Communication method, terminal, network device, system, storage medium and program product

Abstract

This disclosure relates to communication methods, terminals, network devices, systems, storage media, and program products. The communication method includes: a terminal determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell; the terminal sending a report including the second value. This disclosure can reduce resource overhead and the complexity of terminal measurements.

Description

Communication methods, terminals, network devices, systems, storage media and software products Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to communication methods, terminals, network devices, systems, storage media, and program products. Background Technology

[0002] In new radio (NR), especially in frequency bands above FR1, beam-based transmission and reception are required to ensure coverage due to the rapid attenuation of high-frequency channels. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure provides communication methods, terminals, network devices, systems, storage media, and program products.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication method is proposed, the method comprising: a terminal determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell; the terminal sending a report, the report including the second value.

[0005] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: a network device receiving a report, the report including a second value corresponding to a non-serving cell, the second value being determined by a terminal based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell.

[0006] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a communication method is proposed, the method comprising: a terminal determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell; the terminal sending a report to a network device, the report including the second value.

[0007] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a terminal is provided, comprising: a processing module, configured to determine a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell; and a transceiver module, configured to send a report, the report including the second value.

[0008] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a network device is provided, including a transceiver module for receiving a report, the report including a second value of a non-serving cell, the second value being determined by a terminal based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell.

[0009] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a terminal is provided, comprising: one or more processors; wherein the terminal is configured to execute the first aspect and any one of the communication methods in the first aspect.

[0010] According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, a network device is provided, comprising: one or more processors; wherein the network device is configured to perform the second aspect and any one of the communication methods in the second aspect.

[0011] According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, including a terminal and a network device, wherein the terminal is configured to implement the first aspect and any one of the communication methods in the first aspect, and the network device is configured to implement the second aspect and any one of the communication methods in the second aspect.

[0012] According to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, a storage medium is provided that stores instructions, which, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform a communication method as described in the first aspect and any one of the first aspects or the second aspect and any one of the second aspects.

[0013] According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, a program product is provided, comprising: a computer program, which, when executed by a communication device, causes the communication device to perform a communication method as described in the first aspect and any one of the first aspects or the second aspect and the second aspect.

[0014] This disclosure determines a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell, and sends a report containing the second value to a network device. This enables the determination of the second value of non-serving cells using the first value of the serving cell, thereby reducing resource overhead associated with non-serving cells, such as reducing beam measurement reference signal resource overhead for non-serving cells, and reducing the complexity of terminal measurements. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings required for the description of the embodiments are introduced below. The following drawings are only some embodiments of this disclosure and do not impose specific limitations on the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 2a is a schematic diagram of the communication method interaction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 2b is a schematic diagram illustrating the distribution of a serving cell and a first non-serving cell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the communication method interaction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 6a is a schematic diagram of the structure of the terminal proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0023] Figure 6b is a schematic diagram of the structure of the network device proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0024] Figure 7a is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0025] Figure 7b is a schematic diagram of the chip structure proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0026] This disclosure provides communication methods, terminals, network devices, systems, storage media, and program products.

[0027] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure propose a communication method, the method comprising: a terminal determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell; the terminal sending a report, the report including the second value.

[0028] In some alternative embodiments of the first aspect, the method further includes: the terminal receiving first information, the first information being used to configure a first reference signal resource; wherein the first reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in a first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell; the terminal measuring a reference signal on the first reference signal resource to obtain the first value.

[0029] In some alternative embodiments of the first aspect, the method further includes: the terminal sending second information, the second information being used to instruct the terminal to support determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell.

[0030] In some optional embodiments of the first aspect, the serving cell corresponds to a first non-serving cell, the terminal supports determining a second value corresponding to a second non-serving cell based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell, the second non-serving cell being some or all of the first non-serving cells, and the method further includes: the terminal sending third information, the third information being used to indicate the second non-serving cell.

[0031] In some alternative embodiments of the first aspect, the third information includes at least one of the following: the number of the second non-serving cell in the list; the physical cell identifier of the second non-serving cell; and the globally unique identifier of the second non-serving cell.

[0032] In some optional embodiments of the first aspect, the third information includes: a plurality of bits, wherein each bit corresponds to a first non-serving cell, if the bit displays a third value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is the second non-serving cell, and if the bit displays a fourth value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is a cell other than the second non-serving cell among the first non-serving cells.

[0033] In some alternative embodiments of the first aspect, before the terminal sends the third information, the method further includes: the terminal receiving fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate the first non-serving cell.

[0034] In some alternative embodiments of the first aspect, the fourth information includes at least one of the following: the number of the first non-serving cell in the list; the physical cell identifier of the first non-serving cell; and the globally unique identifier of the first non-serving cell.

[0035] In some optional embodiments of the first aspect, the first value includes quality information corresponding to a first reference signal resource; wherein the first reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell; the second value includes at least one of the following: quality information corresponding to a second reference signal resource; identifiers of the K reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set; identifiers of the second non-serving cells corresponding to the Q reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set, wherein K and Q are positive integers; wherein the second reference signal resource is at least one reference signal resource in the second reference signal resource set, and the second reference signal resource set is the reference signal resource set corresponding to each of the at least one second non-serving cells; the quality information includes at least one of the following: Layer 1 reference signal received power L1-RSRP; Layer 1 interference plus signal-to-noise ratio L1-SINR; Layer 3 reference signal received power L3-RSRP; Layer 3 reference signal received quality L3-RSRQ; Layer 3 received signal strength indication L3-RSSI; Channel state information CSI.

[0036] In some alternative embodiments of the first aspect, the report further includes the first value and / or the fifth value; wherein the fifth value is obtained by the terminal measuring the third reference signal resource, the third reference signal resource being each reference signal resource in the third reference signal resource set corresponding to the third non-serving cell, and the third non-serving cell being the cell in the first non-serving cell other than the second non-serving cell.

[0037] Secondly, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: a network device receiving a report, the report including a second value corresponding to a non-serving cell, the second value being determined by a terminal based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell.

[0038] In some optional embodiments of the second aspect, the method further includes: the network device sending first information, the first information being used to configure a first reference signal resource; wherein the first reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in a first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell; and the first value is obtained by the terminal measuring the reference signal on the first reference signal resource.

[0039] In some alternative embodiments of the second aspect, the method further includes: the network device receiving second information, the second information being used to instruct the terminal to support determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell.

[0040] In some optional embodiments of the second aspect, the serving cell corresponds to a first non-serving cell, the terminal supports determining a second value corresponding to a second non-serving cell based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell, the second non-serving cell being some or all of the first non-serving cells, and the method further includes: the network device receiving third information, the third information being used to indicate the second non-serving cell.

[0041] In some alternative embodiments of the second aspect, the third information includes at least one of the following: the number of the second non-serving cell in the list; the physical cell identifier of the second non-serving cell; and the globally unique identifier of the second non-serving cell.

[0042] In some optional embodiments of the second aspect, the third information includes: a plurality of bits, wherein each bit corresponds to a first non-serving cell, if the bit displays a third value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is the second non-serving cell, and if the bit displays a fourth value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is a cell other than the second non-serving cell among the first non-serving cells.

[0043] In some alternative embodiments of the second aspect, before the network device receives the third information, the method further includes: the network device sending fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate the first non-serving cell.

[0044] In some alternative embodiments of the second aspect, the fourth information includes at least one of the following: the number of the first non-serving cell in the list; the physical cell identifier of the first non-serving cell; and the globally unique identifier of the first non-serving cell.

[0045] In some optional embodiments of the second aspect, the first value includes quality information corresponding to a first reference signal resource; wherein, the first reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell; the second value includes at least one of the following: quality information corresponding to a second reference signal resource; identifiers of the K reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set; identifiers of the second non-serving cells corresponding to the Q reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set, wherein K and Q are positive integers; wherein, the second reference signal resource is at least one reference signal resource in the second reference signal resource set, and the second reference signal resource set is the reference signal resource set corresponding to each of the at least one second non-serving cells; the quality information includes at least one of the following: Layer 1 reference signal received power L1-RSRP; Layer 1 interference plus signal-to-noise ratio L1-SINR; Layer 3 reference signal received power L3-RSRP; Layer 3 reference signal received quality L3-RSRQ; Layer 3 received signal strength indication L3-RSSI; Channel state information CSI.

[0046] In some optional embodiments of the second aspect, the report further includes the first value and / or the fifth value; wherein the fifth value is obtained by the terminal measuring the third reference signal resource, the third reference signal resource being each reference signal resource in the third reference signal resource set corresponding to the third non-serving cell, and the third non-serving cell being the cell in the first non-serving cell other than the second non-serving cell.

[0047] Thirdly, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: a terminal sending second information to a network device, the second information being used to instruct the terminal to support determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell.

[0048] Fourthly, a terminal is provided, comprising: a transceiver module for transmitting second information, the second information being used to instruct the terminal to support determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell.

[0049] Fifthly, a network device is provided, comprising: a transceiver module for receiving second information, the second information being used to instruct the terminal to support determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell.

[0050] A sixth aspect provides a terminal, comprising: one or more processors; wherein the terminal is configured to execute the first aspect and any one of the communication methods in the first aspect.

[0051] A seventh aspect provides a network device, comprising: one or more processors; wherein the network device is configured to perform the second aspect and any one of the communication methods in the second aspect.

[0052] Eighthly, a communication system is provided, including a terminal and a network device, wherein the terminal is configured to implement the first aspect and any one of the communication methods in the first aspect, and the network device is configured to implement the second aspect and any one of the communication methods in the second aspect.

[0053] Ninth aspect, a storage medium is provided that stores instructions, which, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform a communication method as described in the first aspect and any one thereof, or the second aspect and any one thereof.

[0054] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a program product that, when executed by a communication device, causes the communication device to perform the method as described in an optional implementation of the first or second aspect.

[0055] In one aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods described in an optional implementation of the first or second aspect.

[0056] In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a chip or chip system. The chip or chip system includes processing circuitry configured to perform the method described in an optional implementation of the first or second aspect above.

[0057] It is understood that the terminals, access network devices, first network elements, other network elements, core network devices, communication systems, storage media, program products, computer programs, chips, or chip systems involved in the embodiments of this disclosure are all used to execute the methods proposed in the embodiments of this disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can be referred to the beneficial effects in the corresponding methods, and will not be repeated here.

[0058] This disclosure provides communication methods, terminals, network devices, systems, storage media, and program products. In some embodiments, the terms "communication method" and "information processing method" can be used interchangeably, as can the terms "communication device" and "information processing device" and "communication device," and the terms "information processing system" and "communication system."

[0059] This disclosure is not exhaustive, but merely illustrative of some embodiments, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure. Unless otherwise specified, each step in a particular embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a particular embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily interchanged. Furthermore, the optional implementation methods in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; moreover, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, for example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0060] In each of the disclosed embodiments, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions of the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical environments of different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0061] The terminology used in the embodiments of this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0062] In this embodiment of the disclosure, unless otherwise stated, elements expressed in the singular form, such as "a," "an," "the," "the," "the," "the," "the," "the," "this," etc., can mean "one and only one," or "one or more," "at least one," etc. For example, when using articles such as "a," "an," "the," etc. in translation, the noun following the article can be understood as either a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0063] In the embodiments disclosed herein, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0064] In some embodiments, the terms “at least one of”, “one or more”, “a plurality of”, “multiple”, etc., may be used interchangeably.

[0065] In some embodiments, the notation "at least one of A and B", "A and / or B", "A in one case, B in another", "in response to one case A, in response to another case B", etc., may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (execute A regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (execute B regardless of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are executed). The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0066] In some embodiments, the notation "A or B" may include the following technical solutions, depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (execution of A regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (execution of B regardless of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0067] The prefixes "first," "second," etc., used in the embodiments of this disclosure are merely for distinguishing different descriptive objects and do not impose restrictions on the position, order, priority, quantity, or content of the descriptive objects. The description of the descriptive objects is found in the claims or the context of the embodiments, and the use of prefixes should not constitute unnecessary restrictions. For example, if the descriptive object is a "field," the ordinal numbers preceding "field" in "first field" and "second field" do not restrict the position or order of the "fields." "First" and "second" do not restrict whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they restrict the order of "first field" and "second field." Similarly, if the descriptive object is a "level," the ordinal numbers preceding "level" in "first level" and "second level" do not restrict the priority between "levels." Furthermore, the number of descriptive objects is not limited by ordinal numbers and can be one or more. For example, in "first device," the number of "devices" can be one or more. Furthermore, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the object being described is "device", then "first device" and "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different. Similarly, if the object being described is "information", then "second information" and "third information" can be the same information or different information, and their content can be the same or different.

[0068] In some embodiments, “including A,” “containing A,” “for indicating A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0069] In some embodiments, the terms “in response to…”, “in response to determining…”, “in the case of…”, “when…”, “if…”, “if…”, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0070] In some embodiments, the terms “greater than,” “greater than or equal to,” “not less than,” “more than,” “more than or equal to,” “not less than,” “higher than,” “higher than or equal to,” “not lower than,” and “above” can be used interchangeably, as can the terms “less than,” “less than or equal to,” “not greater than,” “less than,” “less than or equal to,” “not more than,” “lower than,” “lower than or equal to,” “not higher than,” and “below”.

[0071] In some embodiments, the apparatus and device may be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. In some cases, they may also be understood as "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", "body", etc.

[0072] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network, such as access network devices, core network devices, etc.

[0073] In some embodiments, "access network device (AN device)" may also be referred to as "radio access network device (RAN device)," "base station (BS)," "radio base station," or "fixed station." In some embodiments, it may also be understood as "node," "access point," "transmission point (TP)," "reception point (RP)," "transmission / reception point (TRP)," "panel," "antenna panel," "antenna array," "cell," "macro cell," "small cell," "femto cell," "pico cell," "sector," "cell group," "serving cell," "carrier," "component carrier," or "bandwidth part (BWP)."

[0074] In some embodiments, "terminal" or "terminal device" may be referred to as "user equipment (UE)," "user terminal," "mobile station (MS)," "mobile terminal (MT)," "subscriber station," "mobile unit," "subscriber unit," "wireless unit," "remote unit," "mobile device," "wireless device," "wireless communication device," "remote device," "mobile subscriber station," "access terminal," "mobile terminal," "wireless terminal," "remote terminal," "handset," "user agent," "mobile client," "client," etc.

[0075] In some embodiments, the acquisition of data, information, etc., may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the location is situated.

[0076] In some embodiments, data, information, etc., may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0077] Furthermore, each element, each row, or each column in the table of this disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and any combination of any element, any row, or any column can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0078] During beam management, the base station configures a set of reference signal resources for beam measurement. The terminal measures the reference signal resources in this set and then reports the identifiers (IDs) of the X strongest reference signal resources, along with their corresponding Layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP) and / or Layer 1 signal to interference plus noise ratio (L1-SINR). The problem with traditional methods is that the base station's configured set contains M reference signal resources, each corresponding to a different transmitted beam. Therefore, for each reference signal resource, the terminal needs to use all received beams to measure it, obtain the beam measurement quality for each received beam, and determine the best beam measurement quality. Thus, the number of beam pairs the terminal needs to measure is M*N, where M is the number of transmitted beams from the base station and N is the number of received beams from the terminal.

[0079] The following explains the specific processes by which beam information is output by artificial intelligence (AI) models and obtained by traditional methods.

[0080] The principle of beam prediction based on AI models is as follows:

[0081] For spatial prediction: The L1-RSRP of the terminal measurement set B (which may also include beam or beam pair IDs) is input into the AI ​​model to predict the L1-RSRP of set A (set A) or the optimal beam ID of set A. The relationship between set B and set A includes the following two types:

[0082] First, set B is a subset of set A. For example, if set A contains 32 reference signal resources (each reference signal resource corresponds to a beam direction), then set B contains N of those reference signal resources, such as N=8. The above only considers the transmit beams. If beam pairs are considered, the terminal's receive beams also need to be taken into account. For example, if there are 32 transmit beams and the terminal has 4 receive beams, then set A would have 32*4 beam pairs; set B could have 32 beam pairs, 16 beam pairs, etc. Here, * stands for multiplication.

[0083] Second, set B is a wide beam, and set A is a narrow beam. For example, set A contains 32 reference signal resources (each reference signal resource corresponds to a beam direction, and the 32 reference signals cover a 120-degree direction). Set B contains another N reference signal resources, for example, N=8, and these N reference signals also cover a 120-degree direction. That is, the beam direction of each reference signal in set B covers the beam directions of multiple reference signal resources in set A. This can be understood as the 32 / N reference signal resources in set A and the same reference signal resource in set B having a quasi-co-location (QCL) type (Type D) relationship.

[0084] If monitoring the performance of the AI ​​model is not required, assuming that the AI ​​model has been pre-trained, the network device only needs to periodically send the reference signal of set B (e.g., in the first cycle). Then, the terminal measures the L1-RSRP of the reference signal in set B and inputs it into the AI ​​model. The model can then output the L1-RSRP of all beams or beam pairs in set A, or output the IDs of the K strongest reference signals or beam pairs among the 32 reference signals in set A.

[0085] If monitoring AI model performance is required, in addition to sending set B, the network device is also required to periodically send reference signals for set A (e.g., the second period, which is longer than the first period; whether it's a multiple of the first period or by how much longer is not restricted here). The terminal then only measures the result of set B and inputs it into the AI ​​model to obtain the predicted beam information, which is then reported to the network device. Simultaneously, the L1-RSRP of all reference signals in set A is measured, and the beam information is obtained and reported to the network device. Of course, if set B is a subset of set A, it's equivalent to the terminal only needing to measure all beams or beam pairs in set A.

[0086] For time-domain prediction, the terminal measures the L1-RSRP of historical time set B and inputs it into the AI ​​model to predict the L1-RSRP or optimal beam ID of future time set A. Besides the two relationships mentioned above, there is another possibility: set B and set A are the same.

[0087] If beam prediction is based on an AI model, then the reference signal for future moments does not need to be sent; that is, beam information can be obtained based on the output of the AI ​​model and reported to the network equipment.

[0088] If beam prediction is performed using methods from related technologies, reference signals for future timeframes also need to be transmitted for performance monitoring. The terminal measures the reference signals for future timeframes and obtains beam information, which is then reported to the base station. Therefore, during model performance monitoring, for co-spatial beam prediction, network devices need to periodically transmit the transmitted beams in set B and set A, and the terminal needs to measure all beams or beam pairs in set B and set A.

[0089] However, currently, AI-based beam prediction is only supported within the same serving cell. For example, if a serving cell contains a total of 32 transmit beams, spatial beam prediction involves the terminal measuring only 8 transmit beams to predict the prediction results for all transmit beams. Temporal beam prediction involves the terminal measuring at least a portion of the 32 transmit beams from historical times to predict the prediction results for all transmit beams in the future. However, in beam-based communication systems, when a terminal is in an area where multiple cells overlap in coverage, the base station will also configure the terminal to perform beam measurements on neighboring cells to obtain their beam measurement results. This is involved in inter-cell beam management and L1-L2 triggered mobility projects. For example, the reference signal resources for neighboring cell measurements include the Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) and the Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS).

[0090] Therefore, this disclosure provides a communication method that determines a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell, and sends a report to a network device containing the second value. This enables the determination of the second value of a non-serving cell using the first value of the serving cell, thereby reducing resource overhead associated with non-serving cells, such as reducing beam measurement reference signal resource overhead for non-serving cells, reducing the number of beams or beam pairs, and reducing the complexity of terminal measurements.

[0091] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0092] As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 100 includes a terminal 101 and a network device 102.

[0093] In some embodiments, terminal 101 includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: mobile phone, wearable device, Internet of Things device, car with communication function, smart car, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver function, virtual reality (VR) terminal device, augmented reality (AR) terminal device, wireless terminal device in industrial control, wireless terminal device in self-driving, wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, wireless terminal device in smart grid, wireless terminal device in transportation safety, wireless terminal device in smart city, and wireless terminal device in smart home.

[0094] In some embodiments, network device 102 may include at least one of access network device and core network device.

[0095] In some embodiments, the access network device is, for example, a node or device that connects a terminal to a wireless network. The access network device may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following in a 5G communication system: evolved Node B (eNB), next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), next-generation Node B (gNB), node B (NB), home node B (HNB), home evolved node B (HeNB), radio backhaul device, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), base band unit (BBU), mobile switching center, base station in a 6G communication system, open RAN, cloud RAN, base station in other communication systems, and access node in a Wi-Fi system.

[0096] In some embodiments, the technical solutions of this disclosure can be applied to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within access network devices involved in the embodiments of this disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of Open RAN. The processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented by software or programs.

[0097] In some embodiments, the access network device may be composed of a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). The CU may also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can separate the protocol layer of the access network device. Some of the protocol layer functions are centrally controlled by the CU, while the remaining part or all of the protocol layer functions are distributed in the DU and centrally controlled by the CU. However, this is not the only possibility.

[0098] In some embodiments, a core network device may be a single device comprising one or more network elements, or it may be multiple devices or a group of devices, each comprising all or part of the aforementioned one or more network elements. Network elements may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), or a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0099] It is understood that the communication system described in this disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of this disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0100] The following embodiments of this disclosure can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1, or to some of the main bodies, but are not limited thereto. The main bodies shown in FIG1 are illustrative. The communication system may include all or some of the main bodies in FIG1, or may include other main bodies outside of FIG1. ​​The number and form of each main body are arbitrary. Each main body may be physical or virtual. The connection relationship between the main bodies is illustrative. The main bodies may not be connected or may be connected. The connection can be in any way, it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection, it can be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

[0101] The embodiments disclosed herein can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 6th generation mobile communication system (6G), 5G New Radio (NR), Future Radio Access (FRA), New-Radio Access Technology (RAT), New Radio (NR), New Radio Access (NX), Future Generation Radio Access (FX), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), and IEEE 802.20, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth (a registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) systems, systems utilizing other communication methods, and next-generation systems built upon them, etc. Furthermore, multiple systems can be combined (e.g., a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0102] Figure 2a is a schematic diagram of a communication method interaction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2a, this embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method for a communication system 100, the method including:

[0103] In step S2101, terminal 101 sends second information to network device 102.

[0104] In some embodiments, network device 102 receives second information sent by terminal 101.

[0105] In some embodiments, the second information is used to instruct the terminal to support determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell. Alternatively, the second information may be used to instruct the terminal to have the capability to determine a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell. For example, the terminal may deploy an AI model (the AI ​​model can be replaced by an AI function, or an ML function, or an ML model; this embodiment uses an AI model as an example for illustration, but is not limited thereto), input the first value corresponding to the serving cell into the AI ​​model, and the AI ​​model outputs the second value of the non-serving cell. Therefore, it can be considered that the terminal supports determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell, or that the terminal has the capability to determine a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell.

[0106] In some embodiments, the first value corresponding to a serving cell can be a first value corresponding to one serving cell or a first value corresponding to multiple serving cells. For example, if there are multiple first values ​​corresponding to multiple serving cells, and each serving cell corresponds to one or more non-serving cells, the terminal can determine the second value of the first or multiple non-serving cells corresponding to that serving cell based on the first value corresponding to each serving cell.

[0107] In some embodiments, the serving cell may also be referred to as the terminal's serving cell or the cell where the terminal is currently residing.

[0108] In some embodiments, a non-serving cell may also be referred to as a neighboring cell of the serving cell.

[0109] In some embodiments, this disclosure refers to a non-serving cell corresponding to a serving cell as a first non-serving cell. The terminal may support determining a second value corresponding to a second non-serving cell based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell. The second non-serving cell may be part or all of the first non-serving cells. For example, the terminal has M non-serving cells corresponding to its serving cell, meaning there are M first non-serving cells. The terminal may support determining a second value corresponding to N of the M first non-serving cells based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell. This disclosure refers to these N first non-serving cells as second non-serving cells, where M is greater than or equal to N, meaning the second non-serving cells are part or all of the first non-serving cells. Here, M and N are integers, where M is a positive integer and N is a positive or equal integer.

[0110] In some embodiments, the first value may be a measured value, or a measurement result, a first result, etc., which is not limited in this disclosure. The measured value or measurement result can be understood as a value or result obtained by actually measuring the reference signal. The second value may be a predicted value, or a prediction result, a second result, etc., which is not limited in this disclosure. The predicted value or prediction result can be understood as a predicted value or result, for example, a value or result output by an AI model, i.e., a value or result not obtained by actual measurement. Exemplarily, the second information can be used to instruct the terminal to support measurements based on the serving cell and to determine predicted values ​​for non-serving cells.

[0111] In some embodiments, the first value includes quality information corresponding to the first reference signal resource. The first reference signal resource refers to each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell. That is, the first value includes the quality information of each reference signal resource in the reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell. In this disclosure, the reference signal resource set corresponding to the terminal's serving cell is referred to as the first reference signal resource set, and each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set is referred to as the first reference signal resource. For example, the terminal can perform actual measurements on the reference signals on the first reference signal resources to obtain the quality information corresponding to the first reference signal resources, and the first value may include this quality information. The quality information may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: Layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP); Layer 1 signal to interference plus noise ratio (L1-SINR); Layer 3 reference signal received power (L3-RSRP); Layer 3 reference signal received quality (L3-RSRQ); Layer 3 received signal strength indication (L3-RSSI); and Channel State Information (CSI). CSI may include, but is not limited to, Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI), Rank Indication (RI), and Channel Quality Indicator (CQI).

[0112] Optionally, the first value can be a first beam value, a beam measurement value, a first beam result, or a beam measurement result, etc. For example, when the first value includes at least one of L1-RSRP and L1-SINR corresponding to the first reference signal resource, the first value can be a first beam value, etc.

[0113] Optionally, the first value can be a first Radio Resource Management (RRM) value, an RRM measurement value, a first RRM result, or an RRM measurement result, etc. For example, when the first value includes at least one of L3-RSRP, L3-RSRQ, and L3-RSSI corresponding to the first reference signal resource, the first value can be a first RRM value, etc.

[0114] Optionally, the first value can be a first layer 3 value, a layer 3 measurement value, a first layer 3 result, or a layer 3 measurement result, etc. For example, when the first value includes at least one of L3-RSRP, L3-RSRQ, and L3-RSSI corresponding to the first reference signal resource, the first value can be a first layer 3 result.

[0115] Optionally, the first value can be a first CSI value, a CSI measurement value, a first CSI result, or a CSI measurement result, etc. For example, when the first value includes the CSI corresponding to the first reference signal resource, the first value can be the first CSI value, etc.

[0116] In some embodiments, the second value includes at least one of the following: quality information corresponding to the second reference signal resource; identifiers of the K reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set; and identifiers of the second non-serving cells corresponding to the Q reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set, where K and Q are positive integers. The second reference signal resource is at least one reference signal resource in the second reference signal resource set, and the second reference signal resource set is the reference signal resource set corresponding to each of the at least one second non-serving cells. This disclosure refers to the reference signal resource set corresponding to each of the at least one second non-serving cells as the second reference signal resource set, and the at least one reference signal resource in the second reference signal resource set as the second reference signal resource. The quality information can be referred to in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0117] Optionally, the terminal may determine the quality information (i.e. the quality information corresponding to the second reference signal resource) of at least one reference signal resource in the reference signal resource set corresponding to each of the at least one second non-serving cells, based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell.

[0118] For example, there are M first non-serving cells, of which N are second non-serving cells. For details, please refer to the above embodiment, which will not be repeated here. Assume that at least one second non-serving cell is X second non-serving cells, where X is greater than 1 and less than or equal to N. Each of the X second non-serving cells corresponds to a set of reference signal resources, i.e., X sets of reference signal resources. Each set of reference signal resources includes at least one reference signal resource, i.e., at least X reference signal resources. Therefore, at least one reference signal resource in the set of reference signal resources corresponding to each of the at least one second non-serving cell is one of these at least X reference signal resources. The second value determined by the terminal may include the quality information of these at least X reference signal resources.

[0119] Optionally, the terminal can determine, based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell, the identifiers of the K reference signal resources with the best quality information in the reference signal resource set corresponding to each of the at least one second non-serving cell (i.e., the identifiers of the K reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set). The K reference signal resources with the best quality information can be understood as the reference signal resources corresponding to the K largest quality information values, sorted from largest to smallest.

[0120] For example, there are M first non-serving cells, of which N are second non-serving cells. Assume at least one second non-serving cell is X second non-serving cells, where X is greater than 1 and less than or equal to N. Each of the X second non-serving cells corresponds to a set of reference signal resources, i.e., X sets of reference signal resources. For details, please refer to the above embodiment; further explanation is unnecessary.

[0121] For example, each of the X sets of reference signal resources contains K reference signal resources with optimal quality information. That is, there are X*K reference signal resources with optimal quality information, and the second value determined by the terminal may include the identifiers of these X*K reference signal resources with optimal quality information. Of course, the number of reference signal resources with optimal quality information may differ in different sets of reference signal resources. For example, reference signal resource set 1 may include K1 reference signal resources with optimal quality information, reference signal resource set 2 may include K2 reference signal resources with optimal quality information, and so on, and reference signal resource set X may include K... X The best quality reference signal resource. Then the second value determined by the terminal can include K1 + K2 + ... + K X The identifier of the best reference signal resource for quality information.

[0122] For example, there are K reference signal resources with optimal quality information in the X sets of reference signal resources. That is, among all the reference signal resources in the X sets of reference signal resources, there are K reference signal resources with optimal quality information, and the second value determined by the terminal may include the identifier of the K reference signal resources with optimal quality information. Among the K reference signal resources with optimal quality information, each reference signal resource may correspond to a different set of reference signal resources, or some reference signal resources may correspond to the same set of reference signal resources. For example, reference signal resource set 1 may have one reference signal resource among the K reference signal resources with optimal quality information, reference signal resource set 2 may have two reference signal resources among the K reference signal resources with optimal quality information, and reference signal resource set 3 may have no reference signal resources among the K reference signal resources with optimal quality information. This disclosure does not limit this.

[0123] For example, X and K can be the same value, and each of the X sets of reference signal resources can include one reference signal resource with the best quality information, so there are a total of X reference signal resources with the best quality information in the X sets of reference signal resources. The second value determined by the terminal can include the identifiers of the X reference signal resources with the best quality information.

[0124] Optionally, the terminal can determine, based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell, the identifiers of the Q reference signal resources with the best quality information in the reference signal resource set corresponding to each of the at least one second non-serving cell (i.e., the identifiers of the Q reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set). For example, there are M first non-serving cells, of which there are N second non-serving cells. For details, please refer to the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here. Assume that there are X second non-serving cells, where X is greater than 1 and less than or equal to N. Each of the X second non-serving cells corresponds to a reference signal resource set, i.e., X reference signal resource sets. There are a total of Q reference signal resources with the best quality information in the X reference signal resource sets, meaning that among all the reference signal resources in the X reference signal resource sets, there are Q reference signal resources with the best quality information. Among the Q best-quality reference signal resources, each reference signal resource may correspond to a different set of reference signal resources, i.e., different second non-serving cells, or some reference signal resources may correspond to the same set of reference signal resources, i.e., the same second non-serving cell. That is, the number of second non-serving cells corresponding to each of the Q best-quality reference signal resources may be less than or equal to Q. The second value determined by the terminal may include the identifiers of these less than or equal to Q second non-serving cells. The sizes of Q and K can be the same or different; this disclosure does not impose any limitation.

[0125] Optionally, the second value can be a second beam value, a beam prediction value, a second beam result, or a beam prediction result, etc. For example, when the second value includes at least one of L1-RSRP and L1-SINR corresponding to the second reference signal resource, the second value can be called a second beam value, etc.

[0126] Optionally, the second value can be a second Radio Resource Management (RRM) value, an RRM prediction value, a second RRM result, or an RRM prediction result, etc. For example, when the second value includes at least one of L3-RSRP, L3-RSRQ, and L3-RSSI corresponding to the second reference signal resource, the second value can be a second RRM value, etc.

[0127] Optionally, the second value can be a second layer 3 value, a layer 3 prediction value, a second layer 3 result, or a layer 3 prediction result, etc. For example, when the second value includes at least one of L3-RSRP, L3-RSRQ, and L3-RSSI corresponding to the second reference signal resource, the second value can be a second layer 3 result.

[0128] Optionally, the second value can be a second CSI value, a CSI prediction value, a second CSI result, or a CSI prediction result, etc. For example, when the second value includes the CSI corresponding to the second reference signal resource, the second value can be the second CSI value, etc.

[0129] In some embodiments, the terminal determines the second value corresponding to the second non-serving cell based on the first value of the serving cell, which may include the following exemplary cases:

[0130] Scenario 1: The output of the AI ​​model may include at least one of the following quality information for each reference signal resource set corresponding to each second non-serving cell: L1-RSRP, L1-SINR, L3-RSRP, L3-RSRQ, L3-RSSI, CSI (PMI, RI, CQI, etc.). Based on this output, the terminal can determine the reference signal resource with the best quality information and the second non-serving cell corresponding to the reference signal resource with the best quality information. In this disclosure, the reference signal resource with the best quality information is referred to as the strongest reference signal resource, and the second non-serving cell corresponding to the reference signal resource with the best quality information is referred to as the strongest second non-serving cell. The terminal can determine the strongest second non-serving cell identifier and the strongest reference signal resource identifier through all the quality information output by the model. Therefore, regardless of whether the network device requires the terminal to report the strongest second non-serving cell identifier, the strongest reference signal resource identifier, or quality information, the terminal can obtain them.

[0131] Scenario 2: The AI ​​model's output may not include quality information. For example, it might include the probability that each second non-serving cell is the strongest second non-serving cell. In this case, the terminal, based on the model's output, can only obtain the identifier of the strongest second non-serving cell, i.e., the second non-serving cell with the highest probability. It cannot obtain the identifier of the strongest reference signal resource or quality information.

[0132] Scenario 3: The AI ​​model's output may not include quality information. For example, it might include the probability that the quality information for each reference signal resource in each second non-serving cell is the highest. In this case, the terminal, based on the model's output, can only obtain the identifier of the strongest reference signal resource, and further, the identifier of the strongest second non-serving cell corresponding to the strongest reference signal resource. It cannot obtain quality information.

[0133] It is understood that the above situations are all exemplary and this disclosure does not limit them.

[0134] In some embodiments, the reference signal resources (including but not limited to the first reference signal resources and the second reference signal resources) may be SSB or CSI-RS.

[0135] In some embodiments, the network device receives second information, and based on the second information, it can determine that the terminal supports determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell. This allows the network device to reduce or eliminate the need to configure resources for measuring non-serving cells for the terminal; for example, resources may be reference signal resources, signaling resources, etc. Measuring non-serving cells may include, but is not limited to, beam measurement, L3 measurement, RRM measurement, CSI measurement, etc., of the serving cell.

[0136] In some embodiments, the second information may be capability information, and this disclosure does not limit the name of the second information.

[0137] It is understood that step S2101 is optional. For example, the network device may default to the terminal supporting the determination of one or more second values ​​corresponding to non-serving cells based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell. Alternatively, the protocol may specify that the terminal supports the determination of one or more second values ​​corresponding to non-serving cells based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell. Alternatively, in some embodiments, second information may be sent; in other embodiments, since the second information has already been sent, it may not be sent again. That is, the terminal may send the second information once, and then not send it again in subsequent processes of determining one or more second values ​​corresponding to non-serving cells based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell. In any one or more of the above situations, step S2101 may be omitted. However, this disclosure only provides examples of omitting step S2101 and is not limited to this.

[0138] In step S2102, network device 102 sends fourth information to terminal 101.

[0139] In some embodiments, terminal 101 receives fourth information sent by network device 102.

[0140] In some embodiments, the fourth information is used to indicate the first non-serving cell. For example, the network device may indicate to the terminal which non-serving cells (i.e., the first non-serving cells) correspond to the serving cell, thereby facilitating the terminal to determine the second non-serving cell from the first non-serving cells, that is, to determine which first non-serving cells the terminal supports based on the first value of the serving cell and to determine its second value.

[0141] In some embodiments, the fourth information may include at least one of the following: the number of the first non-serving cell in the list; the physical cell identifier of the first non-serving cell; and the globally unique identifier of the first non-serving cell.

[0142] Optionally, the fourth information may include the number of the first non-serving cell in the list. For example, the coverage area of ​​a network device may be divided into one or more cells. The network device may store a table containing the first non-serving cells corresponding to one or more cells within the network device's coverage area when they become the serving cells of a terminal. That is, the table includes the correspondence between cell identifiers and first non-serving cell identifiers within the network device's coverage area. The network device can determine the number of the first non-serving cell from the table based on the terminal's serving cell. For example, the table stored by the network device may be Table 1. As shown in Table 1, assuming the network device's coverage area can be divided into three cells, identified as cell #1, cell #2, and cell #3, when cell #1 becomes the serving cell of the terminal, the first non-serving cells include first non-serving cell #1-1 and first non-serving cell #1-2; when cell #2 becomes the serving cell of the terminal, the first non-serving cells include first non-serving cell #2-1 and first non-serving cell #2-2; and when cell #3 becomes the serving cell of the terminal, the first non-serving cells are first non-serving cell #3-1 and first non-serving cell #3-2. If the serving cell of the terminal is cell #1, the network device can send the numbers "#1-1" and "#1-2" to the terminal via the fourth information. If the serving cell of the terminal is cell #2, the network device can send the numbers "#2-1" and "#2-2" to the terminal via the fourth information. If the serving cell of the terminal is cell #3, the network device can send the numbers "#3-1" and "#3-2" to the terminal via the fourth information. Upon receiving the fourth information, the terminal can determine which cell the first non-serving cell is based on its number. For example, the terminal can store the correspondence between the number and the identifier of the first non-serving cell, thereby determining the identifier of the first non-serving cell based on the number, and further determining the PCI of the first non-serving cell. The identifier of the first non-serving cell can be a Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) or a globally unique cell ID; this disclosure does not limit the specific identifier.

[0143] Table 1

[0144] Optionally, the fourth information may include the PCI of the first non-serving cell.

[0145] Optionally, the fourth information may include the cell global ID of the first non-serving cell.

[0146] In some embodiments, the name of the fourth information is not limited, and it may be, for example, "instruction information".

[0147] It is understandable that step S2102 is optional. For example, if the terminal can determine which first non-serving cells correspond to the serving cell on its own, without requiring the network device to indicate this via the fourth information, then step S2102 can be omitted. Alternatively, one purpose of the network device indicating which first non-serving cells are present is to facilitate the terminal's determination of the second non-serving cells and to indicate the second non-serving cells to the network device. If the network device can determine the second non-serving cell corresponding to the terminal's serving cell on its own—for example, if the protocol specifies the second non-serving cell corresponding to the terminal's serving cell—then the terminal does not need to indicate the second non-serving cell to the network device, and consequently, the network device does not need to indicate the first serving cell corresponding to the serving cell to the terminal. In this case, step S2102 can be omitted.

[0148] In step S2103, terminal 101 sends third information to network device 102.

[0149] In some embodiments, network device 102 receives third information sent by terminal 101.

[0150] In some embodiments, the third information is used to indicate a second non-serving cell. The terminal can indicate the second non-serving cell to the network device, that is, indicate which non-serving cells the terminal supports in determining its predicted value based on a first value of the serving cell. For example, different serving cells result in different second non-serving cells. Furthermore, due to different cell or base station deployments in different locations, the distribution of neighboring cells is also different. For example, in cities, suburbs, shopping malls, stadiums, etc., due to different population densities, cell or base station deployments are different, and consequently, the distribution of neighboring cells is also different. Exemplarily, FIG2b is a schematic diagram illustrating the distribution of a serving cell and a first non-serving cell according to an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in FIG2b, the serving cell is a hexagonal box filled with diagonal stripes in the middle, and the first non-serving cell is a hexagonal box filled with dots. The first non-serving cells are distributed around the serving cells. FIG2b is merely exemplary; for example, in other exemplary embodiments, small cells may also exist within the hexagonal boxes filled with diagonal stripes. Therefore, when the terminal is in different serving cells, the third information can indicate the second non-serving cell corresponding to the serving cell.

[0151] For example, each first non-serving cell corresponds to a different location, and the required AI model is also different. For some first non-serving cells, the terminal may not have prepared the required AI model, or even if it has, it may be unable to run the AI ​​model due to insufficient power. This indicates that the terminal does not support determining the second value corresponding to the first non-serving cell based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell; that is, the first non-serving cell cannot be used as a second non-serving cell, or the AI ​​model corresponding to that first non-serving cell is not applicable. Conversely, for some first non-serving cells, the terminal may have prepared the required AI model, or it may have prepared the required AI model and be able to run it due to sufficient power. This indicates that the terminal supports determining the second value corresponding to the first non-serving cell based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell; that is, the first non-serving cell can be used as a second non-serving cell, or the AI ​​model corresponding to that first non-serving cell is applicable. The terminal can indicate the second non-serving cell to the network device through third information.

[0152] For example, even if different first non-serving cells are in the same location, the required information configuration may differ. This information configuration is used to improve the performance of the AI ​​model. For instance, if the terminal does not receive the required information configuration for some first non-serving cells, it means that the terminal does not support determining the second value corresponding to the first non-serving cell based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell; that is, the first non-serving cell cannot be used as a second non-serving cell. If the terminal has received the required information configuration for some first non-serving cells, it means that the terminal supports determining the second value corresponding to the first non-serving cell based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell; that is, the first non-serving cell can be used as a second non-serving cell. The terminal can indicate the second non-serving cell to the network device through third information.

[0153] For example, based on third information, network devices can determine which non-serving cells the terminal supports based on the first value of the serving cell and determine its second value. For those non-serving cells that the terminal does not support (i.e., cells other than the second non-serving cell in the first non-serving cell, assuming to be the third non-serving cell), network devices can configure resources for the terminal to measure the third non-serving cell.

[0154] For example, if a network device configures a terminal to measure resources of a third non-serving cell, the terminal can measure the third non-serving cell to obtain a fifth value. The fifth value may include quality information corresponding to the third reference signal resource, the identifiers of the H reference signal resources with the best quality information in the third reference signal resource set, and the identifiers of the third non-serving cells corresponding to the L reference signal resources with the best quality information in the third reference signal resource set. H and L are positive integers, and their values ​​can be the same or different. The third reference signal resource is at least one reference signal resource in the third reference signal resource set, and the third reference signal resource set is the set of reference signal resources corresponding to each non-serving cell in at least one third non-serving cell. When the terminal sends a report to the network device, the report may include either a second or a fifth value. The second and fifth values ​​are essentially quality information or identifiers, and the network device may not be able to determine which values ​​are predicted and which are measured. Therefore, the terminal can associate the reported quantities (i.e., quality information and / or identifiers) with the identifiers of the second non-serving cells in the report so that the network device can determine which reported quantities are predicted and the others are measured. Alternatively, even without establishing a correlation, if the reported quantity includes the identifiers of the non-serving cells corresponding to the Q+L reference signal resources with the best quality information, the network device can also determine which are the identifiers of the second non-serving cells and which are the identifiers of the third non-serving cells. For example, if there are N second non-serving cells, the terminal indicates these N second non-serving cells through third information (for example, the third information may include the number of the second non-serving cell, and the network device can determine the identifier of the second non-serving cell based on this number; or, for example, the third information may include the identifier of the second non-serving cell; see the embodiments below for specific implementation details). That is, the network device can determine the identifiers of the N second non-serving cells based on the third information. When the terminal sends the second and fifth values ​​to the network device in the report, assuming the second value includes the identifiers of the second non-serving cells corresponding to the Q reference signal resources with the best quality information (i.e., the identifiers of the Q second non-serving cells), and the fifth value includes the identifiers of the third non-serving cells corresponding to the L reference signal resources with the best quality information (i.e., the identifiers of the L third non-serving cells), the network device only sees L+Q identifiers in the report. However, since the network device has already identified the identifiers of the N second non-serving cells, some of the L+Q identifiers belong to the N second non-serving cell identifiers. That is, some of the L+Q identifiers are the same as some of the N second non-serving cell identifiers. These are the Q second non-serving cell identifiers. In other words, the network device can determine which of the L+Q identifiers are the Q second non-serving cell identifiers, and the rest are the L third non-serving cell identifiers.

[0155] In some embodiments, the third information includes at least one of the following: the number of the second non-serving cell in the list; the physical cell identifier of the second non-serving cell; and the globally unique identifier of the second non-serving cell.

[0156] Optionally, the third information may include the number of the second non-serving cell in the list.

[0157] For example, if a terminal receives a fourth message from a network device, and this fourth message includes the number of the first non-serving cell in the list, the terminal can determine the second non-serving cell from it. That is, it can identify some or all of the first non-serving cells as the second non-serving cell, and use the number of the first non-serving cell as the number of the second non-serving cell. This number is then included in the third message and sent to the network device. For instance, if the fourth message sent by the network device to the terminal includes first non-serving cell #1 and first non-serving cell #2, and if the terminal determines that it supports the first value based on the serving cell and determines the second value corresponding to first non-serving cell #1, but does not support the first value based on the serving cell and determines the second value corresponding to first non-serving cell #2, then the terminal can include the number "#1" in the third message and send it to the network device.

[0158] For example, the terminal can store a table containing the correspondence between serving cell identifiers and second non-serving cell identifiers. The terminal can determine the number of the second non-serving cell from the table based on its current serving cell and include this number in the third information before sending it to the network device. For instance, the table stored by the terminal could be Table 2. As shown in Table 2, if the terminal's current serving cell is serving cell #1, then the second non-serving cells include second non-serving cell #1,1, second non-serving cell #1,2, second non-serving cell #1,3, etc., and the third information can include the numbers "#1,1", "#1,2", "#1,3", etc. If the terminal's current serving cell is serving cell #2, then the second non-serving cells include second non-serving cell #2,1, second non-serving cell #2,2, second non-serving cell #2,3, etc., and the third information can include the numbers "#2,1", "#2,2", "#2,3", etc. If the terminal's current serving cell is serving cell #3, then the second non-serving cells include second non-serving cells #3,1, #3,2, #3,3, etc. The third information may include numbers such as "#3,1", "#3,2", and "#3,3". The ellipsis in Table 2 indicates "etc.", meaning that the serving cells are not limited to those listed in the table and may include other serving cells. Similarly, the second non-serving cells corresponding to each serving cell are not limited to those listed in the table and may also include other second non-serving cells.

[0159] Table 2

[0160] It is understood that Tables 1 and 2 of this disclosure are exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0161] In some embodiments, the third information includes multiple bits, wherein each bit corresponds to a first non-serving cell. If the bit displays a third value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is a second non-serving cell. If the bit displays a fourth value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is a cell other than the second non-serving cell among the first non-serving cells.

[0162] For example, the third value can be 1, and the fourth value can be 0. Assuming the serving cell corresponds to three first non-serving cells, the second information can include three bits, which, from left to right, correspond to first non-serving cell 1, first non-serving cell 2, and first non-serving cell 3, respectively. If the three bits are 001, it indicates that first non-serving cell 3 is a second non-serving cell. If the three bits are 010, it indicates that first non-serving cell 2 is a second non-serving cell. If the three bits are 101, it indicates that first non-serving cell 1 and first non-serving cell 3 are second non-serving cells. If the three bits are 111, it indicates that all three first non-serving cells are second non-serving cells. This disclosure does not provide a complete list, nor does it limit the number of first non-serving cells, the number of bits, or which first non-serving cell is a second non-serving cell.

[0163] In some embodiments, if the terminal receives the fourth information, it may send the third information including multiple bits to the network device. If the fourth information is not received, the terminal may send the third information including at least one of the following: the number of the second non-serving cell in the list, the physical cell identifier of the second non-serving cell, and the globally unique identifier of the second non-serving cell to the network device.

[0164] In some embodiments, the name of the third information is not limited, and it may be, for example, "reported information" or "instruction information".

[0165] In some embodiments, the second and third information can be contained in the same message, meaning they can be sent to the network device simultaneously. Alternatively, the second and third information can be contained in different messages, meaning they can be sent to the network device at different times.

[0166] It is understood that step S2103 is optional. For example, if the network device can determine the second non-serving cell corresponding to the serving cell of the terminal on its own, for example, if the protocol can specify the second non-serving cell corresponding to the serving cell of the terminal, then step S2103 is optional.

[0167] In step S2104, network device 102 sends first information to terminal 101.

[0168] In some embodiments, the terminal receives first information sent by the network device.

[0169] In some embodiments, the first information is used to configure the first reference signal resources, which are each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell. For details, please refer to the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0170] In some embodiments, the terminal may obtain a first value based on a first reference signal resource. For example, the terminal may measure a reference signal on the first reference signal resource to obtain the first value.

[0171] In some embodiments, the network device configures a first reference signal resource to the terminal via first information, so that the terminal can measure the reference signal on the first reference signal resource and obtain a first value.

[0172] In some embodiments, the name of the first information is not limited, and it may be, for example, "configuration information".

[0173] In step S2105, terminal 101 measures the reference signal on the first reference signal resource to obtain the first value corresponding to the serving cell.

[0174] In some embodiments, the terminal may measure the reference signal on the first reference signal resource to obtain a first value corresponding to the serving cell. A detailed description of the first value can be found in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0175] In step S2106, terminal 101 determines a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell.

[0176] In some embodiments, the terminal can determine a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell. For example, the terminal can deploy an AI model (the AI ​​model can be replaced by an AI function, or an ML function, or an ML model; this embodiment uses an AI model as an example for illustration, but is not limited thereto), input the first value corresponding to the serving cell into the AI ​​model, and the AI ​​model outputs the second value of the non-serving cell.

[0177] In some embodiments, the AI ​​model deployed on the terminal can be pre-trained by the terminal or trained by a network device and sent to the terminal. For example, the terminal or network device can train the AI ​​model based on training data, which may include the input data of the AI ​​model and the output data to be learned from the actual output results of the AI ​​model. That is, the input data is input into the AI ​​model, and the parameters are adjusted so that the actual output results tend to the output data. For example, the input data may be measurement values ​​obtained from measuring a reference serving cell, which may include quality information corresponding to the reference signal resources of the reference serving cell. The output data may be measurement values ​​obtained from measuring a reference non-serving cell corresponding to the reference serving cell, which may include quality information corresponding to the reference signal resources of the reference non-serving cell, the probability that the reference non-serving cell is the strongest non-serving cell, the probability that the quality information corresponding to the reference signal resources of the reference non-serving cell is the highest, etc. Of course, this disclosure does not limit the training process.

[0178] In step S2107, terminal 101 sends a report to network device 102.

[0179] In some embodiments, network device 102 receives a report sent by terminal 101.

[0180] In some embodiments, the report includes at least one of the second values.

[0181] In some embodiments, the report includes at least one of the first values.

[0182] In some embodiments, for a third non-serving cell (i.e., a cell other than the second non-serving cell in the first non-serving cells), since the terminal does not support determining the second value of the third non-serving cell based on the first value of the serving cell, the network device can configure the resources required for measurement of the third serving cell. The terminal can measure the third serving cell to obtain a fifth value; for details, please refer to the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here. The report may also include the fifth value.

[0183] In some embodiments, the report may also be referred to as a first report, a beam report, an L3 report, an RRM report, a CSI report, etc. For example, when the second or fifth value includes at least one of L1-RSRP and L1-SINR, the first report may be called a beam report. When the second or fifth value includes at least one of L3-RSRP, L3-RSRQ, and L3-RSSI, the first report may be called an RRM report or a Layer 3 report. When the first value includes the CSI corresponding to the first reference signal resource, the first report may be called a CSI report.

[0184] The communication method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S2101 to S2107. For example, steps S2106 and S2107 may be implemented as separate embodiments, step S2101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, steps S2101 and S2103 may be implemented as separate embodiments, and steps S2101 to S2103 and step S2104 may be implemented as separate embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0185] In some embodiments, steps S2101 to S2105 are optional and may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0186] In some embodiments, steps S2102 to S2107 are optional and may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0187] In some embodiments, steps S2102 and S2104-S2107 are optional and can be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0188] In some embodiments, steps S2102 and S2105-S2107 are optional and can be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0189] In some embodiments, other alternative implementations may be described before or after the specification corresponding to FIG2a.

[0190] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3, this embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method executed by terminal 101, the method including:

[0191] Step S3101: Send the second message.

[0192] The optional implementation of step S3101 can be found in the optional implementation of step S2101 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0193] In some embodiments, terminal 101 sends second information to network device 102, but is not limited thereto; it may also send second information to other entities.

[0194] Step S3102: Obtain the fourth information.

[0195] The optional implementation of step S3102 can be found in the optional implementation of step S2102 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0196] In some embodiments, terminal 101 receives fourth information sent by network device 102, but is not limited thereto; it may also receive fourth information sent by other entities.

[0197] In some embodiments, terminal 101 obtains fourth information as defined by the protocol.

[0198] In some embodiments, terminal 101 obtains fourth information from upper layer(s).

[0199] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 processes the information to obtain the fourth information.

[0200] In some embodiments, step S3102 is omitted, and the terminal 101 autonomously implements the function indicated by the fourth information, or the above function is defaulted or set to default.

[0201] Step S3103: Send the third message.

[0202] The optional implementation of step S3103 can be found in the optional implementation of step S2103 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0203] In some embodiments, terminal 101 sends third information to network device 102, but is not limited thereto; it may also send third information to other entities.

[0204] Step S3104: Obtain the first information.

[0205] The optional implementation of step S3104 can be found in the optional implementation of step S2104 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0206] In some embodiments, terminal 101 receives first information sent by network device 102, but is not limited thereto; it may also receive first information sent by other entities.

[0207] In some embodiments, terminal 101 obtains first information as defined by the protocol.

[0208] In some embodiments, terminal 101 obtains first information from upper layer(s).

[0209] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 processes the information to obtain the first information.

[0210] In some embodiments, step S3104 is omitted, and the terminal 101 autonomously implements the function indicated by the first information, or the above function is default or default.

[0211] Step S3105: Measure the reference signal on the first reference signal resource to obtain the first value corresponding to the serving cell.

[0212] The optional implementation of step S3105 can be found in the optional implementation of step S2105 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0213] Step S3106: Based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell, determine the second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells.

[0214] The optional implementation of step S3106 can be found in the optional implementation of step S2106 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0215] Step S3107: Send report.

[0216] The optional implementation of step S3107 can be found in the optional implementation of step S2107 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0217] In some embodiments, terminal 101 sends a report to network device 102, but is not limited thereto; it may also send a report to other entities.

[0218] The communication method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S3101 to S3107. For example, steps S3106 and S3107 may be implemented as separate embodiments, step S3101 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, steps S3101 and S3103 may be implemented as separate embodiments, and steps S3101 to S3103 and step S3104 may be implemented as separate embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0219] In some embodiments, steps S3101 to S3105 are optional and may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0220] In some embodiments, steps S3102 to S3107 are optional and may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0221] In some embodiments, steps S3102 and S3104-S3107 are optional and can be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0222] In some embodiments, steps S3102 and S3105-S3107 are optional and can be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0223] In some embodiments, other optional implementations may be described before or after the specification corresponding to FIG3.

[0224] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 4, this embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method executed by a network device 102, the method comprising:

[0225] Step S4101: Obtain the second information.

[0226] The optional implementation of step S4101 can be found in the optional implementation of step S2101 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0227] In some embodiments, network device 102 receives second information sent by terminal 101, but is not limited thereto; it may also receive second information sent by other entities.

[0228] In some embodiments, network device 102 obtains second information as defined by a protocol.

[0229] In some embodiments, network device 102 obtains second information from upper layer(s).

[0230] In some embodiments, network device 102 processes the information to obtain the second information.

[0231] In some embodiments, step S4101 is omitted, and the network device 102 autonomously implements the function indicated by the second information, or the above function is defaulted or set to default.

[0232] Step S4102: Send the fourth message.

[0233] The optional implementation of step S4102 can be found in the optional implementation of step S2102 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0234] In some embodiments, network device 102 sends fourth information to terminal 101, but is not limited thereto; it may also send fourth information to other entities.

[0235] Step S4103: Obtain third information.

[0236] The optional implementation of step S4103 can be found in the optional implementation of step S2103 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0237] In some embodiments, network device 102 receives third information sent by terminal 101, but is not limited thereto; it may also receive third information sent by other entities.

[0238] In some embodiments, network device 102 obtains third information as defined by a protocol.

[0239] In some embodiments, network device 102 obtains third information from upper layer(s).

[0240] In some embodiments, network device 102 processes information to obtain third information.

[0241] In some embodiments, step S4103 is omitted, and the network device 102 autonomously implements the function indicated by the third information, or the above function is defaulted or set to default.

[0242] Step S4104: Send the first message.

[0243] The optional implementation of step S4104 can be found in the optional implementation of step S2104 in Figure 2a, and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0244] In some embodiments, network device 102 sends first information to terminal 101, but is not limited thereto; it may also send first information to other entities.

[0245] Step S4105: Obtain the report.

[0246] The optional implementation of step S4105 can be found in the optional implementation of step S2107 in Figure 2a, as well as other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2a, which will not be repeated here.

[0247] In some embodiments, network device 102 receives reports sent by terminal 101, but is not limited thereto; it may also receive reports sent by other entities.

[0248] In some embodiments, network device 102 obtains reports as defined by a protocol.

[0249] In some embodiments, network device 102 obtains reports from upper layer(s).

[0250] In some embodiments, network device 102 processes the data to obtain a report.

[0251] In some embodiments, step S4105 is omitted, and the network device 102 autonomously implements the function indicated in the report, or the above function is default or default.

[0252] The communication method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S4101 to S4105. For example, step S4105 may be implemented as a separate embodiment. Step S4101 may be implemented as a separate embodiment, steps S4101 and S4103 may be implemented as separate embodiments, and steps S4101 to S4103 and step S4104 may be implemented as separate embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0253] In some embodiments, steps S4101 to S4104 are optional and may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0254] In some embodiments, steps S4102 to S4105 are optional and may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0255] In some embodiments, steps S4102, S4104 to S4105 are optional and may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0256] In some embodiments, steps S4102 and S4105 are optional and may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0257] In some embodiments, other optional implementations may be described before or after the specification corresponding to Figure 4.

[0258] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the communication method interaction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5, the embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a communication method, which includes:

[0259] In step S5101, terminal 101 determines a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell.

[0260] In step S5102, terminal 101 sends a report to network device 102.

[0261] In some embodiments, the above methods may include the methods of the embodiments related to the communication system 100, terminal 101, and network device 102, which will not be described again here.

[0262] This disclosure provides a communication method as follows:

[0263] In some embodiments, the terminal reports second information, which is used to instruct the terminal to obtain the (beam) prediction value of the non-serving cell (or neighboring cell) based on the (beam) measurement value of the serving cell.

[0264] In some embodiments, the terminal reports third information, which is used to indicate the non-serving cells supported by the terminal.

[0265] In step 1), the terminal first reports its ability to obtain beam prediction values ​​for non-serving cells based on beam measurement values ​​from the serving cell. In step 2), the terminal determines, based on its current serving cell, which non-serving cells it can obtain beam prediction values ​​for.

[0266] In some embodiments, considering cell deployment, a terminal may have many neighboring cells within the coverage area of ​​a serving cell. The specific neighboring cell beam prediction values ​​that the terminal's AI / ML functions / models can support need to be communicated to the network. This is because each neighboring cell has a different location, and consequently, different AI / ML functions / models. Even if they are the same, some configuration information may be required to improve the performance of the AI / ML functions / models. Therefore, when a terminal connects to a new serving cell, it needs to report to the current serving cell which neighboring cells it can obtain beam prediction values ​​for. In other words, the terminal may maintain a table showing which neighboring cells the terminal can support for beam prediction in different serving cells. For example, Table 2 shows that the neighboring cells differ depending on the terminal's serving cell, and the distribution of neighboring cells also varies due to different cell or base station deployments in different locations. For example, in some areas, the cell distribution is as shown in Figure 2b. The cell represented by the diagonally filled hexagonal square has only six neighboring cells. However, in other areas, the cell distribution is different: for instance, the cell represented by the diagonally filled hexagonal square may contain small cells. When all terminals are in different serving cells, the network equipment needs to be informed which neighboring cells the terminal can predict. Of course, some neighboring cells may be the same for different serving cells.

[0267] In some embodiments, the third information includes at least one of the following:

[0268] The non-serving cell's number in the list (the corresponding PCI terminal and network are also known, for example, the network device has already sent the corresponding relationship to the terminal);

[0269] PCI for non-serving cells;

[0270] The globally unique identifier for a non-serving cell is its cell global ID;

[0271] Each non-serving cell corresponds to X bits (the first value of the X bit indicates support; the second value indicates non-support; for example, '0' indicates non-support and '1' indicates support).

[0272] In some embodiments, before sending the third information, the terminal receives a fourth information sent by the network device. The fourth information is used to instruct the terminal to report which non-serving cells' beam prediction is supported by the terminal-side AI / ML function / model.

[0273] In some embodiments, the fourth information provides the identifiers of some non-serving cells, the identifiers including at least one of the first three items in (iii), and then the terminal reports the third information, which may be the fourth item in (iii).

[0274] In some embodiments, if no fourth message is received before the third message, the third message sent by the terminal may be at least one of the first three items in (iii).

[0275] In some embodiments, the measured values ​​include at least one of the following corresponding to each reference signal resource in the reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell: L1-RSRP, L1-SINR, L3-RSRP, L3-RSRQ, L3-RSSI, CSI (PMI, RI, CQI, etc.).

[0276] To broaden the scope, the "beam measurement value" in section (a) can be replaced with "measurement value". Here, L1-RSRP and L1-SINR correspond to beam measurement values; L3-RSRP, L3-RSRQ, and L3-RSSI correspond to RRM or L3 measurement values; and CSI (PMI, RI, CQI, etc.) correspond to CSI measurement values.

[0277] In some embodiments, the reference signal resource may be an SSB or a CSI-RS.

[0278] In some embodiments, the predicted value includes at least one of the following corresponding to at least one reference signal resource in the reference signal resource set corresponding to the non-serving cell.

[0279] Top Q non-serving cell identifiers;

[0280] At least one of the following is included in the second reference signal resource set of at least one non-serving cell: L1-RSRP, L1-SINR, L3-RSRP, L3-RSRQ, L3-RSSI, CSI (PMI, RI, CQI, etc.);

[0281] At least one of the top K reference signal resource identifiers in the second reference signal resource set of each non-serving cell;

[0282] Top K refers to the top K reference signal resources when sorted from strongest to weakest based on at least one of the following: L1-RSRP, L1-SINR, L3-RSRP, L3-RSRQ, L3-RSSI, CSI (PMI, RI, CQI, etc.).

[0283] For example:

[0284] Case 1: The most comprehensive model output is at least one of the following measurements corresponding to each of the second reference signal resource sets for each non-serving cell: L1-RSRP, L1-SINR, L3-RSRP, L3-RSRQ, L3-RSSI, and CSI (PMI, RI, CQI, etc.). Based on this output, the terminal can obtain the strongest reference signal resource corresponding to the strongest measurement, and the strongest non-serving cell corresponding to the strongest reference signal resource. In other words, the terminal can obtain the strongest non-serving cell identifier and the strongest reference signal resource identifier through all the measurements output by the model. Therefore, regardless of whether the network device requires the terminal to report the strongest non-serving cell identifier, the strongest reference signal resource identifier, or a measurement, the terminal can obtain it.

[0285] Case 2: Another model's output may not include the predicted values ​​of measurements corresponding to each reference signal resource. For example, it might include the probability that each non-serving cell is the strongest non-serving cell. In this case, the terminal, based on the model output, can only obtain the identifier of the strongest non-serving cell, i.e., the non-serving cell with the highest probability. It cannot obtain the identifier of the strongest reference signal resource, nor the predicted values ​​of the measurements corresponding to the reference signal resource.

[0286] Case 3: In another model, the output may not include the predicted value of the measurement corresponding to each reference signal resource. For example, it may include the probability that the measurement corresponding to each reference signal resource of each non-serving cell is the highest. In this case, the terminal can only obtain the identifier of the strongest reference signal resource based on the model output, and further, the identifier of the strongest non-serving cell corresponding to the strongest reference signal resource. It cannot obtain the predicted value of the measurement corresponding to the reference signal resource.

[0287] In some embodiments, the terminal sends a first report, which includes at least one of the predicted values.

[0288] This disclosure also provides an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the terminal in any of the above methods. Alternatively, another apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network functional node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0289] It should be understood that the division of units or modules in the above device is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into a single physical entity, or they can be physically separated. Furthermore, the units or modules in the device can be implemented by a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor connected to a memory containing instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or to implement the functions of the units or modules in the above device. The processor can be, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory can be internal or external to the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits. The functionality of some or all of the units or modules can be achieved through the design of these hardware circuits, which can be understood as one or more processors. For example, in one implementation, the hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The functionality of some or all of the units or modules is achieved through the design of the logical relationships between the components within the circuit. In another implementation, the hardware circuit can be implemented using a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gates. The connection relationships between the logic gates are configured through configuration files, thereby achieving the functionality of some or all of the units or modules. All units or modules of the above device can be implemented entirely through processor-called software, entirely through hardware circuits, or partially through processor-called software with the remaining parts implemented through hardware circuits.

[0290] In this embodiment, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction read and execute capabilities, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationships of hardware circuits. The logical relationships of the aforementioned hardware circuits are fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and configuring the hardware circuit can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. Furthermore, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a Neural Network Processing Unit (NPU), a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), or a Deep Learning Processing Unit (DPU).

[0291] Figure 6a is a schematic diagram of the terminal structure proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 6a, the terminal 6100 may include at least one of a transceiver module 6101 and a processing module 6102. The processing module 6102 is used to determine a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell. The transceiver module 6101 is used to send a report, which includes the second value.

[0292] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 6101 is further configured to: receive first information, the first information being used to configure a first reference signal resource; wherein the first reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell; the processing module 6102 is further configured to: measure the reference signal on the first reference signal resource to obtain a first value.

[0293] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 6101 is further configured to: send second information, the second information being configured to instruct the terminal to support determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell.

[0294] In some embodiments, the serving cell corresponds to a first non-serving cell, and the terminal supports determining a second value corresponding to a second non-serving cell based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell. The second non-serving cell is part or all of the first non-serving cell. The transceiver module 6101 is further configured to: send third information, which is used to indicate the second non-serving cell.

[0295] In some embodiments, the third information includes at least one of the following: the number of the second non-serving cell in the list; the physical cell identifier of the second non-serving cell; and the globally unique identifier of the second non-serving cell.

[0296] In some embodiments, the third information includes: a plurality of bits, wherein each bit corresponds to a first non-serving cell; if the bit displays a third value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is a second non-serving cell; if the bit displays a fourth value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is a cell other than the second non-serving cell among the first non-serving cells.

[0297] In some embodiments, before the terminal sends the third information, the transceiver module 6101 is further configured to: receive fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate the first non-serving cell.

[0298] In some embodiments, the fourth information includes at least one of the following: the number of the first non-serving cell in the list; the physical cell identifier of the first non-serving cell; and the globally unique identifier of the first non-serving cell.

[0299] In some embodiments, the first value includes quality information corresponding to a first reference signal resource; wherein, the first reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell; the second value includes at least one of the following: quality information corresponding to a second reference signal resource; identifiers of the K reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set; identifiers of the second non-serving cells corresponding to the Q reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set, where K and Q are positive integers; wherein, the second reference signal resource is at least one reference signal resource in the second reference signal resource set, and the second reference signal resource set is the reference signal resource set corresponding to each of the at least one second non-serving cells; the quality information includes at least one of the following: Layer 1 reference signal received power L1-RSRP; Layer 1 interference plus signal-to-noise ratio L1-SINR; Layer 3 reference signal received power L3-RSRP; Layer 3 reference signal received quality L3-RSRQ; Layer 3 received signal strength indication L3-RSSI; Channel state information CSI.

[0300] In some embodiments, the report may also include the first value and / or the fifth value; wherein the fifth value is obtained by the terminal measuring the third reference signal resource, the third reference signal resource being each reference signal resource in the third reference signal resource set corresponding to the third non-serving cell, and the third non-serving cell being the cell in the first non-serving cell other than the second non-serving cell.

[0301] Figure 6b is a schematic diagram of the network device proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 6b, the network device 6200 may include at least one of a transceiver module 6201 and a processing module 6202. The transceiver module 6201 is used for reporting, and the report includes a second value of a non-serving cell, which is determined by the terminal based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell.

[0302] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 6201 is further configured to: send first information, the first information being used to configure a first reference signal resource; wherein, the first reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell; and the first value is obtained by the terminal measuring the reference signal on the first reference signal resource.

[0303] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 6201 is further configured to: receive second information, the second information being used to instruct the terminal to support determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell.

[0304] In some embodiments, the serving cell corresponds to a first non-serving cell, and the terminal supports determining a second value corresponding to a second non-serving cell based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell. The second non-serving cell is part or all of the first non-serving cell. The transceiver module 6201 is further configured to: receive third information from the network device, the third information being used to indicate the second non-serving cell.

[0305] In some embodiments, the third information includes at least one of the following: the number of the second non-serving cell in the list; the physical cell identifier of the second non-serving cell; and the globally unique identifier of the second non-serving cell.

[0306] In some embodiments, the third information includes: a plurality of bits, wherein each bit corresponds to a first non-serving cell; if the bit displays a third value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is a second non-serving cell; if the bit displays a fourth value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is a cell other than the second non-serving cell among the first non-serving cells.

[0307] In some embodiments, before the network device receives the third information, the transceiver module 6201 is further configured to: send fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate the first non-serving cell.

[0308] In some embodiments, the fourth information includes at least one of the following: the number of the first non-serving cell in the list; the physical cell identifier of the first non-serving cell; and the globally unique identifier of the first non-serving cell.

[0309] In some embodiments, the first value includes quality information corresponding to a first reference signal resource; wherein, the first reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell; the second value includes at least one of the following: quality information corresponding to a second reference signal resource; identifiers of the K reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set; identifiers of the second non-serving cells corresponding to the Q reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set, where K and Q are positive integers; wherein, the second reference signal resource is at least one reference signal resource in the second reference signal resource set, and the second reference signal resource set is the reference signal resource set corresponding to each of the at least one second non-serving cells; the quality information includes at least one of the following: Layer 1 reference signal received power L1-RSRP; Layer 1 interference plus signal-to-noise ratio L1-SINR; Layer 3 reference signal received power L3-RSRP; Layer 3 reference signal received quality L3-RSRQ; Layer 3 received signal strength indication L3-RSSI; Channel state information CSI.

[0310] In some embodiments, the report may also include the first value and / or the fifth value; wherein the fifth value is obtained by the terminal measuring the third reference signal resource, the third reference signal resource being each reference signal resource in the third reference signal resource set corresponding to the third non-serving cell, and the third non-serving cell being the cell in the first non-serving cell other than the second non-serving cell.

[0311] Figure 7a is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The communication device 7100 can be a network device, a terminal, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the network device in implementing any of the above methods; alternatively, the network device can be an access network device, a core network device, etc. Optionally, the terminal can be a user equipment, etc. The communication device 7100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments; for details, please refer to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0312] As shown in Figure 7a, the communication device 7100 includes one or more processors 7101. The processor 7101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, such as a baseband processor or a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU can be used to control the communication device, execute programs, and process program data. The communication device 7100 is used to execute any of the above methods. Optionally, the communication device can be a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU (Distributed Unit), or a CU (Computer Integrated Circuit), etc.

[0313] In some embodiments, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more memories 7102 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 7102 may also be located outside the communication device 7100.

[0314] In some embodiments, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more transceivers 7103. When the communication device 7100 includes one or more transceivers 7103, the transceivers 7103 perform communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method, such as step S2101, and the processor 7101 performs other steps.

[0315] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc., may be used interchangeably.

[0316] In some embodiments, the communication device 7100 may include one or more interface circuits 7104. Optionally, the interface circuit 7104 is connected to the memory 7102, and the interface circuit 7104 can be used to receive signals from the memory 7102 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to the memory 7102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuit 7104 can read instructions stored in the memory 7102 and send the instructions to the processor 7101.

[0317] The communication device 7100 described in the above embodiments may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 7100 described in this disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 7100 may not be limited by FIG. 7a. The communication device may be a standalone device or a part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: (1) a standalone integrated circuit IC, or chip, or chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the IC collection may also include storage components for storing data and programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, terminal device, smart terminal device, cellular phone, wireless device, handheld device, mobile unit, vehicle device, network device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0318] Figure 7b is a schematic diagram of the chip structure proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. For cases where the communication device 7100 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the chip 7200 shown in Figure 7b, but it is not limited thereto.

[0319] Chip 7200 includes one or more processors 7201, which are used to perform any of the above methods.

[0320] In some embodiments, chip 7200 further includes one or more interface circuits 7202. Optionally, the interface circuit 7202 is connected to memory 7203, and the interface circuit 7202 can be used to receive signals from memory 7203 or other devices, and the interface circuit 7202 can be used to send signals to memory 7203 or other devices. For example, the interface circuit 7202 can read instructions stored in memory 7203 and send the instructions to processor 7201.

[0321] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 7202 performs communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method, such as step S2101, and the processor 7201 performs other steps.

[0322] In some embodiments, the terms interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, transceiver, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0323] In some embodiments, chip 7200 further includes one or more memories 7203 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 7203 may be located outside of chip 7200.

[0324] This disclosure also proposes a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on the communication device 7100, cause the communication device 7100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a temporary storage medium.

[0325] This disclosure also provides a program product that, when executed by the communication device 7100, causes the communication device 7100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0326] This disclosure also proposes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the above methods.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: The terminal determines a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell. The terminal sends a report, which includes the second value.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: The terminal receives first information, which is used to configure a first reference signal resource; Wherein, the first reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell; The terminal measures the reference signal on the first reference signal resource to obtain the first value.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that, The method further includes: The terminal sends a second message, which instructs the terminal to support determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The serving cell corresponds to a first non-serving cell, and the terminal supports determining a second value corresponding to a second non-serving cell based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell, wherein the second non-serving cell is some or all of the first non-serving cells, and the method further includes: The terminal sends a third message, which is used to indicate the second non-serving cell.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The third information includes at least one of the following: The second non-serving cell's number in the list; The physical cell identifier of the second non-serving cell; The globally unique identifier of the second non-serving cell.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The third information includes: Multiple bits, wherein each bit corresponds to a first non-serving cell. If the bit displays a third value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is the second non-serving cell. If the bit displays a fourth value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is a cell other than the second non-serving cell among the first non-serving cells.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, Before the terminal sends the third information, the method further includes: The terminal receives fourth information, which is used to indicate the first non-serving cell.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The fourth piece of information includes at least one of the following: The number of the first non-serving cell in the list; The physical cell identifier of the first non-serving cell; The globally unique identifier of the first non-serving cell.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The first value includes quality information corresponding to the first reference signal resource; Wherein, the first reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell; The second value includes at least one of the following: quality information corresponding to the second reference signal resource; identifiers of the K reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set; identifiers of the second non-serving cells corresponding to the Q reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set, wherein K and Q are positive integers; Wherein, the second reference signal resource is at least one reference signal resource in the second reference signal resource set, and the second reference signal resource set is the reference signal resource set corresponding to each of the second non-serving cells in at least one of the second non-serving cells; The quality information includes at least one of the following: Layer 1 reference signal received power L1-RSRP; Layer 1 interference plus signal-to-noise ratio L1-SINR; Layer 3 reference signal received power L3-RSRP; Layer 3 reference signal received quality L3-RSRQ; Layer 3 received signal strength indication L3-RSSI; Channel state information CSI.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The report also includes the first value and / or the fifth value; wherein the fifth value is obtained by the terminal measuring the third reference signal resource, the third reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in the third reference signal resource set corresponding to the third non-serving cell, and the third non-serving cell is the cell in the first non-serving cell other than the second non-serving cell.

11. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: The network device receives a report, which includes a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells, the second value being determined by the terminal based on a first value corresponding to a serving cell.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: The network device sends first information, which is used to configure a first reference signal resource; Wherein, the first reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell; The first value is obtained by the terminal measuring the reference signal on the first reference signal resource.

13. The method according to any one of claims 11-12, characterized in that, The method further includes: The network device receives second information, which instructs the terminal to support determining a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell.

14. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The serving cell corresponds to a first non-serving cell, and the terminal supports determining a second value corresponding to a second non-serving cell based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell, wherein the second non-serving cell is some or all of the first non-serving cells, and the method further includes: The network device receives third information, which is used to indicate the second non-serving cell.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The third information includes at least one of the following: The second non-serving cell's number in the list; The physical cell identifier of the second non-serving cell; The globally unique identifier of the second non-serving cell.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The third information includes: Multiple bits, wherein each bit corresponds to a first non-serving cell. If the bit displays a third value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is the second non-serving cell. If the bit displays a fourth value, it indicates that the first non-serving cell corresponding to the bit is a cell other than the second non-serving cell among the first non-serving cells.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that, Before the network device receives the third information, the method further includes: The network device sends a fourth message, which is used to indicate the first non-serving cell.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that, The fourth piece of information includes at least one of the following: The number of the first non-serving cell in the list; The physical cell identifier of the first non-serving cell; The globally unique identifier of the first non-serving cell.

19. The method according to any one of claims 11-18, characterized in that, The first value includes quality information corresponding to the first reference signal resource; Wherein, the first reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in the first reference signal resource set corresponding to the serving cell; The second value includes at least one of the following: quality information corresponding to the second reference signal resource; identifiers of the K reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set; identifiers of the second non-serving cells corresponding to the Q reference signal resources with the best quality information in the second reference signal resource set, wherein K and Q are positive integers; Wherein, the second reference signal resource is at least one reference signal resource in the second reference signal resource set, and the second reference signal resource set is the reference signal resource set corresponding to each of the second non-serving cells in at least one of the second non-serving cells; The quality information includes at least one of the following: Layer 1 reference signal received power L1-RSRP; Layer 1 interference plus signal-to-noise ratio L1-SINR; Layer 3 reference signal received power L3-RSRP; Layer 3 reference signal received quality L3-RSRQ; Layer 3 received signal strength indication L3-RSSI; Channel state information CSI.

20. The method according to any one of claims 11-19, characterized in that, The report also includes the first value and / or the fifth value; wherein the fifth value is obtained by the terminal measuring the third reference signal resource, the third reference signal resource is each reference signal resource in the third reference signal resource set corresponding to the third non-serving cell, and the third non-serving cell is the cell in the first non-serving cell other than the second non-serving cell.

21. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: The terminal determines a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell. The terminal sends a report to the network device, and the report includes the second value.

22. A terminal, characterized in that, include: The processing module is used to determine a second value corresponding to one or more non-serving cells based on a first value corresponding to the serving cell; A transceiver module is used to send a report, which includes the second value.

23. A network device, characterized in that, include: The transceiver module is used to receive reports, which include second values ​​of one or more non-serving cells, the second values ​​being determined by the terminal based on the first value corresponding to the serving cell.

24. A terminal, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The processor is used to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1-10.

25. A network device, characterized in that, include: One or more processors; The processor is used to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 11-20.

26. A communication system, characterized in that, include: A terminal and a network device, wherein the terminal is configured to implement the communication method of any one of claims 1-10, and the network device is configured to implement the communication method of any one of claims 11-20.

27. A storage medium, characterized in that, include: The storage medium stores instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the communication method as described in any one of claims 1-10 or 11-20.

28. A program product, characterized in that, include: A computer program, when executed by a communication device, causes the communication device to perform the communication method as described in any one of claims 1-10 or 11-20.

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