited to, output to a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter. Furthermore, the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as the input circuit and output circuit at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation method of the processor and various circuits.

[0074] In one implementation, the communication device is a network device or a terminal device. The interface circuit can be an RF processing chip in the network device or terminal device, and the processing circuit can be a baseband processing chip in the network device or terminal device.

[0075] In another implementation, the communication device can be a component within a network device or terminal device, such as an integrated circuit product like a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or communication chip. The interface circuit can be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pins, or related circuits on the chip or chip system. The processing circuit can be the logic circuit on the chip. Attached Figure Description

[0076] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of four possible structures for the frequency domain resources of data in Comb-4 (or N3 as 4);

[0077] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a possible structure of SSB;

[0078] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0079] Figure 4A This is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0080] Figure 4B This is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0081] Figure 4C This is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0082] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture applicable to the embodiments of this application;

[0083] Figure 6 A possible flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0084] Figure 7 A schematic diagram illustrating a possible transmission method of the first signal provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0085] Figure 8 A schematic diagram illustrating yet another possible transmission method of the first signal provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0086] Figure 9 A schematic diagram illustrating yet another possible transmission method of the first signal provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0087] Figure 10 This is a possible schematic diagram of the first signal structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0088] Figure 11 This is yet another possible schematic diagram of the first signal structure provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0089] Figure 12 This is yet another possible schematic diagram of the first signal structure provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0090] Figure 13 A schematic diagram illustrating yet another possible transmission method of the first signal provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0091] Figure 14 A schematic diagram illustrating yet another possible transmission method of the first signal provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0092] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0093] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0094] The following is a description of the nouns and terms used in the embodiments of this application.

[0095] (1) Resources.

[0096] The resources in the embodiments of this application may include at least one of time domain resources, frequency domain resources, code domain resources, or spatial domain resources.

[0097] (1.1) Time domain resources.

[0098] Temporal resources may include at least one of the following: radio frame, subframe, slot, mini slot, or orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol.

[0099] A time-domain element may include a radio frame, a subframe, a slot, a mini slot, or an OFDM symbol. A time-domain element may also include resources aggregated from multiple radio frames, subframes, slots, mini slots, or OFDM symbols. Specifically, a radio frame may include multiple subframes, a subframe may include one or more slots, and a slot may include at least one symbol. Alternatively, a radio frame may include multiple slots, and a slot may include at least one symbol. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, an OFDM symbol may also be simply referred to as a symbol.

[0100] Depending on the subcarrier spacing, the length of each symbol can vary, and therefore the time slot length can also vary. For example, a time slot with a 15 kilohertz (kHz) subcarrier spacing corresponds to a time slot length of 1 millisecond (ms), while a time slot with a 60 kHz subcarrier spacing corresponds to a time slot length of 0.25 ms, and so on.

[0101] In this embodiment, the time domain unit can also be replaced by: time domain resource unit or time unit, etc.

[0102] (1.2) Frequency domain resources.

[0103] In the frequency domain, frequency domain resources can include one or more frequency domain units. A frequency domain unit can be a resource block (RB), a subcarrier, a resource block group (RBG), a predefined subband, a precoding resource block group (PRG), a bandwidth part (BWP), a resource element (RE) (also called a resource cell or resource particle), a carrier, or a serving cell.

[0104] Subcarrier or RE refers to the smallest frequency domain unit on a specific symbol in a multicarrier system. Subcarrier spacing (SCS) is the interval between the center or peak positions of two adjacent subcarriers in the frequency domain in an OFDM system. In 5G NR, various subcarrier spacings are introduced, and different carriers can have different subcarrier spacings. The baseline is 15kHz, which can be 15kHz × 2n, where n is an integer from 3.75, 7.5 up to 480kHz. In the embodiments of this application, RE can refer to a resource unit of time-frequency resources, such as the smallest time-frequency resource unit. In this application, subcarrier and RE are interchangeable and have the same content.

[0105] A subchannel is the smallest unit of frequency domain resources occupied by a physical resource block (PRB) in a shared channel. A subchannel can include one or more resource blocks (RBs). The bandwidth of a wireless communication system in the frequency domain can include multiple RRBs. For example, in the various possible bandwidths of an LTE system, the number of physical resource blocks (PRBs) can be 6, 15, 25, 50, etc. In the frequency domain, an RRB can include several subcarriers. For example, in an LTE system, an RRB includes 12 subcarriers, where each subcarrier can be spaced 15kHz apart. Of course, other subcarrier spacings can also be used, such as 3.75kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz, or 120kHz; there is no limitation here.

[0106] A frequency domain unit may include a RE, an RB, a channel, a subchannel, a carrier, or a bandwidth part (BWP), etc. A frequency domain unit may also include resources aggregated from multiple REs, multiple RBs, multiple subchannels, multiple carriers, or multiple BWPs. In the embodiments of this application, a channel can be equivalently replaced by a resource block set (RB set), and the frequency domain bandwidth of an RB set can be 20 MHz.

[0107] In this embodiment, the frequency domain unit can also be replaced by: frequency domain resource unit or frequency unit, etc.

[0108] (1.3) Code domain resources.

[0109] Code field resources may include sequence indexes or identifiers used when transmitting information. In one possible implementation, information is transmitted using sequences, which can be achieved using direct extended sequences, block extended sequences, direct sequence modulation, etc. Different pieces of information to be transmitted require one or more sequences. These sequence indexes and sequence numbers carrying the information are called code field resources.

[0110] (1.4) Airspace resources.

[0111] Spatial resources can include all or part of the antennas used for transmitting information, the direction of digital and / or analog beams used for transmitting information, or a layer / or several layers / or a stream / or several streams of space formed by digital and / or analog precoding used for transmitting information. These information-carrying antenna resources, spatial directions, streams, or layers are referred to as spatial resources.

[0112] (2) Mapping can also be described as “occupation” or “use”. For example, when a communication system maps a channel on a carrier, it means that the communication system uses or occupies part or all of the time-frequency resources corresponding to the carrier to transmit information carried by the channel.

[0113] (3) Comb tooth mapping.

[0114] Data can occupy all or part of the bandwidth resources, such as frequency domain resources based on a comb-like structure. In this embodiment, N3 represents the interval of the comb teeth, also known as the comb tooth value (for example, N3 can be replaced with other characters such as Ncomb, and the N in N3 can also be replaced with other characters). In this embodiment, for Comb-N3, data appears in the frequency domain at intervals of N3 REs, and no transmission occurs on the remaining (N3-1) REs. Optionally, the frequency domain transmission method of Comb-N3 in this embodiment can also be referred to as comb teeth, comb tooth structure, comb splitting, or comb splitting structure, etc.

[0115] Figure 1 The illustrations show four possible structural diagrams of the frequency domain resources of data in Comb-4 (or N3 = 4), through which data can be... Figure 1 Transmission is performed using comb-like structures (a), (b), (c), or (d). Figure 1 Taking (a) as an example, in the case of Comb-4 (or N3 = 4), the REs occupied by the data appear in the frequency domain at equal intervals of 4, and as shown in Figure (a). Figure 1 As shown in (a), data is transmitted on the first RE, and the next three consecutive REs are left unused for transmission (the specific location of the frequency domain resources occupied by the data is shown in Figure 1). Figure 1 (as shown in (a)). Figure 1 The meaning of other comb tooth results and Figure 1 Similar to (a) in the previous example, it will not be repeated here.

[0116] (4) Reference signal.

[0117] In this application embodiment, the reference signal may include (or may be) a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SS / PBCH block), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), or a cell reference signal (CRS), etc. The downlink reference signal may include (or may be) at least one of these reference signals. In this application embodiment, the SS / PBCH block may also be abbreviated as SSB, and SS / PBCH block and SSB can be used interchangeably.

[0118] (5)SSB.

[0119] In existing NR systems, terminal devices can synchronize with the base station and obtain system messages by receiving SSBs at the Uu interface. For example, an SSB can include a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and a physical broadcast channel (PBCH). The PSS can be used to transmit the cell number, and the SSS can be used to transmit the cell group number. The cell number and cell group number together determine multiple physical cell identities (PCIs) in the mobile communication system. Once the terminal device successfully finds the PSS and SSS, it knows the physical cell number of the carrier carrying the PSS and SSS, thus gaining the ability to parse the system messages contained in the SSB.

[0120] System information in the SSB can be carried by the PBCH. Since this information is essential for terminal devices to access the network, it can be called the main information block (MIB). For example, the MIB may contain the system frame number and the initial subcarrier spacing for access. The information contained in the MIB is limited and insufficient to support terminal device access to the cell. Therefore, the terminal device can also obtain other system information, such as system information block (SIB) 1. SIB1 can be transmitted on the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) with a period of 160ms. The terminal device can obtain the parameters used to transmit SIB1 from the MIB carried by the PBCH, thus enabling it to receive SIB1. In this way, the terminal device can obtain the system information required to access the cell and subsequently access the cell.

[0121] Figure 2 An exemplary schematic diagram illustrates a possible structure of time-domain and frequency-domain resources occupied by an SSB. For example... Figure 2 As shown, in the time domain, one SSB occupies four orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, namely symbol 0, symbol 1, symbol 2, and symbol 3. In the frequency domain, one SSB occupies 20 resource blocks (RBs), which is 240 REs (or subcarriers). Within these 20 RBs, the REs (or subcarriers) are numbered from 0 to 239. The PSS is located on the middle 127 REs (or subcarriers) of symbol 0, and the SSS is located on the middle 127 REs (or subcarriers) of symbol 2. The PBCH occupies all the subcarriers of symbols 1 and 3, that is, the 240 REs (or subcarriers) of symbol 1 and the 240 REs (or subcarriers) of symbol 3. The PBCH also occupies a portion of the remaining subcarriers of symbol 2, excluding the subcarriers occupied by the SSS.

[0122] (6) Beam.

[0123] In new radio (NR) protocols, beamforming can be represented as a spatial domain filter, spatial filter, spatial domain parameter, spatial parameter, spatial domain setting, spatial setting, or quasi-colocation (QCL) information, QCL assumption, QCL indication, etc. Beamforming can be indicated through transmission configuration indicator state (TCI-state) parameters or through spatial relationship parameters.

[0124] Therefore, in this application, "beam" can be replaced by spatial filter, spatial filter, spatial parameter, spatial parameter, spatial setting, spatial setting, QCL information, QCL assumption, QCL indication, TCI-state (downlink TCI-state, uplink TCI-state), spatial relationship, etc. The above terms are also equivalent to each other. "Beam" can also be replaced with other beam-related terms, which are not limited in this application.

[0125] In this embodiment, any two of the following can be interchanged: downlink beam, CSI-RS, TCI-state, downlink / joint TCI state (DL or joint TCI state), SSB, and tracking reference signal (TRS).

[0126] The beam used to transmit signals can be called the transmission beam (Tx beam), spatial domain transmission filter, spatial transmission filter, spatial domain transmission parameter, spatial transmission setting, or spatial transmission setting. The downlink transmission beam can be indicated by TCI-state.

[0127] In this embodiment, any two of the following can be interchanged: uplink beam, uplink (UL) TCI state, DL or joint TCI state, SRS, CSI-RS, SSB, and TRS.

[0128] The beam used to receive signals can be called a reception beam (Rx beam), a spatial domain reception filter, a spatial reception filter, a spatial domain reception parameter, a spatial domain reception setting, or a spatial reception setting. The uplink transmit beam can be indicated by spatial relationships, uplink TCI-state, or SRS resources (indicating the transmit beam using that SRS). Therefore, the uplink beam can also be replaced by an SRS resource.

[0129] The transmitting beam can refer to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space after a signal is transmitted through an antenna, while the receiving beam can refer to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space of a wireless signal received from an antenna.

[0130] Furthermore, the beam can be a wide beam, a narrow beam, or other types of beam. The beamforming technology can be beamforming technology or other technologies. Specifically, beamforming technology can be digital beamforming technology, analog beamforming technology, or hybrid digital / analog beamforming technology, etc.

[0131] Beams are generally associated with resources. For example, during beam measurement, network devices measure different beams using different resources. The terminal devices report the measured resource quality, allowing the network devices to determine the quality of the associated beams. During data transmission, beam information is also indicated through its associated resources. For instance, network devices use the TCI field in downlink control information (DCI) to indicate the physical downlink sharing channel (PDSCH) beam information of the terminal devices.

[0132] Optionally, multiple beams with the same or similar communication characteristics can be considered as a single beam. A beam may include one or more antenna ports for transmitting data channels, control channels, and detection signals, etc. One or more antenna ports forming a beam can also be considered as a set of antenna ports.

[0133] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified, a beam refers to the transmit beam of a network device. In beam measurement, each beam of a network device is associated with a resource, and therefore the beam associated with that resource can be uniquely identified by the resource's index.

[0134] (7) Beam footprint.

[0135] For example, beam footprint refers to the way a satellite illuminates / transmits signals to a corresponding area on the ground in NTN communication using a specific antenna pattern, antenna beam angle, and direction. Optionally, the width of the antenna beam angle can be described as a 3dB beamwidth, or other beamwidths (such as 4dB, 5dB, etc.). Optionally, the positions of different beam footprints on the ground can be continuous or discontinuous, overlapping or non-overlapping. Optionally, beam footprint can also be called footprint. Unless otherwise specified, the two terms can be used interchangeably in this application.

[0136] Figure 3 An exemplary schematic diagram of a possible communication scenario provided by an embodiment of this application is shown, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the satellite connects to the core network via a gateway (or satellite base station), and the link connecting the gateway and the satellite can be called a feeder link. The satellite can provide communication services to the UE, and this link can be called a service link. Figure 3 As shown, the satellite illuminates / transmits signals to the corresponding area on the ground, and the acquisition on the ground can be called the beam footprint. Figure 3 The elliptical region drawn in the example can be a possible example of a beam footprint.

[0137] (8) TCI-state (used to indicate the downlink beam).

[0138] Network devices can generate different beams pointing in different transmission directions. During downlink data transmission, when a network device sends data to a terminal device using a specific beam, it needs to inform the terminal device of the transmitted beam information so that the terminal device can use the received beam associated with that transmitted beam to receive the data sent by the network device.

[0139] In the 3GPP R15 / R16 protocol, network devices use the TCI field in the DCI (Digital Channel Interface) to indicate to terminal devices information about the transmit beam they are using. Specifically, the TCI field is 3 bits in size and can represent 8 different codepoint values. Each value in the TCI field is associated with an index of a TCI-state, which uniquely identifies a TCI-state. In this embodiment, the TCI-state can also be written as TCI state. The TCI-state includes several parameters that determine the transmit beam information. The TCI-state is configured by the network device for each terminal device, and its structure is as follows: Figure 2 As shown. Each TCI-state includes its own index TCI-state identifier and two QCL information (QCL-Info) entries. Each QCL-Info entry includes a cell field and a bandwidth part (BWP) identifier, indicating which cell and bandwidth the TCI-state applies to, respectively. Different QCL-Info entries can be configured for different cells or different bandwidths within the same cell. The QCL-Info entry also includes a reference signal, indicating which reference signal resource constitutes the QCL relationship.

[0140] In the R15 / R16 protocols, the term "beam" is generally not used directly; it is usually replaced by other terms. For example, in data transmission and channel measurement, beams are associated with reference signal resources, one beam per reference signal resource. Therefore, when we say that a beam forms a QCL relationship with a reference signal resource, we are actually referring to which beam it forms a QCL relationship with. A QCL relationship means that two reference signal resources (or two antenna ports, where each antenna port and reference signal resource is also one-to-one associated) share certain spatial parameters. Which spatial parameters are identical depends on the type of the QCL-Info, specifically another field of the QCL-Info, qcl-Type. qcl-Type can have four values: {typeA, typeB, typeC, typeD}. Taking typeD as an example, typeD indicates that the two reference signal resources have the same spatial reception parameter information, meaning the two beams have the same receiving beam. At most one of the two QCL-Info entries included in the TCI-state is of typeD.

[0141] (9) Spatial relation (used to indicate the uplink beam).

[0142] In the current protocol, the uplink transmission beam is indicated by spatial relationships, which functions similarly to TCI-state, informing the terminal device which transmission beam to use for uplink transmission.

[0143] Spatial relationships also need to be configured via radio resource control (RRC) signaling. RRC signaling can include spatial relationship identification (ID), cell ID, target reference signal resource, path loss measurement reference signal, power control parameters, etc. The target reference signal resource (which can be one of SRS / SSB / CSI-RS) is used to indicate the associated uplink beam. If the uplink transmission uses spatial relationship #1, and this spatial relationship #1 includes a target reference signal resource #2, it indicates that the transmit beam of this uplink transmission is the transmit / receive beam of the target reference signal. For example, when the target reference signal resource is an uplink resource SRS, it means that the transmit beam used for the uplink transmission is the transmit beam of that SRS (the transmit beam of that SRS is known). As another example, if the target reference signal resource is a downlink resource such as SSB / CSI-RS, it means that the transmit beam used for the uplink transmission is the receive beam of that SSB / CSI-RS (the receive beam of that SSB / CSI-RS is known).

[0144] Network devices can configure multiple spatial relationships for terminal devices. Then, one of these relationships is activated via MAC CE for associated data transmission. The MAC CE can be a media access control element or a medium access control element. Uplink transmissions, including the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), SRS, and Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), all require associated spatial relationships. The spatial relationship for PUCCH is indicated by MAC CE signaling. The spatial relationship for SRS is also indicated by MAC CE signaling. During PUSCH transmission, a specific SRS is associated, and the transmission uses the spatial relationship of that SRS.

[0145] (10) Control channel.

[0146] The control channel may include, for example, at least one of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH).

[0147] PDCCH is the downlink control channel, which can refer to the control channel sent from the network device to the terminal. PSCCH is the sidelink control channel, which can refer to the control channel sent between two terminals through a sidelink. PUCCH is the uplink physical channel, which can refer to the control channel sent from the terminal to the network device.

[0148] Control channels (any of PDCCH, PUCCH, and PSCCH) can carry information, which can be called control information. For example, PDCCH can carry downlink control information (DCI). PSCCH can carry at least one of sidelink control information (SCI), data, or MAC CE. PUCCH can carry uplink control information (UCI).

[0149] For example, the DCI carried by the PDCCH that schedules PDSCH / PUSCH can contain resource configuration information, which can be used to indicate resources. This resource configuration information may include two fields: frequency domain resource assignment and time domain resource assignment. The terminal device determines a time-frequency resource block based on the information in these two fields, and the PDSCH / PUSCH will be transmitted on the resource indicated by this resource configuration information (e.g., the time-frequency resource block).

[0150] For example, the information carried by the PSCCH that schedules the PSSCH (such as the SCI) can include resource configuration information, which can be used to indicate resources. For instance, the resource configuration information includes two fields: frequency domain resource assignment and time domain resource assignment. The terminal device determines a time-frequency resource block based on the information in these two fields, and the PSSCH can be transmitted on the resource indicated by this resource configuration information (such as the time-frequency resource block).

[0151] (11) Shared channel (SCH) (or data channel).

[0152] The shared channel may include, for example, at least one of the physical sidelink share channel (PSSCH), physical downlink share channel (PDSCH), and physical uplink share channel (PUSCH).

[0153] PDSCH is the downlink physical channel, which can refer to the physical channel transmitted from a network device to a terminal. PSSCH is the sidelink physical channel, which can refer to the physical channel transmitted between two terminals via a sidelink. PUSCH is the downlink physical channel, which can refer to the physical channel transmitted from a terminal to a network device.

[0154] A shared channel (any of PDSCH, PUSCH, and PSSCH) can carry information, which may be called control information or service data. For example, PSSCH can carry at least one of SCI, data, or MAC CE. For example, PDSCH can carry DCI, etc. For example, PUSCH can carry UCI, etc.

[0155] Shared channels (any one of PDSCH, PUSCH, and PSSCH) have the capability to carry data, but in practical applications, any of these channels may or may not carry data.

[0156] (12) Rate matching.

[0157] Rate matching is a widely used digital domain process in many digital communication systems, including NR, to align the number of encoded bits with the actual amount of available transmission resources. Rate matching is typically applied at the transmitter side. For the transmitter, rate matching means that the transmitter determines the code rate of the data to be transmitted based on the available physical resources, performs channel coding on the data, and then transmits the encoded data on the available physical resources. For example, bits on the transmission channel may be repeated or punctured to match the carrying capacity of the physical channel, achieving the bit rate required by the transmission format during channel mapping.

[0158] For example, if the total resources are S1, the unusable resources are S2, and both S1 and S2 are positive integers, then the available resources are (S1-S2). Rate matching refers to directly determining the block size based on the resources (S1-S2), performing channel coding on the data to be transmitted, and mapping and sending the data to the resources (S1-S2).

[0159] Rate matching is used because it is known that DMRS will occupy 10 REs. During the information encoding process, the actual carrying capacity of 90 REs (corresponding to the transmission of 180 bits) is used to discard or repeat the encoded bits.

[0160] Figure 4A An exemplary schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system 1000 to which this application embodiment applies is shown. For example... Figure 4A As shown, the communication system includes a wireless access network 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may also include an Internet 300. The wireless access network 100 may include at least one wireless access network device (such as...). Figure 4A 110a and 110b in the above), may also include at least one terminal device (such as Figure 4A (Referring to 120a-120j in the original text). Terminal devices connect wirelessly to wireless access network (WLAN) devices, which in turn connect wirelessly or via wired connections to the core network. The core network devices and WLAN devices can be independent physical devices, or they can integrate the functions of the core network devices and the logical functions of the WLAN devices onto a single physical device. Alternatively, a single physical device can integrate some core network device functions and some WLAN device functions. Terminal devices and WLAN devices can be interconnected via wired or wireless connections. Figure 4A This is just an illustration; the communication system may also include other network devices, such as wireless repeaters and wireless backhaul devices. Figure 4A It is not shown in the middle.

[0161] The network devices involved in the embodiments of this application include, for example, radio access network (RAN) devices. RAN devices can be base stations, evolved NodeBs (eNodeBs or eNBs), transmission reception points (TRPs), transmission points (TPs), base stations in 5th generation (5G) mobile communication systems, base stations in future mobile communication systems, or access nodes in WiFi systems; they can also be modules or units that perform some of the functions of a base station, for example, they can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), or radio units (RUs). The CU (Radio Control Unit) performs the functions of the radio resource control protocol and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the base station, and can also perform the functions of the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP). The DU (Radio Link Control Unit) performs the functions of the radio link control layer and medium access control (MAC) layer of the base station, and can also perform some or all of the physical layer functions. For specific descriptions of the above-mentioned protocol layers, please refer to the relevant technical specifications of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The CU and DU can be set up separately, or they can be included in the same network element, such as in the baseband unit (BBU). The MAC layer can also be the media access control layer. The RU (Radio Unit) can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as in the remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), or remote radio head (RRH). In different systems, CU, DU, or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning.For example, in an open radio access network (ORAN) system, a CU can also be called an open CU (open-CU, O-CU), a DU can also be called an open DU (open-DU, O-DU), and a RU can also be called an open RU (open-RU, O-RU). In this application, any unit among the CU (or CU control plane (CU-CP), CU user plane (CU-UP), DU, and RU) can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules. The CU-CP can also be called an open CU-CP (open-CU-CP, O-CU-CP), and the CU-UP can also be called an open CU-UP (open-CU-UP, O-CU-UP).

[0162] Wireless access network equipment can be macro base stations (such as...) Figure 4A 110a in the text), can also be a micro base station or an indoor station (such as... Figure 4A 110b) in the text can also be a relay device, relay node, or donor node, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used in the wireless access network equipment. For ease of description, the following description uses a base station as an example of a wireless access network device.

[0163] Terminal devices can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminal devices, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, etc. Terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, airships, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, sensors, in-vehicle equipment, on-board units (OBU), roadside units (RSU), relay nodes with mobility capabilities, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies or device forms used in the terminal devices.

[0164] The aforementioned terminal devices can establish connections with the operator's network through interfaces provided by the operator's network (such as N1), and use data and / or voice services provided by the operator's network. The terminal devices can also access the Domain Name System (DNS) through the operator's network, and use operator services deployed on the DNS, and / or services provided by third parties. These third parties can be service providers outside of the operator's network and the terminal devices, and can provide other data and / or voice services to the terminal devices. The specific form of these third parties can be determined according to the actual application scenario and is not limited here.

[0165] Base stations and terminal equipment can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; on water; or in the air on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of the base stations and terminal equipment.

[0166] The roles of base stations and terminal devices can be relative, for example, Figure 4A The helicopter or drone 120i can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminal devices 120j that access the wireless access network 100 via 120i, terminal device 120i is a base station; however, for base station 110a, 120i is a terminal device, meaning that 110a and 120i communicate via a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, 110a and 120i can also communicate via a base station-to-base station interface protocol; in this case, 120i is also a base station relative to 110a. Therefore, both base stations and terminal devices can be collectively referred to as communication devices. Figure 4A The 110a and 110b in the text can be referred to as communication devices with base station functions. Figure 4A The 120a-120j in the text can be referred to as communication devices with terminal equipment functions.

[0167] Communication between base stations and terminal devices, between base stations, and between terminal devices can be conducted using licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or both simultaneously. Communication can be conducted using spectrum below 6 GHz, spectrum above 6 GHz, or both simultaneously. The embodiments of this application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0168] In the embodiments of this application, the functions of the base station can be executed by modules (such as chips) within the base station, or by a control subsystem that includes base station functions. This control subsystem, including base station functions, can be a control center in the aforementioned application scenarios such as smart grids, industrial control, intelligent transportation, and smart cities. Similarly, the functions of the terminal device can be executed by modules (such as chips or modems) within the terminal device, or by a device that includes terminal device functions.

[0169] In this application, the base station sends downlink signals or downlink information to the terminal device, with the downlink information carried on the downlink channel; the terminal device sends uplink signals or uplink information to the base station, with the uplink information carried on the uplink channel. In order to communicate with the base station, the terminal device needs to establish a radio connection with a cell controlled by the base station. The cell with which the terminal device has established a radio connection is called the serving cell of the terminal device. When the terminal device communicates with this serving cell, it is also subject to interference from signals from neighboring cells.

[0170] The core network involved in this application embodiment may include network devices that process and forward user signaling and data. For example, it includes core network devices such as access and mobility management functions (AMF), session management functions (SMF), user plane gateways, and location management devices. The user plane gateway can be a server with functions such as mobility management, routing, and forwarding of user plane data, generally located on the network side, such as a serving gateway (SGW), packet data network gateway (PGW), or user plane function (UPF). AMF and SMF are equivalent to the mobility management entity (MME) in a long-term evolution (LTE) system. AMF is mainly responsible for admission aspects, and SMF is mainly responsible for session management. Of course, the core network may also include other network elements, which are not listed here.

[0171] Figure 4B and Figure 4C The diagram illustrates network architectures for several communication systems applicable to embodiments of this application. These communication systems may include satellites, network devices, and terminal devices. They may also include gateways and core network devices. Figure 4B and Figure 4CAn exemplary network architecture combining NTN and terrestrial networks is illustrated below. This will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0172] The satellite can be a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite, a geosynchronous orbit (GSO) satellite, a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite, a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite, or a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite. This application does not limit the satellite's operating mode; for example, the satellite can operate in transparent mode or regenerative mode. Figure 4B This illustration uses the satellite's transparent transmission mode as an example. Figure 4C This illustration uses the satellite's operating mode as the regeneration mode as an example.

[0173] When a satellite operates in transparent mode, it provides transparent relay forwarding functionality. In this mode, the satellite can also be referred to as a transparent satellite. A gateway possesses the functions of a network device (such as a base station) or some of the functions of a network device (such as a base station); in this case, the gateway can be considered a network device (such as a base station). Alternatively, the network device (such as a base station) can be deployed separately from the gateway. In this case, the feeder link latency includes both the latency from the satellite to the gateway and the latency from the gateway to the gNB. The transparent mode discussed below assumes that the gateway and gNB are located together or close to each other. For cases where the gateway and gNB are far apart, the feeder link latency is simply the sum of the latency from the satellite to the gateway and the latency from the gateway to the gNB.

[0174] When a satellite operates in regenerative mode, it possesses data processing capabilities and functions as a network device (such as a base station), or partially functions as a network device (such as a base station). In this mode, the satellite can be considered as a network device (such as a base station). In this scenario, the satellite can also be referred to as a regenerative satellite.

[0175] Satellites can communicate wirelessly with terminal devices via broadcast communication signals and navigation signals. Optionally, each satellite can provide communication, navigation, and positioning services to terminal devices through multiple beams. For example, each satellite uses multiple beams to cover the service area, and the relationship between different beams can be one or more of time-division, frequency-division, and space-division.

[0176] A gateway (also known as a ground station, earth station, or gateway) is a network device used to connect satellites and ground-based network equipment (such as ground base stations). One or more satellites can connect to one or more ground-based network devices (such as ground base stations) through one or more gateways; this is not a limitation. The link between the satellite and the terminal device is called a service link, and the link between the satellite and the gateway is called a feeder link. Network equipment can be deployed separately from the gateway; therefore, the latency of the feeder link can include both the latency from the satellite to the gateway and the latency from the gateway to the network equipment.

[0177] The network devices in this application embodiment may include network devices deployed on satellites (such as satellite base stations), network devices deployed on gateways, or network devices deployed on the ground (such as ground base stations). For example, the network devices may be as described above. Figure 4A The diagram shows radio access network (RAN) nodes, RAN nodes in the O-RAN system, etc. See the foregoing description for related details, which will not be repeated here.

[0178] A core network (CN) device is a ground-based device that communicates with NTN devices within an NTN system. For example, a CN could be... Figure 4A The relevant CNs are described above and will not be repeated here.

[0179] The terminal device can be Figure 4A The terminal devices involved are described above and will not be repeated here.

[0180] The embodiments of this application can also be applied to other communication system architectures, such as air-to-ground (ATG) communication systems, which include at least one network device and at least one high-altitude terminal device. High-altitude terminal devices include, for example, high-altitude aircraft and onboard terminal devices. Figure 4B and Figure 4C The satellites in the relay system can also be replaced with other relay equipment, such as high altitude platform stations (HAPS) and other NTN equipment. Figure 4B or Figure 4C The communication system shown is an example and does not constitute a limitation on the communication systems to which the methods provided in the embodiments of this application are applicable.

[0181] It is understood that the embodiments of this application can also be applied to air-to-ground (ATG) communication systems. This communication system includes at least one network device and at least one high-altitude terminal device. Data forwarding between the network device and the high-altitude terminal device can also be achieved through relay devices. High-altitude terminal devices include, for example, high-altitude aircraft and onboard terminal devices.

[0182] The communication method provided in this application can be applied to fourth-generation (4G) communication systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, as well as fifth-generation (5G) communication systems, such as 5G New Radio (NR) systems, or various communication systems evolving after 5G, such as future communication systems. The method provided in this application can also be applied to Bluetooth systems, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) systems, Long Range Radio (LoRa) systems, or vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems. The solution provided in this application can also be applied to TN networks, NTN networks, or network architectures where NTN networks are integrated with other networks.

[0183] Figure 5 An exemplary illustration is shown, illustrating an application scenario provided by an embodiment of this application. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the communication system includes a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device and the second communication device can communicate with each other.

[0184] For example, the first communication device can be a network device or a terminal device. Similarly, the second communication device can also be a network device or a terminal device. The first and second communication devices can be of the same or different types. For example, the first communication device can be a network device, and the second communication device can be a terminal device. Or, both the first and second communication devices can be terminal devices.

[0185] For example, a network device can be Figure 4A , Figure 4B or Figure 4C This involves network devices or chips (or chip systems, circuits, or unit modules) within network devices. Network devices can be, for example, devices with base station and / or relay functions. For example, the network device can be a regenerable satellite or a transparent satellite. Another example is a RAN (Radio Access Registry). Yet another example is an RSU (Radio Service Unit) or a control node, etc.

[0186] For example, the terminal device could be... Figure 4A , Figure 4B or Figure 4C The terminal equipment involved or the chip (or chip system, or circuit, or unit module) inside the terminal equipment.

[0187] For example, the solution provided in the embodiments of this application can be applied to a TN, and the network device and terminal device can be devices in a TN. As another example, the solution provided in the embodiments of this application can be applied to an NTN.

[0188] For example, network devices and / or terminal devices are NTN devices. An NTN device can be, for example, an NTN equipment or a chip (or chip system, or circuit, or unit module) within an NTN equipment. For example, an NTN equipment can include / replace / be located on / at: a satellite, airship, aircraft, drone, or high-altitude platform, etc. Satellites can operate in regenerative mode and / or transparent transmission mode. See NTN equipment for more information. Figure 4A , Figure 4B or Figure 4C This involves non-ground equipment. For example, the network device may be located at a high or low altitude relative to the terminal device. For example, the network device may be deployed in the air, while the terminal device is deployed on the ground. Or, for example, the network device may be deployed on the ground, while the terminal device is deployed in the air.

[0189] For example, the terminal device is an NTN device with terminal functionality. For example, the terminal device may include / be an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) mobile termination (MT), a network-controlled repeater (NCR) MT, or a wireless access backhaul (WAB) MT, etc.

[0190] For example, the network device is an NTN device with base station functionality and / or relay functionality. For example, the network device is a satellite that can operate in transparent or regenerative mode. As another example, the network device includes / is: IAB, or NCR, or WAB, etc.

[0191] based on Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4A , Figure 4B , Figure 4C and Figure 5 The embodiments shown and the other contents described above, Figure 6 An exemplary schematic diagram of a possible communication method provided in an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 6The text describes the process using the first and second communication devices as the main implementers. Figure 6 This paper describes an example where the first communication device is a network device and the second communication device is a terminal device. In this embodiment, the network device can be replaced by the first communication device or other possible examples thereof, and the terminal device can be replaced by the second communication device or other possible examples thereof. For example, the network device described below can also be replaced by a terminal device, in which case the following content can be applied to a system architecture for communication between terminal devices. The network device and / or terminal device can be an NTN device. Or the network device and / or terminal device can be a TN device. For example, the network device is a satellite, and the terminal device is a ground-based mobile phone. Another example is that the network device is a ground-based base station, and the terminal device is an airborne aircraft or airplane. For a detailed description of the first communication device, the second communication device, the network device, the terminal device, and the NTN device, please refer to the foregoing. Figure 5 The relevant descriptions will not be repeated here.

[0192] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 6 Let me introduce it.

[0193] Step 601: The network device sends a first signal.

[0194] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first signal.

[0195] Since the first signal occupies fewer frequency domain units than the synchronization signal block, resource overhead can be saved. In another possible implementation, since the first signal occupies fewer frequency domain units than the synchronization signal block, the network device can increase the power value of at least one frequency domain unit occupied by the first signal, thereby improving the transmission performance of the first signal and thus increasing the success rate of the terminal device in receiving the first signal.

[0196] In this embodiment, the synchronization signal block may include / become an SSB or other signals used for time-frequency synchronization. The synchronization signal block may also be replaced with other names, such as a second signal, synchronization signal, etc. For ease of understanding, this embodiment uses the name "synchronization signal block" as an example.

[0197] For example, if a terminal device misses receiving signals and / or messages, it may be in a low-signal-quality scenario (e.g., signal quality less than or no greater than a signal quality threshold), such as a user walking in a forest. The signal is subject to significant interference, and in this case, the terminal device may be unable to receive the synchronization signal block, thus failing to perform time-frequency synchronization based on the synchronization signal block. In one possible implementation of this application, the network device sends a first signal. The first signal occupies fewer frequency domain units than the synchronization signal block. Because the first signal occupies fewer frequency domain units, the network device can allocate more power from the bandwidth to the frequency domain units actually occupied by the first signal. Since the power value of the frequency domain units occupied by the first signal is increased, the transmission performance of the first signal is improved, and therefore the success rate of the terminal device receiving the first signal is also improved. Therefore, the success rate of the terminal device receiving the first signal in a low-signal-quality scenario (e.g., signal quality less than or no greater than a signal quality threshold) is improved.

[0198] In one possible implementation, the first signal is used for time-frequency synchronization. Since terminal devices in scenarios where signal quality is less than (or not greater than) a signal quality threshold may not be able to receive the synchronization signal block, but such terminal devices have a higher success rate in receiving the first signal, they can then perform time-frequency synchronization based on the first signal. This solution provides a time-frequency synchronization method for terminal devices in scenarios where signal quality is less than the signal quality threshold, thereby improving the success rate of time-frequency synchronization for such terminal devices.

[0199] In another possible implementation, the synchronization signal block can also be a signal used for time-frequency synchronization. The synchronization signal block in this embodiment may include, for example, an SSB, or other signals capable of time-frequency synchronization, such as a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a tracking reference signal (TRS), or a positioning reference signal (PRS). For example, the synchronization signal block can also be replaced with a synchronization signal, an SSB, or a legacy synchronization signal block. For example, the network device can also send the synchronization signal block. Correspondingly, some terminal devices (e.g., terminal devices in high SNR scenarios) can detect the synchronization signal block and perform time-frequency synchronization using the detected synchronization signal block. Some terminal devices (e.g., terminal devices in low signal quality scenarios) can detect a first signal and perform time-frequency synchronization using the detected first signal. It can be seen that this scheme provides two signals for time-frequency synchronization for the terminal device, and different terminal devices can select the appropriate signal for time-frequency synchronization according to their actual needs.

[0200] For example, a terminal device in a scenario where the signal quality is less than the signal quality threshold can identify a first signal and then perform time-frequency synchronization based on the first signal. A terminal device in a scenario where the signal quality is greater than the signal quality threshold can identify a synchronization signal block and then perform time-frequency synchronization based on the synchronization signal block. In one possible implementation, a terminal device in a scenario where the signal quality is equal to the signal quality threshold can use either the first signal for time-frequency synchronization or the synchronization signal block for synchronization. A scenario where the signal quality is equal to the signal quality threshold may or may not be a scenario with poor signal quality; the choice can be flexible in practical applications.

[0201] In this embodiment, low signal quality can include / be replaced by: signal quality less than a signal quality threshold, or signal quality not greater than a signal quality threshold. Some content in this embodiment uses signal quality less than a signal quality threshold as an example; however, the phrase "signal quality less than a signal quality threshold" can be replaced with "signal quality not greater than a signal quality threshold." Signal quality can be represented by multiple parameters, such as SNR, with each parameter corresponding to its signal quality threshold. Signal quality can also be represented using any one or more of the following: carrier tonoise ratio (CNR), carrier to interference plus noise ratio (CINR), signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal receiving quality (RSRQ), received signal strength indicator (RSSI), and channel quality indicator (CQI). For example, low signal quality scenarios include scenarios with an SNR of (-15) dB to (-20) dB, or scenarios with an SNR of (-14) dB to (-20) dB. High signal quality scenarios are relative to low signal quality scenarios and can refer to scenarios other than low signal quality scenarios. In the embodiments of this application, "not greater than" can be replaced with "less than or equal to", or "less than and equal to".

[0202] In one possible implementation, the network device sends first configuration information. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first configuration information. For example, the first configuration information includes transmission parameter information for a first signal. The transmission parameters in this application can also be replaced with configuration information, associated information, related information, or other information. For example, the first configuration information may include information indicating at least one of the following: content A1, content A2, content A3, content A4, content A5, content A6, content A7, content A8, content A9, content A10, content A11, or content A12. This information can assist the terminal device in receiving the first signal, improving the success rate and efficiency of the terminal device in detecting the first signal.

[0203] Content A1, the duration of the first signal period.

[0204] In this embodiment, the period can also be replaced with the transmission period. For example, the duration of the period of the first signal can be replaced with the duration of one cycle of the first signal, or the duration of one transmission cycle of the first signal. For example, the first signal is a periodically transmitted signal. In this way, the terminal device has the opportunity to detect the first signal at multiple times, thereby improving the success rate of the terminal device in detecting the first signal.

[0205] The duration of the first signal's period (e.g., the duration of one period) can be in time-domain units (e.g., radio frames, subframes, or time slots). For example, one period of the first signal (or the duration of one period) includes / is one or more time slots. Alternatively, the duration of the first signal's period (e.g., one period) can be in time, such as 640 ms.

[0206] Figure 7 An exemplary schematic diagram illustrates one possible transmission method of the first signal. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the first signal can be sent periodically. Figure 7 The diagram illustrates an example of the period duration of a first signal. The time-domain resources occupied by the first signal may be offset from the frame start position within the period of the first signal; this offset may be referred to as a time-domain offset value. The time-domain offset value in the embodiments of this application may also be replaced by a time offset value. The first signal may occupy one or more time slots, and each time slot may occupy one or more symbols, for example... Figure 7 In a single period of the first signal, the first signal occupies four time slots, and is transmitted twice in each time slot. The first signal can be transmitted once or multiple times within a single period, for example, in... Figure 7 As shown, the first signal can be sent 8 times in one cycle.

[0207] The duration of the first signal's period can help the terminal device obtain timing information when detecting the first signal, reducing signaling overhead during timing indication and improving the communication performance of the terminal device.

[0208] Content A2, the time domain resources occupied by the first signal, the time domain offset value within the period of the first signal.

[0209] The time-domain offset value can be represented by the parameter offset. See also... Figure 7 The time-domain offset value in the given example.

[0210] The first configuration information provides the time-domain offset value within the period (e.g., one period) of the first signal, and the terminal device can detect the first signal more quickly based on this information.

[0211] Content A3, the number of times the first signal is transmitted within the period of the first signal (e.g., one period).

[0212] Within one cycle of the first signal, the first signal can be sent once or repeatedly sent multiple times. For example, as shown in 7, the first signal can be sent 8 times within one cycle.

[0213] Sending multiple times within a cycle can increase the success rate of the receiver receiving the first signal.

[0214] Content A3 can also be replaced with the number of times or repetitions of the first signal within one cycle of the first signal.

[0215] In one possible implementation, the first signal is transmitted multiple times within one cycle, and at least two transmissions of the first signal within one cycle are quasi-co-located. The quasi-co-location of the two signals in this embodiment can be found in the foregoing description; for example, quasi-co-location can be quasi-co-located. For instance, all first signals transmitted within one cycle are quasi-co-located. Optionally, all first signals transmitted within one cycle are type-D quasi-co-located. Thus, when the receiver detects the first signal, it can combine the energy of multiple detected first signals, thereby improving the detection success rate of the first signal.

[0216] Content A4, time domain resources occupied by the first signal.

[0217] For example, the time-domain resources occupied by the first signal include the time slot location where the first signal is located.

[0218] Content A5, frequency domain resources of the first signal.

[0219] The frequency domain resources of the first signal include, for example, the bandwidth of the frequency domain resources occupied by the first signal and the position of the frequency domain resources occupied by the first signal in terms of frequency.

[0220] Content A6, the frequency domain resources occupied by the first signal; the comb value (or frequency domain comb spacing) used when the first signal is mapped in the frequency domain in a comb-like manner.

[0221] Content A7 includes the frequency domain offset value of the frequency domain resources occupied by the first signal within the bandwidth, the offset value of the frequency domain resources occupied by the first signal within the comb tooth interval, etc.

[0222] Content A8, sequence identifier of the first signal.

[0223] For example, the information in the first configuration information used to indicate the sequence identifier of the first signal may include / become: a synchronization signal identifier (SSID), or a range of SSID values. Alternatively, it may be information that indicates the sequence identifier of the first signal.

[0224] For example, the sequence identifier of the first signal may be associated with at least one of the following: cell identifier, beam identifier, or beam footprint identifier. For example, the beam footprint is the area on the ground illuminated by the direction of transmission from the base station antenna. The beam footprint can also be replaced with footprint or footprint. As another example, the cell identifier may include / become: Physical Cell Identity (PCID). As another example, the beam identifier may include / become: Beam ID. As another example, the information in the first configuration information used to indicate the sequence identifier of the first signal may include / become: at least one of the cell identifier, beam identifier, or beam footprint identifier. Optionally, the beam footprint may be indicated by the beam footprint identifier or by the geographical location information of the corresponding beam footprint. Optionally, the geographical location information of the beam footprint may be an indication of the center position of the beam footprint, or information on the location and size of the ground area it occupies. These schemes can indicate the sequence identifier of the first signal using other parameters, thereby saving resource overhead. For example, the first signal is transmitted via beam #1 of cell #1. The sequence identifier of the first signal is associated with at least one of the following: the identifier of the cell (e.g., cell #1) transmitting the first signal, the identifier of the beam (e.g., beam #1) of the first signal, or the beam footprint of the first signal. Thus, the terminal device can determine at least one of the cell, beam, or beam footprint corresponding to the first signal by detecting the sequence identifier of the first signal. It can be seen that these schemes can indicate more other parameters through the sequence identifier of the first signal, thereby saving resource overhead and randomizing mutual interference between first signals in different areas or beams.

[0225] For example, a correspondence can be established between the sequence identifier of the first signal and the cell identifier, such as a correspondence between cell identifier #a11 and the sequence identifier #a12 of the first signal. The network device transmits the first signal within the cell corresponding to cell identifier #a11 using sequence identifier #a12. After detecting the sequence identifier #a12 of the first signal, the terminal device can determine the identifier of the cell it is currently in, which is cell identifier #a11, based on the correspondence between cell identifier #a11 and the sequence identifier #a12. As another example, the information in the first configuration information used to indicate the sequence identifier of the first signal may include / become: information about cell identifier #a11. The terminal device can determine the sequence identifier of the first signal indicated by the first configuration information as sequence identifier #a12, or determine the identifier of the cell it is currently in, as cell identifier #a11, based on cell identifier #a11 and the correspondence between cell identifier #a11 and the sequence identifier #a12 of the first signal. It can also randomize the mutual interference between first signals in different cells.

[0226] For another example, a correspondence can be established between the sequence identifier of the first signal and the beam identifier. For instance, there might be a correspondence between beam identifier #a21 and the sequence identifier #a22 of the first signal. When a network device sends a first signal using beam identifier #a21, the sequence identifier used by these first signals is sequence identifier #a22. After detecting the sequence identifier #a22 of the first signal, the terminal device can determine, based on the correspondence between beam identifier #a21 and the sequence identifier #a22 of the first signal, that the beam identifier of the first signal currently received by the terminal device is beam identifier #a21. As another example, the information in the first configuration information used to indicate the sequence identifier of the first signal may include / become: information about beam identifier #a21. The terminal device can determine, based on beam identifier #a21 and the correspondence between beam identifier #a21 and the sequence identifier #a22 of the first signal, that the sequence identifier of the first signal indicated by the first configuration information is sequence identifier #a22, or it can determine that the beam identifier of the first signal currently received by the terminal device is beam identifier #a21.

[0227] For another example, a correspondence can be established between the sequence identifier of the first signal and the beam footprint identifier. For instance, there might be a correspondence between the beam footprint identifier #a31 and the sequence identifier #a32 of the first signal. When a network device transmits a first signal using the beam footprint identifier #a31, the sequence identifier used by these first signals is sequence identifier #a32. After detecting the sequence identifier #a32 of the first signal, the terminal device can determine, based on the correspondence between the beam footprint identifier #a31 and the sequence identifier #a32 of the first signal, that the beam footprint identifier of the beam of the first signal currently received by the terminal device is beam footprint identifier #a31. As another example, the information in the first configuration information used to indicate the sequence identifier of the first signal may include / be for example: information about the beam footprint identifier #a31. The terminal device can determine that the sequence identifier of the first signal indicated by the first configuration information is sequence identifier #a32 based on the beam footprint identifier #a31 and the correspondence between the beam footprint identifier #a31 and the sequence identifier #a32 of the first signal, or it can determine that the beam footprint identifier of the beam of the first signal currently received by the terminal device is beam footprint identifier #a31.

[0228] Content A9, the cell identifier corresponding to the first signal.

[0229] The cell identifier corresponding to the first signal may include / be an identifier of the cell using the first signal. The cell identifier corresponding to the first signal can indicate the scope of use of the first signal. The cell identifier corresponding to the first signal can also be associated with other parameters of the first signal; for example, the cell identifier corresponding to the first signal may include / be replaced by: the cell identifier corresponding to the sequence identifier of the first signal. Cell identifier-related information can be found in the foregoing description and will not be repeated here. If the network device implicitly indicates the cell identifier corresponding to the first signal through other information (such as the sequence identifier of the first signal), the network device does not need to send the cell identifier corresponding to the first signal separately through explicit information, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0230] Content A10, the beam identifier corresponding to the first signal.

[0231] The beam identifier corresponding to the first signal may include / belong to the identifier of the beam used to transmit the first signal. The beam identifier corresponding to the first signal can indicate the beam transmitting the first signal. The beam identifier corresponding to the first signal can also be associated with other parameters of the first signal; for example, the beam identifier corresponding to the first signal may include / be replaced by: the beam identifier corresponding to the sequence identifier of the first signal. Beam identifier-related information can be found in the foregoing description and will not be repeated here. If the network device implicitly indicates the beam identifier corresponding to the first signal through other information (such as the sequence identifier of the first signal), the network device does not need to explicitly send the beam identifier corresponding to the first signal separately, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0232] Content A11, the beam footprint identifier corresponding to the first signal.

[0233] The beam footprint identifier corresponding to the first signal may include / an identifier of the beam footprint used to transmit the first signal. The beam footprint identifier corresponding to the first signal can indicate the beam footprint used to transmit the first signal. The beam footprint identifier corresponding to the first signal can also be associated with other parameters of the first signal; for example, the beam footprint identifier corresponding to the first signal may include / be replaced by: the beam footprint identifier corresponding to the sequence identifier of the first signal. Information related to the beam footprint identifier can be found in the foregoing description and will not be repeated here. If the network device implicitly indicates the beam footprint identifier corresponding to the first signal through other information (e.g., the sequence identifier of the first signal), the network device does not need to explicitly transmit the beam footprint identifier corresponding to the first signal separately, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0234] Content A12, the geographical area identifier corresponding to the first signal.

[0235] The geographic region identifier corresponding to the first signal can include / be an identifier for the geographic region using the first signal. For example, it can be a circle or a regular hexagon with a given radius. For instance, radii of 25 kilometers (km), 30 km, 50 km, etc. The area on the ground illuminated by the satellite signal can be represented by a graphic identifier of the corresponding radius to indicate different regions on the ground. Furthermore, geographic regions can include, for example, administrative regions or streets.

[0236] The geographic region identifier corresponding to the first signal can indicate the scope of application of the first signal. The geographic region identifier corresponding to the first signal can also be associated with other parameters of the first signal. For example, the geographic region identifier corresponding to the first signal can include / be replaced with: the geographic region identifier corresponding to the sequence identifier of the first signal.

[0237] For example, the first configuration information is carried in a system information (SIB) or a user public message (such as a user public RRC message). In this way, the first configuration information can be sent via broadcast or multicast, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0238] Information indicating any two of the above content A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10, A11, or A12 can be carried in the same message or in different messages. For ease of understanding in this embodiment, the information indicating any one of the above content A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10, A11, or A12 is collectively referred to as first configuration information. Optionally, this does not mean that the first configuration information is carried in only one message; the first configuration information can be carried in multiple messages. For example, the first configuration information can be carried in multiple messages of the same type or multiple messages of different types. For instance, some messages in the first configuration information can be carried in SIB#1, some in SIB#2, and some in User Common RRC Message #1.

[0239] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information is carried in a system message and / or a user common message. The number of frequency domain units actually occupied by the first configuration information does not need to be changed, and the bandwidth occupied by the SIB carrying the first configuration information and the user common information can also be the bandwidth defined in the standard, thus ensuring greater compatibility with existing technologies. In this implementation, the probability of the terminal device successfully receiving the first configuration information can be improved. For example, the terminal device can receive the first configuration information in an environment with good signal, and then, when entering a scene with strong signal interference, receive the first message based on the pre-received first configuration information. Since the first configuration information is carried through at least one of system messages, MIBs, or user common messages, the amount of data that the terminal device needs to receive in scenarios with strong signal interference can be reduced, and the probability of the terminal device successfully receiving the first configuration information can also be increased.

[0240] In the embodiments of this application, the first signal and the synchronization signal block can be two types of signals. For example, the first signal and the synchronization signal block are different, such as at least one of the time-domain resources, period, sequence identifier, frequency position, beam footprint, etc., that they occupy. In this way, the first signal and the synchronization signal block can be distinguished and are not easily confused. For example, when the network device sends the first signal and the synchronization signal block, the terminal device that needs to detect the synchronization signal block can distinguish between the first signal and the synchronization signal block, and then detect the synchronization signal block without detecting the first signal. The first signal will not affect the terminal device's cell access and synchronization based on the detected synchronization signal block. Similarly, the terminal device that needs to detect the first signal can distinguish between the first signal and the synchronization signal block, and then detect the first signal. In another possible implementation, when the first signal and the synchronization signal block can be distinguished, the first signal and the synchronization signal block can also be the same in some aspects (e.g., at least one of the time-domain resources, period, sequence identifier, frequency position, beam footprint, etc.).

[0241] The following examples, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, and B8, exemplify several aspects of the first signal and / or synchronization signal block. The content of Examples B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, and B8 can be used individually, or any combination of these examples can be used flexibly.

[0242] Example B1, for instance, the first signal and the synchronization signal block occupy different time-domain resources.

[0243] For example, network devices can transmit the first signal and synchronization signal block using time-division multiplexing. This allows terminal devices in different scenarios to distinguish the first signal and synchronization signal block based on time-domain resources, and then the terminal device can detect and select the first signal or synchronization signal block on different time-domain resources according to actual needs. This scheme allows terminal devices in different scenarios to select the appropriate signal for time-frequency synchronization according to actual needs. For example, a terminal device that can detect the synchronization signal block can perform time-frequency synchronization based on the synchronization signal block, while a terminal device that cannot detect the synchronization signal block can detect the first signal and then perform time-frequency synchronization based on the detected first signal. Terminal devices can also flexibly select the signal used for time-frequency synchronization; for example, a terminal device that can detect both the synchronization signal block and the first signal can choose either the synchronization signal block or the first signal for time-frequency synchronization.

[0244] For example, in low-signal-quality scenarios, the synchronization signal blocks sent by the network device may suffer significant loss. Consequently, the terminal device may be unable to perform time-frequency synchronization based on these synchronization signal blocks; for instance, the terminal device may not even be able to detect the synchronization signal block. In such scenarios, the terminal device can also perform time-frequency synchronization by detecting the first signal. It can be seen that this scheme provides the terminal device with more signals that can be used for time-frequency synchronization, thereby improving the success rate of time-frequency synchronization.

[0245] For example, at least one first signal and at least one synchronization signal block may occupy the same time domain resources. For example, within the duration of a period of a first signal, at least one first signal and at least one synchronization signal block may occupy the same time domain resources.

[0246] In this embodiment of the application, a first signal may be transmitted once or multiple times within a first signal cycle. Alternatively, a group or multiple groups of first signals may be transmitted within a first signal cycle. A group of first signals may include one or more first signals. For example, a group of first signals may include eight first signals. Within a first signal cycle, the network device may transmit a group of first signals (i.e., transmit eight first signals) or multiple groups of first signals (each group including the eight first signals). For example, in this embodiment of the application, a first signal may refer to either a single first signal transmitted within a first signal cycle or a group of first signals.

[0247] In this embodiment, a synchronization signal block can be sent once or multiple times within a synchronization signal block period. Alternatively, a set of synchronization signal blocks can be sent within a synchronization signal block period. A set of synchronization signal blocks may include one or more synchronization signal blocks. For example, a set of synchronization signal blocks may include eight synchronization signal blocks. Within a synchronization signal block period, the network device can send one set of synchronization signal blocks (i.e., send eight synchronization signal blocks) or multiple sets of synchronization signal blocks (each set including the eight synchronization signal blocks). For example, in this embodiment, a synchronization signal block may refer to a single synchronization signal block sent within a synchronization signal block period, or a set of synchronization signal blocks (a set of synchronization signal blocks may include one or more repeatedly sent synchronization signal blocks).

[0248] Example B2: The periods of the first signal and the synchronization signal block are different.

[0249] For example, the period of the first signal is longer than the period of the synchronization signal block.

[0250] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating yet another possible transmission method of the first signal provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 8 A possible schematic diagram of a possible signaling structure is also shown as an example. Figure 8 As shown, the duration of one cycle of the first signal (or the cycle length) is 640ms*14, and the duration of one cycle of the synchronization signal block (or the cycle length) is 20ms. The duration of the first signal's cycle is longer than the duration of the synchronization signal block's cycle. Figure 8 Other content can be found at [link to relevant document]. Figure 7 The description will not be repeated here.

[0251] The period of the first signal is longer than the period of the synchronization signal block. This reduces the signaling overhead of the first signal and saves resources.

[0252] On the other hand, there are a large number of terminal devices that can detect the synchronization signal block, while there are fewer terminal devices that cannot detect the synchronization signal block (such as the number of terminal devices in low signal quality scenarios). Therefore, the period of the first signal is set to be slightly longer, which can meet the needs of the terminal devices on the one hand, and avoid resource waste caused by sending too many first signals on the other hand.

[0253] For example, the period of the first signal can be less than or equal to the period of the synchronization signal block. This can improve the flexibility of the scheme.

[0254] Example B3, for instance, the first signal and the synchronization signal block are quasi-co-located.

[0255] Quasi-co-addressing of the first signal and the synchronization signal block allows the receiver to combine the energy of at least one detected first signal with that of the synchronization signal block when detecting the first signal, thereby improving the success rate of first signal detection.

[0256] For example, at least one first signal is quasi-co-located with at least one signal in a synchronization signal block. As another example, under the same (or the same, or each) beam footprint (e.g., beam footprint), at least one (or all) first signals under that beam footprint are quasi-co-located with at least one (or all) synchronization signal blocks under that beam footprint. As another example, at least one (or all) first signals transmitted within a period of a first signal are quasi-co-located with at least one (or all) synchronization signal blocks transmitted within that period. As yet another example, there is a correspondence between the SSID of a first signal and the SSID of a synchronization signal block, and the first signals and synchronization signal blocks with this SSID correspondence are quasi-co-located. Thus, the terminal device can combine the energy of a first signal and a synchronization signal block with corresponding SSIDs, thereby improving the detection success rate of the first signal.

[0257] For example, at least one first signal and at least one synchronization signal block may not satisfy quasi-co-addressability. For example, at least one first signal within one cycle of a first signal and at least one synchronization signal block within that cycle may not satisfy quasi-co-addressability. For example, under the same (or the same, or each) beam footprint (e.g., beam footprint), at least (or all) first signals under that beam footprint and at least (or all) synchronization signal blocks under that beam footprint do not satisfy quasi-co-addressability. For example, first signals and synchronization signal blocks with a correspondence between SSIDs do not satisfy quasi-co-addressability.

[0258] Example B4: The sequence identifiers of the first signal and the synchronization signal block are different.

[0259] In one possible implementation, a synchronization signal block can be transmitted once or multiple times within a synchronization signal block period. For example, the sequence identifiers of synchronization signal blocks transmitted within a synchronization signal block period (or within a time slot) can be the same, or the sequence identifiers of synchronization signal blocks transmitted at least twice within a synchronization signal block period can be different. In this embodiment, the sequence identifier of the synchronization signal block can be information capable of identifying the sequence of the synchronization signal block, such as an index of the synchronization signal block or an SSID. Optionally, the first signal and the synchronization signal block use or occupy the same frequency domain resources. Using different sequence identifiers on the same frequency domain resources can prevent existing UEs from mistakenly detecting the sequence of the first signal, thus avoiding detection errors by existing UEs.

[0260] For example, at least one (or all) of the first signals use a different sequence identifier than at least one (or all) of the signals in a synchronization signal block. As another example, under the same (or the same, or each) beam footprint (e.g., beam footprint), at least one (or all) of the first signals under that beam footprint use a different sequence identifier than at least one (or all) of the synchronization signal blocks under that beam footprint. As yet another example, at least one (or all) of the first signals transmitted within a period of a first signal use a different sequence identifier than at least one (or all) of the synchronization signal blocks transmitted within that period. Thus, the terminal device can distinguish between the first signals and the synchronization signal blocks based on the detected SSID.

[0261] For example, at least one (or all) of the first signals may use different sequence identifiers than at least one (or all) of the signals in the synchronization signal block; at least one first signal may have the same frequency position as at least one signal in the synchronization signal block; and at least one first signal may have a different time domain position than at least one signal in the synchronization signal block.

[0262] For example, there may be a one-to-one correspondence between the SSID of the first signal and the SSID of the synchronization signal block. For instance, one SSID of the first signal corresponds to one SSID of the synchronization signal block, and one SSID of the synchronization signal block corresponds to one SSID of the first signal. In this way, the terminal device can combine the detection energy by detecting the SSID of the first signal with the determined SSID of the corresponding synchronization signal block to improve detection performance.

[0263] For example, at least one first signal and at least one synchronization signal block may use the same sequence identifier. For instance, the first signals and synchronization signal blocks corresponding to different beam footprints within the same cell may use the same sequence identifier. For instance, if the first signals and synchronization signal blocks corresponding to the same beam footprint have the same frequency position (or center frequency), then the first signals and synchronization signal blocks may use the same sequence identifier. For instance, the first signals and synchronization signal blocks corresponding to different beam footprints within the same cell may use the same sequence identifier. In these methods, the terminal device may also identify the first signals and synchronization signal blocks based on other parameters (e.g., frequency position, and / or beam footprint, etc.).

[0264] In example B5, the frequency positions of the first signal and the synchronization signal block are different.

[0265] The difference in frequency position between the first signal and the synchronization signal block can include / be replaced by: the difference in center frequency between the first signal and the synchronization signal block. When the frequencies (e.g., center frequency) of the first synchronization signal and the synchronization signal block are the same, their bandwidths may or may not completely overlap. When the frequencies (e.g., center frequency) of the first synchronization signal and the synchronization signal block are different, their bandwidths may partially overlap or not overlap at all. Optionally, when the frequency positions of the first signal and the synchronization signal block are different, their sequence identifiers can be the same or different. This is because when the frequency positions of the first signal and the synchronization signal block are different, existing UEs will not mistakenly detect the sequence of the first signal when falsely detecting the synchronization signal block.

[0266] For example, at least one (or all) of the first signals have different frequency positions than at least one (or all) of the signals in the synchronization signal block. As another example, under the same (or the same, or each) beam footprint (e.g., beam footprint), at least one (or all) of the first signals under that beam footprint have different frequency positions than at least one (or all) of the synchronization signal blocks under that beam footprint. As another example, when the SSID of the first signal is the same as the SSID of the synchronization signal block, the frequency positions of the first signal and the synchronization signal block corresponding to the same SSID can be different. As yet another example, at least one (or all) of the first signals transmitted within a period of a first signal have different frequency positions than at least one (or all) of the synchronization signal blocks transmitted within that period of the first signal.

[0267] For example, the frequency positions of the first signal and the synchronization signal block can also be the same. For instance, the first signal and synchronization signal block corresponding to different beam footprints within the same cell use the same frequency position (e.g., center frequency). For instance, even if the first signal and synchronization signal block corresponding to the same beam footprint use different sequence identifiers, their frequency positions (or center frequencies) can still be the same. For instance, the first signal and synchronization signal block corresponding to different beam footprints within the same cell use the same frequency position. In these methods, the terminal device can also identify the first signal and synchronization signal block based on other parameters (e.g., sequence identifier, and / or beam footprint, etc.).

[0268] Examples B4 and B5 can also be used together. For instance, the first signal and synchronization signal blocks corresponding to the same beam footprint use different sequence identifiers and have different frequency positions (or center frequencies). In this way, the terminal device can region the first signal and synchronization signal blocks under the same beam footprint based on the sequence identifier and frequency position.

[0269] Example B6: The beam footprints of the first signal and the synchronization signal block are different.

[0270] For example, at least one (or all) of the first signals have different beam footprints from at least one (or all) of the signals in the synchronization signal block. For example, at least one (or all) of the first signals in the same cell have different beam footprints from at least one (or all) of the signals in the synchronization signal block. As another example, at least one (or all) of the first signals transmitted within a period of a first signal have different beam footprints from at least one (or all) of the synchronization signal blocks transmitted within that period of the first signal.

[0271] When the beam footprints of the first signal and the synchronization signal block are different, the terminal device can distinguish between the first signal and the synchronization signal block based on the beam footprints. In this case, other parameters of the first signal and the synchronization signal block do not need to be strictly limited. For example, the sequence identifiers (or parameters such as frequency positions) used by the first signal and the synchronization signal block corresponding to different beam footprints in the same cell can be the same or different.

[0272] For example, the beam footprints of the first signal and the synchronization signal block can be the same. For instance, the first signal and the synchronization signal block with the same beam footprint may use different frequency positions (e.g., center frequency) and / or sequence identifiers. In these methods, the terminal device can also distinguish the first signal and the synchronization signal block based on other parameters (e.g., sequence identifier, and / or frequency position, etc.).

[0273] In Example B7, the relative position of the time domain symbol occupied by the first signal in the time slot is the same as the relative position of the time domain symbol occupied by the synchronization signal block in the time slot.

[0274] The relative position of the time-domain symbol occupied by the first signal within a time slot can refer to its order among all symbols in the time slot. Similarly, the relative position of the time-domain symbol occupied by the synchronization signal block within a time slot can refer to its order among all symbols in the time slot. The scheme in Example B6 allows the first signal to occupy time-domain resources in a manner similar to that of the synchronization signal block, thus reducing the workload of standardizing the time-domain resources occupied by the first signal and lowering the overall scheme complexity.

[0275] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram illustrating yet another possible transmission method of the first signal provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 9 A possible schematic diagram of a possible signaling structure is also shown as an example. Figure 9As shown, a synchronization signal block can transmit two SSBs within a single time slot. In one possible implementation, the synchronization signal block occupies symbols 0, 1, 2, and 3. Similarly, the first signal occupies the same two symbols within a time slot: symbols 0, 1, 2, and 3. The time slots occupied by the first signal and the synchronization signal block can be different. Figure 9 Other content can be found at [link to relevant document]. Figure 7 and Figure 8 The description will not be repeated here.

[0276] For example, the relative position of the time-domain symbol occupied by at least one first signal in the time slot can be different from the relative position of the time-domain symbol occupied by the synchronization signal block in the time slot, which can improve the flexibility of the scheme.

[0277] In one possible implementation, the synchronization signal block includes at least one of a primary synchronization signal, an auxiliary synchronization signal, or a second control channel. In this embodiment, the primary and auxiliary synchronization signals can be replaced with other names, such as a third synchronization signal and a fourth synchronization signal. The primary and auxiliary synchronization signals can also be used for time-frequency synchronization. For example, if the synchronization signal block is an SSB, the primary synchronization signal can be a PSS, the auxiliary synchronization signal can be an SSS, and the second control channel can be a PBCH. When the synchronization signal block is another signal used for time-frequency synchronization, the primary and auxiliary synchronization signals in the synchronization signal block can be signals within the synchronization signal block, and the second control channel can be a control channel within that signal. For example, the center frequencies of any two items in the primary synchronization signal, auxiliary synchronization signal, and second control channel can be the same, or there can be an offset between the center frequencies of any two items in the primary synchronization signal, auxiliary synchronization signal, and second control channel. For example, the primary synchronization signal occupies one time-domain symbol in the time domain and 127 REs in the frequency domain. Another example is that the auxiliary synchronization signal occupies one time-domain symbol in the time domain and 127 REs in the frequency domain. For example, the second control channel occupies two time-domain symbols, and in each time-domain symbol, it occupies 240 frequency repeaters (REs). The second control channel also occupies the time-domain symbols previously occupied by the secondary synchronization signal. In these time-domain symbols, the second control channel occupies the frequency resources on both sides of the frequency resources occupied by the secondary synchronization signal, totaling 48 REs. The structure of the synchronization signal block can be found above. Figure 1 The relevant content will not be repeated here.

[0278] For example, the structure of the first signal and the synchronization signal block can be similar, or the signal structure in the first signal can be borrowed from the signal structure in the synchronization signal block. For instance, the bandwidth occupied by the first synchronization signal is the same as that occupied by the main synchronization signal. Similarly, the bandwidth occupied by the second synchronization signal is the same as that occupied by the main synchronization signal. This reduces the standardization workload of the first signal, improves compatibility with existing technologies, and reduces the complexity of receiving the first signal by the terminal device.

[0279] The structures of the first signal and the synchronization signal block can be similar or different. For example, the first signal may include at least one of a first synchronization signal, a second synchronization signal, or a first control channel. The first control channel may, for example, include / become a PBCH. Several possible forms are illustrated below with examples.

[0280] Example 1: The bandwidth of the first synchronization signal is the same as the bandwidth of the main synchronization signal; and / or, the bandwidth of the second synchronization signal is the same as the bandwidth of the auxiliary synchronization signal.

[0281] Example 2: The sequence type of the first synchronization signal is the same as the sequence type of the main synchronization signal; and / or, the sequence type of the second synchronization signal is the same as the sequence type of the auxiliary synchronization signal.

[0282] In this embodiment of the application, the sequence type of the signal sequence may include, for example, a ZC sequence (Zadoff-Chu sequence), an m sequence (or a maximum length sequence (MLS)) or a Gold sequence.

[0283] For example, the sequence type of the first synchronization signal and the sequence type of the main synchronization signal are both ZC sequences (Zadoff-Chu sequences), m-sequences (or maximum length sequences, MLS), or Gold sequences. For example, the sequence type of the first synchronization signal is the same as that of the main synchronization signal. For example, both the first and main synchronization signals are ZC sequences with the same root sequence number. For example, both the first and main synchronization signals are m-sequences. Yet another example is that both the first and main synchronization signals are Gold sequences with the same generator polynomial and / or initial values.

[0284] For example, the sequence type of the second synchronization signal and the sequence type of the auxiliary synchronization signal are ZC sequence (Zadoff-Chu sequence), m-sequence (or maximum length sequence (MLS)) or Gold sequence. For example, the sequence types of the second synchronization signal and the auxiliary synchronization signal are the same. For example, both the second synchronization signal and the auxiliary synchronization signal are ZC sequences with the same root sequence number. For example, both the second synchronization signal and the auxiliary synchronization signal are m-sequences. Yet another example is that both the second synchronization signal and the auxiliary synchronization signal are Gold sequences, with the same generator polynomial and / or initial values.

[0285] In the implementation provided in Example 2, the terminal device can reuse the module of the already implemented synchronization signal block to detect the first signal, thereby reducing the hardware cost of the terminal device and reducing the implementation complexity.

[0286] In another possible implementation, the frequency domain resources occupied by the first control channel in the first time domain are the first frequency domain resources. At least two adjacent frequency domain units in the first frequency domain resources are discontinuous frequency domain resources in the first bandwidth; or, at least two adjacent frequency domain units in the first frequency domain resources are contiguous frequency domain resources in the first bandwidth. As can be seen from the above scheme, the first control channel can occupy a portion of the frequency domain resources in the first bandwidth. Therefore, the network device can increase the power value of at least one frequency domain unit occupied by the first control channel, thereby improving the transmission performance of the first control channel and thus increasing the success rate of the terminal device receiving the first control channel.

[0287] For example, the first control channel can occupy a portion of the first bandwidth. Since the bandwidth of the first control channel is relatively narrow, it can be said that the first message is transmitted via narrowband. In this scheme, the total bandwidth occupied by the first signal is relatively small. Therefore, the network device can concentrate the power value of the first bandwidth on the bandwidth occupied by the first control channel, thereby increasing the power value of the first control channel and thus improving its performance.

[0288] For example, a portion of the frequency domain resources in the first bandwidth occupied by the first control channel may be mapped onto the first bandwidth using a comb tooth value greater than 1. Therefore, the network device can concentrate the power value of the first bandwidth onto the frequency domain resources occupied by the first control channel, thereby increasing the power value of the first control channel and thus improving its performance.

[0289] For example, frequency domain resources in the first bandwidth other than the first frequency domain resources are not mapped to information and / or signals. For example, only the first control channel is transmitted in the first bandwidth, and no other information or signals are transmitted. These implementations allow the network device to allocate more (or all) of the power value configured on the first bandwidth to the first control channel, thereby improving the transmission performance of the first control channel.

[0290] For example, the number of frequency domain units occupied by the first control channel is less than the number of frequency domain units occupied by the first synchronization signal. For example, the number of frequency domain units occupied by the first control channel is less than the number of frequency domain units occupied by the second synchronization signal.

[0291] For example, the first bandwidth can be the bandwidth of a carrier, the bandwidth of a partial bandwidth BWP, or the bandwidth configured in the cell. It can be seen that in these implementations, the network device can allocate a larger power value to the first frequency domain resources, thereby improving the transmission performance of the first message.

[0292] For example, the second control channel occupies a second bandwidth, and the size of the first bandwidth is the same as the size of the second bandwidth. This can reduce the complexity of the standardization process of the first signal. For example, the number of frequency domain units occupied by the first control channel is less than the number of frequency domain units occupied by the second control channel.

[0293] For example, the power value corresponding to one frequency domain unit occupied by the first control channel is greater than the power value corresponding to one frequency domain unit in the bandwidth occupied by the second control channel. Therefore, the transmission performance of the first control channel is improved compared to the second control channel, and the success rate of the terminal device receiving the first control channel is also improved.

[0294] For example, the power value corresponding to the first control channel is greater than or equal to the power value corresponding to the second control channel in the synchronization signal block. The total number of frequency domain units occupied (or actually occupied) by the first control channel in the first signal is less than the total number of frequency domain units occupied (or actually occupied) by the second control channel in the synchronization signal block. In this embodiment, "occupied" can be replaced with "actually occupied". Since the number of frequency domain units actually occupied by the first control channel is reduced when the network device transmits the first control channel, the network device concentrates the total power value of the first bandwidth range in the frequency domain units actually occupied by the first control channel. Since the network device concentrates the transmission power in fewer frequency domain units, it can improve the signal reception quality (e.g., the signal reception SNR) gain of the first control channel, thereby improving link performance and the transmission efficiency of the first control system computer.

[0295] In one possible implementation, the first control channel is rate-matched based on the frequency domain resources occupied by the first control channel. In this way, the network device can map the corresponding information bits and channel-coded modulation symbols onto the corresponding physical resources.

[0296] In another possible implementation, the center frequencies of any two of the first synchronization signal, the second synchronization signal, and the first control channel in the first signal can be the same, or there can be an offset value (also called a frequency domain offset value, or a frequency offset value; in this embodiment, the frequency domain offset value and the frequency offset value can be interchanged) between the center frequencies of the first synchronization signal, the second synchronization signal, and the first control channel. This ensures compatibility with existing technologies and reduces the complexity of receiving the first signal at the receiving end. This also reduces the difficulty for the terminal device to detect the individual signals in the first signal, and allows the terminal device to determine the center frequencies of other signals based on the center frequency of one of the signals in the first synchronization signal, the first control channel, or the second synchronization signal, thereby reducing the signaling overhead of the network device configuring these parameters.

[0297] The following describes three possible structural forms of the first signal through embodiments C1, C2 and C3.

[0298] In implementation C1, the first control channel is mapped to the first bandwidth in a comb-tooth pattern (the comb tooth value is an integer greater than 1).

[0299] For example, a synchronization signal block includes a second control channel that is mapped to a second bandwidth.

[0300] For example, the bandwidth size of the first bandwidth is equal to the bandwidth size of the second bandwidth. In this embodiment, the bandwidth size can also be replaced by the bandwidth size. For another example, the first bandwidth being equal to the second bandwidth can include / be replaced by the number of frequency domain units included in the first bandwidth being the same as the number of frequency domain units included in the second bandwidth. For example, the number of PRBs included in the first bandwidth is the same as the number of PRBs included in the second bandwidth. For another example, the number of REs included in the first bandwidth is the same as the number of REs included in the second bandwidth. In this embodiment, the meaning of frequency domain units at two different locations can be the same or different; for example, some frequency domain units can be REs, and some frequency domain units can be PRBs. The specific meaning of the frequency domain unit at each location in this embodiment can be flexibly selected.

[0301] In the embodiments of this application, the frequency position occupied by the synchronization signal block (e.g., the center frequency of the frequency domain resource) may be different (or the same) from the frequency position occupied by the first control channel (e.g., the center frequency of the frequency domain resource).

[0302] For example, the first control channel in the first signal can occupy one or more time-domain units (e.g., symbols). On at least one (or all) time-domain units (e.g., symbols), the first control channel can be mapped to the first bandwidth in a comb-like manner. In this embodiment, the meaning of time-domain units at two different locations can be the same or different; for example, some time-domain units can be time slots, while others can be symbols. The specific meaning of each time-domain unit in this embodiment can be flexibly selected.

[0303] Figure 10 An exemplary schematic diagram of a possible structure for a first signal is shown. For example... Figure 10 As shown, in the time domain, one first signal occupies four orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, namely symbol 0, symbol 1, symbol 2, and symbol 3. For example, symbols 0, 1, 2, and 3 are sequentially adjacent in the time domain. In the frequency domain, one first signal occupies 20 resource blocks (RBs), which is 240 REs (or subcarriers) (e.g., 20 PRBs). Within these 20 RBs, the REs (or subcarriers) are numbered from 0 to 239. The first synchronization signal is located on the middle 127 REs (or subcarriers) of symbol 0, and the second synchronization signal is located on the middle 127 REs (or subcarriers) of symbol 2. The first control channel occupies all the subcarriers of symbols 1 and 3, that is, 240 REs (or subcarriers) of symbol 1 and 240 REs (or subcarriers) of symbol 3. The second control channel also occupies a portion of the remaining subcarriers of all subcarriers of symbol 2, excluding the subcarriers occupied by the second synchronization signal.

[0304] like Figure 10 As shown, the first bandwidth is 240 REs. The first control channel (e.g., including DMRS in the first control channel) can be mapped to the 240 REs in a comb (e.g., in a CombN). Figure 10 The example illustrates a first control channel on symbol 3 mapped to 240 REs using a comb. For example, one RE carrying information from the second control channel is configured for every N REs, with the other (N-1) REs left unused (i.e., the other (N-1) REs are left unused for information transmission). Alternatively, for example, one PRB carrying information from the second control channel is configured for every N PRBs, with the other (N-1) PRBs left unused (i.e., the other (N-1) PRBs are left unused for information transmission). N is an integer greater than 1. N is the comb value; in implementation C1, the comb value is not 1.

[0305] akin, Figure 10 The first control channels on symbols 1 and 2 can also be mapped in a comb-like manner (or not mapped). For example, the first control channel on symbol 1 can be mapped to 240 REs in a comb-like manner. As another example, the two segments of the first control channel on symbol 2 can be mapped to 48 REs in a comb-like manner.

[0306] In another possible implementation, for a first control channel on a time-domain symbol, all power values ​​on the bandwidth occupied by the first control channel are allocated (or centrally allocated) to the frequency-domain resources actually occupied by the first control channel.

[0307] For example, the total transmit power on the first bandwidth is P0. The first control channel is mapped to the first bandwidth in a comb-like manner, actually occupying a portion of the frequency domain units within the first bandwidth. The total transmit power value on this portion of the frequency domain units remains P0. No information and / or signals are transmitted on the frequency domain units in the first bandwidth other than those occupied by the first control channel. In this embodiment, the network device and the terminal device can transmit messages, signals, and information. Messages may include information, and signals may also include information. In this embodiment, any combination of messages, signals, and information can be substituted for each other. It can be seen that when the network device transmits the first control channel, the number of frequency domain units actually occupied by the first control channel is reduced. The network device concentrates the total power value of the first bandwidth on the frequency domain units actually occupied by the first control channel. Since the network device concentrates the transmit power on fewer frequency domain units, it can improve the signal reception quality (e.g., the SNR of signal reception) gain of the first control channel, thereby improving link performance.

[0308] On the other hand, since the signal structure of the first signal is similar to that of the synchronization signal block, the workload of the first signal in the standardization process can be reduced, and the complexity of the scheme can be reduced.

[0309] In implementation C2, the first control channel is mapped to the first bandwidth, the synchronization signal block includes the second control channel, the second control channel is mapped to the second bandwidth, and the bandwidth size (or dimensions) of the first bandwidth is smaller than the bandwidth size of the second bandwidth.

[0310] In another possible implementation, the bandwidth size (or dimensions) of the first bandwidth being smaller than the bandwidth size of the second bandwidth may include / be replaced by: for example, the number of frequency domain units (e.g., PRBs or REs) included in the first bandwidth being less than the same number of frequency domain units (e.g., PRBs or REs) included in the second bandwidth. In another possible implementation, the bandwidth size of the first bandwidth may also be larger than the bandwidth size of the second bandwidth. For example, the number of frequency domain units (e.g., PRBs or REs) included in the first bandwidth may be greater than the same number of frequency domain units (e.g., PRBs or REs) included in the second bandwidth.

[0311] For example, the bandwidth of the first bandwidth being narrower than the bandwidth of the second bandwidth can include / be replaced by: the number of frequency domain units included in the first bandwidth being less than the number of frequency domain units included in the second bandwidth, or the number of PRBs included in the first bandwidth being less than the number of PRBs included in the second bandwidth, or the number of REs included in the first bandwidth being less than the number of REs included in the second bandwidth. Alternatively, in embodiment C2, the first control channel can be continuously mapped to frequency domain units within the first bandwidth; this method can also be referred to as the first control channel not being mapped to the first bandwidth in a comb-tooth manner (not being mapped to the first bandwidth in a comb-tooth manner can also be referred to as: being mapped to the first bandwidth with a comb-tooth value of 1). Alternatively, in embodiment C2, the first control channel can be mapped to the first bandwidth in a comb-tooth manner (the comb-tooth value is an integer greater than 1).

[0312] For example, a first control channel in a first signal may occupy one or more time domain units (e.g., symbols), and on at least one (or all) time domain units (e.g., symbols), the first bandwidth occupied by the first control channel is less than the second bandwidth occupied by the second control channel in a synchronization signal block on at least one time domain symbol.

[0313] For example, the bandwidth occupied by the first control channel is less than the bandwidth occupied by the first synchronization signal; and / or, the bandwidth occupied by the first control channel is less than the bandwidth occupied by the second synchronization signal in the first signal. In this way, the number of frequency domain units actually occupied by the first control channel can be further reduced, thereby increasing the power value of each frequency domain unit occupied by the first control channel, thereby increasing the SNR gain of the receiver signal, and thus increasing the success rate of the receiver receiving the first control channel.

[0314] Figure 11 An exemplary schematic diagram of a possible structure for a first signal is shown. For example... Figure 11 As shown, in the time domain, one first signal occupies four orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, namely symbol 0, symbol 1, symbol 2, and symbol 3. For example, symbols 0, 1, 2, and 3 are sequentially adjacent in the time domain. In the frequency domain, one first signal occupies 127 REs (or subcarriers), which, for example, are numbered 56 to 182. The first synchronization signal is located on the 127 REs (or subcarriers) of symbol 0, and the second synchronization signal is located on the 127 REs (or subcarriers) of symbol 2. The first control channel occupies a portion of the subcarriers of symbols 1 and 3; for example, the first control channel occupies 48 REs (or subcarriers) of symbol 1 and 48 REs (or subcarriers) of symbol 3.

[0315] The second bandwidth mapped to the synchronization signal block is 240 REs. The number of REs in the first bandwidth can be less than 240 REs. The first control channel (e.g., including the DMRS in the first control channel) is mapped to the first bandwidth (e.g., 48 REs). Similarly, Figure 11 The first control channel on symbol 3 can also be mapped to the first bandwidth (e.g., 48 REs).

[0316] In another possible implementation, the bandwidth range configured for the first control channel is a third bandwidth range, which may be equal to the second bandwidth, for example. For a first control channel over a time-domain symbol, all power values ​​within the bandwidth (third bandwidth range) configured for the first control channel are concentrated on the frequency domain resources actually occupied by the first control channel (i.e., the first bandwidth).

[0317] For example, the total transmit power on the bandwidth configured for the first control channel (e.g., the third bandwidth) is P0. The first control channel is mapped to a first bandwidth, which is smaller than the bandwidth configured for the first control channel (the third bandwidth). The total transmit power on this first bandwidth remains P0. No information is transmitted in the frequency domain units within the bandwidth configured for the first control channel (the third bandwidth) other than the frequency domain units occupied by the first control channel (i.e., the first bandwidth). It can be seen that when the network device transmits the first control channel, the number of frequency domain units actually occupied by the first control channel is reduced. The network device concentrates the total power value of the bandwidth configured for the first control channel (the third bandwidth) within the frequency domain units actually occupied by the first control channel. Because the network device concentrates the transmit power in fewer frequency domain units, it can improve the signal reception quality (e.g., the signal reception SNR) gain of the first control channel, thereby improving link performance.

[0318] On the other hand, since the signal structure of the first signal is similar to that of the synchronization signal block, the workload of the first signal in the standardization process can be reduced, and the complexity of the scheme can be reduced.

[0319] In implementation C3, the second synchronization signal occupies the second time domain resources, and the resources occupied by the first control channel also include the second time domain resources.

[0320] Any one of implementation methods C3, C2, and C1 can be performed individually or in combination. For example, the resources occupied by the first control channel in the first signal may include resources on the first time domain resources (e.g., resources in the first bandwidth) as described in implementation method C2 or C1, and may also include resources on the second time domain resources as described in implementation method C3.

[0321] For example, the first time-domain resource and the second time-domain resource can be different. The first time-domain resource may include one or more time-domain units, and the second time-domain resource may include one or more time-domain units. For example, the first time-domain resource and the second time-domain resource may be different time-domain units (e.g., symbols).

[0322] For example, in the second time domain resources, the frequency domain resources occupied by the second synchronization signal are different from those occupied by the first control channel. Thus, the structure of the first control channel is quite similar to that of the second control channel, thereby reducing the complexity of the standardization process for the first signal.

[0323] Figure 12 An exemplary schematic diagram of a possible structure for a first signal is shown. Figure 12 The first control channel shown includes Figure 11 The first control channel is shown for symbols 1 and 3. The second control channel also occupies a portion of the remaining subcarriers of symbol 2, excluding the subcarriers occupied by the second synchronization signal. Symbol 2 can be an example of a second time-domain resource, and symbols 1 and / or 3 can be possible examples of a first time-domain resource. For example, Figure 12 The first control channel of the first signal shown also includes two segments of first control channels on symbol 2. Regarding the frequency domain resources occupied by these two segments of first control channels, each segment occupies 48 frequency ranges (REs). The first control channels can be mapped to these 48 REs in a comb-tooth configuration, or they can be mapped to these 48 REs without a comb-tooth configuration (mapping to these 48 REs without a comb-tooth configuration can also be referred to as mapping to these 48 REs with a comb-tooth value of 1). See below for further details. Figure 11 I will not go into details.

[0324] In implementation C3, the structure of the first control channel is similar to that of the second control channel in the synchronization signal block, thus making it more compatible with existing technologies.

[0325] For ease of understanding, this application defines two transmission methods, referred to as the first transmission method and the second transmission method. The first transmission method and the second transmission method can also be replaced with other names. For example, the first transmission method can also be replaced with: narrowband transmission method, narrowband mode, downlink narrowband transmission method, downlink narrowband mode, power aggregation transmission method, power aggregation mode, downlink power aggregation transmission method, downlink power aggregation mode, first transmission mode, first method, first mode, etc. Similarly, the second transmission method can also be replaced with: wideband transmission method, wideband mode, downlink wideband transmission method, downlink wideband mode, transmission method without power aggregation, mode without power aggregation, downlink transmission method without power aggregation, downlink mode without power aggregation, second transmission mode, second method, second mode, etc.

[0326] For example, in embodiments of this application, the network device sending a first signal may include / be replaced by: the network device sending the first signal using a first transmission method. As another example, in embodiments of this application, the network device sending a first message may include / be replaced by: the network device sending a first message using a first transmission method.

[0327] For example, in embodiments of this application, the network device sending a synchronization signal block may include / be replaced by: the network device sending the synchronization signal block using a second transmission method. As another example, in embodiments of this application, the network device sending first configuration information may include / be replaced by: the network device sending the first configuration information using a second transmission method.

[0328] The bandwidth size described in the embodiments of this application may include / be replaced by: bandwidth dimensions, bandwidth range, or bandwidth width, etc. The bandwidth size can also be expressed as "size" in English. The bandwidth of the first transmission method in the embodiments of this application may also include / be replaced by: the bandwidth used by the network device when transmitting messages through the first transmission method, or the bandwidth corresponding to the first transmission method. The bandwidth of the second transmission method in the embodiments of this application may also include / be replaced by: the bandwidth used by the network device when transmitting messages through the second transmission method, or the bandwidth corresponding to the second transmission method. The term "bandwidth" in the embodiments of this application may also be replaced by "transmission bandwidth".

[0329] For example, the bandwidth (or size) of the first transmission method is less than or equal to the bandwidth of the second transmission method. For example, when the first signal is transmitted using the first transmission method, the actual bandwidth occupied by the first signal is, for example, bandwidth #1. When the first signal is transmitted using the second transmission method, the actual bandwidth occupied by the first signal is, for example, bandwidth #2. The size (or size) of bandwidth #1 is less than or equal to bandwidth #2, and the number of frequency domain units (e.g., the number of PRBs) included in bandwidth #1 is less than the number of frequency domain units (e.g., the number of PRBs) included in bandwidth #2.

[0330] For example, the first transmission mode (or narrowband transmission mode) includes / means / refers to: on the carrier or BWP bandwidth (e.g., 5MHz, 10MHz, etc.) of the entire transmission (set (or specified), the network device uses a portion of the bandwidth (e.g., bandwidth #1) to send messages, and / or the terminal device uses a portion of the bandwidth (e.g., bandwidth #1) to receive messages. For example, the portion of the bandwidth outside of bandwidth #1 (e.g., the bandwidth of the BWP bandwidth other than bandwidth #1) is left unused for transmission, so that the network device can concentrate all the power on the BWP bandwidth onto the bandwidth #1 used for transmission.

[0331] In this application embodiment, the power value of the first transmission method may also include / be replaced by: the power value used by the network device when transmitting messages through the first transmission method, or the power value corresponding to the first transmission method. Similarly, in this application embodiment, the power value of the second transmission method may also include / be replaced by: the power value used by the network device when transmitting messages through the second transmission method, or the power value corresponding to the second transmission method.

[0332] For example, the power value of the first transmission method is less than or equal to the power value of the second transmission method. For instance, when the first signal is transmitted using the first transmission method, the actual bandwidth occupied by the first signal is, for example, bandwidth #1, and the power value of the first signal is power value #1. When the first signal is transmitted using the second transmission method, the actual bandwidth occupied by the first signal is, for example, bandwidth #2, and the power value of the first signal is power value #2. Power value #1 is less than or equal to power value #2.

[0333] For example, the second transmission mode can be relative to the first transmission mode; for instance, any transmission mode other than the first transmission mode can be called the second transmission mode. For example, the second transmission mode (or normal mode) includes / is / refers to: information transmission between the network device and the terminal device on a carrier or BWP bandwidth (e.g., 5MHz, 10MHz, etc.) set (or specified) for the entire transmission. For example, the network device sends messages / signals on the carrier or BWP bandwidth set (or specified), and / or the terminal device receives messages / signals on the carrier or BWP bandwidth set (or specified). Optionally, in the second transmission mode, the network device can send signals to different terminal devices on different bandwidths of the carrier or BWP bandwidth set (or specified). Optionally, in the second transmission mode, the network device configures the same or similar unit transmit power values ​​for different terminal devices on different bandwidths of the carrier or BWP bandwidth set (or specified). Optionally, "approximate" means that the deviation of the unit transmit power value set for different terminal devices does not exceed a preset threshold, such as 3dB, 5dB, 6dB, etc. For example, the second transmission mode (or normal mode) includes / is / means that: the terminal device does not use extended coverage methods such as repetitive transmission to access the network, and / or, the network device does not use extended coverage methods such as repetitive transmission to send messages. For example, when the signal reception quality of the terminal device (e.g., the signal reception SNR) is above (-7)dB, the network device can establish communication with the terminal device without additional coverage extension transmission methods; this transmission mode can be called the second transmission mode.

[0334] For example, the states of a terminal device can also be defined in this embodiment. For example, the states of a terminal device may include a normal state and an abnormal state. As another example, the states of a network device can also be defined in this embodiment. For example, the states of a network device may include a normal state and an abnormal state. Normal and abnormal states can also be replaced with names such as State 1 and State 2, etc. For example, an abnormal state can include / be replaced with: low signal quality state, low SNR state, or strong signal interference state, etc.

[0335] For example, when a terminal device is in an abnormal state, the network device can use a first transmission method to send a message / signal to the terminal device. In another possible implementation, the state of the network device when sending a message via the first transmission method can also be referred to as an abnormal state. For another example, when the terminal device is in a normal state, the network device can use a second transmission method to send a message to the terminal device. For another example, the state in which the network device sends a message to the terminal device via the second transmission method is referred to as the normal state of the network device. A normal state can be relative to an abnormal state; for example, a state other than an abnormal state can be called a normal state, and a normal state (a state other than a normal state) can also be called an abnormal state.

[0336] For example, when a terminal device accesses the network in a normal state (or in normal mode, or according to signals transmitted in the second transmission mode), the network device sends information (e.g., configuration information corresponding to the first transmission mode, such as bandwidth size, bandwidth location, etc.) to the terminal device in a normal state (or in normal mode, or according to signals transmitted in the second transmission mode). When the terminal device is in an abnormal state (e.g., a low SNR state), the terminal device receives and detects downlink signals (e.g., signals used for time-frequency synchronization, such as SSB, CSI-RS, etc.) and channels (PDCCH and / or PDSCH) sent by the network device through the first transmission mode.

[0337] For example, the BWP bandwidth is 10MHz, and the total transmit power on this 10MHz is P0. When the network device transmits message / signal #1 using the first transmission method, the network device transmits message / signal #1 within bandwidth #1 (bandwidth #1 is a portion of the 10MHz, such as 1MHz), and the transmit power value of message / signal #1 remains P0 (or is a value slightly smaller than P0). No information is transmitted on the bandwidth outside of bandwidth #1 within this BWP bandwidth. When the network device transmits message / signal #1 using the second transmission method, the network device transmits bandwidth #1 across the entire BWP bandwidth, and the transmit power value of bandwidth #1 remains P0. It can be seen that when the network device transmits message / signal #1 using the first transmission method, it concentrates the power value on bandwidth #1. For example, message / signal #1 can be the first signal. This can improve link performance.

[0338] In another possible implementation, the network device may also send a first message. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first message. The first message may be carried on, for example, a control channel and / or a shared channel, such as a PDCCH and / or PDSCH. For example, the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device may have missed a signal and / or message. In this way, the terminal device can know that it may have missed a signal and / or message based on the received first message, so that the user can perform some remedial processing in areas with better signal quality. In one possible implementation, the first message may be transmitted via a first transmission method. When the first message is transmitted via the first transmission method, the first message may occupy a portion of the frequency domain resources in the bandwidth configured for the first message. In one possible implementation of this application, the first signal occupies a portion of the resources in the first bandwidth. These two schemes are quite similar and can be referred to each other, so they will not be described in detail here.

[0339] For example, the first message can be used to indicate that the terminal device has missed receiving signals and / or messages. Another example is that the first message could be an alert message, a notification message, or an informational message.

[0340] In one possible implementation, the first signal is a periodically transmitted signal, and the time-domain resources occupied by the first message are located within the period of the first signal. Because the first signal is periodically transmitted, this structure facilitates the network device's control over the resource overhead of the first signal and also benefits the terminal device's detection, allowing the terminal device to detect the first signal at multiple times. Since the first message is located within the period of the first signal, the success rate of receiving the first message can be improved after the terminal device performs time-frequency synchronization based on the first signal.

[0341] In one possible implementation, the network device sends information indicating time-domain and / or frequency-domain resources for the first message. This information can assist the terminal device in receiving the first message, improving its reception success rate. For example, the information indicating time-domain and / or frequency-domain resources for the first message can be carried within system messages and / or user public messages. This increases the probability that the terminal device will successfully receive this information. For instance, the terminal device can receive this information in environments with good signal strength, and then, when entering scenarios with strong signal interference, it can use this pre-received information to receive the first message.

[0342] In one possible implementation, the terminal device misses receiving signals and / or messages, including at least one of the following: D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, or D6. The network device may transmit a first signal in a first frequency domain resource if at least one of the following: D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, or D6 is satisfied. For example, the first signal may indicate at least one of the following: D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, or D6.

[0343] Content D1: The terminal device has missed receiving information.

[0344] For example, a network device needs to send information to a terminal device, but the network device cannot successfully send the information through the established connection with the terminal device, resulting in the terminal device missing the information. If the network device determines that the terminal device has missed receiving the information, it can infer that the terminal device may be in an area with strong interference (or poor signal quality). In this scenario, the network device sends a first signal to the terminal device on a first frequency domain resource. Because the power value of the first signal is increased, this approach can improve the success rate of the terminal device receiving the first signal. The user can then know from the first signal that they may have missed receiving information and can choose whether to move to a more open area (or an area with better signal quality) for subsequent communication based on the actual situation.

[0345] In another possible implementation, the network device can continue to send information that the terminal device missed receiving, or discard the information, when the terminal device is in an area with good signal quality.

[0346] Content D2: The terminal device has missed calls.

[0347] For example, if other terminal devices need to send information to this terminal device but the call doesn't go through, the terminal device may miss the call. If the network device determines that the terminal device has missed a call, it can infer that the terminal device may be in an area with strong interference (or poor signal quality). In this scenario, the network device sends a first signal to the terminal device on a first frequency domain resource. Because the power value of the first signal is increased, this scheme can improve the success rate of the terminal device receiving the first signal. The user can then know from the first signal that they may have missed a call and can choose whether to move to a more open area (or an area with better signal quality) for subsequent communication.

[0348] In another possible implementation, the network device can continue to send information about missed calls, such as the phone number of the missed call, to the terminal device when the terminal device is in an area with good signal quality, so that the user can more accurately guide the user to the caller.

[0349] Content D3: The terminal device was paged but not paged.

[0350] For example, if a network device needs to page a terminal device but fails to receive the page, the network device can infer that the terminal device may be in an area with strong interference (or poor signal quality). In this scenario, the network device sends a first signal to the terminal device on a first frequency domain resource. Because the power value of the first signal is increased, this scheme can improve the success rate of the terminal device receiving the first signal. The user can then know from the first signal that they were just paged but failed to receive the page, and can choose whether to move to a more open area (or an area with better signal quality) for subsequent communication based on the actual situation.

[0351] In another possible implementation, the network device can continue to page the terminal device when the terminal device is in an area with good signal quality, and then send relevant information about the paging to the terminal device, such as the reason for the paging and the initiator of the paging, so that the user can quickly learn about the missed paging information.

[0352] Content D4: The terminal device failed to perform time and frequency synchronization.

[0353] Content D4 may include / be / means: if the terminal device fails to perform time-frequency synchronization according to the signal for time-frequency synchronization transmitted under the second transmission mode, or if the terminal device fails to perform time-frequency synchronization according to the signal for time-frequency synchronization transmitted under the second transmission mode under normal conditions, or if the terminal device does not use a conventional (or existing, or normal) signal for time-frequency synchronization (e.g., SSB) for time-frequency synchronization, then the terminal device cannot access the network.

[0354] The signals transmitted in the second transmission mode for time-frequency synchronization may include, for example, SSB, CSI-RS, TRS, PRS, etc.

[0355] Content D5: The terminal device failed to connect to the network.

[0356] Content D5 may include / be / means: the terminal device fails to successfully access the network according to the signal transmitted under the second transmission mode, or the terminal device does not use a conventional (or existing, or normal, post-broadband) signal (e.g., SSB) for time-frequency synchronization, then the terminal device cannot access the network.

[0357] Content D6: The signal quality corresponding to the signal of the terminal device is less than the signal quality threshold.

[0358] The signal quality in the embodiments of this application may include, for example, at least one of SNR and RSRP. When the signal quality includes multiple parameters, each of these parameters may individually correspond to a signal quality threshold, and each signal quality parameter is less than the corresponding signal quality threshold. For example, if the signal quality includes SNR and RSRP, then content D6 may include / be replaced with: SNR is less than the SNR threshold, and / or, RSRP is less than the RSRP threshold.

[0359] If at least one of the above conditions is met, the terminal device may be in a state where it is difficult to receive messages, or it may be unable to receive information with low power values. In these scenarios, the first signal transmitted by the network device in the first frequency domain resource can increase the probability that the terminal device can successfully receive the first signal. Furthermore, this solution can accurately determine the situations in which the terminal device needs to receive the first signal and transmit the first signal for the terminal device in these scenarios, making it well-suited to the actual needs of such terminal devices.

[0360] The technical reasons why narrowband mode can improve coverage are explained below:

[0361] SNR = CNR·M c / N RB ...Formula (1)

[0362] SNR = CNR + 10log 10 (M c / N RB )...Formula (2)

[0363] In formulas (1) and (2), CNR is the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR), and M... c N represents the size of the first bandwidth.RB Let SNR be the bandwidth of the first frequency domain resource, and CNR be the SNR of the first frequency domain resource. Here, formula (1) represents the arithmetic value, and formula (2) represents the logarithmic value. In formula (2), the units of SNR and CNR are dB.

[0364] It can be seen that the SNR on the first frequency domain resource is the CNR on the first bandwidth (or carrier). For example, if the first bandwidth is 24 PRB and the first frequency domain resource is 1 PRB, then the SNR = 24 CNR. This is equivalent to using the first frequency domain resource for transmission, under the condition that the total power of the network device is fixed, improving the signal reception quality of the terminal device (e.g., the SNR of the signal reception) by 24 times (13.8dB). This is also the reason why coverage can be improved by using some frequency domain resources (e.g., narrowband transmission). For example, when CNR = -20dB, through the above-mentioned first frequency domain resource transmission, SNR = -6.2dB, and the SNR value is already completely within the normal SNR range of the system. If the solution provided in this application embodiment is not adopted, the network device may need to retransmit the first signal multiple times in order for the terminal device to receive the first signal. However, the solution provided in this application embodiment can reduce the number of retransmissions of the first signal, thereby reducing the amount of time domain resources used for repeated transmission of the first signal, reducing transmission delay, and improving transmission efficiency.

[0365] In another possible implementation, the network device can send first configuration information to the terminal device in a normal state (e.g., by transmitting the first configuration information via a second transmission method). Correspondingly, the terminal device can receive the first configuration information in a normal state. The network device can send a first signal and a first message to at least one terminal device (e.g., a specific (or designated, or missed message and / or signal) terminal device, or a specific (or designated) area (e.g., an area with poor signal quality) terminal device). The transmission method of the first signal and the first message is, for example, the first transmission method. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first configuration information in a normal state (i.e., receives the first configuration information according to the second transmission method). If the terminal device determines that it is in a scenario with poor signal quality, the terminal device can detect the first signal and the first message within the period of the first signal according to the first configuration information.

[0366] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram illustrating yet another possible transmission method of the first signal provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 13 A possible schematic diagram of a possible signaling structure is also shown as an example. Figure 13As shown, the duration of one cycle (or cycle length) of the first signal is 640ms, and the duration of one cycle (or cycle length) of the synchronization signal block is 20ms. The duration of the first signal's cycle is longer than the duration of the synchronization signal block's cycle. Within one cycle of the first signal, the network device can send the first signal and the first message. Figure 13 The following example illustrates the process of using a first signal occupying four time slots and a first message including DCI and PDSCH. The first signal is transmitted twice within one time slot. The period lengths of the first signal and the first message can be the same; within the next first signal period, the network device can also transmit the first signal and the first message. The sequences of the first signals transmitted within two first signal periods may be the same or different. The contents of the two first messages transmitted within two first signal periods may be the same or different.

[0367] Figure 13 Taking the example of DCI occupying 12 symbols in one time slot, PDSCH occupying 12 symbols in one time slot, and the first signal occupying 4 time slots, with the first signal being transmitted twice in one time slot (the first signal is repeatedly transmitted 8 times in one cycle), the system overhead for a cycle of the first signal (e.g., a cycle length of 640ms) is: (8*4+12+12) / (640*14) = 0.625%. It can be seen that in the scheme provided by this application embodiment, the system overhead occupied by the first signal and the first message is relatively small. Figure 13 Other content can be found at [link to relevant document]. Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 The description will not be repeated here.

[0368] In one possible implementation, the network device may also send information about the transmission parameters of the first message. This information can be replaced with second configuration information, or with the configuration information of the first message itself. For example, the transmission parameters of the first message may include / become information indicating at least one of the following: E1, E2, E3, or E4. The configuration information (e.g., first configuration information or second configuration information) in the embodiments of this application can all be replaced with information.

[0369] Content E1, the time domain resource of the first message.

[0370] Information used to indicate the time-domain resources of the first message may include, for example, the time-domain offset value of the time-domain resources occupied by the first message. The unit of the time-domain offset value may be, for example, a radio frame, subframe, or time slot, or a time unit, such as milliseconds. Related content can be found in the descriptions of contents A2 and A4 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0371] Content E2, the frequency domain resource of the first message.

[0372] For example, the information used to indicate the frequency domain resources of the first message may include, for example, the magnitude of the frequency domain offset value of the frequency domain resources occupied by the first message, the position of the frequency domain resources occupied by the first signal in terms of frequency, etc.

[0373] Content E3: The detection position (or candidate position) of the first message.

[0374] The terminal device can determine the candidate positions of the first message based on the transmission parameters of the first message, and then detect the first message at these candidate positions, thereby improving the efficiency of detecting the first message.

[0375] Content E4, the duration of the first message cycle (e.g., 320 milliseconds or 640 milliseconds).

[0376] The duration of the first message period can be the same as (or different from) the duration of the first signal period. For example, within one period of the first signal, the network device can send both the first signal and the first message. The time domain resources occupied by the first message are located within one period of the first signal.

[0377] The transmission parameters of the first message can be carried in the same message as the first configuration information, or in a different message. For example, the transmission parameters of the first message can be carried in system messages and / or user common messages (such as the UE's RRC message). The bandwidth of the transmission parameters of the first message can also be greater than or equal to the bandwidth of the first signal. The transmission method of the transmission parameters of the first message is similar to that of the first configuration information, and will not be described again.

[0378] In one possible implementation, the first signal may include some information. This information may be carried in the MIB of the first control channel, or it may be carried in other locations of the first signal, such as in the secondary synchronization signal, the primary synchronization signal, or other information in the first control channel. In this embodiment, the example of this information being carried in the MIB of the first control channel is described. The MIB of the first control channel can be replaced with other information in the first signal.

[0379] This application embodiment describes the possible forms of information included in the first signal through at least one of the following embodiments F1, F2, F3, F4, or F5. Through these embodiments, this application embodiment can minimize the number of bits of information to be carried in the first signal, thereby reducing the code rate of the information to be carried in the first signal and improving the receiving performance on the terminal device side.

[0380] In implementation F1, the first signal (e.g., the first control channel, or the MIB in the first control channel, or other information in the first signal) includes timing information of the first signal.

[0381] In one possible implementation, the timing information of the first signal is measured in units of the duration of the first signal's period. For example, the timing information of the first signal is used to indicate which first signal period the first signal belongs to. In this way, the timing information of the first signal can occupy fewer bits, thereby reducing the number of bits occupied by information in the first control channel. This allows the first control channel to occupy fewer frequency domain resources, enabling the network device to allocate more power to the frequency domain resources occupied by the first control channel, thereby improving the transmission performance of the first control channel and increasing the success rate of the terminal device receiving information from the first control channel.

[0382] For example, the timing information of the first signal can be determined based on the index value of the period of the first signal. The timing information of the first signal is carried in the first field. The first field can be called by other names, such as the SFN field, but the SFN field is not used to indicate the system frame number, but rather to indicate which period of the first signal the first signal belongs to. This scheme can reduce the number of bits occupied by the first field in the MIB of the first control channel, thereby further reducing the number of bits of information in the first signal.

[0383] For example, the first duration is the duration corresponding to the total number of wireless frames in the system. The duration of a superframe can be a specified value, such as 1024 wireless frames, 2048 wireless frames, or 512 wireless frames. Taking a first time difference of 1024 wireless frames as an example, if the duration occupied by one wireless frame is 10 milliseconds, the first duration can be 10240 milliseconds. The first time offset is the time offset value of the time domain resources of the first signal within the first duration. Another example is that the first time offset value is the time offset value of the first signal from the start position of the frame within the first duration.

[0384] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram illustrating yet another possible transmission method of the first signal provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 14 The example illustrates two first signal cycles, during which the network device transmits first signal #1 and first signal #2, respectively. The duration of each first signal cycle is 640 ms. The duration of each first signal cycle is 10240 radio frames. Figure 14The example shows a first time offset value #1 corresponding to a first signal #1 and a first time offset value #2 corresponding to a first signal #2. The first time offset value #1 is the time offset value of the first signal #1 from the frame start position within the first duration.

[0385] For example, the timing information of the first signal can indicate which first signal cycle the first signal belongs to, or indicate the offset value of which first signal it is. For instance, if the first time offset value is 650ms, meaning the time offset of the first signal's time domain resource within the first duration is 650ms, and the duration of the first signal's cycle (first duration) is 640ms, it can be seen that the first signal belongs to the second first signal cycle within the first duration. Therefore, the timing information of the first signal includes / is: information used to indicate that the first signal belongs to the second first signal cycle within the first duration.

[0386] In one possible implementation, the timing information of the first signal can be indicated by a first field. For example, the first field can occupy 2 to 4 bits. The specific number of bits in the first field can be associated with information related to the period of the first signal in the first configuration information (e.g., the first configuration information carried in the SIB). For example, the number of bits required for the first field is log2(1024 / T). Here, 10240 can be in the unit of a radio frame, 1024 can be replaced by the first duration, or other possible values ​​of the first duration. T is the period duration of the first signal, and the unit of T can be a time unit such as a radio frame. For example, when the period duration T of the first signal is 640ms, the number of bits required for the first field is 4 bits. As another example, when the period duration T of the first signal is 1280ms, the number of bits required for the first field is 3 bits.

[0387] For example, the first control channel includes timing information indicating the first signal. The signaling parameters carried (or included) by the first control channel for indicating the timing information of the first signal can be any of the following: system frame number indication information, first signal period position indication information, and first signal period number indication information. For example, the terminal device can first receive first configuration information, and detect the first signal based on the transmission parameters of the first signal configured in the first configuration information. Then, based on the information in the first signal and the information in the first configuration information, it determines the timing information of the received first signal's location. For example, the terminal device can receive the time offset value of the first signal's time domain resources within the period of the first signal (e.g., the offset value indicated by the first configuration information), and the terminal device can receive the timing information of the first signal (e.g., indicated by the first control channel). The terminal device can determine the timing information of the received first signal's location based on the time offset value of the first signal's time domain resources within the period of the first signal, the timing information of the first signal, and the received first signal.

[0388] For example, when the period T of the first signal is 640ms, 4 bits can be used to indicate the timing information of the first signal. For instance, if the indicated 4-bit value is "0010", it means that the current first signal appears in the 3rd first signal period, and the corresponding timing position is (3-1)*640 = 1280ms. As another example, if the first configuration information indicates that the offset value of the first signal in the first signal period is 20ms, then the current timing information of the first signal is 1300ms (1280+20=1300ms). That is, the relative time between the first signal and the first system frame (SFN0, i.e., the frame start position) is 1300ms or 130 radio frames.

[0389] For example, the message sent by the network device via the second transmission method may indicate information not included in the first signal. For instance, if the first signal includes a first field, the message sent by the network device via the second transmission method may include information not explicitly indicated in the bits occupied by the first field (e.g., log2(1024 / T)). Thus, the terminal device can combine the information transmitted by the network device via the second transmission method with the information in the first field transmitted by the network device via the first transmission method to obtain the configuration information of the first signal.

[0390] In one possible implementation, a portion of the transmission parameters of the first signal can be transmitted by the network device via a second transmission method. Another portion of the information can be transmitted by the network device via the first transmission method. This reduces the number of bits required to be transmitted via the first transmission method, thereby lowering the code rate of the information carried in the first signal and improving the receiving performance on the terminal device side.

[0391] For example, information related to the period of the first signal can be configured by a message sent by the network device through a second transmission method. For instance, this information can be carried in the first configuration information. The information related to the period of the first signal may include, for example, the duration of the first signal's period. Alternatively, the timing information of the first signal can be carried within the first signal for transmission. The first signal is transmitted by the network device through a first transmission method. For example, the first control channel in the first signal includes the timing information of the first signal. For example, the timing information of the first signal may be carried in the MIB of the first control channel. Thus, the terminal device can determine the required information based on the information in the first signal and the period-related information of the first signal transmitted by the network device through the first transmission method. This scheme can reduce the number of bits of information that need to be carried in the first signal.

[0392] In implementation F2, the first signal (e.g., the MIB in the first control channel) does not need to be configured with information on the time offset value of the time domain resources of the first signal within the period of the first signal.

[0393] For example, the time offset value of the time domain resources of the first signal within the period of the first signal (or the position of the first signal within the period of the first signal, or the position of the first signal within the period, or the offset of the first signal within the period) can be configured through system messages (e.g., SIBs sent by the network device through the first transmission method). Therefore, this information does not need to be configured through the first signal. For example, the MIB of the first control channel of the first signal does not need to include information on the time offset value of the time domain resources of the first signal within the period of the first signal. Furthermore, since if the MIB needs to carry information on the time offset value of the time domain resources of the first signal within the period of the first signal, it needs to carry this information through HF bits, and in this embodiment, the MIB does not need to carry this information, the MIB can exclude HF bits, thereby further reducing the number of bits in the MIB.

[0394] Correspondingly, the terminal device can receive (e.g., the terminal device receives according to the second transmission method) the time offset value of the time domain resources of the first signal within the period of the first signal. The terminal device receives (e.g., the terminal device receives according to the first transmission method) the timing information of the first signal. Based on the time offset value of the time domain resources of the first signal within the period of the first signal, the timing information of the first signal, and the received first signal, the terminal device determines the timing information of the location of the received first signal.

[0395] In implementation F3, the first signal (e.g., the MIB in the first control channel) does not include the index information of the first signal.

[0396] For example, the index information of the first signal may include the index of the first signal. The index information of the first signal occupies 0 bits in the first signal, that is, the first signal does not need to indicate this information.

[0397] For example, the index information of the first signal does not need to be scrambled using SFN.

[0398] In implementation F4, a first signal (e.g., a first control channel, or a MIB in the first control channel, or other information in the first signal) indicates the relevant configuration of a third control channel (e.g., PDCCH).

[0399] The third control channel, for example, is carried / included / is a PDCCH. Alternatively, the third control channel may include / be replaced by a channel carrying control information (e.g., DCI). This application embodiment uses the PDCCH included in the third control channel as an example for description. The information in the first signal can also indicate the configuration of other channels, such as the configuration of channels like PDSCH; related content can be found in the content of the third control channel, and is similar, so it will not be repeated here.

[0400] For example, the first control channel may also include information indicating the amount of resources for the third control channel. As another example, the amount of bits allocated to the bandwidth (e.g., the number of RBs occupied) for the third control channel (e.g., PDCCH, or PDCCH for scheduling system messages) in the first control channel (e.g., MIB) may be 1 to 2 bits. This scheme can reduce the number of bits of information in the first signal.

[0401] For example, the first control channel (e.g., MIB) can carry the frequency domain offset value of the third control channel (e.g., PDCCH, or, for example, the PDCCH of the scheduling system message). The terminal device can obtain this information through blind detection.

[0402] Alternatively, the first control channel (e.g., MIB) may not carry the frequency domain offset value of the third control channel (e.g., PDCCH, or, for example, the PDCCH of a scheduling system message). For instance, the frequency domain offset value of the third control channel (e.g., PDCCH) may be associated with the subcarrier offset value of the first signal. For example, the frequency domain offset value of the third control channel (e.g., PDCCH) may be implicitly associated with the frequency domain offset value of the first signal during comb mapping, or implicitly associated with the frequency domain offset value of the first signal over the bandwidth. For example, the frequency domain offset value of the third control channel may be associated with the frequency domain offset value of the first signal. The terminal device can determine the frequency domain offset value of the third control channel (e.g., PDCCH, or, for example, the PDCCH of a scheduling system message) based on the subcarrier offset value of the first signal. In this way, the network device can implicitly indicate the frequency domain offset value of the third control channel using the frequency domain offset value of the first signal, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0403] In implementation F5, the number of bits occupied by the CRC in the first signal can be reduced, for example, to 16 bits.

[0404] The above-described implementation methods F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5 can be executed individually or in combination. For example, if all of the above-described implementation methods F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5 are executed, the number of bits occupied by the MIB in the first control channel of the first signal can be (4+0+0+2+16) = 22 bits. Here, 4 represents the number of bits occupied by the first field, 2 represents the number of bits occupied by the information indicating the number of RBs in the PDCCH, and 16 represents the number of bits occupied by the CRC. This scheme can reduce the number of bits in the MIB of the first signal, thereby lowering the decoding threshold and reducing the number of repeated transmissions of the first control channel in the first signal, thus improving resource efficiency.

[0405] Based on the same concept Figure 15 and Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of possible communication devices provided in embodiments of this application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the network device (or the first communication device) or the terminal device (or the second communication device) in the above method embodiments, and therefore can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments. In the embodiments of this application, the communication device may be the aforementioned... Figure 4A , Figure 4B , Figure 4C or Figure 5 The terminal equipment involved, the chip (system) inside the terminal equipment, the network equipment, or the chip (system) inside the network equipment may also be the aforementioned. Figure 4A , Figure 4B , Figure 4C or Figure 5 The terminal equipment involved, the chips (systems) inside the terminal equipment, the ground station, the chips (systems) inside the ground station, and the satellite or the chips (systems) inside the satellite.

[0406] like Figure 15 As shown, the communication device 1300 includes a processing unit 1310 and a transceiver unit 1320. The communication device 1300 is used to implement the above-mentioned... Figure 6 The method embodiment shown illustrates the function of the first device. The transceiver unit 1320 can also be referred to as a communication unit. The transceiver unit 1320 may include a transmitting unit and a receiving unit.

[0407] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement Figure 6When the network device (or first communication device) functions as shown in the method embodiment, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to transmit a first signal.

[0408] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement Figure 6 When the network device (or first communication device) functions as shown in the method embodiment, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to send a first message.

[0409] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement Figure 6 When the network device (or first communication device) functions as shown in the method embodiment, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to: send first configuration information.

[0410] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement Figure 6 When the network device (or the first communication device) functions as shown in the method embodiment, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to: send information for indicating time-domain resources and / or frequency-domain resources for the first message.

[0411] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement Figure 6 When the terminal device (or second communication device) functions as shown in the method embodiment, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to: receive a first signal.

[0412] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement Figure 6 In the method embodiment shown, when the terminal device (or the second communication device) functions, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to: receive a first message.

[0413] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement Figure 6 In the method embodiment shown, when the terminal device (or the second communication device) functions, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to: receive first configuration information.

[0414] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement Figure 6 When the terminal device (or second communication device) functions as shown in the method embodiment, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is used to: receive information on time-domain resources and / or frequency-domain resources used to indicate the first message.

[0415] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement Figure 6In the method embodiment shown, when the terminal device (or second communication device) functions as described, in one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 1320 is configured to: receive the time offset value of the time domain resources of the first signal within the period of the first signal; and receive the timing information of the first signal. The processing unit 1310 is configured to determine the timing information of the location of the received first signal based on the time offset value of the time domain resources of the first signal within the period of the first signal, the timing information of the first signal, and the received first signal.

[0416] For a more detailed description of the processing unit 1310 and the transceiver unit 1320, please refer to [the relevant documentation]. Figure 6 The relevant descriptions in the method embodiments shown.

[0417] like Figure 16 As shown, the communication device 1400 includes a processor 1410 and an interface circuit 1420. The processor 1410 and the interface circuit 1420 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1420 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. The transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver; the transmitter can be used to send information, and the receiver can be used to receive information. Other functions can be implemented by the processor. The input / output interface is used to input and / or output information; output can be understood as sending, and input can be understood as receiving. Other functions can be implemented by the processor. Optionally, the communication device 1400 may also include a memory 1430 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1410, or storing input data required by the processor 1410 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processor 1410 executes instructions.

[0418] When the communication device 1400 is used to implement Figure 6 In the method shown, the processor 1410 is used to implement the functions of the processing unit 1310, and the interface circuit 1420 is used to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 1320.

[0419] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip applied to a terminal, the terminal chip implements the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiments. The terminal chip receives information from the base station, which can be understood as the information being first received by other modules in the terminal (such as an RF module or antenna), and then sent to the terminal chip by these modules. The terminal chip sends information to the base station, which can be understood as the information being first sent to other modules in the terminal (such as an RF module or antenna), and then sent to the base station by these modules.

[0420] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip applied to a base station, the base station chip implements the functions of the network device in the above method embodiments. The base station chip receives information from the terminal, which can be understood as the information being first received by other modules in the base station (such as an RF module or antenna), and then sent to the base station chip by these modules. The base station chip sends information to the terminal, which can be understood as the information being sent down to other modules in the base station (such as an RF module or antenna), and then sent to the terminal by these modules.

[0421] Based on the same concept, embodiments of this application provide a system, which includes a network device (or a first communication device) and a terminal device (or a second communication device).

[0422] Based on the same concept, embodiments of this application provide a chip system including at least one processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit and the at least one processor are interconnected via a circuit. The processor executes a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) to enable... Figure 6 Any of the possible implementation methods in the document is executed.

[0423] Based on the same concept, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product, which includes: a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions), which, when run, causes the computer to execute... Figure 6 Any of the possible implementations in [the document / concept].

[0424] Based on the same concept, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform... Figure 6 Any of the possible implementations in [the document / concept].

[0425] In this application, entity A sends information to entity B, either directly or indirectly through other entities. Similarly, entity B receives information from entity A, either directly or indirectly through other entities. Entities A and B can be RAN nodes or terminals, or modules within RAN nodes or terminals. Information transmission and reception can be between RAN nodes and terminals, such as between a base station and a terminal; between two RAN nodes, such as between a CU and a DU; or between different modules within a single device, such as between a terminal chip and other modules of the terminal, or between a base station chip and other modules of the base station.

[0426] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of this application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0427] The method steps in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions executable by a processor. The software instructions can consist of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disks, portable hard disks, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and storage medium can reside in an ASIC. Alternatively, the ASIC can reside in a base station or terminal. The processor and storage medium can also exist as discrete components in a base station or terminal.

[0428] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product. A computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When a computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions of the embodiments of this application are performed. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user equipment, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, a computer program or instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; it can also be an optical medium, such as a digital video optical disc; or it can be a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or may include both types of storage media.

[0429] In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology 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.

[0430] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the textual description of this application, the character " / " generally indicates an "or" relationship between the preceding and following related objects; in the formulas of this application, the character " / " indicates a "division" relationship between the preceding and following related objects. "Including at least one of A, B, or C" can mean: including A; including B; including C; including A and B; including A and C; including B and C; including A, B, and C.

[0431] It is understood that the various numbers involved in the embodiments of this application (such as the numerical numbers "first" and "second", and the letter numbers "A1, A2", "B1, B2", "C1, C2", etc.) are only for the convenience of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the above-mentioned process numbers does not imply the order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Send the first signal; Wherein, the number of frequency domain units occupied by the first signal is less than the number of frequency domain units occupied by the synchronization signal block, the first signal includes at least one of a first synchronization signal, a second synchronization signal or a first control channel, the synchronization signal block includes at least one of a main synchronization signal, an auxiliary synchronization signal or a second control channel, the bandwidth of the first synchronization signal is the same as the bandwidth of the main synchronization signal, and the bandwidth of the second synchronization signal is the same as the bandwidth of the auxiliary synchronization signal.

2. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive the first signal; Wherein, the number of frequency domain units occupied by the first signal is less than the number of frequency domain units occupied by the synchronization signal block, the first signal includes at least one of a first synchronization signal, a second synchronization signal or a first control channel, the synchronization signal block includes at least one of a main synchronization signal, an auxiliary synchronization signal or a second control channel, the bandwidth of the first synchronization signal is the same as the bandwidth of the main synchronization signal, and the bandwidth of the second synchronization signal is the same as the bandwidth of the auxiliary synchronization signal.

3. The method as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first signal satisfies at least one of the following: The first signal has a different sequence identifier than the synchronization signal block; The first signal has a different frequency position than the synchronization signal block; or, The first signal has a different beam footprint than the synchronization signal block.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The sequence identifier of the first signal is associated with at least one of the identifier of the cell that transmitted the first signal, the identifier of the beam of the first signal, or the beam footprint of the first signal.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The first signal is a periodically transmitted signal, and the period of the first signal is longer than the period of the synchronization signal block.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The first signal and the synchronization signal block occupy different time-domain resources.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The first signal is a periodically transmitted signal, and the first signal is transmitted multiple times within one cycle. The first signal is quasi-co-located in at least two transmissions within one cycle of the first signal.

8. The method as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The sequence identifiers of at least two transmissions of the first signal within one period of the first signal are the same.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The first signal is quasi-co-located with the synchronization signal block.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The relative position of the time domain symbol occupied by the first signal in the time slot is the same as the relative position of the time domain symbol occupied by the synchronization signal block in the time slot.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The number of frequency domain units occupied by the first control channel is less than the number of frequency domain units occupied by the second control channel.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized in that, The power value corresponding to one frequency domain unit occupied by the first control channel is greater than the power value corresponding to one frequency domain unit in the bandwidth occupied by the second control channel.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, In the first time domain resource, the frequency domain resource occupied by the first control channel is the first frequency domain resource; In the first frequency domain resource, at least two adjacent frequency domain units are discontinuous frequency domain resources in the first bandwidth; or, in the first frequency domain resource, at least two adjacent frequency domain units are continuous frequency domain resources in the first bandwidth.

14. The method as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The second control channel occupies the second bandwidth, and the size of the first bandwidth is the same as the size of the second bandwidth.

15. The method as described in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, The first bandwidth is: the bandwidth of a carrier, or the bandwidth of a partial bandwidth BWP, or the bandwidth configured in the cell.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13-15, characterized in that, Frequency domain resources in the first bandwidth other than the first frequency domain resources do not map information and / or do not map signals.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1-16, characterized in that, The second synchronization signal occupies the second time domain resources, and the resources occupied by the first control channel also include the second time domain resources; In terms of the second time domain resources, the frequency domain resources occupied by the second synchronization signal are different from those occupied by the first control channel.

18. The method according to any one of claims 1-17, characterized in that, The sequence type of the first synchronization signal is the same as the sequence type of the main synchronization signal; and / or, The sequence type of the second synchronization signal is the same as that of the auxiliary synchronization signal.

19. The method according to any one of claims 1-18, characterized in that, The first control channel is rate-matched based on the frequency domain resources occupied by the first control channel.

20. The method according to any one of claims 1-19, characterized in that, The center frequencies of any two of the first synchronization signal, the first control channel, or the second synchronization signal are correlated.

21. The method according to any one of claims 1-20, characterized in that, The first control channel includes timing information for indicating the first signal.

22. The method as described in claim 21, characterized in that, The unit of timing information for the first signal is the duration of the first signal's period.

23. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes modules for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 22.

24. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes at least one processor, which implements the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 22 by means of logic circuits or by executing computer programs or instructions.

25. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 22.

26. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product stores a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 22.

Images