A communication method and related device

Abstract

This application provides a communication method in which a network device, when needing to send a system message to a terminal device, obtains the system message, which includes a pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information element. This pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information element is used to indicate PRACH-related information before sending the system message to the terminal device. Specifically, the network device utilizes 8 bits in pdcch-ConfigSIB1 to indicate PRACH-related information, achieving effective use of the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 parameters and avoiding resource waste.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and related equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In wireless communication systems, the primary condition for user equipment (UE) to access a cell is to obtain system information broadcast by the base station. The Master Information Block (MIB) and System Information Block (SIB) are crucial components of this system information. The MIB provides basic information about the cell, such as cell identifier, physical layer configuration, carrier frequency required for synchronization, and timing information. The SIB provides additional information about the network and the cell. There are several types of SIBs, each with a specific purpose. For example, System Information Block 1 (SIB1) provides cell reselection information, and System Information Block 2 (SIB2) provides information about cell access.

[0003] The pddch-configSIB1 message is a crucial component of the MIB message, used to configure the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) information associated with SIB1. Specifically, pddch-configSIB1 defines control resource set 0 (CORESET0) and the search space. For instance, the high 4 bits of pddch-configSIB1 indicate the configuration of CORESET0, while the low 4 bits indicate the PDCCH listening timing within the search space.

[0004] In 5G New Radio (NR) networks, system information can be divided into broadcast messages and non-broadcast messages. For broadcast messages, the base station periodically broadcasts system information; while for non-broadcast messages, they are sent on demand. Specifically, if a UE needs to obtain this type of message, the UE first sends a request to the base station, and the base station sends the system information according to the UE's request.

[0005] However, when sending system information on demand, the 8-bit information space corresponding to pddch-configSIB1 does not need to indicate the control resource set and listening timing. How to effectively utilize the 8-bit information space corresponding to pddch-configSIB1 is an urgent technical problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a communication method and related equipment to effectively utilize the 8-bit information space corresponding to the system information block 1 configuration pddch-configSIB1 of the physical downlink control channel, thereby avoiding resource waste.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0008] Firstly, this application provides a communication method applied to a network device. Specifically, when the network device needs to send a system message to a terminal device, the network device obtains the system message, which includes pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information. This pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information indicates information related to the physical random access channel (PRACH). The network device sends this system message to the terminal device so that the terminal device can obtain the PRACH-related information from the system message and use this PRACH-related information to initiate a random access procedure.

[0009] Through the above scheme, when a network device needs to send a system message to a terminal device, it obtains the system message, which includes a pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information element. This pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information element is used to indicate PRACH-related information before sending the system message to the terminal device. That is, the network device utilizes 8 bits in pdcch-ConfigSIB1 to indicate PRACH-related information, achieving efficient use of the 8-bit information space corresponding to pdcch-ConfigSIB1 and avoiding resource waste.

[0010] In some implementations, the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information is used to indicate a first parameter related to PRACH, which includes at least one of the following: the frequency start position msg1-FrequencyStart of message 1, the physical random access channel index configuration Prach-ConfigurationIndex, and the zerocorrelation zone configuration zeroCorrelationZoneConfig.

[0011] The values ​​for each item in the first parameter are configurable.

[0012] In this embodiment, one or more parameter items related to PRACH can be carried through the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information cell. Specifically, since the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information cell is 8 bits, the number of parameter items it can carry is determined by the number of bits occupied by each parameter item.

[0013] The number of bits occupied by msg1-FrequencyStart is determined by the interval of the starting position indicated by msg1-FrequencyStart.

[0014] Prach-ConfigurationIndex uses 3 bits to indicate 8 short sequences.

[0015] The number of bits occupied by zeroCorrelationZoneConfig is determined by the pre-agreed interval of index values.

[0016] In some implementations, since the information related to PRACH includes not only the first parameter but also the second parameter, and since the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information cell has limited carrying capacity and cannot carry all the information related to PRACH, the second parameter related to PRACH is carried through other information cells in the system message.

[0017] The second parameter includes at least one of the following: frequency division multiplexing (msg1-FDM) of message 1, preamble target received power (preambleReceivedTargetPower), preamble maximum transmission count (preambleTransMax), power ramping step (powerRampingStep), random access response window (ra-ResponseWindow), restricted set configuration (restrictedSetConfig), time division duplex uplink / downlink configuration mode (tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon), subcarrier spacing (msg1-SubcarrierSpacing) of message 1, number of synchronization signal blocks corresponding to the transmission timing of each random access channel (ssb-perRACH-Occasion), and root sequence index (prach-RootSequenceIndex) corresponding to the physical random access channel.

[0018] The values ​​for each item in the second parameter are pre-defined, and the value of each parameter can be set to a default value.

[0019] Secondly, a communication method is provided, which is applied to a terminal device and includes: receiving a system message sent by a network device, the system message including pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information, the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information being used to indicate information related to the Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH); obtaining PRACH-related information from the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information; and the terminal device initiating random access to the network device based on the PRACH-related information.

[0020] In some implementations, the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information is used to indicate a first parameter related to PRACH, which includes at least one of msg1-FrequencyStart, Prach-ConfigurationIndex, and zeroCorrelationZoneConfig.

[0021] In some implementations, the values ​​corresponding to each item in the first parameter are configurable.

[0022] In some implementations, the number of bits occupied by msg1-FrequencyStart is determined by the interval of the starting position indicated by msg1-FrequencyStart.

[0023] In some implementations, the Prach-ConfigurationIndex uses 3 bits to indicate 8 short sequences.

[0024] In some implementations, the number of bits occupied by the zeroCorrelationZoneConfig is determined by a pre-agreed interval of index values.

[0025] In some implementations, the system message also includes a second parameter related to PRACH, which includes at least one of msg1-FDM, preambleReceivedTargetPower, preambleTransMax, powerRampingStep, ra-ResponseWindow, restrictedSetConfig, tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon, msg1-SubcarrierSpacing, ssb-perRACH-Occasion, and prach-RootSequenceIndex.

[0026] In some implementations, the values ​​of each item in the second parameter are predetermined.

[0027] Thirdly, this application provides a network element, which includes a transceiver and a processor; wherein the transceiver is used to perform the receiving operation and the transmitting operation in the method described in the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect; and the processor is used to perform other operations in the method described in the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect besides the receiving operation and the transmitting operation.

[0028] Fourthly, this application provides a terminal device, which includes a transceiver and a processor; wherein the transceiver is used to perform the receiving operation and the transmitting operation in the method described in the second aspect or any embodiment of the second aspect; and the processor is used to perform other operations in the method described in the second aspect or any embodiment of the second aspect besides the receiving operation and the transmitting operation.

[0029] Fifthly, this application provides a communication system including a terminal device and a network element. The network element is used to execute the method described in the first aspect or any embodiment thereof, and the terminal device is used to execute the method described in the second aspect or any embodiment thereof.

[0030] Sixthly, this application provides a computer storage medium for storing a computer program, which, when executed, implements the communication method provided in any one of the first to second aspects of this application.

[0031] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on at least one computing device, causes the at least one computing device to implement the communication method provided in any one of the first to second aspects of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 A structural diagram of an exemplary communication system provided in this application;

[0033] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in this application;

[0034] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a network element provided in this application;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal device provided in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terminology used in the following embodiments is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to be a limitation of this application. As used in the specification and appended claims of this application, the singular expressions "a," "an," "the," "the," "the," and "this" are intended to also include expressions such as "one or more," unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that in the embodiments of this application, "one or more" refers to one, two, or more; "and / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships may 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. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0037] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0038] The "multiple" mentioned in the embodiments of this application refers to two or more. It should be noted that in the description of the embodiments of this application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used only for the purpose of distinguishing descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, nor should they be construed as indicating or implying order.

[0039] SIB1 is a crucial system information transmitted by the base station, containing essential information required by the UE when accessing the network. In 5G New Radio (NR) networks, to reduce the burden on the air interface, improve network efficiency, and enhance terminal energy saving, the transmission method of SIB1 has been redefined. Specifically, the base station can send SIB1 messages upon request from the UE, rather than periodically.

[0040] pdcch-ConfigSIB1 is a parameter related to PDCCH configuration, used in 5G NR networks to control and optimize SIB1 transmission. Its main function is to ensure the effective scheduling and transmission of SIB1 information, so that the UE can obtain the necessary system information.

[0041] However, in on-demand scenarios, the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 parameter is idle and is not currently being used effectively, resulting in wasted resources.

[0042] Based on this, this application provides a communication method in the On-demand SIB1 scenario. When the base station sends a system message to the UE, it uses the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 parameter in the system message to indicate information related to PRACH, thereby realizing the parameter configuration of PRACH as a wake-up signal (WUS) by using the 8 bits of pdcch-ConfigSIB1.

[0043] The communication system applicable to this application can be a fifth-generation (5G) communication system, a hybrid architecture of LTE and 5G, a 5G New Radio (5G NR) system, or any new communication system emerging in future communication developments. The communication system includes at least two devices, and these devices can exchange signals to achieve data interaction. Exemplarily, the devices included in the communication system may be, for example, a software-defined radio (SDR) terminal and a network element, where the network element may be a base station, etc. The following example illustrates a communication system including a software-defined radio terminal and a network element.

[0044] An example of a communication system is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, it includes network element 1 and SDR terminal.

[0045] In the embodiments provided in this application, network element 1 can be any device located on the network side and having wireless transceiver capabilities, including but not limited to: base stations (gNodeB or gNB) or transceiver points (TRPs) in new radio (NR). Network element 1 can be: macro base stations, micro base stations, pico base stations, small cells, relay stations, or balloon stations, etc. Network element 1 and network element 2 can include one or more co-located or non-co-located TRPs. Network element 1 can also be a radio controller, centralized unit (CU), and / or distributed unit (DU) in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. Network element 1 can communicate with SDR terminals or communicate with SDR terminals through relay stations.

[0046] SDR terminals can communicate with multiple network elements using different technologies. For example, an SDR terminal can communicate with network elements that support LTE networks, or with network elements that support 5G networks, and can also establish dual connections with both LTE and 5G network elements.

[0047] SDR terminals, in particular, refer to terminals that support software-defined wireless communication protocols. Typically, the frequency band, air interface protocol, and functions of an SDR terminal can be upgraded through software downloads and updates without requiring a complete hardware replacement. This gives SDR terminals high flexibility and upgradeability, enabling them to adapt to various communication environments and needs.

[0048] In the embodiments provided in this application, the SDR terminal can be of various forms, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, an in-vehicle terminal device, a wireless terminal in self-driving technology, a wireless terminal in remote medical care, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, etc. The SDR terminal can be a fixed terminal or a mobile terminal.

[0049] It should be noted that this application is also applicable to the centralized unit (CU) and distributed unit (DU) separation architecture of a base station, where the corresponding processing network element is the CU or DU under the main base station.

[0050] To facilitate understanding of the specific implementation of this application, the following description will be provided in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0051] See Figure 2 The figure is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 2 As shown, the method includes:

[0052] S201: Network device obtains system message.

[0053] S202: The network device sends a system message to the terminal device.

[0054] The system messages include pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information, which indicates information related to PRACH. Specifically, the information related to PRACH may include the information shown in Table 1.

[0055] Table 1 Information related to PRACH

[0056] parameter describe msg1-FDM Indicates the number of times the PRACH resource is reused in the frequency domain. preambleReceivedTargetPower Indicates the received power of the preamble preambleTransMax Indicates the maximum number of transmissions of the preamble. powerRampingStep Indicates the step size of the preamble transmit power. ra-ResponseWindow Instruction response message receiving window restrictedSetConfig Indicates the restriction set of random access preamble tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon Indicates the time slot structure of uplink and downlink in TDD mode msg1-SubcarrierSpacing Indicator subcarrier spacing ssb-perRACH-Occasion Indicates the number of SSBs in each RACH opportunity prach-RootSequenceIndex Indicates the index of the root sequence from which the preamble is generated. Msg1-FrenquencyStart Indicates the starting position of the first RB in the frequency domain resources Prach-configurationIndex Instructions for the specific allocation of PRACH resources ZeroCorrelationZoneConfig Indicates the zero-correlation interval configuration of the PRACH preamble

[0057] Among them, (1) Message 1 frequency division multiplexing (msg1-FDM) indicates how many Random Access Channel (RACH) occcasions are in the frequency domain. The value of this parameter is 1 / 2 / 4 / 8. Normally, the default configuration is 1 to reduce the multiplexing frequency and save power.

[0058] (2) PreambleReceivedTargetPower is used to configure the preamble's receive power. The value of this parameter can be agreed upon in advance based on experience.

[0059] (3) PreambleTransMax (maximum number of preamble transmissions) is used to limit the maximum number of retransmissions for the UE. If the maximum number of transmissions is too high, it will waste the detection and demodulation power consumption of the base station. This parameter is generally set according to experience and can be pre-agreed to 2.

[0060] (4) powerRampingStep (preamble transmit power increment step) is used to indicate that if the UE fails to access the network initially, but has not yet reached the maximum number of attempts (preambleTransMax), the UE can increase the power by powerRampingStep based on the previous transmit power and then send the access request to the base station again, thereby improving the access success rate. This parameter is related to PreambleTransMax. The smaller the value of preambleTransMax, the larger the value of powerRampingStep. In specific implementation, it can be pre-defined as 3dB.

[0061] (5) ra-ResponseWindow (Response Receive Window) is used to determine the time window during which the UE waits for the base station to respond after sending a random access (RA) message. In specific implementations, different values ​​are set according to different working frequency bands. For example, a median value of 10 milliseconds can be agreed upon in advance.

[0062] (6) restrictedSetConfig indicates the type of restriction set, such as unrestricted set, restricted set A, and restricted set B. Restricted set configuration primarily considers the UE's movement speed, setting different types of restriction sets for different movement speeds. Unrestricted set corresponds to normal speed, restricted set A corresponds to 350 km / h, and restricted set B corresponds to 500 km / h. Normally, the default configuration is unrestricted set.

[0063] (7) tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon is used to indicate the time slot structure of the uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) in time division duplexing (TDD) mode, which determines the time division of uplink and downlink data. It includes two configuration modes, pattern1 and pattern2. In pattern1 configuration, the TDD frame structure will periodically allocate a fixed number of uplink and downlink time slots. For example, pattern 1 will divide a complete 10-millisecond (ms) frame into 5-millisecond downlink time slots and 5-millisecond uplink time slots. In pattern 2 configuration, the TDD frame structure performs more flexible time slot allocation, usually allocating a larger proportion of time slots to the downlink (DL) while the uplink (UL) accounts for a smaller proportion, which is particularly suitable for scenarios with large downlink traffic. In specific implementation, it can be configured as pattern1 by default.

[0064] (8) msg1 - SubcarrierSpacing, used to indicate the subcarrier spacing (SCS) of message 1 in the 5G random access process. Since the MIB carries 1 bit of subCarrierSpacingCommon, it does not need to be configured separately in pdcch-ConfigSIB1. Among them, the long sequence L_RA = 839, the corresponding subcarrier spacing is 1.25K and 5K, which is suitable for cells with large coverage areas; while the network energy savings (NES) base station has a small coverage area and is suitable for the short sequence L_RA = 139, the corresponding subcarrier spacing includes four options: 15 / 30 / 60 / 120. In the specific implementation, the selection of long sequence or short sequence, and the corresponding subcarrier spacing, can be indicated by bits or agreed upon in advance.

[0065] (9) ssb-perRACH-Occasion, used to indicate the number of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) in each RACH timing, to help base stations and terminals perform effective signal synchronization and random access. The default configuration is 1.

[0066] (10) prach-RootSequenceIndex, used to indicate the index of the root sequence for generating the PRACH preamble. The default value of the root index i is 0. If a root index generates less than 64 preambles, the next prach-RootSequenceIndex needs to be used to continue generating preambles until 64 preambles are reached. The next root index number after i=0 is i=1, where the sequence number u=138 corresponds to i=1.

[0067] (11) Msg1-FrenquencyStart: Indicates the starting position of the first resource block (RB) on the frequency domain resources when the UE initiates a random access request. Assume a base station is configured with a PRACH resource range, within which multiple time slots are available for multiple UEs. If the base station allocates different frequency ranges for each access time slot, then Msg1-FrequencyStart will specify the frequency starting point of each access time slot. For example, if the base station selects a frequency range of [1.8GHz-2.2GHz], then Msg1-FrequencyStart may specify multiple starting points (e.g., 1.8GHz, 1.85GHz, etc.) to ensure that multiple UEs can initiate access requests on different frequency resources.

[0068] (12) PRACH-ConfigurationIndex is used to select a configuration from a set of predefined configurations that define the specific allocation of PRACH resources, such as time slots, frequency domains, preamble formats, etc.

[0069] (13) ZeroCorrelationZoneConfig is used to configure the zero-correlation zone configuration of the PRACH preamble. Through this configuration, the cyclic shift of the preamble can be calculated. The number of cycles in shortsequence (N-CS) is a parameter associated with short sequences, which determines the number of cycles contained in each short sequence.

[0070] Since some of the aforementioned parameters can be predefined, while others need to be configured based on the actual network environment, to improve network configuration flexibility, configurable parameters can be carried through pdcch-ConfigSIB1, while other parameters are carried through other information elements in the MIB. Specifically, the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information is used to indicate the first parameter related to PRACH, which includes at least one of msg1-FrequencyStart, Prach-ConfigurationIndex, and zeroCorrelationZoneConfig. The values ​​corresponding to these parameters are configurable.

[0071] In some implementations, the network device allocates different frequency ranges for each access time slot and specifies the frequency start point corresponding to each access time slot through Msg1-FrequencyStart. When the number of frequency start points is fixed, the number of bits occupied by Msg1-FrequencyStart is determined by the interval of the start position it indicates. For example, if there are 256 start positions, and the interval is 16, represented as [16, 32, 48, ..., 256], then log2(256 / 16) = log2(16) = 4 bits are needed for indication; if the interval is 32, represented as [32, 64, ..., 256], then log2(256 / 32) = log2(8) = 3 bits are needed for indication.

[0072] In some implementations, the PRACH-ConfigurationIndex in 5G NR communication systems typically consists of three tables (i.e., configuration sets), each containing 256 configuration items. Each table involves eight short sequence configurations that define the root sequence for generating the PRACH preamble. In practice, the frequency band configured by the network determines which of the three tables to select. Since there are eight short sequences, three bits are needed to indicate the selected sequence. Therefore, the 3 bits in pdcch-ConfigSIB1 can be used to carry the Prach-ConfigurationIndex item.

[0073] In some implementations, `zeroCorrelationZoneConfig` has 16 possible values, each corresponding to a different N-CS value. Therefore, 4 bits can be used to indicate these 16 different values. However, in some applications, 16 values ​​are not required. The interval between the values ​​can be pre-defined, and the number of bits used is determined based on this interval. For example, an interval of 4 can determine two combinations: {0 / 4 / 8 / 12} and {1 / 5 / 9 / 13}. Each combination includes 4 values ​​and requires 2 bits for indication. Which of these two combinations to use can be pre-defined. As another example, an interval of 2 can determine two combinations: {0 / 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 / 12 / 14} and {1 / 3 / 5 / 7 / 9 / 11 / 13}. Each combination includes 8 values ​​and requires 3 bits for indication. Therefore, the number of bits used by `zeroCorrelationZoneConfig` is determined by the pre-defined interval of the index values.

[0074] It should be noted that the specific items included in the first parameter above are only an example. In actual applications, other items can be carried by pdcch-ConfigSIB1, provided that pdcch-ConfigSIB1 can carry them. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0075] Since pdcch-ConfigSIB1 only occupies 8 bits, the content it can carry is limited. In addition to the first parameter related to PRACH, the second parameter related to PRACH will be carried through other information elements in the system message.

[0076] For example, the second parameter includes at least one of the following: msg1-FDM, preambleReceivedTargetPower, preambleTransMax, powerRampingStep, ra-ResponseWindow, restrictedSetConfig, tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon, msg1-SubcarrierSpacing, ssb-perRACH-Occasion, and prach-RootSequenceIndex. The values ​​for each item in the second parameter are pre-defined and do not need to be configured based on network environment or requirements.

[0077] S203: The terminal device receives a system message and parses the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information in the system message to obtain information related to PRACH.

[0078] S204: The terminal device initiates random access to the network device based on information related to PRACH.

[0079] It should be noted that in the On-demand SIB1 scenario, the network device and the terminal device negotiate to determine that the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information element in the system message will carry PRACH-related information. After receiving the system message sent by the network device, the terminal device parses the system message, obtains the PRACH-related information from the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information element, and initiates random access to the network device based on this information.

[0080] As can be seen, through the above scheme, when a network device needs to send a system message to a terminal device, the network device obtains the system message, which includes pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information. This pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information is used to indicate PRACH-related information before sending the system message to the terminal device. That is, the network device utilizes 8 bits in pdcch-ConfigSIB1 to indicate PRACH-related information, achieving effective use of the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 parameters and avoiding resource waste.

[0081] Below, in conjunction with Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 This section further introduces the hardware implementation methods of network devices and terminal devices.

[0082] See Figure 3 The diagram illustrates the hardware structure of a network element capable of performing the aforementioned tasks. Figure 2 The method performed by the network device in the embodiment. Figure 3 The network element shown includes at least one processor 111, at least one memory 112, at least one transceiver 113, at least one network interface 114, and one or more antennas 115. The processor 111, memory 112, transceiver 113, and network interface 114 are connected, for example, via a bus. In this embodiment, the connection may include various interfaces, transmission lines, or buses, etc., and this embodiment is not limited in this respect. The antenna 115 is connected to the transceiver 113. The network interface 114 is used to enable the network element to connect to other communication devices through a communication link. For example, the network interface 114 may include a network interface between the network element and network elements in the core network, such as an S1 interface; the network interface may also include a network interface between the network element and other network elements, such as an X2 or Xn interface.

[0083] in, Figure 3The processor 111 shown can specifically perform the network device processing actions in the above method, the memory 112 can perform the storage actions in the above method, the transceiver 113 and the antenna 115 can perform the air interface transmission and reception actions in the above method, and the network interface 114 can perform the interaction actions with network elements or other network elements in the above method.

[0084] The processor in this application embodiment, such as processor 111, may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller unit (MCU), or an artificial intelligence processor, etc., which are various computing devices that run software. Each computing device may include one or more cores for executing software instructions to perform calculations or processing. The processor may be a separate semiconductor chip or integrated with other circuits into a single semiconductor chip. For example, it may form a SoC (System-on-a-Chip) with other circuits (such as encoding / decoding circuits, hardware acceleration circuits, or various bus and interface circuits), or it may be integrated as a built-in processor in an ASIC. The ASIC with the integrated processor may be packaged separately or packaged together with other circuits. In addition to including cores for executing software instructions to perform calculations or processing, the processor may further include necessary hardware accelerators, such as FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays), PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices), or logic circuits that implement dedicated logic operations.

[0085] The memory in the embodiments of this application may include at least one of the following types: read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices capable of storing static information and instructions; random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices capable of storing information and instructions; or electrically erasable programmable-only memory (EEPROM). In some scenarios, the memory may also be a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital universal optical discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media, or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but is not limited thereto.

[0086] The memory 112 can exist independently and be connected to the processor 111. Optionally, the memory 112 can be integrated with the processor 111, for example, integrated into a single chip. The memory 112 can store program code that executes the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and its execution is controlled by the processor 111. The various types of computer program code being executed can also be considered as drivers for the processor 111. For example, the processor 111 executes the computer program code stored in the memory 112 to implement the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0087] Transceiver 113 can be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency (RF) signals between network elements and other devices. Transceiver 113 can be connected to antenna 115. Transceiver 113 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx. Specifically, one or more antennas 115 can receive RF signals. The receiver Rx of transceiver 113 is used to receive the RF signals from the antennas, convert the RF signals into digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency (IF) signals, and provide the digital baseband signals or IF signals to the processor 111 so that the processor 111 can perform further processing on the digital baseband signals or IF signals, such as demodulation and decoding. In addition, the transmitter Tx in transceiver 113 is also used to receive modulated digital baseband signals or IF signals from processor 111, convert the modulated digital baseband signals or IF signals into RF signals, and transmit the RF signals through one or more antennas 115. Specifically, the receiver Rx can selectively perform one or more stages of downmixing and analog-to-digital conversion on the radio frequency signal to obtain a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The order of the downmixing and IF conversion processes is adjustable. The transmitter Tx can selectively perform one or more stages of upmixing and digital-to-analog conversion on the modulated digital baseband signal or digital IF signal to obtain a radio frequency signal. The order of the upmixing and IF conversion processes is also adjustable. The digital baseband signal and the digital IF signal can be collectively referred to as digital signals.

[0088] Figure 4 This application provides an example of the composition of a terminal device, such as a mobile phone, a smart wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch). Taking a mobile phone as an example, the terminal device may include a processor 310, an external memory interface 320, an internal memory 321, a display screen 330, a camera 340, an antenna 1, an antenna 2, a mobile communication module 350, and a wireless communication module 360, etc.

[0089] It is understood that the structure illustrated in this embodiment does not constitute a specific limitation on the terminal device. In other embodiments, the terminal device may include more or fewer components than illustrated, or combine some components, or split some components, or have different component arrangements. The illustrated components may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0090] Processor 310 may include one or more processing units, such as: application processor (AP), modem processor, graphics processing unit (GPU), image signal processor (ISP), controller, time-frequency codec, digital signal processor (DSP), baseband processor, and / or neural network processing unit (NPU), etc. Different processing units may be independent devices or integrated into one or more processors.

[0091] It is understood that the interface connection relationships between the modules illustrated in this embodiment are merely illustrative and do not constitute a structural limitation on the terminal device. In other embodiments of this application, the terminal device may also employ different interface connection methods or combinations of multiple interface connection methods as described in the above embodiments.

[0092] The external storage interface 320 can be used to connect an external storage card, such as a Micro SD card, to expand the storage capacity of the terminal device. The external storage card communicates with the processor 310 through the external storage interface 320 to perform data storage functions. For example, music, time and frequency files can be saved on the external storage card.

[0093] Internal memory 321 can be used to store executable program code, including instructions. Processor 310 executes various functional applications and data processing of the terminal device by running the instructions stored in internal memory 321. Internal memory 321 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system, at least one application program required for a function (such as sound playback, image playback, etc.), etc. The data storage area may store data created during the use of the terminal device (such as time-frequency stream data), etc. Furthermore, internal memory 321 may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, universal flash storage (UFS), etc. Processor 310 executes various functions and data processing of the terminal device by running instructions stored in internal memory 321 and / or instructions stored in memory located within the processor.

[0094] The wireless communication function of the terminal device can be implemented through antenna 1, antenna 2, mobile communication module 350, wireless communication module 360, modem processor, and baseband processor.

[0095] Antenna 1 and antenna 2 are used to transmit and receive electromagnetic wave signals. Each antenna in the terminal device can be used to cover one or more communication frequency bands. Different antennas can also be reused to improve antenna utilization. For example, antenna 1 can be reused as a diversity antenna for a wireless local area network. In some other embodiments, the antennas can be used in conjunction with a tuning switch.

[0096] The mobile communication module 350 can provide solutions for wireless communication applications including 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G on terminal devices. The mobile communication module 350 may include at least one filter, switch, power amplifier, low noise amplifier (LNA), etc. The mobile communication module 350 can receive electromagnetic waves via antenna 1, and perform filtering, amplification, and other processing on the received electromagnetic waves before transmitting them to a modem processor for demodulation. The mobile communication module 350 can also amplify the signal modulated by the modem processor and convert it into electromagnetic waves for radiation via antenna 1. In some embodiments, at least some functional modules of the mobile communication module 350 may be housed in the processor 310. In some embodiments, at least some functional modules of the mobile communication module 350 and at least some modules of the processor 310 may be housed in the same device.

[0097] In some embodiments, the terminal device initiates or receives call requests via the mobile communication module 350 and the antenna 1.

[0098] Furthermore, an operating system runs on top of the aforementioned components. Examples include iOS, Android, and Windows operating systems. Applications can be installed and run on this operating system. Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, explanations and beneficial effects of the relevant content in any of the terminal devices provided above can be found in the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and will not be repeated here.

[0099] Furthermore, embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform the communication method described in the above embodiments.

[0100] Furthermore, this application also provides a computer program product, which, when executed by one or more computing devices, allows the computing devices to execute any of the aforementioned communication methods. The computer program product can be a software installation package; when any of the aforementioned communication methods is required, the computer program product can be downloaded and executed on a computer.

[0101] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that this application can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware, or it can be implemented by special-purpose hardware including application-specific integrated circuits, special-purpose CPUs, special-purpose memory, special-purpose components, etc. Generally, any function performed by a computer program can be easily implemented by corresponding hardware, and the specific hardware structure used to implement the same function can also be diverse, such as analog circuits, digital circuits, or special-purpose circuits. However, for this application, software program implementation is more often the preferred implementation method. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a readable storage medium, such as a computer floppy disk, USB flash drive, mobile hard disk, ROM, RAM, magnetic disk, or optical disk, etc., and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, training equipment, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in the various embodiments of this application.

[0102] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product.

[0103] The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, training device, or data center to another website, computer, training device, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can store or a data storage device such as a training device or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., DVDs), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state drives (SSDs)).

[0104] The system architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is applied to network devices, including: Obtain system messages, including the system information block 1 configuration pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information of the physical downlink control channel, the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information being used to indicate information related to the physical random access channel PRACH; The system message is sent to the terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information is used to indicate a first parameter related to PRACH, which includes at least one of the following: msg1-FrequencyStart (the frequency start position of message 1), Prach-ConfigurationIndex (physical random access channel index configuration), and zeroCorrelationZoneConfig (zeroCorrelationZone configuration).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The values ​​for each item in the first parameter are configurable.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The number of bits occupied by msg1-FrequencyStart is determined by the interval of the starting position indicated by msg1-FrequencyStart.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, The Prach-ConfigurationIndex uses 3 bits to indicate 8 short sequences.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that, The number of bits occupied by the zeroCorrelationZoneConfig is determined by the pre-agreed interval of the index values.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The system message also includes a second parameter related to the PRACH. The second parameter includes at least one of the following: frequency division multiplexing (msg1-FDM) of message 1, preamble target received power (preambleReceivedTargetPower), preamble maximum transmission count (preambleTransMax), power ramping step (powerRampingStep), random access response window (ra-ResponseWindow), restricted set configuration (restrictedSetConfig), time division duplex uplink / downlink configuration mode (tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon), subcarrier spacing (msg1-SubcarrierSpacing) of message 1, synchronization signal block (ssb-perRACH-Occasion) corresponding to each random access channel time, and root sequence index (prach-RootSequenceIndex) corresponding to the physical random access channel.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The values ​​for each item in the second parameter are predetermined.

9. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is applied to a terminal device and includes: Receive system messages sent by network devices, the system messages including the system information block 1 configuration pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information of the physical downlink control channel, the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information being used to indicate information related to the physical random access channel PRACH; Obtain information related to the Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) from the pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information; The terminal device initiates random access to the network device based on the PRACH-related information.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The pdcch-ConfigSIB1 information is used to indicate a first parameter related to PRACH, which includes at least one of the following: msg1-FrequencyStart (the frequency start position of message 1), Prach-ConfigurationIndex (physical random access channel index configuration), and zeroCorrelationZoneConfig (zeroCorrelationZone configuration).

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The values ​​for each item in the first parameter are configurable.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The number of bits occupied by msg1-FrequencyStart is determined by the interval of the starting position indicated by msg1-FrequencyStart.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10-12, characterized in that, The Prach-ConfigurationIndex uses 3 bits to indicate 8 short sequences.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9-11, characterized in that, The number of bits occupied by the zeroCorrelationZoneConfig is determined by the pre-agreed interval of the index values.

15. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The system message also includes a second parameter related to the PRACH. The second parameter includes at least one of the following: frequency division multiplexing (msg1-FDM) of message 1, preamble target received power (preambleReceivedTargetPower), preamble maximum transmission count (preambleTransMax), power ramping step (powerRampingStep), random access response window (ra-ResponseWindow), restricted set configuration (restrictedSetConfig), time division duplex uplink / downlink configuration mode (tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon), subcarrier spacing (msg1-SubcarrierSpacing) of message 1, synchronization signal block (ssb-perRACH-Occasion) corresponding to each random access channel time, and root sequence index (prach-RootSequenceIndex) corresponding to the physical random access channel.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The values ​​for each item in the second parameter are predetermined.

17. A network device, characterized in that, include: A transceiver for performing the receiving and transmitting operations in the method of any one of claims 1-8; A processor for performing operations other than the receiving operation and the sending operation in the method of any one of claims 1-8.

18. A terminal device, characterized in that, include: A transceiver for performing the receiving and transmitting operations in the method according to any one of claims 9-16; A processor for performing operations other than the receiving operation and the sending operation in the method of any one of claims 9-16.

19. A communication system, characterized in that, This includes terminal equipment and network equipment; The network device is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-8; The terminal device is used to perform the method according to any one of claims 9-16.

Images