A communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The application relates to a communication method and device, which are applied to the technical field of communication, and the method comprises the following steps: a first device can receive a reference signal; and the first device can send first information. The first information is determined according to the reference signal, and the first information is used for indicating at least one of the following: the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors in N groups of first vectors, or each first vector in the nth group of first vectors. Wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, n is an integer from 1 to N, the nth group of first vectors is a proper subset of L first vectors, L is less than or equal to the number of first vectors corresponding to the reference signal, the first vector is a base vector related to the space domain corresponding to a precoding matrix, and L is a positive integer. The method can improve the precision of the precoding matrix corresponding to the N groups of first vectors and reduce the calculation complexity of the precoding matrix.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology is a key technology in wireless communication, capable of meeting the demands of high-speed transmission. This technology can utilize spatial resources to enable signals to achieve array gain, multiplexing and diversity gain, and interference cancellation gain in space without increasing system bandwidth, thereby improving the capacity and spectral efficiency of the communication system.

[0003] In MIMO technology, the receiving device can send back the precoding matrix determined by the receiving device to the transmitting device based on the received reference signal. How to determine the precoding matrix indicator (PMI) information requires further discussion. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method and apparatus for determining PMI, for example, for improving the accuracy of the precoding matrix corresponding to the PMI.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to a first device. In some examples, the first device may be a terminal or a device applied in a terminal. The device applied in the terminal may be a component usable in the terminal (e.g., a module, a communication module, a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip or system-in-package (SIP) chip containing a modem core), a chip system, or a processor) or may be a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal's functions. In other examples, the first device may be an access network device or a device applied in an access network device. The device applied in the access network device may be a component usable in the access network device (e.g., a module, a communication module, a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), a chip system, or a processor) or may be a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the access network device's functions.

[0006] The method may include: a first device receiving a reference signal and transmitting first information. The first information is determined based on the reference signal; correspondingly, the first device may determine the first information based on the reference signal. The first information may be used to indicate at least one of the following: the number of first vectors in the nth group of N groups of first vectors, or each first vector in the nth group of first vectors. Here, N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, n is an integer from 1 to N, the nth group of first vectors is a proper subset of L first vectors, L is less than or equal to the number of first vectors corresponding to the reference signal, the first vectors are spatially correlated basis vectors corresponding to the precoding matrix, and L is a positive integer.

[0007] Optionally, L being less than or equal to the number of first vectors corresponding to the reference signal can be replaced by at least one of the following: L may be the number of beams selected by the first device; L may be the number of ports selected by the first device; or L may be the number of first vectors selected by the first device.

[0008] Optionally, the first vector may be replaced by at least one of the following: spatial basis, spatial basis vector, spatial basis vector, spatially related vector, spatial filter, precoder, precoder index, spatial precoder, antenna port, antenna port index, codebook, codebook index, beam, or beam index. And / or, the first vector is the spatially related basis vector corresponding to the precoding matrix, which can be understood as: the first vector may be at least one of the following: spatial basis, spatial basis vector, spatial basis vector, spatially related vector, spatial filter, precoder, spatial precoder, antenna port, codebook, or beam.

[0009] Optionally, some or all of the N sets of first vectors can be used to determine the precoding matrix; correspondingly, the second device can determine the precoding matrix based on some or all of the N sets of first vectors. For example, if the N sets of first vectors include 4 sets of first vectors, the second device can determine the precoding matrix based on these 4 sets of first vectors. Alternatively, if the N sets of first vectors include 4 sets of first vectors, the second device can determine the precoding matrix based on 2 of these 4 sets of first vectors.

[0010] Using this method, the first device can send information indicating N sets of first vectors to the second device. In this way, the N sets of first vectors can be determined by the first device. For example, the first device can determine the channel based on the received reference signal, thereby determining the N sets of first vectors that match the channel of the reference signal. Then, the PMI can be determined based on the N sets of first vectors, thereby improving the accuracy of the precoding matrix corresponding to the PMI and reducing the computational complexity of the precoding matrix.

[0011] For example, the first device can determine the precoding matrix using algorithms such as singular value decomposition (SVD). The computational complexity of these algorithms is directly proportional to the number of first vectors. For instance, if the first device determines the precoding matrix based on L first vectors, the computational complexity of the precoding matrix can be (2L*2L). 3 If the first device divides the L first vectors into N groups of first vectors and determines the precoding matrix using these N groups of first vectors, then the computational complexity corresponding to the nth group of first vectors can be (2L) n *2L n ) 3 L n Let L be the number of the first vectors in the first vector of the nth group. Assume L is 16. n If N is 4, then using this method, the computational complexity can be reduced from (32*32). 3 Reduced to 4*(8*8) 3 .

[0012] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to a second device. In some examples, the second device may be an access network device or a device applied within an access network device. The device applied within the access network device may be a component usable in the access network device (e.g., a module, communication module, circuitry or chip responsible for communication functions (e.g., a modem chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), a chip system, or a processor), or may be a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the access network device's functions. In other examples, the second device may be a terminal or a device applied within a terminal. The device applied within the terminal may be a component usable in the terminal (e.g., a module, communication module, circuitry or chip responsible for communication functions (e.g., a modem chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), a chip system, or a processor), or may be a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal's functions.

[0013] The method may include: a second device transmitting a reference signal and receiving first information. The first information is determined based on the reference signal; correspondingly, the first device may determine the first information based on the reference signal. The first information may be used to indicate at least one of the following: the number of first vectors in the nth group of N groups of first vectors, or each first vector in the nth group of first vectors. Here, N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, n is an integer from 1 to N, the nth group of first vectors is a proper subset of L first vectors, L is less than or equal to the number of first vectors corresponding to the reference signal, the first vectors are spatially correlated basis vectors corresponding to the precoding matrix, and L is a positive integer.

[0014] Optionally, L being less than or equal to the number of first vectors corresponding to the reference signal can be replaced by at least one of the following: L may be the number of beams selected by the first device; L may be the number of ports selected by the first device; or L may be the number of first vectors selected by the first device.

[0015] Optionally, the first vector may be replaced by at least one of the following: spatial basis, spatial basis vector, spatial basis vector, spatially related vector, spatial filter, precoder, precoder index, spatial precoder, antenna port, antenna port index, codebook, codebook index, beam, or beam index. And / or, the first vector is the spatially related basis vector corresponding to the precoding matrix, which can be understood as: the first vector may be at least one of the following: spatial basis, spatial basis vector, spatial basis vector, spatially related vector, spatial filter, precoder, spatial precoder, antenna port, codebook, or beam.

[0016] Optionally, some or all of the N sets of first vectors can be used to determine the precoding matrix; correspondingly, the second device can determine the precoding matrix based on some or all of the N sets of first vectors. For example, if the N sets of first vectors include 4 sets of first vectors, the second device can determine the precoding matrix based on these 4 sets of first vectors. Alternatively, if the N sets of first vectors include 4 sets of first vectors, the second device can determine the precoding matrix based on 2 of these 4 sets of first vectors.

[0017] Using this method, the first device can send information indicating N sets of first vectors to the second device. In this way, the N sets of first vectors can be determined by the first device. For example, the first device can determine the channel based on the received reference signal, thereby determining the N sets of first vectors that match the channel of the reference signal. Then, the PMI can be determined based on the N sets of first vectors, thereby improving the accuracy of the precoding matrix corresponding to the PMI and reducing the computational complexity of the precoding matrix.

[0018] For example, the first device can determine the precoding matrix using algorithms such as SVD, the computational complexity of which is directly proportional to the number of first vectors. For instance, if the first device determines the precoding matrix based on L first vectors, the computational complexity of the precoding matrix can be (2L*2L). 3 If the first device divides the L first vectors into N groups of first vectors and determines the precoding matrix using these N groups of first vectors, then the computational complexity corresponding to the nth group of first vectors can be (2L) n *2L n ) 3 L n Let L be the number of the first vectors in the first vector of the nth group. Assume L is 16. n If N is 4, then using this method, the computational complexity can be reduced from (32*32). 3Reduced to 4*(8*8) 3 .

[0019] Based on the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the first vectors in the N groups of first vectors do not overlap. Optionally, the non-overlapping of the first vectors in the N groups of first vectors can be understood as at least one of the following: the intersection of the first vectors in the N groups of first vectors is an empty set; there is no overlap between any two groups of first vectors in the N groups of first vectors; or, the intersection between any two groups of first vectors in the N groups of first vectors is an empty set. Through this design, the first vectors in the N groups of first vectors do not overlap, thereby reducing inter-group interference and improving the accuracy of the feedback precoding matrix. Furthermore, since the first vectors in the N groups of first vectors do not overlap, the terminal does not need to report precoding matrix-related information multiple times for the same first vector, thereby reducing the overhead of the feedback precoding matrix.

[0020] Based on the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the number of first vectors in every two groups of N first vectors is the same. Optionally, the number of first vectors in every two groups of N first vectors can be the same, which can be understood as at least one of the following: the number of first vectors in different groups of N first vectors is the same; the number of first vectors in each group of N first vectors is X, where X is a positive integer; or, the N groups of first vectors are uniformly grouped. In this design, the number of first vectors in every two groups of N first vectors can be the same, thereby reducing the complexity of determining the N groups of first vectors.

[0021] Based on the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the N groups of first vectors include at least two groups of first vectors, and the number of first vectors included in different groups of the at least two groups of first vectors is different. Optionally, the different number of first vectors included in different groups of the at least two groups of first vectors can be understood as: the number of first vectors included in every two groups of the at least two groups of first vectors is different; or, the N groups of first vectors are not uniformly grouped. Through this design, there can be at least two groups of first vectors with different numbers of first vectors in the N groups of first vectors, which reduces the restriction on the N groups of first vectors and thus improves the flexibility of the N groups of first vectors.

[0022] Based on the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the method further includes: a second device sending second information, and correspondingly, a first device receiving the second information. The second information can be used to indicate the value of N. With this design, the first device can accurately determine the value of N based on the second information.

[0023] Based on either the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the value of N is preset. With this design, the first device can accurately determine the value of N based on the second information. Furthermore, in this design, the first and second devices do not need to transmit information indicating the value of N, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0024] Based on the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the first information is used to indicate each first vector in the nth group of first vectors, including: the first information can be used to indicate L first vectors and the index of a first combination in at least one combination. Wherein, the first combination belongs to at least one combination, and each combination in the at least one combination includes a first number of first vectors from the L first vectors, the first number being the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors, and the first combination includes each first vector in the nth group of first vectors. With this design, the first information can accurately indicate the nth group of first vectors. Furthermore, in this design, the first information can indicate the nth group of first vectors by indicating L first vectors and the index of the first combination in at least one combination, thus eliminating the need for the first device to send the index of each first vector in the nth group of first vectors to the second device, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0025] Based on the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the first information is further used to indicate M sets of second vectors, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. N sets of first vectors and M sets of second vectors are used to determine the precoding matrix; correspondingly, the second device can determine the precoding matrix based on the N sets of first vectors and the M sets of second vectors. The second vectors are frequency-domain correlated basis vectors corresponding to the precoding matrix. The N sets of first vectors may correspond to the M sets of second vectors. Optionally, when M is an integer greater than or equal to 2, any two sets of second vectors in the M sets of second vectors are not identical.

[0026] Optionally, the second vector may be replaced with at least one of the following: frequency domain basis, frequency domain basis vector, frequency domain basis vector, frequency domain dependent vector, frequency domain filter, precoder, frequency domain precoder, tap, time domain tap, subband, or subband index. And / or, the second vector is the frequency domain dependent basis vector corresponding to the precoding matrix, which can be understood as: the second vector may be at least one of the following: frequency domain basis, frequency domain basis vector, frequency domain basis vector, frequency domain dependent vector, frequency domain filter, precoder, frequency domain precoder, tap, time domain tap, or subband.

[0027] Optionally, the N groups of first vectors can correspond to the M groups of second vectors, which can be understood as at least one of the following: each group of first vectors in the N groups of first vectors can correspond to a group of second vectors in the M groups of second vectors; or, the nth group of first vectors in the N groups of first vectors can correspond to the mth group of second vectors in the M groups of second vectors, where n takes integers from 1 to N and m takes integers from 1 to M.

[0028] In this design, there may be different sets of first vectors among the N sets of first vectors that correspond to different sets of second vectors. In this way, the first device can flexibly select a set of second vectors corresponding to each set of first vectors in the N sets of first vectors, thereby reducing the amount of feedback data, thus reducing feedback overhead and computational complexity.

[0029] Based on the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the nth first vector in N first vectors and the mth second vector in M ​​second vectors can be used to determine the nth matrix in N matrices, where N matrices are used to determine the precoding matrix, n takes integers from 1 to N, and m takes integers from 1 to M.

[0030] In some examples, the precoding matrix W satisfies the following formula:

[0031]

[0032] Among them, W 1,j It is the first vector in the nth group of N first vector groups; For W 2,j The conjugate matrix, The non-zero element in the N-group feedback parameter is the nth feedback parameter in the N-group feedback parameter; For W f,j The conjugate transpose of the matrix, W f,j It is the second vector of the m-th group in the second vector of the M-group.

[0033] In other examples, the precoding matrix W satisfies the following formula:

[0034]

[0035] in, W1 represents the nth first vector in N groups of first vectors, and is used to indicate the L first vectors. Used to indicate that the first vector in the nth group includes L of the L first vectors. n There are two first vectors, where L is an integer greater than or equal to 2. n It is a positive integer; For W 2,j The conjugate matrix, The non-zero element in the N-group feedback parameter is the nth feedback parameter in the N-group feedback parameter; For W f,j The conjugate transpose of the matrix, W f,j It is the second vector of the m-th group in the second vector of the M-group.

[0036] Optionally, the first information also indicates N sets of feedback parameters. For example, the N sets of feedback parameters may include the amplitude coefficient and / or phase coefficient corresponding to the nth set of first vectors.

[0037] With this design, the second device can accurately determine the precoding matrix based on N sets of first vectors and M sets of second vectors.

[0038] Based on the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the M groups of second vectors may include at least two groups of second vectors, wherein different groups of second vectors include different numbers of second vectors. Optionally, the at least two groups of second vectors may be some or all of the groups of second vectors in the M groups. With this design, the M groups of second vectors may include at least two groups of second vectors with different numbers of second vectors, thus allowing the first device to flexibly determine the M groups of second vectors, for example, by flexibly determining the M groups of second vectors according to the channel corresponding to the reference signal.

[0039] Based on the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the m-th second vector in the M-group of second vectors corresponds to the n-th first vector in the N-group of first vectors, and the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors is related to the energy projected from the channel onto the n-th group of first vectors. Optionally, the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors can be positively correlated with the energy projected from the channel onto the n-th group of first vectors. For example, the greater the energy projected from the channel onto the n-th group of first vectors, the greater the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors; and / or, the smaller the energy projected from the channel onto the n-th group of first vectors, the smaller the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors.

[0040] Through this design, the first device can determine the number of second vectors in the m-th group of M groups of second vectors based on the energy projected onto the n-th group of first vectors by the channel. Optionally, the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors can be positively correlated with the energy projected onto the n-th group of first vectors by the channel. Thus, if the channel energy corresponding to a certain group of first vectors is high, the number of second vectors corresponding to that group of first vectors will be greater. The number of second vectors is positively correlated with the accuracy of the precoding matrix, thereby improving the accuracy of the precoding matrix corresponding to that group of first vectors. If the channel energy corresponding to a certain group of first vectors is low, the number of second vectors corresponding to that group of first vectors will be less. The number of second vectors is positively correlated with the feedback overhead of the precoding matrix, thereby reducing the feedback overhead of the precoding matrix corresponding to that group of first vectors.

[0041] Based on the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the first information can be used to indicate at least one of the following: the number of second vectors in the m-th group of M second vectors, or each second vector in the m-th group of second vectors. Here, m takes integer values ​​from 1 to M. With this design, the first information can accurately indicate the m-th group of second vectors, thereby accurately indicating the M groups of second vectors.

[0042] Based on the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the first information is used to indicate the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors within the M groups of second vectors. This may include: the first information indicating a first coefficient corresponding to the m-th group of second vectors, and the first coefficient indicating the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors. Accordingly, the second device can determine the first coefficient corresponding to the m-th group of second vectors based on the first information, and determine the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors based on the first coefficient. With this design, the first information can accurately indicate the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors. Furthermore, in this design, the first information can indicate the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors through the first coefficient, without needing to include the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0043] Based on the first or second aspect, in one possible design, the first information is further used to indicate N bitmaps and N sets of feedback parameters. The nth bitmap in the N bitmaps corresponds to: the nth set of feedback parameters in the N sets of feedback parameters, the nth set of first vectors in the N sets of first vectors, and the mth set of second vectors in the M sets of second vectors. m takes integer values ​​from 1 to M. The nth bitmap is used to indicate the position in the first space corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the nth set of feedback parameters, and the first space is determined based on the nth set of first vectors and the mth set of second vectors.

[0044] Optionally, the nth bitmap can be used to indicate the position in the first space corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the nth group of feedback parameters, which can be understood as at least one of the following: the nth bitmap can be used to indicate the position of the non-zero element corresponding to the mth group of second vectors and the nth group of first vectors; the nth bitmap can be used to indicate the position in the matrix corresponding to the mth group of second vectors and the nth group of first vectors, corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the nth group of feedback parameters.

[0045] This design allows the first information to accurately indicate the position in the first space corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the nth group of feedback parameters. Furthermore, in this design, the first information, indicated by the nth bitmap, saves signaling overhead.

[0046] Optionally, in this method, the first vector can be replaced with at least one of the following: antenna port, port, or beam; and / or, the second vector can be replaced with a vector corresponding to a sub-band. For example, when this method is applied to a port selection codebook, the first vector can be replaced with at least one of the following: antenna port, port, or beam; and / or, the second vector can be replaced with a vector corresponding to a sub-band.

[0047] Thirdly, this application provides a communication device. In some examples, the communication device can be a terminal, or a component applicable to a terminal (e.g., a module, communication module, circuit or chip responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), chip system, or processor), or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal's functions. The communication device has the functionality to implement the first or second aspect described above. In other examples, the communication device can be an access network device, or a component applicable to an access network device (e.g., a module, communication module, circuit or chip responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core), chip system, or processor), or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the access network device's functions. The communication device has the functionality to implement the first or second aspect described above.

[0048] In one possible design, the communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the operations involved in any of the first to second aspects described above. These modules, units, or means can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of both. For example, the communication device includes an interface unit and a processing unit. The interface unit can be used to send and receive signals to enable communication between the communication device and other devices; the processing unit can be used to perform some internal operations of the communication device. The functions performed by the processing unit and the interface unit can correspond to the operations involved in any of the first to second aspects described above.

[0049] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor. The processor is capable of executing computer programs or instructions, for example, executing computer programs or instructions stored in memory. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the communication device performs the methods in any of the possible designs described in the first to second aspects above.

[0050] Optionally, the processor is coupled to the memory via an interface, which is either a memory built into the communication device or an external memory connected to the communication device.

[0051] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit and to perform the methods in any of the possible designs in any of the first to second aspects described above.

[0052] Fourthly, this application provides a communication device comprising: a memory for storing a program; and at least one processor for executing the computer program or instructions stored in the memory to perform the method provided by any of the above implementations of the first or second aspect.

[0053] In one implementation, the communication device is a communication equipment (such as a terminal or an access network device).

[0054] In another implementation, the communication device is a chip, chip system, or circuit used in a communication device.

[0055] Fifthly, this application provides a processor for performing the methods provided in the above aspects.

[0056] Unless otherwise specified, or if it does not contradict its actual function or internal logic in the relevant description, the transmission and acquisition / reception operations involved in the processor can be understood as processor output and input operations, or as transmission and reception operations performed by radio frequency circuits and antennas. This application does not limit them in this regard.

[0057] In a sixth aspect, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to perform any possible design of any of the first to second aspects described above.

[0058] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a computer program product comprising computer program code that, when executed, causes a computer to perform any possible design method of any of the first to second aspects described above.

[0059] Eighthly, this application provides a chip including a processor and a communication interface. The processor reads instructions stored in a memory through the communication interface, causing the method provided by any of the above implementations of the first or second aspect to be executed.

[0060] Optionally, as one implementation, the chip further includes a memory storing computer programs or instructions. The processor is used to execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer programs or instructions are executed, the processor is used to execute the method provided by any of the above implementations of the first or second aspect.

[0061] A ninth aspect provides a communication system, including a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device is used to execute a portion of the method provided in either the first or second aspect, and the second communication device is used to execute a portion of the method provided in either the first or second aspect.

[0062] The technical effects that can be achieved by any of the third to ninth aspects mentioned above can be described with reference to the technical effects that can be achieved by any of the possible designs in the first to second aspects mentioned above. Where there is overlap, no further discussion will be given. Attached Figure Description

[0063] Figures 1A to 1B Architecture diagrams of several communication systems provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0064] Figure 1C An architecture diagram of an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN) device provided for embodiments of this application;

[0065] Figures 2A to 2C Schematic diagrams of several beamforming methods provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0066] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) beam provided for an embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figures 4 to 5 Flowcharts of several methods for measuring channel state provided in embodiments of this application;

[0068] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0069] Figure 7A A schematic diagram of oversampling provided for an embodiment of this application;

[0070] Figure 7B A schematic diagram of a port corresponding to a first vector provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0071] Figures 7C to 7E Schematic diagrams illustrating several grouping methods for the first vector provided in embodiments of this application;

[0072] Figure 7F A schematic diagram of a sub-band corresponding to the second vector provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0073] Figures 7G to 7H Schematic diagrams illustrating several grouping methods for the second vector provided in embodiments of this application;

[0074] Figures 7I to 7J Schematic diagrams illustrating several application scenarios provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0075] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0076] Figures 9 to 13 Structural diagrams of several communication devices provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0077] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as wireless local area networks (WLANs), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi or WiFi) systems, fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication systems (such as long-term evolution (LTE) systems), fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems (such as new radio (NR) systems), or future communication systems. The methods provided in the embodiments of this application can be applied to terrestrial network communication systems or non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication systems. NTN communication systems can be, for example, satellite communication systems, and may also include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), high-altitude platform stations (HAPS), and other aerial access network equipment; this application does not limit these aspects.

[0078] This application will present various aspects, embodiments, or features relating to systems that may include multiple devices, components, modules, etc. It should be understood and appreciated that individual systems may include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and / or may not include all devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, combinations of these approaches are also possible.

[0079] Figure 1A A schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application is shown as an example. Figure 1A As shown, the communication system 10 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. Optionally, the communication system 10 may also include an Internet 300.

[0080] RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (such as...) Figure 1A110a and 110b (collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal (such as Figure 1A RAN 100, denoted as RAN 120a-120j, is collectively referred to as RAN 120. RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay equipment and / or wireless backhaul equipment. Figure 1A (Not shown in the image). Terminal 120 is connected to RAN node 110 wirelessly. RAN node 110 is connected to core network 200 wirelessly or via wired connection. The core network equipment in core network 200 and RAN node 110 in RAN 100 can be different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device integrating core network logical functions and radio access network logical functions.

[0081] RAN 100 can be a cellular system related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 4G, 5G mobile communication systems, or future-oriented evolution systems. RAN 100 can also be ORAN, cloud radio access network (CRAN), or WiFi system. RAN 100 can also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0082] RAN node 110, sometimes referred to as RAN entity or access node, constitutes part of the communication system and assists terminals in achieving wireless access. Multiple RAN nodes 110 in communication system 10 can be of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of RAN node 110 and terminal 120 are relative, for example... Figure 1A Network element 120i can be a helicopter or a drone, and it can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminals 120j that access RAN 100 through network element 120i, network element 120i is a base station; however, for base station 110a, network element 120i is a terminal. RAN node 110 and terminal 120 are sometimes referred to as communication devices, for example... Figure 1A Network elements 110a and 110b can be understood as communication devices with base station functions, while network elements 120a-120j can be understood as communication devices with terminal functions.

[0083] RAN nodes can also be described in different ways, such as access network equipment. Unless otherwise specified in this application, access network equipment will be used as the term.

[0084] Access network equipment can be devices or modules located on the network side of the aforementioned communication system and possessing corresponding communication functions. Access network equipment typically contains communication modules, circuits, or chips that perform the corresponding communication functions. Access network equipment may also be configured with programs or instructions for performing the corresponding communication functions, as well as the corresponding programs or instructions themselves.

[0085] In one possible scenario, access network equipment can be a base station (BS), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), a transmission point (TP), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a mobile switching center, a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation base station in a future communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc. Access network equipment can also be a macro base station (such as...). Figure 1A 110a), micro base stations or indoor stations (such as Figure 1A The access network equipment can be 110b), relay nodes or donor nodes, wireless controllers in CRAN scenarios, satellites, drones, balloons, or aircraft, etc. Optionally, the access network equipment can also be servers, wearable devices, vehicles, or in-vehicle equipment, etc. For example, the access network equipment in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can be a roadside unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the access network equipment in this application can also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

[0086] In another possible scenario, multiple access network devices collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, with each device performing a portion of the base station's functions. For example, the access network devices can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU and DU can be separate entities or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0087] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called an open CU (O-CU), DU can also be called an open DU (O-DU), CU-CP can also be called an open CU-CP (O-CU-CP), CU-UP can also be called an open CU-UP (O-CU-UP), and RU can also be called an open RU (O-RU). Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules.

[0088] A terminal is a device or module that connects to the aforementioned communication system and possesses corresponding communication functions. A terminal can also be called a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, wireless terminal device, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, remote station, user terminal, user agent, or user device, etc. A terminal typically contains communication modules, circuits, or chips that perform the corresponding communication functions. The terminal can also be configured with programs or instructions for performing these communication functions.

[0089] Terminals can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), V2X communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, and smart cities. Terminals can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc. Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices or smart wearable devices, are a general term for devices that utilize wearable technology to intelligently design and develop everyday wearables. Terminals used in vehicles are called in-vehicle terminal devices, which include, for example, transportation vehicles with wireless communication capabilities, communication modules, or on-board units (OBUs).

[0090] For example, a terminal may include a mobile phone (or "cellular" phone), a computer with a mobile terminal device, or a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, or computer-embedded mobile device. For instance, a terminal may be a Personal Communication Service (PCS) phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or other similar devices. A terminal may also include restricted devices, such as devices with limited power consumption, limited storage capacity, or limited computing power. For example, a terminal may be an information sensing device such as a barcode scanner, radio frequency identification (RFID), a sensor, a global positioning system (GPS), or a laser scanner. The embodiments of this application do not limit the device form of the terminal.

[0091] In this application, core network equipment refers to equipment in the core network that provides service support to terminals. For example, in the case where CN200 is the core network of a future communication system, a 5G core network, or an evolved 5G core network, some examples of core network equipment include: access and mobility management function (AMF) entities, session management function (SMF) entities, user plane function (UPF) entities, policy control function (PCF) entities, etc., which are not listed here. Among them, the AMF entity can be responsible for terminal access management and mobility management; the SMF entity can be responsible for session management, such as user session establishment; the UPF entity can be a user plane functional entity, mainly responsible for connecting to external networks. For example, in the case of CN200 as the 4G core network, some core network devices include: Mobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Serving Gateway (S-GW), Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), Public Data Network Gateway (PDN Gateway, P-GW), etc., which will not be listed here. It should be noted that in this application, entities can also be referred to as network elements or functional entities. For example, an AMF entity can also be called an AMF network element or AMF functional entity, and similarly, an SMF entity can also be called an SMF network element or SMF functional entity. The aforementioned core network devices can operate independently or be combined to implement certain control functions. For example, AMF, SMF, and PCF can be combined into a single core network device.

[0092] Figure 1B An exemplary schematic diagram of an ORAN system architecture provided in an embodiment of this application is shown. The ORAN system in this embodiment may include... Figure 1B Other components besides those shown. For example... Figure 1BAs shown, access network devices can communicate with the core network (CN) via a backhaul link and with terminals via an air interface. For example, a BBU in an access network device communicates with the core network via a backhaul link, and an RU in an access network device communicates with at least one terminal via an air interface. A BBU communicates with at least one RU via a fronthaul link; the BBU and RU may or may not be co-located. A BBU includes at least one CU and at least one DU, which can communicate via at least one midhaul link.

[0093] Figure 1C An exemplary diagram of the network element function division and protocol layer structure of an ORAN device provided in an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0094] In some possible implementations, the CU is a logical node that carries the radio resource control (RRC) layer, service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and other control functions of the access network equipment. The CU can connect to network nodes such as the core network through interfaces (e.g., E2 interfaces). Optionally, the CU can have some of the core network's functions. The CU (e.g., the PDCP layer and higher layers of the CU) connects to the DU (e.g., the radio link control (RLC) layer and lower layers of the DU) through interfaces (e.g., the F1 interface). Exemplarily, the F1 interface can provide control plane (C-Plane) and user plane (U-Plane) functions (e.g., interface management, system information management, UE context management, RRC message transmission, etc.). F1AP is the application protocol of the F1 interface, and in some examples, it defines the signaling procedures of F1. The F1 interface supports both the F1 control plane (F1-C) and the F1 user plane (F1-U).

[0095] In some examples, a CU may include CU-CP and CU-UP. CU-CP is a logical node carrying the control plane (PDCP-C) layer, which carries the RRC layer and the Packet Data Convergence Protocol layer, and is used to implement the CU's control plane functions. CU-CP can interact with network elements in the core network used to implement control plane functions. These network elements in the core network can be Access and Mobility Function (AMF) network elements, such as the AMF in a 5G system. CU-UP is a logical node carrying the user plane (PDCP-U) layer, which carries the SDAP layer and the Packet Data Convergence Protocol layer, and is used to implement the CU's user plane functions. CU-UP can interact with network elements in the core network used to implement user plane functions. These network elements in the core network are, for example, the UPF in a 5G system.

[0096] In some possible implementations, the DU is a logical node that carries the RLC layer, medium access control (MAC) layer, higher physical layer (Higher PHY) layer, and other functions. In some examples, the DU can control at least one RU. The DU connects to the RU through some interface (e.g., a fronthaul interface). In some examples, the Higher PHY layer includes the physical layer (PHY) processing, such as forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation, and demodulation.

[0097] The above configurations of CU and DU are merely examples; the functions of CU and / or DU can be configured as needed. For instance, CU or DU can be configured to have more protocol layer functions, or to have only some protocol layer processing functions. For example, some RLC layer functions and protocol layer functions above the RLC layer can be placed in the CU, while the remaining RLC layer functions and protocol layer functions below the RLC layer can be placed in the DU. Furthermore, the functions of CU or DU can be divided according to service type or other system requirements, such as by latency, placing functions that need to meet low latency requirements in the DU and functions that do not need to meet such latency requirements in the CU.

[0098] In some possible implementations, the RU is a logical node that carries both the lower physical layer (Lower PHY) and radio frequency (RF) processing. In some examples, the RU can be a 3GPP TRP or RRH, or other similar functional entities. In some examples, the Low-PHY includes PHY processing functions such as Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT), digital beamforming, and filtering. The RU communicates with one or more terminals via a wireless link.

[0099] The DU and RU can be co-located or not. The DU and RU exchange control plane and user plane information via a fronthaul link through a Lower-Layer Split CUS-Plane (LLS-CUS or LLS-C / U / S) interface. LLS-CUS may include a Lower-Layer Split C-Plane (LLS-C) interface providing the control plane (C-Plane) and a Lower-Layer Split U-Plane (LLS-U) interface providing the user plane (U-Plane). In some examples, the control plane refers to real-time control between the DU and RU. The DU and RU exchange management information via a Lower-Layer Split management (LLS-M) interface on the fronthaul link. The management plane (M-Plane) refers to non-real-time management operations between the DU and RU.

[0100] DU and RU can cooperate to implement the functions of the PHY layer. A DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functions of DU and RU can be configured in various ways depending on the design. For example, a DU can be configured to implement baseband functions, and an RU can be configured to implement mid-RF functions. Another example is that a DU can be configured to implement higher-level functions in the PHY layer, and an RU can be configured to implement lower-level functions in the PHY layer, or both lower-level and RF functions. Higher-level functions in the physical layer can include a portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the MAC layer, while lower-level functions in the physical layer can include another portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the mid-RF side.

[0101] The communication systems and service scenarios described in the embodiments of this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0102] The relevant terms used in the embodiments of this application will be explained below. It should be noted that these explanations are for the purpose of making the embodiments of this application easier to understand, and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope of protection claimed by this application.

[0103] 1. Reference signal (RS):

[0104] Reference signals, also known as pilot signals, are essential in communication systems for estimating uplink or downlink channels to transmit and receive data, obtain system synchronization, and receive feedback channel information. Channel estimation refers to the process of reconstructing or recovering the received signal to compensate for signal distortion caused by channel fading and noise fading. It uses known reference signals from both the transmitter and receiver to determine the time and frequency domain variations of the channel. These reference signals, also called reference signals, are distributed across one or more resource elements (REs) in a two-dimensional time-frequency space within orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, and have known amplitude and phase.

[0105] At the physical layer, uplink communication may include the transmission of uplink physical channels and uplink signals. The uplink physical channels include at least one of the following: physical random access channel (PRACH), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), etc.; the uplink signals include at least one of the following: channel sounding reference signal (SRS), physical uplink control channel demodulation reference signal (PUCCH-DMRS), physical uplink shared channel demodulation reference signal (PUSCH-DMRS), demodulation reference signal (DMRS), phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), or positioning reference signal (Posing RS), etc. The positioning reference signal may be, for example, an SRS for positioning or a positioning SRS.

[0106] Optionally, the uplink signal may include an uplink DMRS. Exemplarily, the uplink DMRS may include at least one of the following: PUCCH-DMRS or PUSCH-DMRS. Optionally, the uplink DMRS may also be referred to as DMRS.

[0107] At the physical layer, downlink communication can include the transmission of downlink physical channels and downlink signals. The downlink physical channels include at least one of the following: physical broadcast channel (PBCH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH); the downlink signals include at least one of the following: primary synchronization signal (PSS) / secondary synchronization signal (SSS), physical downlink control demodulation reference signal (PDCCH-DMRS), physical downlink shared channel demodulation reference signal (PDSCH-DMRS), DMRS, PTRS, channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), cell reference signal (CRS), tracking reference signal (TRS), positioning reference signal (positioning RS), or synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SS / PBCH block or SSB). Alternatively, the full Chinese and English names of SSB can be Synchronization Signal Block and Synchronization Signal Block, respectively.

[0108] Optionally, the downlink signal may include a downlink DMRS. Exemplarily, the downlink DMRS may include at least one of the following: PUCCH-DMRS, or PDSCH-DMRS. Optionally, the downlink DMRS may also be referred to as DMRS.

[0109] It should be understood that the reference signals listed above are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting this application. This application does not preclude the possibility of defining other reference signals in future agreements to achieve the same or similar functions.

[0110] 2. Beam:

[0111] Mobile communication systems (such as 5G mobile communication systems) can employ high-frequency communication, meaning they use high-frequency signals to transmit data. A major problem with high-frequency communication is that signal energy decreases sharply with transmission distance, resulting in short transmission ranges. To overcome this problem, high-frequency communication uses analog beamforming technology. By weighting the antenna array, the signal energy is concentrated within a small angular range, forming a beam-like signal (called an analog beam, or simply a beam), thereby increasing the transmission distance. Access network equipment and terminals can both use beamforming for transmission.

[0112] In protocols (e.g., NR protocol), beams can be referred to as spatial domain filters, spatial filters, spatial domain parameters, spatial parameters, spatial domain settings, spatial settings, quasi-colocation (QCL) information, QCL assumptions, or QCL indications, etc. Beams can also be represented by transmission configuration indicator state parameters or spatial relation parameters. The English terms for transmission configuration indicator state include transmission configuration indicator state (TCI-state), transmission configuration indication state (TCI-state), and transmission configuration index state (TCI-state), etc. Therefore, in this application, "beam" can be replaced by spatial filter, spatial filter, spatial parameter, spatial parameter, spatial setting, spatial setting, QCL information, QCL assumption, QCL indication, TCI-state (e.g., downlink TCI-state, DL TCI-state, and / or uplink TCI-state, UL TCI-state), or spatial relationship, etc. The above terms are also equivalent to each other. "Beam" can also be replaced with other beam-related terms, which are not limited in this application.

[0113] The beam used to transmit signals can be called a transmission beam (Tx beam), a spatial domain transmission filter, a spatial transmission filter, a spatial domain transmission parameter, a spatial transmission parameter, a spatial domain transmission setting, or a spatial transmission setting.

[0114] The beam used to receive signals can be called a reception beam (Rx beam), a spatial domain reception filter, a spatial reception filter, a spatial domain reception parameter, a spatial reception parameter, a spatial domain reception setting, or a spatial reception setting.

[0115] The transmitting beam can refer to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space after a signal is transmitted through an antenna, while the receiving beam can refer to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space of a wireless signal received from an antenna.

[0116] Furthermore, the beam can be a wide beam, a narrow beam, or other types of beam. The beamforming technology can be beamforming technology or other technologies. Beamforming technology can be, for example, digital beamforming technology, analog beamforming technology, or hybrid beamforming technology. In this application, the beam can be an analog beam or a digital beam.

[0117] Beams generally correspond to resources. For example, during beam measurement, access network equipment measures different beams using different resources. The terminal provides feedback on the measured resource quality, allowing the access network equipment to determine the quality of the corresponding beam. During data transmission, beams can also be indicated by their corresponding resources. For instance, a beam can be indicated by at least one of the following resources, or a beam can be replaced by at least one of the following: SSB resource, CSI-RS resource, SRS resource, DMRS resource, or PTRS resource, etc. Specifically, an SSB resource can be used for transmitting SSB; a CSI-RS resource can be used for transmitting CSI-RS; an SRS resource can be used for transmitting SRS; a DMRS resource can be used for transmitting DMRS; and a PTRS resource can be used for transmitting PTRS. Optionally, different beams can be used to transmit the same or different information.

[0118] In some implementations, access network devices can indicate the PDSCH beam information of the terminal through the transmission configuration indicator (TCI) field in the downlink control information (DCI). The English terms for transmission configuration indicator (TCI), transmission configuration indication (TCI), or transmission configuration index (TCI) may include these.

[0119] Optionally, multiple beams with the same or similar communication characteristics can be considered as a single beam. A beam may correspond to one or more antenna ports for transmitting one or more of the following: data channels, control channels, and probe signals. One or more antenna ports forming a beam can also be considered as a set of antenna ports.

[0120] 3. Antenna Port:

[0121] An antenna port, often simply called a port, is a logical concept. It can be understood as a virtual transmitting antenna (or antenna array) identified by the receiver, or a spatially distinguishable virtual transmitting antenna (or antenna array). An antenna port generally corresponds to a physical antenna. Each antenna port represents a channel model, which can be derived from a reference signal on the antenna port. Therefore, an antenna port is usually associated with a reference signal, and its meaning can be understood as a transmit / receive interface on the channel through which the reference signal passes. Because antenna ports can be associated with reference signals, each antenna port can be called a port for a reference signal, such as a CSI-RS port, DMRS port, or SRS port. For low frequencies, an antenna port may correspond to one or more antenna elements that jointly transmit the reference signal; the receiver can treat them as a whole without distinguishing between individual elements. For high-frequency systems, an antenna port may correspond to a beam; similarly, the receiver only needs to treat this beam as an interface without distinguishing between individual elements.

[0122] A set of multiple antenna ports can be called a port set. In one approach, multiple digital ports of an access network device are grouped to form multiple port sets. In another approach (e.g., in a hybrid beamforming (HBF) architecture), a port set can be multiple digital ports corresponding to the same analog beam, also simply called a port set, or a digital-to-analog port set. Alternatively, a port set can be a set of digital ports corresponding to multiple analog beams, also simply called a port set, or a digital-to-analog port set. Or, multiple digital ports corresponding to an analog beam can be divided into multiple subsets, each subset being called a port set, or a digital-to-analog port set.

[0123] The port set can also have other names, such as port group, reference signal port group, or reference signal port set, etc., without restriction.

[0124] In protocols, antenna ports are typically identified by "antenna port" or "port," but they can also be identified by resources (such as CSI-RS resources, SRS resources, DMRS resources, PTRS resources, CRS resources, TRS resources, or SSB resources) or resource groups. In other words, the identifier for an antenna port can be replaced with one of the above-mentioned identifiers; for example, an antenna port can be replaced with an identifier for a resource, a pilot resource, or a reference signal resource.

[0125] 4. Beamforming (BF):

[0126] Beamforming, also known as beamforming, refers to the process of creating a beam, where a beam is the electromagnetic radiation pattern of an antenna system. In multi-antenna systems, beamforming involves adjusting the amplitude or phase of signals on a radio frequency (RF) link to create a directional electromagnetic radiation pattern. Since RF links are divided into digital and analog links, beamforming can be further categorized into digital beamforming, analog beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

[0127] Before being transmitted through the physical antenna, the signal undergoes preprocessing. This preprocessing alters the amplitude and / or phase of the signal after it is finally modulated onto the carrier wave. The objectives include: eliminating channel-to-channel correlation, ensuring channel independence between antenna ports, and enabling substream data mapped to each antenna port to be transmitted uncorrelatedly in the spatial channel. This results in a narrow beamforming at each antenna port; the narrower the beam, the lower the correlation between beams. In digital links, digital beamforming can be achieved through precoding. The result of precoding is the implementation of digital beamforming and spatial multiplexing.

[0128] The following will take access network equipment as a base station as an example, combined with... Figures 2A to 2C The content shown provides an exemplary description of beamforming. Generally, in higher frequency communication systems, base stations (and some terminals in certain frequency bands) typically use large-scale array antennas (e.g., including 500 to 1000+ antenna elements) to compensate for path loss caused by higher frequency bands and improve coverage through higher array gain. From the perspective of base station implementation, even with large arrays, different arrays of different frequency bands and array sizes use different array weighting methods (i.e., beamforming methods). Beamforming methods can be categorized into the following three types:

[0129] One approach is digital beamforming (DBF). Figure 2AThis illustrates a possible example of a DBF (Bandforming Array) architecture. In this architecture, each of the multiple transmit / receive channels connects to a subarray. A transmit / receive channel may include a digital-to-analog converter (DAC); a subarray may include one or more elements, which can be understood as antenna elements. Optionally, one transmit / receive channel corresponds to one antenna port, which can be represented as a digital port (or digital channel or digital processing channel). In this architecture, each antenna signal is directly converted to the digital domain, and subsequent array weighting is performed in the digital domain, thereby achieving beamforming. On the one hand, digital domain signal processing offers the highest degree of freedom and can support very complex signal processing methods; therefore, the DBF architecture offers the best performance for the same array size. On the other hand, due to the high power consumption and cost of DACs / analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) (especially under high bandwidth conditions), the cost of DBF is usually the highest for the same array size.

[0130] Another approach is analog beamforming (ABF). Figure 2B The diagram illustrates a possible example of an ABF (Analog-Based Array) structure. In this structure, one transmit / receive channel connects to one subarray. One transmit / receive channel may include a DAC (Digital Converter); one subarray may include multiple phase shifters and multiple elements, which can be understood as antenna elements. Optionally, one transmit / receive channel may correspond to one antenna port, which is represented as a digital port (or digital channel or digital processing channel). In this structure, each phase shifter connects to one or a group of antenna elements. By adjusting the phase of the phase shifter corresponding to each antenna element, the radiated signal radiated through the antenna array can be made directional, thereby achieving beamforming. On the one hand, the entire ABF array can correspond to only one DAC / ADC, resulting in low cost and power consumption. On the other hand, the phase shifter design in the analog domain determines the beam direction after beamforming. Since the signal is directly combined in the analog domain, it cannot utilize digital signal processing weighting like DBF (Digital-Based Array). ABF requires pre-configuring the phase shifter settings (i.e., pointing the analog beam towards the target terminal) during transmission and reception. This process needs to be completed through beam scanning during the link establishment phase, introducing additional latency. Generally, once the analog beam is blocked or moved, causing misalignment, the link quality of the system will rapidly decrease or even be interrupted. Therefore, the communication reliability of ABF is not as good as that of DBF.

[0131] Another approach is HBF, which is a combination of ABF and DBF technologies. Figure 2CThis illustrates a possible example of an HBF structure. An HBF has one or more digital ports supporting digital beamforming. Each digital port corresponds to an ABF subarray, and each ABF subarray contains one or more phase shifters supporting analog beamforming. Figure 2C The diagram illustrates an HBF architecture with 3 digital ports, each corresponding to 2 phase shifters. Compared to ABF, the ABF subarray size per digital port is smaller for the same array size. Figure 2C 2 of them and Figure 2B The HBF (High-Frequency Beam Filter) has 6 digital ports, resulting in a wider beam, better reliability, and lower beam scanning overhead. Generally, the ratio of digital ports to phase shifters in an HBF varies depending on the frequency and system design requirements. For example, in high-frequency systems, the number of digital ports is small (4–16), and the number of phase shifters corresponding to a single digital port is large (16–32), closer to an ABF. In low-frequency systems, the number of digital ports is large (32–128), and the number of phase shifters corresponding to a single digital port is even smaller (e.g., 2–10).

[0132] For example, the number of digital ports currently supported by the protocol may include at least one of the following: 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 64, 96, or 128.

[0133] HBF (Beamforming by Radiation) technology enables coarse-grained beamforming in the digital domain and fine-grained beam adjustment in the analog domain, thus achieving efficient signal transmission. HBF technology can optimize signal directionality and coverage while balancing hardware complexity and power consumption. Because it can effectively focus signal energy and overcome signal attenuation at high frequencies, HBF technology is well-suited for centimeter-wave and millimeter-wave bands.

[0134] Generally, ABF and HBF architectures can include analog beams. When the analog beams are aligned with the communication target, signal quality will be improved. The direction of the analog beams (determined by beam weights) needs to be configured before transmission and reception. For a given terminal, the process of the base station selecting an analog beam is called beam training or beam scanning. During beam scanning, the base station typically transmits reference signals using different analog beam weights. The terminal measures these reference signals and reports the results, thus assisting the base station in determining which beam has the best quality.

[0135] 5. Precoding and codebook:

[0136] In communication systems, the mathematical expression for communication is y = Hx + n, where y is the received signal, H is the MIMO channel, x is the transmitted signal, and n is noise. In communication systems with multiple antennas, signals from multiple transmitting antennas can be superimposed on any one receiving antenna. Therefore, the method of transmitting signals at the transmitting end affects the system performance, and recovering the transmitted signal at the receiving end is often complex. In this context, precoding can reduce system overhead and maximize the system capacity of MIMO, while also reducing the complexity of the receiver in eliminating inter-channel interference. In this case, the mathematical expression is y = HPx + n, where P is the precoding matrix (or vector, or precoder). To simplify implementation complexity, P can be selected from a predefined set of matrices (or vectors), called the codebook. The above signal transmission method is also called the codebook-based transmission method. If the transmitting end can obtain all the information of H, then P can be obtained by the transmitting end itself; this signal transmission method is also called the non-codebook (NCB) transmission method.

[0137] 6. Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI):

[0138] The Precoding Matrix (PMI) can be used to indicate the precoding matrix. This precoding matrix can be, for example, a precoding matrix determined by the terminal based on the channel matrix of a single frequency domain unit. This channel matrix can be determined by the terminal through channel estimation or based on channel reciprocity. However, it should be understood that the specific methods by which the terminal determines the precoding matrix are not limited to those described above; specific implementation methods can be found in the protocol, and for the sake of brevity, they will not be listed here.

[0139] For example, the precoding matrix can be obtained by performing singular value decomposition (SVD) on the channel matrix or its covariance matrix, or by performing eigenvalue decomposition (EVD) on the covariance matrix of the channel matrix. It should be understood that the methods for determining the precoding matrix listed above are merely examples and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0140] It should be noted that in this application, the access network device can determine the precoding matrix based on feedback from the terminal. For example, the access network device can determine the combining coefficients of the CSI-RS port, frequency domain DFT vector, and space-frequency vector used to construct the precoding vector based on feedback from the terminal, and then determine the precoding matrix corresponding to each frequency domain unit. This precoding matrix can be directly used for downlink data transmission; or it can be processed by some beamforming methods, such as zero forcing (ZF), regularized zero-forcing (RZF), minimum mean-squared error (MMSE), and maximizing the signal-to-leakage-and-noise ratio (SLNR), to obtain the final precoding matrix used for downlink data transmission. This application does not limit this. Unless otherwise specified, the precoding matrix mentioned below refers to the precoding matrix determined based on the method provided in this application.

[0141] It is understandable that the precoding matrix determined by the terminal can be interpreted as the precoding matrix to be fed back. The terminal can indicate the precoding matrix to be fed back through the PMI, so that the access network device can recover the precoding matrix based on the PMI. It is understandable that the precoding matrix recovered by the access network device based on the PMI can be the same as or similar to the precoding matrix to be fed back.

[0142] In downlink channel measurement, the higher the similarity between the precoding matrix determined by the access network equipment based on the PMI and the precoding matrix determined by the terminal, the better the precoding matrix determined by the access network equipment for data transmission can be adapted to the channel information, thus improving the signal reception quality.

[0143] Optionally, PMI can be used for downlink MIMO.

[0144] 7. Transmitted precoding matrix indicator (TPMI):

[0145] TPMI can be used to instruct access network devices on the precoding matrix used for uplink transmission. For details on TPMI, please refer to the explanation of PMI above, except that the access network devices and terminals are interchanged, CSI-RS is replaced with SRS, and downlink is replaced with uplink.

[0146] 8. Precoding matrix:

[0147] In some possible ways, the precoding matrix W can be represented as W = W1 × W2. The dimension of W is P. CSI-RS×N3; W1 is the wideband precoding matrix with dimension P. CSI-RS ×2L; W2 is the subband precoding matrix with dimensions 2L×N3. P CSI-RS N is the number of CSI-RS ports, N3 is the number of feedback sub-bands or PMIs, and L is the number of beams selected by the terminal (or, L is the number of CSI-RS ports selected by the terminal).

[0148] In some other possible ways, the precoding matrix W can be represented as: The dimension of W is P CSI-RS ×N3; W1 is the wideband precoding matrix with dimension P. CSI-RS ×2L; This is the subband precoding matrix, with dimensions 2L×N3; This is the compressed matrix with dimensions 2L×M1; The dimension is M1×N3. P CSI-RS N is the number of CSI-RS ports, N3 is the number of feedback sub-bands or PMIs, L is the number of beams selected by the terminal (or, the number of CSI-RS ports selected by the terminal), and M1 is the number of inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) basis vectors selected by the terminal (or, M1 is the number of frequency domain basis vectors selected by the terminal).

[0149] Optionally, in any of the above methods, the wideband precoding matrix W1 can be used to indicate the beam group selected by the terminal, which may include L beams. The subband precoding matrix is ​​used to describe the instantaneous subband characteristics of the channel, and can be used to select one or more beams from the wideband beam group according to the subband characteristics of the channel, and to achieve phase adjustment of the polarization direction by quantizing the phase difference between the two polarization directions.

[0150] Alternatively, the structure of W1 can be:

[0151] In some examples (e.g., for a regular codebook), B is a matrix consisting of L oversampled DFT beams (or DFT vectors). The two diagonal blocks of W1 are for the two polarization directions respectively. Here, the DFT beam sets are the same for both polarization directions, meaning that the same DFT beams will be used for both polarization directions. As can be seen from its structure, the role of W1 is to select a set of DFT beams.

[0152] In other examples (e.g., for port selection (PS) codebooks), B is a matrix consisting of L oversampled standard vector bases, which can be a column of the identity matrix.

[0153] Optionally, the terminal determines the precoding matrix according to the following three steps: 1. Determine the spatial beam set, which can also be called the set of all values ​​in a codebook; 2. Select the wideband beam group, i.e., determine the wideband precoding matrix W1; 3. Perform beam selection and phase quantization adjustment, i.e., determine the subband precoding matrix.

[0154] The spatial beam set can be determined by (N1, N2) and (O1, O2). N1 represents the number of logical antenna ports in a certain direction (e.g., horizontal) under the same polarization; N2 represents the number of logical antenna ports in another direction (e.g., vertical) under the same polarization; O1 represents the DFT oversampling parameters in the direction of N1 (e.g., horizontal); and O2 represents the DFT oversampling parameters in the direction of N2 (e.g., vertical). The physical meaning of N1 and N2 is that during beamforming, N1×N2 weight vectors with a horizontal dimension of N1 and a vertical dimension of N2 can be formed. These weight vectors are orthogonal to each other, meaning that the DFT beams formed by weighting these weight vectors are free from interference. The physical meaning of O1 and O2 is that DFT oversampling increases the number of weight vectors in the horizontal and vertical directions, thus generating more weight vectors. The values ​​of O1 and O2 also determine the beam density in the horizontal and vertical directions when the antenna shape is fixed (i.e., N1 and N2 are determined). The larger the values ​​of O1 and O2, the smaller the beam step size and the higher the accuracy when performing beam scanning. However, the cost is that the weight vectors are no longer orthogonal, that is, there is interference between the beams.

[0155] Taking a CSI-RS port count of 16 as an example, the combination of (N1, N2) can include two cases: (4, 2) and (8, 1). For example, if N1 is 4, N2 is 2, O1 is 4, and O2 is 4... Figure 3 Each dot in the diagram corresponds to a DFT beam. The weight vectors corresponding to black dots are orthogonal to each other, meaning that the DFT beams corresponding to black dots do not interfere with each other; however, the weight vectors corresponding to black dots and shaded dots are no longer orthogonal, meaning that there is some interference between the DFT beams corresponding to black dots and shaded dots.

[0156] like Figure 3 As shown, the oversampled DFT beam index can be determined based on the position of each dot in the horizontal and vertical directions. l represents the DFT beam index in the horizontal direction, and m represents the DFT beam index in the vertical direction. For example, (l, m) = (0, 0) is used to indicate... Figure 3 The DFT beam corresponding to the dot marked "1" in the mid-space beam.

[0157] The oversampling parameters corresponding to the spatial beam set can be determined based on the higher-level parameter n1-n2-codebook subset restriction-x, where x is, for example, one of the following: r16, r19, r20, r21, r22, or r23. For example, the n1-n2 codebook subset restriction-x can be used to configure the values ​​of N1 and N2; the correspondence between the values ​​of N1 and N2 and (O1, O2) is shown in Table 1. Thus, the terminal can determine the oversampling parameters (O1, O2) corresponding to the spatial beam set based on the values ​​of N1 and N2 and the correspondence shown in Table 1.

[0158] Table 1

[0159]

[0160]

[0161] It should be noted that Table 1 above is merely an illustrative example and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application. Any reasonable modifications, additions, or deletions to the content of Table 1 that result in new table content are within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0162] Currently, L, p v The values ​​of β and p can be determined based on the parameter combination -r16 (paramCombination-r16). υ This represents the proportion of IDFT basis vector selection; β is the proportion of non-zero elements. For example, the values ​​of paramCombination-r16, L, and p... v The correspondence between L and β is shown in Table 2. Here, υ is the rank, and ∈ indicates belonging to. Thus, the terminal can determine L and p based on the value of paramCombination-r16 and the correspondence shown in Table 2. υ The values ​​of β and β.

[0163] Table 2

[0164]

[0165] It should be noted that Table 2 above is merely an illustrative example and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application. Any reasonable modifications, additions, or deletions to the content of Table 2 that result in new table content fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0166] 9. In this application, the oversampling parameter may have other names, such as oversampling multiple or oversampling factor, as long as they have the same function, they are all within the protection scope of this application.

[0167] 10. In this application, (N1,N2) is (a1,a2), which can be understood as: N1 takes the value a1 and N2 takes the value a2. For example, (N1,N2) is (4,1), which can be understood as: N1 takes the value 4 and N2 takes the value 1.

[0168] In this application, (O1,O2) is (a3,a4), which can be understood as: O1 takes the value a3 and O2 takes the value a4. For example, (O1,O2) is (4,4), which can be understood as: O1 takes the value 4 and O2 takes the value 4.

[0169] Optionally, (O1,O2) is (1,1), which can be understood as at least one of the following: the oversampling factor is 1, for example, the oversampling factor corresponding to the precoding matrix is ​​1; or, no oversampling is performed, for example, no oversampling is performed when determining the precoding matrix.

[0170] 11. In this application, a time unit may be a unit of time-domain resources. For example, a time unit may include at least one of the following: a system frame, a subframe, a slot, or a symbol. The symbol may be a time-domain symbol (e.g., an OFDM symbol).

[0171] In this application, a frequency unit may be a unit of frequency domain resources. For example, a frequency unit may include at least one of the following: component carrier, resource block (RB), resource element (RE), or subcarrier, etc.

[0172] 12. In this application, "instruction" or "for instruction" may include explicit instruction (or direct instruction) and implicit instruction (or indirect instruction). When describing information for instructing A, it may include whether the information explicitly instructs A or implicitly instructs A, but does not necessarily mean that the information carries A.

[0173] The indication methods involved in the embodiments of this application should be understood to cover various methods that enable the party to be indicated to obtain the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately. Moreover, the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different, without limitation.

[0174] In the embodiments of this application, "information" can be an explicit indication, that is, a direct indication through signaling, or obtained by combining other rules or parameters with parameters indicated by signaling, or by deduction. It can also be an implicit indication, that is, obtained based on rules or relationships, or based on other parameters, or by deduction. No limitation is imposed.

[0175] 13. In this application, communication between different devices can refer to direct communication between different devices (i.e., without the need for relaying or forwarding by other devices), or communication between different devices through other devices (i.e., requiring relaying or forwarding by other devices), or communication between a functional unit within a device and other devices through another functional unit. For example, "sending information to…(terminal)" can be understood as the destination of the information being the terminal, and may include sending information directly or indirectly to the terminal. "Receiving information from…(terminal)" can be understood as the source of the information being the terminal, and may include receiving information directly or indirectly from the terminal. Information may undergo necessary processing between the source and destination ends, such as format changes, digital-to-analog conversion, amplification, filtering, etc., but the destination end can understand the valid information from the source end. Similar expressions in this application can be understood in a similar way, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0176] 14. In this application, the words "exemplarily," "for example," "for instance," and "example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or explanations, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. It should be understood that the examples in this application may also be implemented in other ways. In this application, "of," "corresponding, relevant," and "corresponding" may sometimes be used interchangeably, and it should be noted that their intended meanings are consistent when their distinctions are not emphasized.

[0177] 15. In this application, any two of the programs, instructions and code may be substituted for one another.

[0178] 16. In this application, "*" and "×" represent the meaning of multiplication or multiplication.

[0179] 17. In this application, some characters are in regular font, such as N1, and some characters are in italic font, such as N1. When the same character is used in different fonts, it has the same meaning.

[0180] 18. In this application, the parameters in the formula can also be represented by other letters, as long as they have the same meaning, they are all within the scope of protection of this application.

[0181] 19. In this application, the k1,…,k-th vector among the P first vectors L The first vector can be replaced by: the k0,…,k-th vectors in the P first vectors. L-1 There are 1 first vectors, where 1 ≤ k i ≤P, 0≤i≤L-1.

[0182] In this application, the h1,…,h-th vector among the N3 second vectors... MvThe second vector can be replaced by: the h0,…,h-th second vector among the N3 second vectors. Mv-1 There are two second vectors, where 1 ≤ h. j ≤N3,0≤j≤Mv-1.

[0183] 20. In this application, the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal being greater than or equal to a certain energy threshold can be replaced by at least one of the following: the signal quality of the reference signal being greater than or equal to a certain signal quality threshold; or, the channel quality corresponding to the reference signal being greater than or equal to a certain channel quality threshold. And / or, the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal being less than a certain energy threshold can be replaced by at least one of the following: the signal quality of the reference signal being less than a certain signal quality threshold; or, the channel quality corresponding to the reference signal being less than a certain channel quality threshold.

[0184] Among these, one or more of the following—signal quality of the reference signal, channel energy corresponding to the reference signal, and channel quality corresponding to the reference signal—may be related to the signal strength of the received reference signal. For example, one or more of these factors may be positively correlated with the signal strength of the received reference signal. For instance, a higher signal strength generally indicates higher signal quality, and / or a lower signal strength generally indicates lower channel quality. Similarly, a higher signal strength generally indicates higher channel energy, and / or a lower signal strength generally indicates lower channel energy. Likewise, a higher signal strength generally indicates higher channel quality, and / or a lower signal strength generally indicates lower channel quality.

[0185] For example, the parameters used to represent or indicate signal strength may include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following: reference signal receiving power (RSRP), reference signal receiving quality (RSRQ), or received signal strength indication (RSSI).

[0186] 21. Obtain channel state information:

[0187] The key technology of beamforming is to obtain channel state information between the transmitting and receiving equipment, such as channel state matrix information. This channel state information can be used to determine the precoding matrix, thereby realizing digital beamforming and improving system capacity.

[0188] In some possible ways, the terminal can determine the Channel State Indicator (CSI) by measuring downlink signals and then feed back the CSI to the access network equipment. The following section combines... Figure 4 This section explains the method by which the terminal determines and feeds back Channel State Information (CSI). It should be understood that Channel State Information (CSI) is a type of channel information. Besides being a single type of channel information, CSI can also specifically correspond to a particular point in time, a time period, or a specific state of the channel. In the following description, Channel State Information, Channel State Matrix Information, Channel Information, and Channel Matrix Information are uniformly referred to as "channel information" at a higher level. Further explanation and description will be provided when the scheme involves specific points in time, specific states, or specific matrix forms. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the method may include:

[0189] S401: The access network device sends measurement configuration information to the terminal.

[0190] This measurement configuration information can also be referred to as reference signal and channel information reporting configuration information. This measurement configuration information can be carried in the RRC signaling sent by the access network equipment to the terminal.

[0191] In some implementations, measurement configuration information includes resource configuration information and / or reporting configuration information. Resource configuration information is related to measurement resources and can be used to configure them. In the protocol, this measurement resource can be configured through a three-level structure: resource configuration (resourceConfig or resourceSetting), resource set (resourceSet), and resource (resource). For example, an access network device can configure one or more resource configurations for a terminal. Each resource configuration includes one or more resource sets, and each resource set can include one or more resources. Each resource configuration / resource set / resource includes its own index. Optionally, each resource configuration / resource set / resource may also include other parameters, such as the resource's period and the signal type corresponding to the resource. Reporting configuration information refers to information related to the reporting of measurement results, which can be configured through reporting configuration (ReportConfig) in the protocol. An access network device can configure one or more reporting configurations for a terminal. Each reporting configuration includes reporting indicators, reporting time and period, reporting format, and other reporting-related information. Optionally, the reporting configuration may also include an index of the resource configuration, indicating which measurement resources(s) were used to measure the reported results.

[0192] In other implementations, the measurement configuration information includes resource configuration information. Optionally, the measurement configuration information also includes reporting configuration information. The specific content of the resource configuration information and the reporting configuration information can be found in the descriptions above, and will not be repeated here.

[0193] S402: The access network device sends a downlink signal to the terminal.

[0194] Optionally, the access network device may send downlink signals on the resources configured in the resource configuration information.

[0195] For example, the downlink signal may be a downlink reference signal, such as an SSB, CSI-RS, or TRS.

[0196] S403: The terminal measures the downlink signal to obtain the CSI.

[0197] For example, the terminal can determine the number of CSI-RS ports, L, p based on the measurement configuration information indicated. υ The CSI is obtained by measuring one or more parameters such as β, codebook type, or codebook subset restriction.

[0198] Optionally, the terminal may measure the downlink signal to determine the quality of the resources carrying the downlink signal (e.g., the quality of the beam carrying the downlink signal), thereby determining the CSI.

[0199] Optionally, CSI is a type of channel information used to characterize the channel state, and may include at least one of the following: CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI), channel quality indicator (CQI), PMI, rank indicator (RI), layer indicator (LI), reference signal received power (RSRP), or SSB resource indicator (SSBRI), etc.

[0200] S404: The terminal sends a CSI to the access network equipment.

[0201] Optionally, CSI can be contained in a CSI report.

[0202] In other possible methods, access network equipment can determine channel information by measuring uplink signals and then feed that channel information back to the terminal. The following section combines... Figure 5 The method for access network equipment to determine and feedback channel information is explained. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the method may include:

[0203] S501: The access network device sends uplink signal resource configuration information to the terminal.

[0204] Uplink signal resource configuration information can also be called reference signal configuration information or reference signal resource configuration information. This uplink signal resource configuration information can be carried in the RRC signaling sent by the access network equipment to the terminal.

[0205] The uplink signal resource configuration information is measurement resource-related information, which can be configured in the protocol through a two-level structure, including a resource set and a resource. For example, an access network device can configure one or more resource sets for a terminal. Each resource set may include one or more resources. Each resource is associated with (or corresponds to or is related to) a beam. Each resource set / resource includes its own index. In addition, each resource set / resource includes other parameters, such as the resource's period and the signal type corresponding to the resource.

[0206] S502: The terminal sends an uplink signal to the access network equipment.

[0207] Optionally, the terminal may send uplink signals on the resources configured in the uplink signal resource configuration information.

[0208] For example, the uplink signal may be an uplink reference signal (e.g., SRS).

[0209] S503: The access network equipment measures the uplink signal to obtain channel information.

[0210] Optionally, the access network equipment can measure the uplink signal to determine the quality of the resources carrying the uplink signal (e.g., the quality of the beam carrying the uplink signal), thereby determining the TPMI.

[0211] S504: Access network equipment sends TPMI to the terminal.

[0212] Optionally, after receiving the TPMI, the terminal can perform uplink transmission according to the precoding matrix indicated by the TPMI.

[0213] The receiving device for the reference signal (e.g., a terminal) can calculate and feed back precoding matrices for multiple sets of spatial bases, respectively. For example, when the value of L is large, the receiving device for the reference signal can calculate and feed back precoding matrices for multiple sets of spatial bases, with the sum of the number of spatial bases in these multiple sets being L. Here, L can be the number of beams selected by the receiving device for the reference signal; or, L can be the number of ports selected by the receiving device for the reference signal; or, L can be the number of spatial bases selected by the receiving device for the reference signal.

[0214] Currently, these multiple sets of spatial bases are indicated by the transmitting device (e.g., access network device) to the receiving device of the reference signal. However, these multiple sets of spatial bases are channel-dependent between the transceiver devices, and the transmitting device of the reference signal is not aware of the channel. Therefore, the multiple sets of spatial bases indicated by the transmitting device of the reference signal may not match the channel, resulting in lower accuracy of the precoding matrix determined based on these multiple sets of spatial bases.

[0215] Based on this, embodiments of this application provide a communication method and apparatus for determining PMI, for example, for improving the accuracy of the precoding matrix corresponding to the PMI. The method and apparatus described in this application are based on the same technical concept. Since the principles by which the method and apparatus solve the problem are similar, the implementations of the apparatus and method can be mutually referred to, and repeated details will not be elaborated further.

[0216] The communication method provided in the embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. This method can be applied to... Figures 1A to 1B The communication system shown is not limited to this. This application describes the interaction between a terminal and an access network device as an example. Optionally, in this application, the operations performed by the terminal can also be performed by components applicable to the terminal (e.g., modules, communication modules, circuits or chips responsible for communication functions (such as modem chips, or SoC chips or SIP chips containing modem cores), chip systems, or processors), or by logical nodes, logical modules, or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal's functions, or by a combination of hardware and software. Similarly, the methods performed by the access network device in this application can also be performed by components applicable to the access network device (e.g., modules, communication modules, circuits or chips responsible for communication functions (such as modem chips, or SoC chips or SIP chips containing modem cores), chip systems, or processors), or by logical nodes, logical modules, or software capable of implementing all or part of the access network device's functions, or by a combination of hardware and software.

[0217] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application, the terminal and / or access network device may perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of this application. These steps or operations are merely examples, and the embodiments of this application may also perform other operations or variations thereof. Furthermore, the steps may be performed in different orders as presented in the embodiments of this application, and it is not necessarily necessary to perform all the operations in the embodiments of this application.

[0218] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. In this method, the terminal can feed back a precoding matrix to the access network device. For example... Figure 6 As shown, the method may include:

[0219] S601: The terminal sends capability information; correspondingly, the access network equipment receives capability information.

[0220] The capability information can be used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the terminal supports grouping the first vector, whether the terminal supports grouping the second vector, or whether the terminal supports frequency domain oversampling. These will be explained below.

[0221] 1. Capability information is used to indicate whether the terminal supports grouping the first vector.

[0222] Optionally, the capability information is used to indicate whether the terminal supports grouping the first vector, which can be understood as: the capability information is used to indicate whether the terminal supports (or has) the capability to group the first vector.

[0223] Wherein, the first vector is the spatially dependent basis vector corresponding to the precoding matrix. Optionally, the first vector can be replaced by at least one of the following: spatial basis, spatial basis vector, spatial basis vector, spatially dependent vector, spatial filter, precoder, precoder index, spatial precoder, antenna port, antenna port index, codebook, codebook index, beam, or beam index. And / or, the first vector being the spatially dependent basis vector corresponding to the precoding matrix can be understood as: the first vector can be at least one of the following: spatial basis, spatial basis vector, spatial basis vector, spatially dependent vector, spatial filter, precoder, spatial precoder, antenna port, codebook, or beam.

[0224] 2. Capability information is used to indicate whether the terminal supports grouping the second vector.

[0225] Optionally, the capability information is used to indicate whether the terminal supports grouping the second vector, which can be understood as: the capability information is used to indicate whether the terminal supports (or has) the capability to group the second vector.

[0226] Wherein, the second vector is the frequency-domain dependent basis vector corresponding to the precoding matrix. Optionally, the second vector can be replaced by at least one of the following: frequency domain basis, frequency domain basis vector, frequency domain basis vector, frequency domain dependent vector, frequency domain filter, precoder, frequency domain precoder, tap, time domain tap, subband, or subband index. And / or, the second vector being the frequency-domain dependent basis vector corresponding to the precoding matrix can be understood as: the second vector can be at least one of the following: frequency domain basis, frequency domain basis vector, frequency domain basis vector, frequency domain dependent vector, frequency domain filter, precoder, frequency domain precoder, tap, time domain tap, or subband.

[0227] 3. Capability information is used to indicate whether the terminal supports frequency domain oversampling.

[0228] Optionally, the capability information is used to indicate whether the terminal supports frequency domain oversampling, which can be understood as: the capability information is used to indicate whether the terminal supports (or has) the capability to perform frequency domain oversampling.

[0229] For ease of understanding, frequency domain oversampling will be explained below.

[0230] When the terminal performs frequency domain oversampling, at least one oversampling group can be obtained. The oversampling group can be determined by N3 and O3. N3 represents the number of sub-bands, for example, the number of sub-bands corresponding to the reference signal; O3 represents... Oversampling parameters in the direction in which they are located (e.g., the frequency domain direction). The corresponding physical meaning is that N3 second vectors can be formed in the frequency domain dimension, and these second vectors are mutually orthogonal. The physical meaning of O3 is that oversampling increases the number of second vectors in the direction of N3 (e.g., the frequency domain direction), thus generating more second vectors. This results in O3 oversampling groups, each containing N3 second vectors. A larger value for O3 results in a smaller step size for subband scanning and higher accuracy, but at the cost of the second vectors no longer being orthogonal, meaning there is interference between subbands.

[0231] Taking N3 as 8 and O3 as 4 as an example, Figure 7A Each dot in the diagram corresponds to a sub-band. The second vector corresponding to a black dot belongs to one oversampled group, and the second vector corresponding to a diagonal dot belongs to another. The second vectors corresponding to black dots are orthogonal to each other, meaning the sub-bands corresponding to black dots do not interfere with each other; however, the second vectors corresponding to black dots and diagonal dots are no longer orthogonal, meaning there is some interference between the sub-bands corresponding to black dots and diagonal dots.

[0232] Alternatively, the oversampling group may have other names, such as frequency domain oversampling group, without restriction.

[0233] This application does not limit the specific manner in which capability information indicates the capabilities supported by the terminal. In some examples, capability information may explicitly indicate whether the terminal supports a certain capability. For example, capability information may explicitly indicate whether the terminal supports grouping a first vector. If the capability information is value #1 (e.g., 1), it indicates that the terminal supports grouping the first vector; if the capability information is value #2 (e.g., 0), it indicates that the terminal does not support grouping the first vector. Values ​​#1 and #2 are different. In other examples, capability information may explicitly indicate that the terminal supports a certain capability. For example, if the terminal sends (or reports) capability information, it indicates that the terminal supports grouping the first vector; if the terminal does not send (or report) capability information, it indicates that the terminal does not support grouping the first vector. In still other examples, capability information may implicitly indicate that the terminal supports a certain capability. For example, when the terminal supports a first capability, the terminal may support a second capability. In this case, the capability information may indicate that the terminal supports the first capability and implicitly indicate that the terminal supports the second capability. The first capability and the second capability are different.

[0234] In some implementations, the capability information may also indicate the number of ports that the terminal can measure. Optionally, the number of ports that the terminal can measure can be used to determine the number of ports used by the access network device to transmit reference signals; correspondingly, the access network device can determine the number of ports used by the access network device to transmit reference signals based on the number of ports that the terminal can measure. For example, the number of ports that the terminal can measure may be greater than or equal to the number of ports used by the access network device to transmit reference signals. For instance, if the terminal can measure 16 ports, the number of ports used by the access network device to transmit reference signals may be less than or equal to 16.

[0235] In other implementations, the capability information may also indicate the maximum value of L that the terminal can support. L may be the number of beams selected by the terminal. Optionally, L may be the number of beams selected by the terminal, which can be understood as at least one of the following: L may be the number of ports (e.g., CSI-RS ports) selected by the terminal; or L may be the number of first vectors selected by the terminal. The specific content of the first vector can be referred to the description of the first vector above, and will not be repeated here.

[0236] Capability information can be carried in traditional messages or in new messages, without limitation. For example, capability information can be carried in uplink control information (UCI) or MAC control element (MAC CE). Alternatively, capability information can be carried in PUCCH or PUSCH. Furthermore, capability information can be carried in UCI or MAC CE, and UCI or MAC CE can be carried in PUCCH or PUSCH. It should be understood that the above examples can be independent or combined.

[0237] Capability information may also have other names, such as capability reporting information, without restriction.

[0238] S601 is an optional step. For example, it may be assumed that the terminal supports at least one of the following: whether the terminal supports grouping the first vector, whether the terminal supports grouping the second vector, or whether the terminal supports frequency domain oversampling. Alternatively, it may be assumed that the terminal does not support at least one of the following: whether the terminal supports grouping the first vector, whether the terminal supports grouping the second vector, or whether the terminal supports frequency domain oversampling. In these examples, S601 is an optional step.

[0239] S602: The access network device sends the first configuration information; correspondingly, the terminal receives the first configuration information.

[0240] The first configuration information can be used to configure the resources carrying the reference signal and / or information related to the reporting of measurement results. For example, the first configuration information can be the measurement configuration information in S401, which may include resource configuration information and reporting configuration information. For details, please refer to the description of measurement configuration information in S401. Repeated descriptions will not be repeated here.

[0241] In some possible approaches, the first configuration information may include information #1. For example, the resource configuration information in the first configuration information may include information #1, which can be used to indicate (or configure) the first number of ports. Accordingly, the terminal can determine the first number of ports based on information #1. This first number of ports may be the number of ports corresponding to a reference signal; or, in other words, the first number of ports may be the number of ports used to carry the reference signal, for example, the number of ports in the access network device used to carry the reference signal. Optionally, when the first number of ports is the number of ports used to carry CSI-RS, the first number of ports may also be referred to as the number of CSI-RS antenna ports or the number of CSI-RS ports.

[0242] For example, information #1 can be information in a CodebookConfig information element (IE). For instance, information #1 can be the n1-n2 codebook subset restriction -x (n1-n2-codebookSubsetRestriction-x) in the CodebookConfig IE, where x is, for example, one of the following: r19, r20, r21, r22, or r23. In this way, the terminal can accurately determine the first port number based on information #1.

[0243] In some possible ways, the first configuration information may include information #2. For example, the reporting configuration information in the first configuration information may include information #2. Information #2 can be used to indicate (or configure) the value of L. In other words, information #2 can be used to indicate (or configure) L. Accordingly, the terminal can determine the value of L based on information #2.

[0244] In some implementations, L can take the value of an integer from 1 to x1. For example, x1 can be any value from 1 to 32, or an odd number from 1 to 32, or an even number from 1 to 32. For example, x1 can be one of the following: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, or 32. For example, when x1 is 32, the value of L can be one of the following: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 or 32.

[0245] For example, information #2 can configure information in IE for the codebook. For instance, information #2 can configure the parameter combination -x (paramCombination-x) in IE for the codebook, where x is, for example, one of the following: r19, r20, r21, r22, or r23. The following example shows a possible example of information #2 with x as r21 and x1 as 16.

[0246] CodebookConfig-r21::=SEQUENCE{

[0247] paramCombination-r21 INTEGER(1..16)

[0248] }

[0249] Wherein, paramCombination-r21 can be an integer from 1 to 16. Optionally, paramCombination-r21 can also take other values, for example, an integer from 1 to x2. For example, x2 can be any value from 1 to 64. For example, x2 can be one of the following: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, or 64. For example, when x2 is 32, the value of paramCombination-r21 can be one of the following: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 or 32.

[0250] Optionally, one value of L can correspond to one or more values ​​of paramCombination-r21. For example, if paramCombination-r21 is 1 or 2, the value of L can be 2. As another example, if paramCombination-r21 is 3, 4, 5, or 6, the value of L can be 4.

[0251] In some implementations, information #2 can also be used to indicate p v and / or β. Where p v For details regarding p and β, please refer to the explanations of terms above. v The explanations of β and p will not be repeated here. Below, we will discuss p separately. v Let's explain with β.

[0252] 1. p υ :Optionally, p v It can be an integer less than or equal to 1. For example, p υ It can be a1 / a2, where a2 is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and a1 is an integer greater than 0 and less than a2. For example, a2 can be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, or 32.

[0253] 2. β: Optionally, β can be an integer less than or equal to 1. For example, β can be a3 / a4, where a4 is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and a3 is an integer greater than 0 and less than a4. For example, a4 can be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, or 32.

[0254] It should be understood that the above refers to p υ The descriptions of β and β can be independent or combined.

[0255] Optionally, for the same value of L, p corresponding to υ∈{1,2} υ p corresponding to υ∈{3,4} υ Large. As mentioned before, information #2 can configure information in IE for the codebook. For example, information #2 can configure the parameter combination -x in IE for the codebook. The value of parameter combination -x is related to the value of L, p υ The correspondence between β and β (hereinafter referred to as correspondence #2) can be represented in various forms, such as in a table.

[0256] In some examples, the correspondence #2 can be as shown in Table 2 above. Thus, information #2 can indicate the value of parameter combination -x; the terminal can accurately determine the value of L and p indicated by information #2 based on the value of parameter combination -x and Table 2. υ And β. Optionally, this example may be applicable to cases where the number of ports on the access network device is small (e.g., less than or equal to 8).

[0257] In other examples, the correspondence #2 can be as shown in Table 3A. Thus, information #2 can indicate the value of parameter combination -x; the terminal can accurately determine the value of L and p indicated by information #2 based on the value of parameter combination -x and Table 3A. υ And β. Optionally, this example can be applied to cases where the number of ports on the access network device is large (e.g., greater than 8).

[0258] Table 3A

[0259]

[0260]

[0261] It should be noted that Table 3A above is merely an illustrative example and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application. Any reasonable modifications, additions, or deletions to the content of Table 3A that result in new table content fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0262] In some other examples, the correspondence #2 can be as shown in Table 3B. Thus, information #2 can indicate the value of parameter combination -x; the terminal can accurately determine the value of L and p indicated by information #2 based on the value of parameter combination -x and Table 3B. υ And β.

[0263] Table 3B

[0264]

[0265]

[0266] It should be noted that Table 3B above is merely an illustrative example and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application. Any reasonable modifications, additions, or deletions to the content of Table 3B that result in new table content fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0267] In this way, the terminal can accurately determine the value of L based on information #2.

[0268] In some possible embodiments, the first configuration information may also include reference signal configuration information. The reference signal configuration information may include information related to reference signal port groups (or reference signal port clusters). Optionally, the information related to reference signal port groups may indicate (or configure) at least one of the following: the number of reference signal port groups K, or the number of ports in each reference signal port group (which may be represented as P). CSI-RS,k ,k=0,1,…,K-1). Where K is a positive integer. Optionally, the number of ports in different reference signal port groups can be the same (e.g., it can be represented as P). CSI-RS (or different)

[0269] Optionally, a reference signal port group can be replaced by a reference signal resource group (or reference signal resource group). The following explanation uses a reference signal port group as an example; it should be understood that the same method can be applied to a reference signal resource group.

[0270] In some possible approaches, the first configuration information may also include channel information reporting configuration information. The channel information reporting configuration information can be used to indicate (or configure) the content and quantity of reporting. For example, the channel information reporting configuration information may indicate (or configure) at least one of the following: the number of channel information groups Q measured, the number of channel information groups P reported, and the PMI configuration corresponding to each channel information group (e.g., parameters related to PMI reporting).

[0271] Optionally, the reference signal configuration information and / or channel information reporting configuration information are also used to indicate (or configure) at least one of the following: the transmission method of the reference signal, or the relationship between the reference signal and the channel information. This application does not limit its specific content; for example, it may indicate (or configure) in a manner specified in a protocol.

[0272] The first configuration information can be carried in a traditional message or in a new message, without restriction. For example, the first configuration information can be carried in DCI, MAC control element (MAC CE), or RRC signaling. Another example is that the first configuration information can be carried in PDCCH or PDSCH. Yet another example is that the first information can be carried in DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling, and the DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling can be carried in PDCCH or PDSCH. It should be understood that the above examples can be independent or combined.

[0273] The first configuration information can be configured (or sent) periodically, or it can be configured (or sent) aperiodically, or it can be semi-persistently configured (or sent).

[0274] It should be understood that S602 uses the example of information #1 and information #2 being carried in the same message for illustration, but it is not limited to this. For example, information #1 and information #2 can also be carried in different messages.

[0275] S602 is an optional step.

[0276] S603: The access network device sends a reference signal; correspondingly, the terminal receives the reference signal.

[0277] The number of reference signals can be one or more.

[0278] Optionally, the reference signal may be a traditional reference signal, such as CSI-RS. In the subsequent standard evolution process, the name of the traditional reference signal may change or remain the same, all of which are within the protection scope of this application; or, the reference signal may be an evolution of the traditional reference signal. The name of the evolved reference signal may change or remain the same, all of which are within the protection scope of this application; or, the reference signal may be a new reference signal or a reference signal defined in the future.

[0279] This application does not restrict the way in which access network equipment transmits reference signals, for example, it may transmit them in a manner specified by the protocol; this application does not restrict the way in which terminals receive reference signals, for example, they may receive them in a manner specified by the protocol.

[0280] In some possible ways, if the reference signal configuration information in S602 includes information related to the reference signal port group, then the access network device can send a reference signal according to the reference signal port group; correspondingly, the terminal can receive a reference signal according to the reference signal port group. The following explains "the access network device can send a reference signal according to the reference signal port group; correspondingly, the terminal can receive a reference signal according to the reference signal port group".

[0281] In some implementations, different reference signal port groups can be transmitted in a time-division manner, meaning that different reference signal port groups are transmitted on different time-domain resources. Optionally, the time-division transmission of different reference signal port groups can be understood as at least one of the following: the access network device can transmit reference signals through different reference signal port groups in a time-division manner, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive reference signals through different reference signal port groups in a time-division manner; the access network device can transmit reference signals corresponding to different reference signal port groups through different time-domain resources, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive reference signals corresponding to different reference signal port groups through different time-domain resources; the access network device can transmit reference signals through different beams in a time-division manner, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive reference signals through different beams in a time-division manner; or, the access network device can transmit reference signals corresponding to different beams through different time-domain resources, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive reference signals corresponding to different beams through different time-domain resources. For example, the access network device can transmit a reference signal through reference signal port group #1 in time unit #1 and through reference signal port group #2 in time unit #2. Correspondingly, the terminal can receive the reference signal through reference signal port group #1 in time unit #1 and through reference signal port group #2 in time unit #2. Alternatively, the access network device can transmit a reference signal through beam #1 in time unit #1 and through beam #2 in time unit #2. Correspondingly, the terminal can receive the reference signal through beam #1 in time unit #1 and through beam #2 in time unit #2. Thus, under the HBF architecture, the access network device can transmit different reference signals through different beams (e.g., analog beams), thereby enabling the measurement of channel information for multiple beams and allowing feedback of channel information from multiple beams.

[0282] In other implementations, different reference signal port groups can be transmitted via frequency division, meaning different reference signal port groups can be transmitted on different frequency domain resources. Optionally, different reference signal port groups can be transmitted via frequency division, which can be understood as at least one of the following: the access network device can transmit reference signals through different reference signal port groups via frequency division, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive reference signals through different reference signal port groups via frequency division; the access network device can transmit reference signals corresponding to different reference signal port groups via different frequency domain resources, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive reference signals corresponding to different reference signal port groups via different frequency domain resources; the access network device can transmit reference signals through different beams via frequency division, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive reference signals through different beams via frequency division; or, the access network device can transmit reference signals corresponding to different beams via different frequency domain resources, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive reference signals corresponding to different beams via different frequency domain resources. For example, the access network device can transmit a reference signal in frequency unit #1 through reference signal port group #1 and in frequency unit #2 through reference signal port group #2. Correspondingly, the terminal can receive the reference signal in frequency unit #1 through reference signal port group #1 and in frequency unit #2 through reference signal port group #2. Alternatively, the access network device can transmit a reference signal in frequency unit #1 through beam #1 and in frequency unit #2 through beam #2. Correspondingly, the terminal can receive the reference signal in frequency unit #1 through beam #1 and in frequency unit #2 through beam #2. For example, the access network device can transmit the reference signal corresponding to reference signal port group #1 through antenna group #1, and transmit the reference signal corresponding to reference signal port group #2 through antenna group #2. Correspondingly, the terminal can receive the reference signal corresponding to reference signal port group #1 and the reference signal corresponding to reference signal port group #2. Similarly, the access network device can transmit the reference signal corresponding to beam #1 through antenna group #1, and transmit the reference signal corresponding to beam #2 through antenna group #2. Correspondingly, the terminal can receive the reference signal corresponding to beam #1 and the reference signal corresponding to beam #2. This implementation can transmit reference signals corresponding to different reference signal port groups using frequency division, thus allowing the access network device to quickly scan channel information compared to time division.

[0283] In some implementations, different reference signal port groups can be transmitted using spatial division, meaning different reference signal port groups can be transmitted on different spatial resources (e.g., antenna groups). Optionally, different reference signal port groups can be transmitted using spatial division, which can be understood as at least one of the following: the access network device can transmit reference signals through different reference signal port groups using spatial division, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive reference signals through different reference signal port groups using spatial division; the access network device can transmit reference signals corresponding to different reference signal port groups using different spatial resources, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive reference signals corresponding to different reference signal port groups using different spatial resources; the access network device can transmit reference signals through different beams using spatial division, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive reference signals through different beams using spatial division; or, the access network device can transmit reference signals corresponding to different beams using different spatial resources, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive reference signals corresponding to different beams using different spatial resources. For example, the access network device can transmit the reference signal corresponding to the reference signal port group #1 through antenna group #1, and transmit the reference signal corresponding to the reference signal port group #2 through antenna group #2. Correspondingly, the terminal can receive the reference signal corresponding to the reference signal port group #1 and the reference signal corresponding to the reference signal port group #2. The access network device can transmit the reference signal corresponding to the beam #1 through antenna group #1, and transmit the reference signal corresponding to the beam #2 through antenna group #2.

[0284] In some possible approaches, when the terminal receives reference signals based on reference signal port groups, the terminal can determine Q groups of channel information based on K reference signal port groups. For example, the terminal can determine Q groups of channel information based on the reference signals corresponding to the K reference signal port groups. Optionally, the number K of reference signal port groups can be configured by the reference signal configuration information in S602, and the number Q of channel information groups can be configured by the channel information reporting configuration information in S602. Optionally, the Q groups of channel information can be used to determine the precoding matrix; correspondingly, the terminal can determine the precoding matrix based on the Q groups of channel information, and the method of determination is not limited; for example, it can be determined using the method specified in the protocol.

[0285] There are multiple ways to implement "the terminal can determine the Q group of channel information based on the K reference signal port groups", for example, at least one of the methods a1 to a3.

[0286] Method a1: When K and Q are equal, the K reference signal port groups can be used to determine (or obtain) the K groups of channel coefficients, thereby obtaining the K groups of channel information; correspondingly, the terminal can determine (or obtain) the K groups of channel coefficients based on the K reference signal port groups, thereby determining the K groups of channel information.

[0287] Optionally, the K reference signal port groups can be used to determine (or obtain) K groups of channel coefficients. This can be understood as follows: the reference signals corresponding to the K reference signal port groups can be used to determine (or obtain) K groups of channel coefficients. Accordingly, the terminal can determine (or obtain) K groups of channel coefficients based on the reference signals corresponding to the K reference signal port groups.

[0288] In some implementations, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the K reference signal port groups and the K sets of channel coefficients. Thus, the terminal can determine one set of channel coefficients from the K sets of channel coefficients based on each of the K reference signal port groups. For example, the terminal can determine one set of channel coefficients from the K sets of channel coefficients based on the reference signal corresponding to each of the K reference signal port groups. For instance, each of the K reference signal port groups can correspond to an analog beam, and there are a total of K analog beams. In this case, the K reference signal port groups can be used to obtain (or acquire) the channel coefficients of the K analog beams, and the channel coefficients of each of the K analog beams constitute one set of channel coefficients from the K sets of channel coefficients. Accordingly, the terminal can determine the channel coefficients of the K analog beams based on the reference signal corresponding to each of the K reference signal port groups, thereby determining the K sets of channel coefficients.

[0289] Method a2: When Q is greater than K, the K reference signal port groups can be used to determine (or obtain) the Q group of channel information; accordingly, the terminal can determine (or obtain) the Q group of channel information based on the K reference signal port groups.

[0290] Optionally, the K reference signal port groups can be used to determine (or acquire) Q group channel information. This can be understood as follows: the reference signals corresponding to the K reference signal port groups can be used to determine (or acquire) Q group channel information. Accordingly, the terminal can determine (or acquire) Q group channel information based on the reference signals corresponding to the K reference signal port groups.

[0291] In some implementations, the K reference signal port groups are used to determine the K sets of channel information corresponding to the K reference signal port groups. These K sets of channel information are then used to obtain Q sets of channel information through weighted processing. Correspondingly, the terminal can determine the K sets of channel information corresponding to the K reference signal port groups based on the K reference signal port groups, and perform weighted processing on these K sets of channel information to obtain Q sets of channel information. Channel information can be understood as channel coefficients.

[0292] For example, K reference signal port groups can be used to determine (or obtain) the channel coefficients of the K reference signal port groups, denoted as A0, A1, ..., A K-1 Accordingly, the terminal can determine (or obtain) the channel coefficients of the K reference signal port groups based on the K reference signal port groups, denoted as A0, A1, ..., A1, respectively.K-1 A k Let A be the channel coefficient of one of the K reference signal port groups, where k is an integer from 0 to (K-1). k The dimension is N UE ×P CSI-RS,k , where N UE This represents the number of receive antenna ports for the terminal. Based on the channel coefficients of the K reference signal port groups, and... The terminal can determine (or acquire) Q channel information. in, It can be a weighting coefficient between port channels, or it can be equivalent to a beam. q takes integer values ​​from 1 to Q.

[0293] Optionally, mode a2 can be used with either the HBF architecture or the DBF architecture.

[0294] Using method a2, when the access network device transmits reference signals using fewer beams, the terminal can obtain channel information corresponding to more beams based on these reference signals. For example, the access network device can transmit reference signals corresponding to a reference signal port group using K sets of orthogonal analog weights, thereby obtaining channel information corresponding to K analog ports (or analog beams). The terminal can then weight the channel information corresponding to the K analog ports (or analog beams) to obtain channel information for O analog beams, where O is greater than K. Through this method, the terminal can also measure the channel information of encrypted beams.

[0295] Method a3: When Q is less than K, the K reference signal port groups can be used to determine (or obtain) the Q group of channel information; accordingly, the terminal can determine (or obtain) the Q group of channel information based on the K reference signal port groups.

[0296] Optionally, the K reference signal port groups can be used to determine (or acquire) Q group channel information. This can be understood as follows: the reference signals corresponding to the K reference signal port groups can be used to determine (or acquire) Q group channel information. Accordingly, the terminal can determine (or acquire) Q group channel information based on the reference signals corresponding to the K reference signal port groups.

[0297] In some possible approaches, Q reference signal port groups out of K reference signal port groups can be used to determine Q groups of channel information; correspondingly, the terminal can determine the Q groups of channel information based on the Q reference signal port groups out of the K reference signal port groups. Optionally, the Q reference signal port groups and the Q groups of channel coefficients can be in one-to-one correspondence. In this way, the terminal can determine a set of channel coefficients in the Q groups of channel coefficients based on each reference signal port group out of the Q reference signal port groups. For example, the terminal can determine a set of channel coefficients in the Q groups of channel coefficients based on the reference signal corresponding to each reference signal port group out of the Q reference signal port groups. For example, each of the Q reference signal port groups can correspond to one analog beam, resulting in a total of Q analog beams. Thus, the Q reference signal port groups can be used to obtain (or acquire) the channel coefficients of the Q analog beams. The channel coefficients of each of the Q analog beams constitute one set of channel coefficients in the Q sets. Accordingly, the terminal can determine the channel coefficients of the Q analog beams based on the reference signals corresponding to each of the Q reference signal port groups, thereby determining the Q sets of channel coefficients.

[0298] Optionally, the Q reference signal port groups can be indicated by the access network device to the terminal. For example, the access network device can indicate the Q reference signal port groups through the configuration information in S602.

[0299] For example, within a first cell, the access network device transmits reference signals through eight reference signal port groups. The terminal is located within the coverage area of ​​the analog beam corresponding to the first to fifth reference signal port groups. The access network device can indicate the first to fifth reference signal port groups to the terminal via configuration information. In this way, the terminal can determine five sets of channel information based on the first to fifth reference signal port groups.

[0300] Optionally, in modes a1 to a3, the channel coefficients can be replaced by the channel response.

[0301] S604: The terminal sends the first information; correspondingly, the access network device receives the first information.

[0302] The first information is determined based on the reference signal, and correspondingly, the terminal can determine the first information based on the reference signal. The first information can be used to indicate N groups of first vectors. For example, the first information can be used to indicate at least one of the following: the number of first vectors in the nth group of N groups of first vectors, or each first vector in the nth group of first vectors. N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and n takes integer values ​​from 1 to N. The nth group of first vectors can be a proper subset of L first vectors. Here, L is a positive integer; the first vectors are spatially correlated basis vectors corresponding to the precoding matrix. Optionally, L can be less than or equal to the number of first vectors corresponding to the reference signal.

[0303] Optionally, the first information is determined based on the reference signal, which can be replaced with: the first information is related to (or corresponds to) the reference signal.

[0304] Optionally, the first vector in the nth group being a proper subset of the L first vectors can be understood as at least one of the following: the first vector in the nth group includes some of the first vectors in the L first vectors; the first vector in the nth group belongs to a part of the L first vectors; each of the N groups of first vectors is a proper subset of the L first vectors; each of the N groups of first vectors includes some of the first vectors in the L first vectors; or, each of the N groups of first vectors belongs to a part of the L first vectors.

[0305] The following example illustrates the concept that "the first vector of the nth group is a proper subset of the L first vectors". In this example and other examples below, the reference signal corresponds to P. CSI-RS For each port, the reference signal on a single polarization corresponds to P ports. Thus, the reference signal on a single polarization corresponds to P first vectors, where P = Pi. CSI-RS / 2. The L first vectors only include the k1,…,k-th elements of the P first vectors. L There are 1 first vectors, where 1 ≤ k i ≤P, 1≤i≤L. Optionally, the sorting of the first vectors among the P first vectors can be based on the order of their corresponding ports, first vertically then horizontally, or it can be based on the order of their corresponding ports, first horizontally then vertically. The following explanation uses the example of sorting the first vectors among the P first vectors according to the order of their corresponding ports, first vertically then horizontally, for example, as... Figure 7B As shown, N1 is 16, N2 is 8, and P is 128. Figure 7B Each square in the diagram corresponds to a port, and each port corresponds to a first vector. The first vector corresponding to the first port in the first column is the 1st to 8th first vector out of 128 first vectors; the first vector corresponding to the first port in the second column is the 9th to 16th first vector out of 128 first vectors, and so on. For example, L first vectors could be... Figure 7B The first vector corresponding to the diagonal-filled square, that is, the L first vectors are the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd and 109th first vectors out of 128 first vectors.

[0306] For example, the L first vectors only include the k1,…,k-th vectors from the P first vectors. L The nth group of first vectors includes only the first vector from the P first vectors. The first vector. Where, when a is 0, L aL is 0; when a is an integer greater than or equal to 0, L a L represents the number of first vectors in the a-th group of N first vector groups. For example, the number of first vectors in the first group of N first vector groups is L1, and the number of first vectors in the second group of N first vector groups is L2. a n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than L; n takes integer values ​​from 1 to N. For example, L is 16 and P is 128. The L first vectors include only the k1,…,k-th elements from the 128 first vectors. 16 The first vector; the nth group of first vectors includes only the k1, k2, k3 and k4th first vectors from the 128 first vectors. Among them, k1, k2, k3 and k4 are, for example, 12, 20, 23 and 27 respectively.

[0307] Optionally, L being less than or equal to the number of first vectors corresponding to the reference signal can be replaced by at least one of the following: L being less than or equal to the number of ports (e.g., CSI-RS ports) corresponding to the reference signal; L being less than or equal to the number of beams corresponding to the reference signal; L being the number of beams selected by the terminal; L being the number of ports (e.g., CSI-RS ports) selected by the terminal; or L being the number of first vectors selected by the terminal.

[0308] For example, the L first vectors only include the k1,…,k-th vectors from the P first vectors. L The nth group of first vectors includes only the first vector from the P first vectors. There is a first vector. For the nth group of first vectors, the first information can indicate the number L of first vectors in the nth group. n And / or, the first information may indicate the first Each of the first vectors in the first vector group. For example, if L is 16 and P is 128, for the nth group of first vectors, the first information can indicate the number L of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors. n And / or, the first information can indicate the first of the 128 vectors. Each of the 128 first vectors. For example, the nth group of first vectors includes only the k1, k2, k3, and k4th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. For the nth group of first vectors, the first information may indicate the number of first vectors in the nth group, 4, and / or, the first information may indicate each of the k1, k2, k3, and k4th first vectors out of the 128 vectors. Where k1, k2, k3, and k4 are, for example, 12, 20, 23, and 27 respectively.

[0309] The first vector of the N groups is explained below.

[0310] In some possible approaches, some or all of the N sets of first vectors can be used to determine the precoding matrix; correspondingly, the access network device can determine the precoding matrix based on some or all of the N sets of first vectors. For example, if the N sets of first vectors include 4 sets of first vectors, the access network device can determine the precoding matrix based on these 4 sets of first vectors. Alternatively, if the N sets of first vectors include 4 sets of first vectors, the access network device can determine the precoding matrix based on 2 of these 4 sets of first vectors. Optionally, the approach of using some or all of the N sets of first vectors to determine the precoding matrix will be explained below with reference to the description of "N sets of first vectors and M sets of second vectors can be used to determine the precoding matrix." The N sets of first vectors in "N sets of first vectors and M sets of second vectors can be used to determine the precoding matrix" can be replaced with some or all of the N sets of first vectors, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0311] The overlap relationship between different groups of first vectors in the N groups can have multiple possible ways, such as way b1 or way b2.

[0312] Method b1: The first vectors in different groups of the N groups do not overlap.

[0313] Optionally, the non-overlapping of different groups of first vectors in the N groups can be understood as at least one of the following: the intersection of different groups of first vectors in the N groups is an empty set; there is no overlap between any two groups of first vectors in the N groups; or, the intersection of any two groups of first vectors in the N groups is an empty set.

[0314] For example, the L first vectors only include the k1,…,k-th vectors from the P first vectors. L The first vector. These N groups of first vectors include the first vectors from group 1 to group 4. The first group of first vectors includes only the first vector from these P first vectors. The first vector; the second group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the P first vectors. The first vector; the third group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the P first vectors. The first vector; the fourth group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the P first vectors. The first vector. For example, if L is 16 and P is 128, the first group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the 128 first vectors. The first vector; the second group of first vectors only includes the first of the 128 first vectors. The first vector; the third group of first vectors only includes the first of the 128 first vectors. The fourth group of first vectors only includes the first of the 128 first vectors. The first vector. For example, still using... Figure 7BFor example, the first group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 67th, 77th, 78th and 87th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 91st, 94th, 102nd and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0315] By using method b1, the first vectors in different groups of the N groups do not overlap, thereby reducing inter-group interference and improving the accuracy of the feedback precoding matrix. Furthermore, since the first vectors in different groups of the N groups do not overlap, the terminal does not need to report precoding matrix-related information multiple times for the same first vector, thus reducing the overhead of feeding back the precoding matrix.

[0316] Method b2: The N sets of first vectors include at least two sets of first vectors, and the different sets of first vectors in the at least two sets of first vectors partially or completely overlap.

[0317] Optionally, the partial or complete overlap between different groups of first vectors in the at least two groups of first vectors can be understood as: there is an intersection between different groups of first vectors in the at least two groups of first vectors; the intersection between different groups of first vectors in the at least two groups of first vectors is not an empty set; there is a partial or complete overlap between any two groups of first vectors in the at least two groups of first vectors; there is an intersection between any two groups of first vectors in the at least two groups of first vectors; or, the intersection between any two groups of first vectors in the at least two groups of first vectors is not an empty set.

[0318] In some examples, the at least two sets of first vectors are partial sets of vectors in the N sets of first vectors, and the different sets of first vectors in the at least two sets of first vectors partially or completely overlap.

[0319] For example, the L first vectors only include the k1,…,k-th elements of the P first vectors. L The first vector. These N groups of first vectors include the first vectors from group 1 to group 4. The first group of first vectors includes only the first vector from these P first vectors. The first vector; the second group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the P first vectors. The first vector; the third group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the P first vectors. The first vector; the fourth group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the P first vectors. The first vector in the first group partially overlaps with the first vector in the second group. For example, if L is 16 and P is 128, the first vector in the first group only includes the first vector in the first group of 128. The first vector; the second group of first vectors only includes the first of the 128 first vectors. The first vector; the third group of first vectors only includes the first of the 128 first vectors. The fourth group of first vectors only includes the first of the 128 first vectors. The first vector. For example, still using... Figure 7B For example, the first group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 67th, 77th, 78th, and 87th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. It should be understood that this example illustrates the case where there is one overlapping first vector between the first group of first vectors and the second group of first vectors, but it is not limited to this; there may be at least one overlapping first vector between the first group of first vectors and the second group of first vectors.

[0320] For example, the L first vectors only include the k1,…,k-th vectors from the P first vectors. L The first vector. These N groups of first vectors include the first vectors from group 1 to group 4. The first group of first vectors includes only the first vector from these P first vectors. The first vector; the second group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the P first vectors. The first vector; the third group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the P first vectors. The first vector; the fourth group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the P first vectors. The first vector in the first group overlaps completely with the first vector in the second group. For example, if L is 16 and P is 128, the first vector in the first group only includes the first vector in the first group of 128. The first vector; the second group of first vectors only includes the first of the 128 first vectors. The first vector; the third group of first vectors only includes the first of the 128 first vectors. The fourth group of first vectors only includes the first of the 128 first vectors. The first vector. For example, still using... Figure 7BFor example, the first group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th and 87th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 91st, 94th, 102nd and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0321] In other examples, the N sets of first vectors are the at least two sets of first vectors, in which different sets of first vectors partially or completely overlap.

[0322] For example, the L first vectors include the k1,…,k-th vectors among the P first vectors. L The first vector. These N groups of first vectors include the first vectors from group 1 to group 4. The first group of first vectors includes only the first vector from these P first vectors. The first vector; the second group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the P first vectors. The first vector; the third group of first vectors only includes the first vector among the P first vectors. The first vector; the fourth group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the P first vectors. The first vector. For example, if L is 16 and P is 128, the first group of first vectors only includes the first vector from the 128 first vectors. The first vector; the second group of first vectors only includes the first of the 128 first vectors. The first vector; the third group of first vectors only includes the first of the 128 first vectors. The fourth group of first vectors only includes the first of the 128 first vectors. The first vector. For example, still using... Figure 7B For example, the first group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th and 87th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0323] Through this method b2, at least two sets of first vectors may overlap in the N sets of first vectors, which reduces the restrictions on the N sets of first vectors and thus improves the flexibility of the N sets of first vectors.

[0324] The quantitative relationships between different groups of first vectors in the N groups can be in various ways, such as method c1 or method c2.

[0325] Method c1: The number of first vectors in any two groups of the first vectors in the N groups can be the same.

[0326] Optionally, the number of first vectors in every two groups of the N groups of first vectors can be the same, which can be understood as at least one of the following: the number of first vectors in different groups of the N groups of first vectors is the same; the number of first vectors in each group of the N groups of first vectors is X1, where X1 is a positive integer; or, the N groups of first vectors are uniformly grouped.

[0327] For example, the N groups of first vectors include the first vectors from the first group to the fourth group. The first group of first vectors includes only the k1,…,k-th vectors from the P first vectors. X1 The first vector; the second group of first vectors only includes the k-th first vector among the P first vectors. X1+1 ,…,k 2*X1 The first vector; the third group of first vectors only includes the k-th first vector among the P first vectors. 2*X1+1 ,…,k 3*X1 The first vector; the fourth group of first vectors only includes the k-th first vector among the P first vectors. 3*X1+1 ,…,k L The first vector. For example, if L is 16 and P is 128, the L first vectors are the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. Figure 7C As shown, the first group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 67th, 77th, 78th and 87th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 91st, 94th, 102nd and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0328] In some possible ways, the value of X1 can be determined based on the values ​​of L and N; in other words, the terminal can determine the value of X1 based on the values ​​of L and N. Optionally, or or in, This indicates the floor function. This indicates the rounding up operation. This indicates rounding. For example, if L is 16 and N is 4, then X1 = 4.

[0329] In some implementations, when L / N is not an integer, method c1 can be replaced with: [The following is a list of N first vectors and their corresponding values]. The number of first vectors in the first vector group is X1. In these N groups of first vectors, excluding the first vector... In the other groups of first vectors besides the first vector in the first group, the number of first vectors is X2, where X2 is a positive integer. For example, It can be an integer from 1 to N-1. For example, It can be one of the following: 1, 2, 3, ..., or (N-1).

[0330] Optionally, the The first vector of a group can be at least one of the following: the first vector in the N groups. The first vector in the group; the last one in the N groups of first vectors The first vector in each of the N groups; among these N groups of first vectors, the one corresponding to the channel with the strongest energy. The first vector in each of the N groups; among these N groups of first vectors, the one corresponding to the weakest channel energy. The first vector in each of the N groups; the second vector that corresponds to the largest number of these N groups of first vectors. The first vector in each of the N groups; the group with the fewest corresponding second vectors. The first vector in the group; or, randomly selected from the first vectors in the N groups. The first vector of a set. The channel energy corresponding to a certain first vector of a set can be the energy of the channel corresponding to the reference signal projected onto the first vector of that set; the specific content of the second vector is described in S601 and will not be repeated here.

[0331] The following is based on this The first vector of group N is the first one among the first vectors of group N. The first vector in the group, and Let's take an example to illustrate.

[0332] For example, L is 15, P is 128, and L first vectors are the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, and 102nd first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. The N groups of first vectors include the first vectors from the first group 1 to the fourth group. The first group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th, and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 67th, 77th, 78th, and 87th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 91st, 94th, and 102nd first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0333] For example, L is 14, P is 128, and L first vectors are the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, and 94th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. The N groups of first vectors include the first groups from the first group 1 to the first group 4. The first group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th, and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 67th, 77th, and 78th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 87th, 91st, and 94th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0334] In method c1, the number of first vectors in every two groups of the N groups of first vectors can be the same, which can reduce the complexity of determining the N groups of first vectors.

[0335] Method c2: N sets of first vectors include at least two sets of first vectors, and the number of first vectors included in different sets of first vectors is different.

[0336] Optionally, the number of first vectors included in different groups of the at least two groups of first vectors is different, which can be understood as: the number of first vectors included in every two groups of the at least two groups of first vectors is different; or, the N groups of first vectors are not uniformly grouped.

[0337] Optionally, at least two sets of first vectors can be some or all of the first vectors in the N sets of first vectors. An example is given below. In the example below, L is 16, P is 128, and the L first vectors are the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0338] For example, such as Figure 7D As shown, the N groups of first vectors include the first vectors from group 1 to group 4. Group 1 includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; Group 2 includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th, and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; Group 3 includes only the 67th, 77th, and 78th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and Group 4 includes only the 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. The number of first vectors in Group 3 (i.e., 3) differs from the number of first vectors in Group 4 (i.e., 5).

[0339] For example, such as Figure 7E As shown, the N groups of first vectors include the first vectors from the first group to the first vectors from the fourth group. The first group of first vectors includes only the 12th and 20th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 23rd, 27th, 45th and 54th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 60th, 61st and 67th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0340] Optionally, in method c2, the number of first vectors in at least one of the N groups of first vectors is greater than 1.

[0341] In some examples, only one of the N groups of first vectors contains more than one first vector. For instance, the N groups of first vectors include groups 1 through 4. Group 1 contains only the 12th first vector out of 128; Group 2 contains only the 20th first vector out of 128; Group 3 contains only the 23rd first vector out of 128; and Group 4 contains only the 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of 128.

[0342] In other examples, only two of the N groups of first vectors contain more than one first vector. For instance, the N groups of first vectors include groups 1 through 4. Group 1 contains only the 12th first vector out of 128; Group 2 contains only the 20th first vector out of 128; Group 3 contains only the 23rd and 27th first vectors out of 128; and Group 4 contains only the 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of 128.

[0343] In some other examples, only three of the N groups of first vectors contain more than one first vector. For instance, the N groups of first vectors include groups 1 through 4. Group 1 contains only the 12th first vector out of 128; Group 2 contains only the 20th and 45th first vectors out of 128; Group 3 contains only the 23rd and 27th first vectors out of 128; and Group 4 contains only the 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of 128.

[0344] In some other examples, the number of first vectors in each of the N groups of first vectors is greater than 1. For example, the N groups of first vectors include the first vectors of groups 1 through 4. The first group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th, and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 67th, 77th, and 78th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0345] Through this method c2, there can be at least two sets of first vectors with different numbers among the N sets of first vectors, which reduces the restrictions on the N sets of first vectors and thus improves the flexibility of the N sets of first vectors.

[0346] In this application, the value of N can be determined in various ways. In some examples, the value of N can be preset, such as as specified by the protocol. In other examples, the value of N can be indicated to the terminal by other devices (e.g., access network devices or core network devices). For example, the access network device can send second information, and the terminal can receive the second information, which can indicate the value of N. The second information can, for example, be included in the first configuration information in S602. The second information can be carried in a traditional message or in a new message. For example, the second information can be carried in DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling. Also, for example, the second information can be carried in PDCCH or PDSCH. Yet another example, the second information can be carried in DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling, and the DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling can be carried in PDCCH or PDSCH. It should be understood that the above examples can be independent or combined with each other. In other examples, the value of N can be determined by the terminal. Optionally, after determining the value of N, the terminal can indicate the value of N to the access network device. For example, the first information can indicate the value of N. For instance, the first information can indicate the value of N using 3 bits. Optionally, when the number of first vectors in each of the N groups of first vectors is X1, the first information can indicate the value of N, or it can be replaced by: the first information indicating the value of X1.

[0347] In some possible approaches, the N sets of first vectors can be determined based on a reference signal; correspondingly, the terminal can determine the N sets of first vectors based on the reference signal, and there can be multiple methods of determination, such as method d1 or method d2:

[0348] Method d1: Each of the N groups of first vectors is selected from L first vectors, and the L first vectors are determined based on the reference signal; accordingly, the terminal can execute steps A1 to A2:

[0349] Step A1: The terminal determines L first vectors based on the reference signal.

[0350] In some implementations, a reference signal can be used to determine the channel corresponding to the reference signal. The channel corresponding to the reference signal can be projected onto P first vectors corresponding to the reference signal. The L first vectors can be the L vectors with the highest channel energy among the P first vectors. Accordingly, the terminal can determine the channel corresponding to the reference signal based on the reference signal, project the channel corresponding to the reference signal onto the P first vectors corresponding to the reference signal, and select the L vectors with the highest channel energy from the P first vectors as the L first vectors.

[0351] For example, the L first vectors only include the k1,…,k-th vectors from the P first vectors. L The first vector, k1,…,kL The first vectors are the L vectors with the highest channel energy among the P first vectors. For example, if L is 16 and P is 128, the P first vectors are... Figure 7B The first vector corresponding to the port shown. If the first vector corresponding to the diagonally filled square is one of the L vectors with the highest channel energy among the P first vectors, then the L first vectors can be: Figure 7B The first vector corresponding to the diagonal-filled square, that is, the L first vectors are the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd and 109th first vectors out of 128 first vectors.

[0352] In other implementations, the reference signal can be used to determine the channel corresponding to the reference signal. The channel corresponding to the reference signal can be projected onto P first vectors corresponding to the reference signal. The L first vectors can be L vectors among the P first vectors whose corresponding channel energy is greater than or equal to a first energy threshold. Accordingly, the terminal can determine the channel corresponding to the reference signal based on the reference signal, project the channel corresponding to the reference signal onto the P first vectors corresponding to the reference signal, and select L vectors from the P first vectors whose corresponding channel energy is greater than or equal to the first energy threshold as the L first vectors.

[0353] For example, the L first vectors only include the k1,…,k-th first vectors from the P first vectors. L The first vector, k1,…,k L The first vector is L vectors among the P first vectors whose corresponding channel energy is greater than or equal to a first energy threshold. For example, L is 16, P is 128, and the P first vectors are... Figure 7B The first vector corresponding to the port shown. If the first vector corresponding to the diagonally filled square is one of the L vectors among the P first vectors whose channel energy is greater than or equal to the first energy threshold, then the L first vectors can be: Figure 7B The first vector corresponding to the diagonal-filled square, that is, the L first vectors are the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd and 109th first vectors out of 128 first vectors.

[0354] Optionally, in this implementation, if among the P first vectors, the vectors whose corresponding channel energy is greater than or equal to the first energy threshold include L' first vectors, where L' is an integer greater than L, then the L first vectors can be L vectors randomly selected from the L' first vectors. Accordingly, the terminal can randomly select L vectors from the L' first vectors as the L first vectors.

[0355] For example, if the k1,…,k-th vector in the P first vectors L’If the channel energy corresponding to the first vector is greater than or equal to the first energy threshold, then the L first vectors only include the k1,…,k-th first vectors from the P first vectors. L The first vector, k1,…,k L The first vector is from the k1,...,kth vector. L’ L vectors are randomly selected from the first vectors. For example, if L is 16 and P is 128, then the P first vectors are... Figure 7B The first vector corresponding to the port shown. If the channel energy corresponding to the following L' first vectors is greater than or equal to the first energy threshold: the 1st, 5th, 12th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors, then the terminal can randomly select L vectors from the L' first vectors as L first vectors. For example, the terminal can randomly select the following vectors from the L' first vectors as L first vectors: the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0356] The first energy threshold can be preset, such as as specified in the protocol; or it can be notified to the terminal by other devices (e.g., access network devices or core network devices); or it can be determined by the terminal and is not restricted.

[0357] In the above implementation, the method by which the terminal determines the channel corresponding to the reference signal based on the reference signal is not limited; for example, it can adopt the method specified in the protocol.

[0358] Step A2: The terminal determines N sets of first vectors based on L first vectors, where each of the N sets of first vectors is a proper subset of the L first vectors.

[0359] In some implementations, the first vector in the nth group includes L n A first vector, L n Let L be an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than L, where n is an integer ranging from 1 to N. n The first vector can be L randomly selected from the L first vectors. n L vectors; correspondingly, the terminal can randomly select L from the L first vectors. n vectors, as L n The first vector.

[0360] For example, the L first vectors are the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of 128 first vectors. The N groups of first vectors include the first group of first vectors to the fourth group of first vectors; each group of first vectors in the first group of first vectors to the fourth group of first vectors includes 4 first vectors, and each group of first vectors in the first group of first vectors to the fourth group of first vectors is randomly selected from the L first vectors. For example, the first group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 67th, 77th, 78th and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 91st, 94th, 102nd and 87th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0361] In other implementations, the first vector in the nth group includes L n A first vector, L n Let n be an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than L, where n takes on any integer value from 1 to N. When n is 1, L... n Each first vector may include the first to L1 first vectors among the L first vectors; when n is greater than or equal to 2, the L n The first vector may include the first of the L first vectors. To the The first vector.

[0362] Optionally, the l-th first vector among the L first vectors can be either the l-th first vector when the L first vectors are arranged in ascending order of their indices, or the l-th first vector when the L first vectors are arranged in descending order of their indices. The following explanation uses the example of "the l-th first vector among the L first vectors can be the l-th first vector when the L first vectors are arranged in ascending order of their indices" for illustration.

[0363] For example, the L first vectors are the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of 128 first vectors. The N groups of first vectors include the first group 1 through the first group 4; each group of first vectors in the first group 1 through the first group 4 includes 4 first vectors. The first group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th, and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 67th, 77th, 78th, and 87th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0364] Using method d1, the terminal can accurately determine N sets of first vectors. Furthermore, in this method, the N sets of first vectors are determined by the terminal. Since the terminal can determine the channel based on the received reference signal, it can determine the N sets of first vectors that match the channel of the reference signal, thereby improving the accuracy of the precoding matrix corresponding to the N sets of first vectors. In addition, in this method, the terminal can first determine L first vectors, and then determine the N sets of first vectors based on the L first vectors, thereby reducing the complexity of determining the N sets of first vectors and reducing the power consumption of the terminal in determining the N sets of first vectors.

[0365] Method d2: The first vector in the nth group includes L n A first vector, L n Let L be an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than L, where n is an integer ranging from 1 to N. n The first vector is selected from the P first vectors corresponding to the reference signal; correspondingly, the terminal can select L from the P first vectors corresponding to the reference signal. n vectors, as L n There are N first vectors. In this way, the terminal can determine N sets of first vectors.

[0366] In some implementations, when n is 1, the L n Each first vector may include the L1 vectors with the highest channel energy among the P first vectors; when n is greater than or equal to 2, the L... n The first vector may include the channel energy corresponding to the P first vectors, which is the first... To the The vector.

[0367] For example, the P first vectors can be Figure 7BThe diagram shows 128 vectors corresponding to the 128 ports. The N groups of first vectors include groups 1 through 4; each group contains 4 first vectors. Group 1 includes only the 4 first vectors with the highest corresponding channel energy out of the 128 first vectors; for example, group 1 includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. Group 2 includes only the first vectors with channel energy ranked from 4th to 8th out of the 128 first vectors; for example, group 2 includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th, and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. The third group of first vectors only includes the 9th to 12th first vectors in the 128 first vectors, ordered from highest to lowest channel energy. For example, the third group of first vectors only includes the 67th, 77th, 78th and 87th first vectors in the 128 first vectors. The fourth group of first vectors only includes the 13th to 16th first vectors in the 128 first vectors, ordered from highest to lowest channel energy. For example, the fourth group of first vectors only includes the 91st, 94th, 102nd and 109th first vectors in the 128 first vectors.

[0368] In other implementations, when n is 1, the L n Each first vector may include L, where the channel energy corresponding to the P first vectors is greater than or equal to the second energy threshold. n A vector; when n is greater than or equal to 2, this L n The first vector may include L corresponding to a channel energy greater than or equal to the second energy threshold in vector set #1. n There are 10 vectors, and vector set #1 includes the vectors from the first group to the (n-1)th group of the first vectors.

[0369] For example, the P first vectors can be Figure 7BThe diagram shows 128 vectors corresponding to the 128 ports. The N groups of first vectors include groups 1 through 4; each group contains 4 first vectors. The first group includes only the 4 first vectors whose channel energy is greater than or equal to the second energy threshold out of the 128 first vectors. For example, the first group includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. The second group includes only the first vectors whose channel energy is greater than or equal to the second energy threshold out of the 124 first vectors. These 124 first vectors include only the vectors from the 128 vectors other than those in the first group. For example, the second group includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th, and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. The third group of first vectors includes only the first vectors whose channel energy is greater than or equal to the second energy threshold among the 120 first vectors. The 120 first vectors include only the vectors other than the first vectors in the first group and the first vectors in the second group among the 128 vectors. For example, the third group of first vectors includes only the 67th, 77th, 78th and 87th first vectors among the 128 first vectors. The fourth group of first vectors includes only the first vectors whose channel energy is greater than or equal to the second energy threshold among the 116 first vectors. The 116 first vectors include only the vectors other than the first vectors in the first group, the first vectors in the second group and the first vectors in the third group among the 128 vectors. For example, the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 91st, 94th, 102nd and 109th first vectors among the 128 first vectors.

[0370] The second energy threshold can be preset, such as as specified in the protocol; or it can be notified to the terminal by other devices (e.g., access network devices or core network devices); or it can be determined by the terminal and is not restricted.

[0371] Using method d2, the terminal can accurately determine N sets of first vectors. Furthermore, in this method, the N sets of first vectors are determined by the terminal. Since the terminal can determine the channel based on the received reference signal, it can determine the N sets of first vectors that match the channel of the reference signal, thereby improving the accuracy of the precoding matrix corresponding to the N sets of first vectors. In addition, in this method, the terminal can determine the N sets of first vectors based on the first vector corresponding to the reference signal, thus simplifying the operation of determining the N sets of first vectors.

[0372] As previously stated, the first information can be used to indicate at least one of the following: the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors in N groups of first vectors, or each first vector in the nth group of first vectors.

[0373] In some examples, the first information can be used to indicate the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors in N groups of first vectors.

[0374] In other examples, the first information can be used to indicate each first vector in the nth group of N first vectors. For example, if for the nth group of first vectors, the first information indicates the first vector in the P first vectors. The nth first vector indicates that the nth group of first vectors includes only the first vector from the P first vectors. For example, if the first information indicates the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of 128 first vectors for the nth group of first vectors, then the nth group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of those 128 first vectors. In this example, the first information can indicate each first vector in the nth group of first vectors, so that the access network device can accurately determine the nth group of first vectors based on the first information.

[0375] In other examples, the first information can be used to indicate: the number of first vectors in the nth group of N first vector groups, and each first vector in the nth group. For example, if for the nth group of first vectors, the first information indicates that the number of first vectors in the nth group is L. n and indicate the first of the P first vectors The nth first vector indicates that the nth group of first vectors includes only the first vector from the P first vectors. For example, if, for the nth group of first vectors, the first information indicates that the number of first vectors in the nth group is 4, and indicates the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of 128 first vectors, then the nth group of first vectors only includes the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. In this example, the first information indicates each first vector in the nth group, so the access network device can accurately determine the nth group of first vectors based on the first information. Furthermore, in this example, the first information also indicates the number of first vectors in the nth group, so that for the nth group of first vectors, after determining the first vectors corresponding to this number based on the first information, the access network device can stop determining the nth group of first vectors without having to check all the fields in the first information corresponding to the nth group of first vectors, thereby reducing the computational complexity of the access network device.

[0376] As previously mentioned, the first information can be used to indicate the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors out of N groups of first vectors, and the manner of indication is not limited. In some examples, the first information can explicitly indicate the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors; for example, the first information may include the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors. In other examples, the first information can implicitly indicate the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors; for example, the first information may include information that corresponds to the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors.

[0377] As previously stated, the first information can be used to indicate each first vector in the nth group of first vectors in the N groups of first vectors, and there can be multiple ways of indication, such as at least one of methods e1 to e4.

[0378] Method e1: The first vector in the nth group includes L n A first vector, L n n is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than L, where n takes integer values ​​from 1 to N; the first information may include L. n The index of each of the first vectors in the first vector.

[0379] For example, if for the nth group of first vectors, the first information includes the nth vector among the P first vectors. The index of the first vector indicates that L n The first vector includes the first of the P first vectors. The first vector. For example, if for the nth group of first vectors, the first information includes the indices of the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of 128 first vectors, then it indicates that L n The first vector includes the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors.

[0380] Through this method e1, the first information can accurately indicate the first vector of the nth group.

[0381] Method e2: The first vector in the nth group includes L n A first vector, L n n is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than L, where n ranges from 1 to N; the first information indicates bitmap #1, which is used to indicate the value of L. n The first vector.

[0382] The first information indicates the specific manner in which bitmap #1 is presented, and is not limited. For example, the first information may include bitmap #1.

[0383] In some implementations, at least one bit in bitmap #1 may correspond to at least one first vector. This at least one bit may be some or all of the bits in bitmap #1. Each bit in this at least one bit can be used to indicate whether the first vector corresponding to that bit belongs to the L... nThere is a first vector; in other words, each bit in the at least one bit can be used to indicate whether the first vector corresponding to that bit belongs to the nth group of first vectors; or, each bit in the at least one bit can be used to indicate whether the nth group of first vectors includes the first vector corresponding to that bit. For example, if the value of a bit in the at least one bit is a first value (e.g., 1 or 0), then the first vector corresponding to that bit belongs to the nth group of first vectors; if the value of a bit in the at least one bit is a second value (e.g., 0 or 1), then the first vector corresponding to that bit does not belong to the nth group of first vectors. The first value and the second value are different.

[0384] Optionally, the at least one bit may be arranged in descending order of its corresponding first vector index; or, the at least one bit may be arranged in ascending order of its corresponding first vector index. The following example illustrates this: the at least one bit is arranged in ascending order of its corresponding first vector index. For example, the first vector corresponding to the at least one bit is the 1st to 16th of P first vectors; the first value is 1, and the second value is 0. If the value of the first bit map is 0111000000000000, then the L... n The first vector includes the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th first vectors out of the P first vectors; in other words, the nth group of first vectors includes the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th first vectors out of the P first vectors.

[0385] In method e2, the first information can accurately indicate the first vector in the nth group. Alternatively, in this method, the first information can indicate the first vector in the nth group via bitmap #1. Thus, the first information can indicate whether one or more first vectors belong to the nth group using a single bit, saving signaling overhead when the number of first vectors in the nth group is large.

[0386] Method e3: The first information may include (or indicate) the index of the first vector in the nth group.

[0387] Optionally, in mode e3, the terminal may have prior knowledge of the correspondence between at least one set of first vectors and at least one index (hereinafter referred to as correspondence #1). The at least one set of first vectors may include the nth set of first vectors. Thus, after receiving the index of the nth set of first vectors, the terminal can determine the nth set of first vectors based on correspondence #1 and the index of the nth set of first vectors.

[0388] The correspondence #1 can be pre-defined, for example, as specified by a protocol; or it can be indicated to the terminal by other devices (e.g., access network devices or core network devices); or it can be determined by the terminal. Optionally, if the correspondence #1 is determined by the terminal, the terminal can send the indication information of the correspondence #1 to the access network device.

[0389] For example, the correspondence #1 can be shown in Table 4. For instance, if the index of the first vector in the nth group of the first information is 0, then the first vector in the nth group includes the k1th, ..., k4th first vectors out of P first vectors. Also, for example, if the index of the first vector in the nth group of the first information is 1, then the first vector in the nth group includes the k5th, ..., k8th first vectors out of P first vectors. And yet another example, if the index of the first vector in the nth group of the first information is 2, then the first vector in the nth group includes the k9th, ..., k8th first vectors out of P first vectors. 12 The first vector. For example, if the index of the nth group of first vectors in the first information is 3, then the nth group of first vectors includes the kth first vector among P first vectors. 13 ,…,k 16 The first vector.

[0390] Table 4

[0391] index First vector group 0 <![CDATA[the k1-th, ..., k4-th first vectors among the P first vectors]]> 1 <![CDATA[The k5-th, ..., k8-th first vectors among the P first vectors]]> 2 <![CDATA[The k9-th, ..., k-th of the P first vectors 12 first vectors]]> 3 <![CDATA[the k-th of the P first vectors 13 , ..., k 16 first vector]]>

[0392] It should be noted that Table 4 above is merely an illustrative example and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application. Any reasonable modifications, additions, or deletions to the content of Table 4 that result in new table content fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0393] In some implementations, the first vector in the nth group includes L n There are at least one first vector, and the number of sets of at least one first vector can be C(L). n (the first vector number corresponding to the reference signal); the at least one index may include 0 to (C(L)). n The integer C(x,y) is the number of combinations of selecting x elements from y distinct elements. For example, C(2,3) = 3.

[0394] For example, if the number of the first vector corresponding to the reference signal is 128, L n If the value is 4, then the number of at least one first vector group can be C(4,128), and the at least one index can include integers from 0 to (C(4,128)-1). Each index in the at least one index can occupy (or correspond to) 24 bits, so that the nth first vector group can be indicated by a 24-bit index.

[0395] With this implementation, the terminal can accurately indicate the first vector in the nth group by using the index of the first vector in the nth group.

[0396] In other implementations, the first vector in the nth group includes L n There are at least one first vector. If n is 1, then the number of such at least one first vector can be C(L). n (the first vector number corresponding to the reference signal); the at least one index may include 0 to (C(L)). n The integer in the range (the number of first vectors corresponding to the reference signal) - 1). If n is greater than or equal to 2, then the number of at least one set of first vectors can be C(L). n (the first vector number corresponding to the reference signal - the first quantity); the at least one index may include 0 to (C(L)). n The integer is found in the sequence (the number of first vectors corresponding to the reference signal - the first quantity) - 1). Here, the first quantity is the sum of the number of first vectors in the first group from the first group to the (n-1)th group of the N groups of first vectors.

[0397] For example, n is 1. If the number of the first vector corresponding to the reference signal is 128, L n If the value is 4, then the number of at least one first vector group can be C(4,128), and the at least one index can include integers from 0 to (C(4,128)-1). Each index in the at least one index can occupy (or correspond to) 24 bits, so that the nth first vector group can be indicated by a 24-bit index.

[0398] For example, n is 2. If the number of the first vector corresponding to the reference signal is 128, L n If the first group of first vectors consists of 4 first vectors, then the number of first vectors is 4. The number of groups of at least one first vector can be C(4,128-4) = C(4,124). The at least one index can include integers from 0 to (C(4,124)-1). Each index in the at least one index can occupy (or correspond to) 24 bits, so that the nth group of first vectors can be indicated by a 24-bit index.

[0399] For example, n is 3. If the number of the first vector corresponding to the reference signal is 128, L n If the first group of first vectors consists of 4 vectors, and the second group of first vectors also consists of 4 vectors, then the total number of first vectors is 8. The number of groups of at least one set of first vectors can be C(4,128-8) = C(4,120). This at least one index can include integers from 0 to (C(4,120)-1). Each index in this at least one set can occupy (or correspond to) 23 bits, thus the nth group of first vectors can be indicated by a 23-bit index.

[0400] For example, n is 4. If the number of the first vector corresponding to the reference signal is 128, L n If the first vector in group 1 to group 3 each contain 4 first vectors, then the total number of first vectors is 12. The number of groups of at least one set of first vectors can be C(4,128-12) = C(4,116). This at least one index can include integers from 0 to (C(4,116)-1). Each index in this at least one index can occupy 23 bits, thus the nth group of first vectors can be indicated by a 23-bit index.

[0401] Through this implementation, the terminal can accurately indicate the nth group of first vectors using the index of the nth group of first vectors. Furthermore, in this implementation, the index of the nth group of first vectors is determined based on the relationship between at least one group of first vectors and at least one index. When n is greater than or equal to 2, the at least one group of first vectors may not include the first vectors from the 1st to the (n-1)th group of first vectors in the Nth group of first vectors, thereby reducing the number of groups of at least one group of first vectors, which in turn reduces the number of bits occupied (or corresponding to) the at least one index, lowers the number of bits occupied (or corresponding to) the index of the nth group of first vectors, and reduces the signaling overhead of the first information indicating the nth group of first vectors.

[0402] In method e3, the first information can accurately indicate the nth group of first vectors. Furthermore, in this method, the first information can indicate the nth group of first vectors through the index of the nth group of first vectors. This eliminates the need for the terminal to send the index of each first vector in the nth group to the access network device, thus saving signaling overhead.

[0403] Method e4: The first information is used to indicate L first vectors and the index of the first combination in at least one combination. The first combination may belong to the at least one combination, and each combination in the at least one combination may include a first number of first vectors from the L first vectors, where the first number is the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors, and the first combination includes each first vector in the nth group of first vectors.

[0404] The method of indicating L first vectors using the first information can be referenced from methods e1 to e3, except that L... n The replacement of L, and / or the replacement of the first vector in the nth group with L first vectors, will not be elaborated further.

[0405] Optionally, in mode e4, the terminal may have prior knowledge of the correspondence between at least one combination and one or more indices (hereinafter referred to as correspondence #2). Thus, after receiving the index of the first combination in at least one combination, the terminal may determine the first combination based on correspondence #2 and the index of the first combination in at least one combination.

[0406] The correspondence #2 can be pre-defined, for example, as specified in the protocol; or it can be indicated to the terminal by other devices (e.g., access network devices or core network devices); or it can be determined by the terminal. Optionally, if the correspondence #2 is determined by the terminal, the terminal can send the indication information of the correspondence #2 to the access network device.

[0407] For example, the correspondence #2 can be shown in Table 5. If the index of the first combination in at least one combination in the first information is 0, then the first combination includes the l1st, ..., l4th vector among the L first vectors. If the index of the first combination in at least one combination in the first information is 1, then the first combination includes the l5th, ..., l8th vector among the L first vectors. If the index of the first combination in at least one combination in the first information is 2, then the first combination includes the l9th, ..., l1st vector among the L first vectors. 12 The first combination is indexed as 3 in at least one combination within the first information. Therefore, the first combination includes the l-th vector among the L first vectors. 13 ,…,l 16 There are vectors, where 1 ≤ l. i ≤L, 1≤i≤16. Optionally, 1≤l i ≤L, 1≤i≤16 can be replaced with: 1≤l i ≤L,0≤i≤15.

[0408] Assume the L first vectors are the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 45th, 54th, 60th, 61st, 67th, 77th, 78th, 87th, 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; l1,…,l4 are vectors 1 to 4, l5,…,l8 are vectors 5 to 8, l9,…,l… 12 For 9 to 12, l 13 ,…,l 16 The index is 13 to 16. If the index of the first combination in at least one combination in the first information is 0, then the first combination includes the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of 128 first vectors. If the index of the first combination in at least one combination in the first information is 1, then the first combination includes the 45th, 54th, 60th, and 61st first vectors out of 128 first vectors. If the index of the first combination in at least one combination in the first information is 2, then the first combination includes the 67th, 77th, 78th, and 87th first vectors out of 128 first vectors. If the index of the first combination in at least one combination in the first information is 3, then the first combination includes the 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of 128 first vectors.

[0409] Table 5

[0410] index combination 0 <![CDATA[The l1-th, ..., l4-th vectors among the L first vectors]]> 1 <![CDATA[The l5-th, ..., l8-th vectors among the L first vectors]]> 2 <![CDATA[The l-th 9, ..., l-th of the L first vectors 12 vectors]]> 3 <![CDATA[The l-th of the L first vectors 13 , ..., l 16 vector]]>

[0411] It should be noted that Table 5 above is merely an illustrative example and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application. Any reasonable modifications, additions, or deletions to the content of Table 5 that result in new table content fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0412] In some implementations, the first vector in the nth group includes L n Given a first vector, the number of combinations of at least one of these vectors can be C(L). n The one or more indexes may include 0 to (C(L)); n Integers in (L)-1). Optionally, if the L first vectors are indicated in the manner shown in method e3, then the indices corresponding to the L first vectors can be from 0 to (C(L)). n The integer of the first vector number corresponding to the reference signal (-1).

[0413] For example, if the number of the first vector corresponding to the reference signal is 128, and L is 16, L n If the index is 4, then the indices corresponding to the L first vectors can be integers from 0 to (C(16,128)-1), occupying (or corresponding to) 66 bits; the number of combinations of the at least one combination can be C(4,16), and the one or more indices can be integers from 0 to (C(4,16)-1). The one or more indices can occupy (or correspond to) 11 bits, so the index of the first combination in the at least one combination can occupy (or correspond to) 11 bits.

[0414] In other implementations, the first vector in the nth group includes L n The first vector. If n is 1, then the number of combinations of at least one combination is C(L). n The indexes (or indexes of type C, L) may include 0 to (C, L). n The integers in the set (L)-1). If n is greater than or equal to 2 and n is less than L, then the number of combinations of this at least one combination is C(L). n ,L-first quantity), the one or more indices may include 0 to (C(L) n The integers in (L - first quantity) - 1). Optionally, if the L first vectors are indicated in the manner shown in method e3, then the indices corresponding to the L first vectors can be from 0 to (C(L n The integer of the first vector number corresponding to the reference signal (-1).

[0415] For example, n is 1. If the number of the first vector corresponding to the reference signal is 128, L is 16, L nIf the index is 4, then the indices corresponding to the L first vectors can be integers from 0 to (C(16,128)-1), occupying (or corresponding to) 66 bits; the number of combinations of at least one combination can be C(4,16), and the one or more indices can be integers from 0 to (C(4,16)-1). The one or more indices can occupy (or correspond to) 11 bits, so the index of the first combination in the at least one combination can occupy (or correspond to) 11 bits.

[0416] For example, n is 2. If the number of the first vector corresponding to the reference signal is 128, L is 16, L n If the first group consists of 4 vectors, then the indices of the L vectors can be integers from 0 to (C(16,128)-1), occupying (or corresponding to) 66 bits. The number of combinations of at least one combination can be C(4,12), and the one or more indices can be integers from 0 to (C(4,12)-1). The one or more indices can occupy (or correspond to) 9 bits, so the index of the first combination in the at least one combination can occupy (or correspond to) 9 bits.

[0417] For example, n is 3. If the number of the first vector corresponding to the reference signal is 128, and L is 16, L n Since the first group and the second group both contain 4 first vectors, the indices corresponding to the L first vectors can be integers from 0 to (C(16,128)-1), occupying (or corresponding to) 66 bits. The number of combinations of at least one combination can be C(4,8), and the one or more indices can be integers from 0 to (C(4,8)-1). The one or more indices can occupy (or correspond to) 7 bits, so the index of the first combination in the at least one combination can occupy (or correspond to) 7 bits.

[0418] Through this implementation, the terminal can accurately indicate the nth group of first vectors by indicating L first vectors and the index of the first combination in at least one combination. Furthermore, in this implementation, the index of the first combination in at least one combination is determined based on the relationship between at least one combination and one or more indices. When n is greater than or equal to 2, the at least one combination may not include vectors from the first group to the (n-1)th group of first vectors in the Nth group of first vectors, thereby reducing the number of combinations of the at least one combination, which in turn reduces the number of bits occupied by the one or more indices, lowers the number of bits occupied by the index of the first combination in at least one combination, and reduces signaling overhead.

[0419] In method e4, the first information can accurately indicate the nth group of first vectors. Furthermore, in this method, the first information can indicate the nth group of first vectors by indicating L first vectors and the index of the first combination in at least one combination. This eliminates the need for the terminal to send the index of each first vector in the nth group of first vectors to the access network device, thus saving signaling overhead.

[0420] In some possible approaches, the first information is also used to indicate M groups of second vectors; accordingly, the access network device can determine M groups of second vectors based on the first information. M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, for example, M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. N groups of first vectors and M groups of second vectors can be used to determine the precoding matrix; accordingly, the access network device can determine the precoding matrix based on N groups of first vectors and M groups of second vectors. The second vectors are frequency-domain correlated basis vectors corresponding to the precoding matrix. N groups of first vectors may correspond to M groups of second vectors. Optionally, when M is an integer greater than or equal to 2, any two groups of second vectors in the M groups of second vectors are not completely identical.

[0421] Optionally, the N groups of first vectors can correspond to the M groups of second vectors, which can be understood as at least one of the following: each group of first vectors in the N groups of first vectors can correspond to a group of second vectors in the M groups of second vectors; or, the nth group of first vectors in the N groups of first vectors can correspond to the mth group of second vectors in the M groups of second vectors, where n takes integers from 1 to N and m takes integers from 1 to M.

[0422] In some examples, M is 1, and the M groups of second vectors constitute a single group of second vectors. N groups of first vectors correspond to this single group of second vectors; in other words, different groups of first vectors within the N groups correspond to the same group of second vectors; or, each group of first vectors within the N groups corresponds to the same group of second vectors; or, the nth group of first vectors within the N groups can correspond to this single group of second vectors. Optionally, this single group of second vectors can be understood as the mth group of second vectors within the M groups, where m is 1.

[0423] In other examples, M is greater than or equal to 2. The N sets of first vectors include at least two sets of first vectors, where different sets of first vectors in these at least two sets correspond to different sets of second vectors in the M sets of second vectors.

[0424] For example, M equals N. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the N groups of first vectors and the M groups of second vectors; in other words, the nth group of first vectors in the N groups corresponds to the nth group of second vectors in the M groups. Optionally, the nth group of second vectors in the M groups can be understood as the mth group of second vectors in the M groups, where m can be equal to n.

[0425] For example, M is greater than or equal to 2, and M is less than N. Each of the N groups of first vectors corresponds to one of the M groups of second vectors; in other words, the nth group of first vectors in the N groups corresponds to the mth group of second vectors in the M groups. For example, the N groups of first vectors include the first vectors of the 1st group to the 3rd group, and the M groups of second vectors include the second vectors of the 1st group to the 2nd group. The first vectors of the 1st group and the first vectors of the 2nd group both correspond to the second vectors of the 1st group, and the first vectors of the 3rd group correspond to the second vectors of the 2nd group.

[0426] In this example, there are different sets of first vectors in the N sets of first vectors that correspond to different sets of second vectors. This allows the terminal to flexibly select a set of second vectors corresponding to each of the N sets of first vectors, thereby reducing the amount of data to be fed back, thus reducing feedback overhead and computational complexity.

[0427] For example, the L first vectors only include the k1,…,k-th elements of the P first vectors. L There are N sets of first vectors. Each set of first vectors includes a portion of the L first vectors. The nth set of first vectors corresponds to the nth set of second vectors in the M sets of second vectors. The nth set of second vectors may include a portion of the second vectors corresponding to the L first vectors. Thus, the terminal can determine the feedback parameters corresponding to the precoding matrix based on the nth set of first vectors and the portion of the second vectors corresponding to the L first vectors, thereby reducing the computational complexity of the precoding matrix. Furthermore, the first information can indicate the portion of the second vectors corresponding to the L first vectors, and the feedback parameters corresponding to that portion of the second vectors, thereby reducing the amount of feedback data and thus reducing feedback overhead.

[0428] The second vector of group M will be explained below.

[0429] The overlap relationship between different groups of second vectors in the M groups can have multiple possible ways, such as way f1 or way f2.

[0430] Method f1: The second vectors of different groups in the M groups do not overlap.

[0431] Optionally, the non-overlapping of different groups of second vectors in the M groups can be understood as at least one of the following: the intersection of different groups of second vectors in the M groups is an empty set; there is no overlap between any two groups of second vectors in the M groups; or, the intersection of any two groups of second vectors in the M groups is an empty set.

[0432] The following example illustrates method f1. In this example and the other examples below, the reference signal corresponds to N3 sub-bands, thus corresponding to N3 second vectors. The Mv second vectors only include the h1,…,h-th elements from these N3 second vectors. Mv There are two second vectors, where 1 ≤ h. j ≤N3, 1≤j≤Mv. For example, such as Figure 7F As shown, Mv is 12 and N3 is 16. Figure 7F Each square in the array corresponds to a sub-band, and each sub-band corresponds to a second vector. Mv second vectors can be... Figure 7F The second vector corresponding to the square filled with diagonal lines, that is, the Mv second vectors are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors.

[0433] For example, the Mv second vectors only include the h1,…,h-th second vectors from the N3 second vectors. Mv The M groups of second vectors include the second vectors from the first group to the fourth group. The first group of second vectors includes only the second vector from the N3 groups. The second group of second vectors only includes the first of the N3 second vectors. The third group of second vectors only includes the first of the N3 second vectors. The fourth group of second vectors only includes the first of the N3 second vectors. The second vector. For example, if Mv is 12 and N3 is 16, the first group of second vectors only includes the second vector from the 16 second vectors. The second group of second vectors includes only the first of the 16 second vectors. The third group of second vectors only includes the first of the 16 second vectors. The fourth group of second vectors only includes the first of the 16 second vectors. A second vector. For example, still using... Figure 7F For example, the first group of second vectors includes only the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd second vectors out of the 16 second vectors; the second group of second vectors includes only the 4th, 6th, and 7th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors; the third group of second vectors includes only the 9th, 11th, and 12th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors; and the fourth group of second vectors includes only the 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors.

[0434] By using method f1, the second vectors from different groups in the M groups do not overlap, thereby reducing inter-group interference and improving the accuracy of the feedback precoding matrix. Furthermore, since the second vectors from different groups do not overlap, the subbands corresponding to different groups of second vectors do not overlap. The terminal can report precoding matrix-related information multiple times for different subbands, thus reducing the overhead of the feedback precoding matrix.

[0435] Method f2: The M groups of second vectors include at least two groups of second vectors, and the different groups of second vectors in the at least two groups of second vectors partially or completely overlap.

[0436] Optionally, the partial or complete overlap between different groups of second vectors in the at least two groups of second vectors can be understood as: there is an intersection between different groups of second vectors in the at least two groups of second vectors; the intersection between different groups of second vectors in the at least two groups of second vectors is not an empty set; there is a partial or complete overlap between any two groups of second vectors in the at least two groups of second vectors; there is an intersection between any two groups of second vectors in the at least two groups of second vectors; or, the intersection between any two groups of second vectors in the at least two groups of second vectors is not an empty set.

[0437] In some examples, the at least two sets of second vectors are partial sets of vectors in the M sets of second vectors, and the different sets of second vectors in the at least two sets of second vectors partially or completely overlap.

[0438] For example, the Mv second vectors only include the h1,…,h-th elements from the N3 second vectors. Mv The M groups of second vectors include the second vectors from the first group to the fourth group. The first group of second vectors includes only the second vector from the N3 groups. The second group of second vectors only includes the first of the N3 second vectors. The third group of second vectors only includes the first of the N3 second vectors. The fourth group of second vectors only includes the first of the N3 second vectors. The second vector. The second vectors in the first group and the second vectors in the second group partially overlap. For example, if Mv is 12 and N3 is 16, the second vectors in the first group only include the second vector from the 16 second vectors. The second group of second vectors includes only the first of the 16 second vectors. The third group of second vectors only includes the first of the 16 second vectors. The fourth group of second vectors only includes the first of the 16 second vectors. A second vector. For example, still using... Figure 7FFor example, the first group of second vectors includes only the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd second vectors out of the 16 second vectors; the second group of second vectors includes only the 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 7th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors; the third group of second vectors includes only the 9th, 11th, and 12th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors; and the fourth group of second vectors includes only the 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors. It should be understood that this example illustrates the case where there is one overlapping second vector between the first and second groups of second vectors, but it is not limited to this; there may be at least one overlapping second vector between the first and second groups of second vectors.

[0439] For example, the Mv second vectors only include the h1,…,h-th of the N3 second vectors. Mv The M groups of second vectors include the second vectors from the first group to the fourth group. The first group of second vectors includes only the second vector from the N3 groups. The second group of second vectors only includes the first of the N3 second vectors. The third group of second vectors only includes the first of the N3 second vectors. The fourth group of second vectors only includes the first of the N3 second vectors. The second vector in the first group and the second group of second vectors completely overlap. For example, if Mv is 12 and N3 is 16, the second vector in the first group only includes the second vector from the 16 second vectors. The second group of second vectors includes only the first of the 16 second vectors. The third group of second vectors only includes the first of the 16 second vectors. The fourth group of second vectors only includes the first of the 16 second vectors. A second vector. For example, still using... Figure 7F For example, the first group of second vectors includes only the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors; the second group of second vectors includes only the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors; the third group of second vectors includes only the 9th, 11th and 12th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors; and the fourth group of second vectors includes only the 14th, 15th and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors.

[0440] In other examples, the M groups of second vectors are the at least two groups of second vectors, in which different groups of second vectors partially or completely overlap.

[0441] For example, the Mv second vectors only include the h1,…,h-th elements from the N3 second vectors. MvThe M groups of second vectors include the second vectors from the first group to the fourth group. The first group of second vectors includes only the second vector from the N3 groups. The second group of second vectors only includes the first of the N3 second vectors. The third group of second vectors only includes the first of the N3 second vectors. The fourth group of second vectors only includes the first of the N3 second vectors. The second vector. For example, if Mv is 12 and N3 is 16, the first group of second vectors only includes the second vector from the 16 second vectors. The second group of second vectors includes only the first of the 16 second vectors. The third group of second vectors only includes the first of the 16 second vectors. The fourth group of second vectors only includes the first of the 16 second vectors. A second vector. For example, still using... Figure 7F For example, the first group of second vectors includes only the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd second vectors out of the 16 second vectors; the second group of second vectors includes only the 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 7th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors; the third group of second vectors includes only the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, and 12th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors; and the fourth group of second vectors includes only the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors.

[0442] Through this method f2, at least two overlapping sets of second vectors can exist in the M sets of second vectors, which reduces the restrictions on the M sets of second vectors and thus improves the flexibility of the M sets of second vectors.

[0443] The quantitative relationships between different groups of second vectors in the M groups can be in various ways, such as method g1 or method g2.

[0444] Method g1: The number of second vectors in any two groups of the second vectors in the M groups can be the same.

[0445] Optionally, the number of second vectors in every two groups of the M groups of second vectors can be the same, which can be understood as at least one of the following: the number of second vectors in different groups of the M groups of second vectors is the same; or, the number of second vectors in each group of the M groups of second vectors is Y1, where Y1 is a positive integer.

[0446] For example, the M groups of second vectors include the first group of second vectors to the fourth group of second vectors. The first group of second vectors includes only the h1,…,h-th vectors from the N3 second vectors. Y1The second group of second vectors includes only the h-th second vector among the N3 second vectors. Y1+1 ,…,h 2*Y1 The third group of second vectors includes only the h-th second vector among the N3 second vectors. 2*Y1+1 ,…,h 3*Y1 The fourth group of second vectors only includes the h-th second vector from the N3 second vectors. 3*Y1+1 ,…,h Mv There are M groups of second vectors. The number of second vectors in each group is Y1. For example, as... Figure 7G As shown, Mv is 12, N3 is 16, and Mv second vectors are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors. The first group of second vectors includes only the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd second vectors out of the N3 second vectors; the second group of second vectors includes only the 4th, 6th, and 7th second vectors out of the N3 second vectors; the third group of second vectors includes only the 9th, 11th, and 12th second vectors out of the N3 second vectors; and the fourth group of second vectors includes only the 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of the N3 second vectors.

[0447] In mode g1, the number of second vectors in every two groups of the M groups of second vectors can be the same, thereby reducing the complexity of determining the M groups of second vectors and reducing the power consumption of the terminal in determining the M groups of second vectors.

[0448] Method g2: M groups of second vectors include at least two groups of second vectors, and the number of second vectors included in different groups of the at least two groups of second vectors is different.

[0449] Optionally, the number of second vectors included in different groups of the at least two groups of second vectors is different, which can be understood as: the number of second vectors included in every two groups of the at least two groups of second vectors is different.

[0450] Optionally, at least two sets of second vectors may be some or all of the M sets of second vectors.

[0451] For example, such as Figure 7HAs shown, Mv is 12, N3 is 16, and Mv second vectors are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors. The first group of second vectors includes only the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd second vectors out of the N3 second vectors; the second group of second vectors includes only the 4th, 6th, and 7th second vectors out of the N3 second vectors; the third group of second vectors includes only the 9th and 11th second vectors out of the N3 second vectors; and the fourth group of second vectors includes only the 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of the N3 second vectors. The number of second vectors in the third group (i.e., 2) is different from the number of second vectors in the fourth group (i.e., 4).

[0452] In this application, the value of M can be determined in various ways. In some examples, the value of M can be preset, such as as specified by the protocol. In other examples, the value of M can be indicated to the terminal by other devices (e.g., access network devices or core network devices). For example, the access network device can send third information, and the terminal can receive the third information, which can indicate the value of M. The third information can, for example, be included in the first configuration information in S602. The third information can be carried in a traditional message or in a new message. For example, the third information can be carried in DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling. Also, for example, the third information can be carried in PDCCH or PDSCH. Yet another example, the third information can be carried in DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling, and the DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling can be carried in PDCCH or PDSCH. It should be understood that the above examples can be independent or combined with each other. In other examples, the value of M can be determined by the terminal.

[0453] In some implementations, in mode g2, the m-th second vector in the M-group second vectors corresponds to the n-th first vector in the N-group first vectors. The number of second vectors in the m-th group can be related to (or correspond to) the energy projected from the channel onto the n-th group of first vectors, or the number of second vectors in the m-th group can be determined based on the energy projected from the channel onto the n-th group of first vectors; correspondingly, the terminal can determine the number of second vectors in the m-th group based on the energy projected from the channel onto the n-th group of first vectors.

[0454] Optionally, the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors can be positively correlated with the energy projected from the channel onto the n-th group of first vectors. For example, the greater the energy projected from the channel onto the n-th group of first vectors, the greater the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors; and / or, the smaller the energy projected from the channel onto the n-th group of first vectors, the smaller the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors. An example is provided below, using a one-to-one correspondence between the M-th group of first vectors and the N-th group of first vectors.

[0455] For example, N groups of first vectors include first vectors from group 1 to group 4; M groups of second vectors include second vectors from group 1 to group 4. The nth first vector in N groups of first vectors corresponds to the nth first vector in M ​​groups of second vectors. If the order of channel projection energy from largest to smallest is: first vector from group 1, first vector from group 2, first vector from group 3, and first vector from group 4, then the order of quantity of M groups of second vectors from largest to smallest is: second vector from group 1, second vector from group 2, second vector from group 3, and second vector from group 4.

[0456] Through this implementation, the terminal can determine the number of second vectors in the m-th group of M groups of second vectors based on the energy projected onto the n-th group of first vectors by the channel. Optionally, the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors can be positively correlated with the energy projected onto the n-th group of first vectors by the channel. Thus, if the channel energy corresponding to a certain group of first vectors is high, the number of second vectors corresponding to that group of first vectors will be greater. The number of second vectors is positively correlated with the precision of the precoding matrix, thereby improving the precision of the precoding matrix corresponding to that group of first vectors. If the channel energy corresponding to a certain group of first vectors is low, the number of second vectors corresponding to that group of first vectors will be less. The number of second vectors is positively correlated with the feedback overhead of the precoding matrix, thereby reducing the feedback overhead of the precoding matrix corresponding to that group of first vectors.

[0457] In some possible ways, the oversampling groups to which the second vectors of different groups in the M groups belong (or correspond) may be the same or different.

[0458] In some implementations, every two sets of second vectors in the M sets can belong to (or correspond to) the same oversampled set.

[0459] Optionally, each pair of second vectors in the M groups can belong to (or correspond to) the same oversampling group, which can be understood as at least one of the following: different groups of second vectors in the M groups can belong to (or correspond to) the same oversampling group; or, each group of second vectors in the M groups belongs to (or corresponds to) the same oversampling group.

[0460] For example, each of the M groups of second vectors belongs to oversampling group #1, and oversampling group #1 includes... Figure 7A The second vector corresponding to the black dot in the middle.

[0461] In this implementation, every two groups of second vectors in the M groups can belong to (or correspond to) the same oversampled group, thereby reducing the complexity of determining the M groups of second vectors and reducing the power consumption of the terminal in determining the M groups of second vectors.

[0462] In some implementations, the M groups of second vectors include at least two groups of second vectors, and the different groups of second vectors in these at least two groups of second vectors may belong to different oversampling groups.

[0463] Optionally, different groups of second vectors in the at least two groups of second vectors may belong to different oversampling groups, which can be understood as: every two groups of second vectors in the at least two groups of second vectors may belong to different oversampling groups.

[0464] Optionally, at least two sets of second vectors may be some or all of the M sets of second vectors.

[0465] In some examples, the second vector in group M includes the second vectors from group 1 to group 4. The second vector in group 1 belongs to oversampling group #1, which includes... Figure 7A The second vector corresponding to the black dot in the middle. The second vectors in groups 2 through 4 all belong to oversampling group #2. Oversampling group #2 includes... Figure 7A The second vector corresponding to the dot on the middle slant line.

[0466] In other examples, the M groups of second vectors include second vectors from groups 1 to 4. The second vectors from group 1 belong to oversampling group #1, which includes... Figure 7A The second vector corresponding to the black dot in the middle. The second vector in group 2 belongs to oversampling group #2, which includes... Figure 7A The second vector corresponding to the dot on the middle diagonal line. The second vector in group 3 belongs to oversampling group #3, which includes... Figure 7A The second vector corresponding to the dot on the middle vertical line. The second vector in group 4 belongs to oversampling group #4, which includes… Figure 7A The second vector corresponding to the hollow circle point.

[0467] With this implementation, there can be at least two sets of second vectors belonging to different oversampling groups in the M sets of second vectors, which reduces the restrictions on the M sets of second vectors and thus improves the flexibility of the M sets of second vectors.

[0468] Optionally, in this implementation, different groups of second vectors in the M groups of second vectors belong to different oversampling groups, and any group of first vectors in the M groups of second vectors can be offset to obtain another group of first vectors in the M groups of second vectors.

[0469] For example, the M groups of second vectors include second vectors from group 1 to group 4. The second vectors from group 1 belong to oversampling group #1, which includes... Figure 7A The second vector corresponds to the black dot in the middle. The second vector in the first group is obtained by shifting the first group's second vector one dot to the right. The second vector in the second group belongs to oversampling group #2, which includes... Figure 7AThe second vector corresponds to the dot on the middle diagonal. Offset the second vector of group 1 two dots to the right to obtain the second vector of group 3. The second vector of group 3 belongs to oversampling group #3, which includes... Figure 7A The second vector corresponds to the dot on the middle vertical line. Offset the second vector of group 1 three dots to the right to obtain the second vector of group 4. The second vector of group 4 belongs to oversampling group #4, which includes... Figure 7A The second vector corresponding to the hollow circle point.

[0470] Using this method, the terminal can determine the precoding matrix through the second vector in different oversampling groups, thereby improving the accuracy of the precoding matrix.

[0471] In some possible approaches, the M groups of second vectors may be obtained by the terminal performing frequency domain oversampling, or they may be obtained without frequency domain oversampling. For example, if the terminal performs frequency domain oversampling, then every two groups of second vectors in the M groups may belong to (or correspond to) the same oversampling group; or, the M groups of second vectors may include at least two groups of second vectors, where different groups of second vectors may belong to different oversampling groups. As another example, if the terminal does not perform frequency domain oversampling, then every two groups of second vectors in the M groups may belong to (or correspond to) the same oversampling group.

[0472] Optionally, before determining the second vector of the M groups, the terminal may determine whether to perform frequency domain oversampling. The method by which the terminal determines whether to perform frequency domain oversampling is described below.

[0473] In some implementations, the terminal's determination of whether to perform frequency domain oversampling may be indicated to the terminal by other devices (e.g., access network devices or core network devices). For example, the access network device may send fourth information, which the terminal can receive accordingly. This fourth information may instruct the terminal to determine whether to perform frequency domain oversampling. The fourth information may, for example, be included in the first configuration information in S602. The fourth information may be carried in a conventional message or in a new message. For example, the fourth information may be carried in DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling. Alternatively, it may be carried in PDCCH or PDSCH. Furthermore, the fourth information may be carried in DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling, and the DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling may be carried in PDCCH or PDSCH. It should be understood that the above examples may be independent or combined.

[0474] In other implementations, the terminal can determine whether to perform frequency domain oversampling based on the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal. Optionally, the terminal determines to perform frequency domain oversampling if the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is greater than or equal to a third energy threshold; and / or, the terminal does not determine to perform frequency domain oversampling if the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is less than the third energy threshold. The third energy threshold can be pre-set, such as as specified in the protocol; or it can be notified to the terminal by other devices (e.g., core network devices or access network devices); or it can be determined by the terminal without restriction.

[0475] For example, the terminal can detect a reference signal to obtain the channel energy. If the channel energy is greater than or equal to a third energy threshold (denoted as δ1 below), the terminal can determine to perform frequency domain oversampling; and / or, if the channel energy is less than the third energy threshold, the terminal can determine not to perform frequency domain oversampling.

[0476] For example, δ1 can be a positive number. For instance, δ1 can be one of the following: 10 dB, 11 dB, 12 dB, 13 dB, 14 dB, or 15 dB. The following explanation uses δ1 as an example of 10 dB.

[0477] For example, δ1 is 10dB. If the terminal determines that the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is 12dB, the terminal can determine to perform frequency domain oversampling; and / or, if the terminal determines that the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is 8dB, the terminal can determine not to perform frequency domain oversampling.

[0478] Optionally, the units for channel energy and δ1 are also replaced with milliwatts in decibels (dBm).

[0479] Optionally, in this implementation, the terminal may send a fifth message; correspondingly, the access network device may receive the fifth message. The fifth message is used to instruct the terminal to determine whether to perform frequency domain oversampling. The fifth message may be carried in a conventional message or in a new message, without limitation. For example, the fifth message may be carried in UCI or MAC MAC CE. Another example is that the fifth message may be carried in PUCCH or PUSCH. Yet another example is that the fifth message may be carried in UCI or MAC CE, and UCI or MAC CE may be carried in PUCCH or PUSCH. It should be understood that the above examples may be independent or combined with each other.

[0480] This implementation allows the terminal to determine the precoding matrix only when the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is greater than or equal to the third energy threshold. This enables the determination of the precoding matrix based on the channel with higher energy, thereby improving the accuracy of precoding matrix determination. When the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is less than the third energy threshold, the oversampling effect is poor, and the terminal can determine the precoding matrix without using frequency domain oversampling. This reduces the complexity of precoding matrix determination without significantly decreasing its accuracy.

[0481] In some possible approaches, when the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is greater than or equal to a fourth energy threshold, the terminal may perform frequency domain oversampling according to a first oversampling parameter; when the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is less than the fourth energy threshold, the terminal may perform frequency domain oversampling according to a second oversampling parameter. The oversampling factor corresponding to the second oversampling parameter is less than the oversampling factor corresponding to the first oversampling parameter. That is, when the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is greater than or equal to the fourth energy threshold, the terminal uses a higher oversampling factor for frequency domain oversampling; when the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is less than the fourth energy threshold, the terminal uses a lower oversampling factor for frequency domain oversampling. The fourth energy threshold may be pre-set, such as as specified in the protocol; or it may be notified to the terminal by other devices (e.g., core network devices or access network devices); or it may be determined by the terminal and is not restricted.

[0482] For example, the terminal can detect a reference signal to obtain the channel energy. If the channel energy is greater than or equal to a fourth energy threshold (denoted as δ2 below), the terminal can perform frequency domain oversampling according to a first oversampling parameter; and / or, if the channel energy is less than the fourth energy threshold, the terminal can perform frequency domain oversampling according to a second oversampling parameter.

[0483] For example, δ2 can be a positive number. For instance, δ2 can be one of the following: 10dB, 11dB, 12dB, 13dB, 14dB, or 15dB. The following explanation uses δ2 of 10dB as an example.

[0484] For example, δ2 is 12dB. If the terminal determines that the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is 12dB, the terminal can perform frequency domain oversampling according to the first oversampling parameter, which is, for example, O3 = 4; and / or, if the terminal determines that the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is 11dB, the terminal can perform frequency domain oversampling according to the second oversampling parameter, which is, for example, O3 = 2. The specific content of O3 can be found in the explanation of O3 in S601, and will not be repeated here.

[0485] In this method, the terminal performs frequency domain oversampling at a higher oversampling factor only when the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is greater than or equal to the fourth energy threshold. This allows the precoding matrix to be determined based on the channel with higher energy, thereby improving the accuracy of the precoding matrix determination. When the channel energy corresponding to the reference signal is less than the fourth energy threshold, the oversampling effect is poor, and the terminal can perform frequency domain oversampling at a lower oversampling factor. This reduces the complexity of determining the precoding matrix without significantly decreasing its accuracy.

[0486] In some possible ways, the M sets of second vectors can be determined based on a reference signal; correspondingly, the terminal can determine the M sets of second vectors based on the reference signal.

[0487] Optionally, each of the M groups of second vectors is selected from Mv second vectors, which are determined based on a reference signal; correspondingly, the terminal can execute steps B1 to B2:

[0488] Step B1: The terminal determines Mv second vectors based on the reference signal.

[0489] In this application, the value of Mv can be determined in various ways. In some examples, the value of Mv can be preset, such as as specified by the protocol. In other examples, the value of Mv can be indicated to the terminal by other devices (e.g., access network devices or core network devices). For example, the access network device can send sixth information, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive the sixth information, which can indicate the value of Mv. For example, the sixth information can explicitly or implicitly indicate the value of Mv. The sixth information can, for example, be included in the first configuration information in S602. The sixth information can be carried in a traditional message or in a new message. For example, the sixth information can be carried in DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling. Also, for example, the sixth information can be carried in PDCCH or PDSCH. Furthermore, the sixth information can be carried in DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling, and the DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling can be carried in PDCCH or PDSCH. It should be understood that the above examples can be independent or combined with each other. In other examples, the value of Mv can be determined by the terminal.

[0490] In some implementations, the reference signal can be used to determine the channel corresponding to the reference signal. The channel corresponding to the reference signal can be projected onto N3 second vectors corresponding to the reference signal. These Mv second vectors can be the Mv vectors with the highest channel energy among the multiple second vectors. Accordingly, the terminal can determine the channel corresponding to the reference signal based on the reference signal, project the channel corresponding to the reference signal onto the multiple second vectors corresponding to the reference signal, and select the Mv vectors with the highest channel energy from the multiple second vectors as the Mv second vectors.

[0491] For example, the Mv second vectors only include the h1,…,h-th elements from the N3 second vectors. Mv The second vector, h1,…,h Mv The second vector is the Mv vector with the highest channel energy among the N3 second vectors. For example, if Mv is 12 and N3 is 16, the N3 second vectors are... Figure 7F The second vector corresponding to the sub-band shown. If the second vector corresponding to the diagonally filled square is the Mv vectors with the highest channel energy among the N3 second vectors, then the Mv second vectors can be... Figure 7F The second vector corresponding to the square filled with diagonal lines, that is, the Mv second vectors are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors.

[0492] In other implementations, the reference signal can be used to determine the channel corresponding to the reference signal. The channel corresponding to the reference signal can be projected onto N3 second vectors corresponding to the reference signal. The Mv second vectors can be the Mv vectors among the N3 second vectors whose corresponding channel energy is greater than or equal to the fifth energy threshold. Accordingly, the terminal can determine the channel corresponding to the reference signal based on the reference signal, project the channel corresponding to the reference signal onto the N3 second vectors corresponding to the reference signal, and select the Mv vectors whose corresponding channel energy is greater than or equal to the fifth energy threshold from the N3 second vectors as the Mv second vectors.

[0493] For example, the Mv second vectors only include the h1,…,h-th elements from the N3 second vectors. Mv The second vector, h1,…,h Mv The second vector is the Mv vectors among the N3 second vectors whose corresponding channel energy is greater than or equal to the fifth energy threshold. For example, if Mv is 12 and N3 is 16, the N3 second vectors are... Figure 7F The second vector corresponding to the sub-band shown. If the second vector corresponding to the diagonally filled square is one of the Mv vectors among the N3 second vectors whose corresponding channel energy is greater than or equal to the fifth energy threshold, then the Mv second vectors can be... Figure 7F The second vector corresponding to the square filled with diagonal lines, that is, the Mv second vectors are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors.

[0494] The fifth energy threshold can be preset, such as as specified in the protocol; or it can be notified to the terminal by other devices (e.g., access network devices or core network devices); or it can be determined by the terminal and is not restricted.

[0495] In the above implementation, the method by which the terminal determines the channel corresponding to the reference signal based on the reference signal is not limited; for example, it can adopt the method specified in the protocol.

[0496] Step B2: The terminal determines M groups of second vectors based on the Mv second vectors. Each group of second vectors in the M groups is a subset of the Mv second vectors. For example, each group of second vectors in the M groups is a proper subset of the Mv second vectors.

[0497] In some implementations, the nth first vector in N groups of first vectors corresponds to the mth second vector in M ​​groups of second vectors, and the mth second vector includes Mv m A second vector, Mv m Let m be an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than Mv, where m takes integer values ​​from 1 to M. This Mv m The second vector can be Mv, which corresponds to the largest channel energy in the space determined by the nth group of vectors and the Mv second vectors. m A second vector.

[0498] For example, Mv second vectors are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of 16 second vectors. The N groups of first vectors include the first groups of first vectors from the first group 1 to the first groups of first vectors. The first group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th, and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 67th, 77th, 78th, and 87th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. If the first vector of the first group corresponds to the second vector of the first group, and in the space determined by the first vector of the first group and Mv second vectors, the three second vectors with the highest corresponding channel energy include the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd second vectors out of 16 second vectors, then the second vector of the first group only includes the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd second vectors out of 16 second vectors. If the first vector of the second group corresponds to the second vector of the second group, and in the space determined by the first vector of the second group and Mv second vectors, the three second vectors with the highest corresponding channel energy include the 4th, 6th, and 7th second vectors out of 16 second vectors, then the second vector of the second group only includes the 4th, 6th, and 7th second vectors out of 16 second vectors. If the first vector of the third group corresponds to the second vector of the third group, and in the space determined by the first vector of the third group and Mv second vectors, the three second vectors with the highest corresponding channel energy include the 9th, 11th, and 12th second vectors out of 16 second vectors, then the second vector of the third group only includes the 9th, 11th, and 12th second vectors out of 16 second vectors. If the first vector of the fourth group corresponds to the second vector of the fourth group, and in the space determined by the first vector of the fourth group and Mv second vectors, the three second vectors with the largest corresponding channel energy include the 14th, 15th and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors, then the second vector of the fourth group only includes the 14th, 15th and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors.

[0499] In other implementations, the nth first vector in N groups of first vectors corresponds to the mth second vector in M ​​groups of second vectors, and the mth second vector includes Mv m A second vector, Mv m Let m be an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than N³, where m takes on any integer value from 1 to M. This Mv m The second vector can be Mv, which corresponds to a channel energy greater than or equal to the sixth energy threshold, in the space determined by the nth group of vectors and the Mv second vectors. m A second vector.

[0500] For example, Mv second vectors are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of 16 second vectors. The N groups of first vectors include the first groups of first vectors from the first group 1 to the first groups of first vectors. The first group of first vectors includes only the 12th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th first vectors out of 128 first vectors; the second group of first vectors includes only the 45th, 54th, 60th, and 61st first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; the third group of first vectors includes only the 67th, 77th, 78th, and 87th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors; and the fourth group of first vectors includes only the 91st, 94th, 102nd, and 109th first vectors out of the 128 first vectors. If the first vector of the first group corresponds to the second vector of the first group, and in the space determined by the first vector of the first group and Mv second vectors, the second vectors whose channel energy is greater than or equal to the sixth energy threshold include the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd second vectors out of the 16 second vectors, then the second vector of the first group only includes the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd second vectors out of the 16 second vectors. If the first vector of the second group corresponds to the second vector of the second group, and in the space determined by the first vector of the second group and Mv second vectors, the second vectors whose channel energy is greater than or equal to the sixth energy threshold include the 4th, 6th, and 7th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors, then the second vector of the second group includes the 4th, 6th, and 7th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors. If the first vector of the third group corresponds to the second vector of the third group, and in the space determined by the first vector of the third group and Mv second vectors, the second vectors whose channel energy is greater than or equal to the sixth energy threshold include the 9th, 11th, and 12th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors, then the second vectors of the third group only include the 9th, 11th, and 12th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors. If the first vector of the fourth group corresponds to the second vector of the fourth group, and in the space determined by the first vector of the fourth group and Mv second vectors, the second vectors whose channel energy is greater than or equal to the sixth energy threshold include the 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors, then the second vectors of the fourth group only include the 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of the 16 second vectors.

[0501] The sixth energy threshold can be pre-set, such as as specified in the protocol; or it can be notified to the terminal by other devices (e.g., access network devices or core network devices); or it can be determined by the terminal and is not restricted. The sixth energy threshold and the fifth energy threshold can be the same or different.

[0502] In this method, the terminal can accurately determine the M groups of second vectors. Furthermore, in this method, the M groups of second vectors are determined by the terminal. Since the terminal can determine the channel based on the received reference signal, it can determine the M groups of second vectors that match the channel of the reference signal, thereby improving the accuracy of the precoding matrix corresponding to the M groups of second vectors. In addition, in this method, the terminal can first determine N3 second vectors, and then determine the M groups of second vectors based on the N3 second vectors, thereby reducing the complexity of determining the M groups of second vectors and reducing the power consumption of the terminal in determining the M groups of second vectors.

[0503] As previously stated, the first information can be used to indicate the M groups of second vectors. Optionally, the first information can be used to indicate at least one of the following: the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors in the M groups of second vectors, or each second vector in the m-th group of second vectors. Where m takes an integer from 1 to M.

[0504] In some examples, the first information can be used to indicate the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors in the M-th group.

[0505] In other examples, the first information can be used to indicate each second vector in the m-th group of M groups of second vectors. For example, if for the m-th group of second vectors, the first information indicates the m-th second vector in the N3 second vectors. The m-th second vector indicates that the m-th group of second vectors includes only the first of the N3 second vectors. A second vector. Where, when b is 0, Mv b Mv is 0; when b is an integer greater than or equal to 0, Mv is 0. b Let Mv1 be the number of second vectors in the b-th group of the first vectors in the M-group of first vectors, and Mv2 be the number of second vectors in the second group of the M-group of second vectors. For example, if the first information indicates the 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of 16 second vectors for the m-th group of second vectors, then it means that the m-th group of second vectors includes only the 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of 16 second vectors. In this example, the first information can indicate each second vector in the m-th group of second vectors, so that the access network device can accurately determine the m-th group of second vectors based on the first information.

[0506] In other examples, the first information can be used to indicate: the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors in M ​​groups, and each second vector in the m-th group. For example, if for the m-th group of second vectors, the first information indicates that the number of second vectors in the m-th group is Mv m And indicate the first of the N3 second vectors The m-th second vector indicates that the m-th group of second vectors includes only the first of the N3 second vectors. There are several second vectors. For example, if, for the m-th group of second vectors, the first information indicates that the number of second vectors in the m-th group is 3, and indicates the 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of 16 second vectors, then it means that the m-th group of second vectors only includes the 14th, 15th, and 16th second vectors out of 16 second vectors. In this example, the first information indicates each second vector in the m-th group, so the access network device can accurately determine the m-th group of second vectors based on the first information. Furthermore, in this example, the first information also indicates the number of second vectors in the m-th group, so that, for the m-th group of second vectors, after determining the second vectors corresponding to that number based on the first information, the access network device can stop determining the m-th group of second vectors without having to check all the fields in the first information corresponding to the m-th group of second vectors, thereby reducing the computational complexity of the access network device.

[0507] As mentioned earlier, the first information can be used to indicate the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors in the M-group second vectors. There are multiple ways to indicate this, such as method h1 or method h2.

[0508] Method h1: The first information may include the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors.

[0509] For example, if the first information for the second vector in the m-th group includes the quantity 4, it means that the quantity of the second vector in the m-th group is 4.

[0510] In this way h1, the first information can accurately indicate the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors.

[0511] Method h2: The first information can be used to indicate the first coefficient corresponding to the second vector in the m-th group, and the first coefficient can be used to indicate (or determine) the number of second vectors in the m-th group; accordingly, the access network device can determine the first coefficient corresponding to the second vector in the m-th group based on the first information, and determine the number of second vectors in the m-th group based on the first coefficient.

[0512] In some implementations, the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors is Mv. m The first coefficient corresponding to the second vector in the m-th group is γ. m Among them, Mv m Let m be an integer greater than or equal to 1, and m take values ​​from 1 to M. m and γ m Satisfying the following formula (1), the access network device can, accordingly, determine the γ indicated by the first information based on formula (1). m Determine Mv m Or, Mv m and γ mThe following formula (2) is satisfied, and accordingly, the access network device can, according to formula (2) and the γ indicated by the first information, m Determine Mv m .

[0513]

[0514] Where, p υ It is the IDFT basis vector selection ratio, or in other words, p υ R is the selection ratio of the second vector in the m-th group of second vectors. R is, for example, 1. N3 is the number of second vectors corresponding to the reference signal. There are several ways to determine the value of N3. In some examples, the value of N3 can be preset, such as as specified by the protocol. In other examples, the value of N3 can be indicated to the terminal by other devices (e.g., access network devices or core network devices). For example, the access network device can send the seventh information, and the terminal can receive the seventh information accordingly. The seventh information can indicate the value of N3. For example, the seventh information can explicitly or implicitly indicate the value of N3. The seventh information can be included in the first configuration information in S602, for example. The seventh information can be carried in a conventional message or in a new message. For example, the seventh information can be carried in DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling. For example, the seventh information can be carried in PDCCH or PDSCH. For example, the seventh information can be carried in DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling, and DCI, MAC CE, or RRC signaling can be carried in PDCCH or PDSCH. It should be understood that the above examples can be independent or combined. In other examples, the value of N3 can be determined by the terminal.

[0515] When Mv m and γ m When formula (1) is satisfied, p v This can be determined based on the correspondence shown in Table 2 or Table 3A above. For example, when the access network device sends parameter combination -x (paramCombination-x) to the terminal, the value of parameter combination -x, L, p... v The correspondence between β and p is shown in Table 2 above. The terminal and / or access network equipment can determine p based on the value of parameter combination -x and the correspondence shown in Table 2. υ For example, the access network device sends the parameter combination -x to the terminal, where the value of parameter combination -x, L, p... υ The correspondence between β and p is shown in Table 3A above. The terminal and / or access network equipment can determine p based on the value of parameter combination -x and the correspondence shown in Table 3A. υ For details regarding β, please refer to the explanation of β in the terminology section above; it will not be repeated here.

[0516] When Mv m and γ m When formula (2) is satisfied, the values ​​of parameter combination -x and p υ There may not be a direct correspondence between the parameters themselves, but there is a correspondence between the values ​​of parameter combination -x, L, and β. For example, the correspondence between the values ​​of parameter combination -x, L, and β can be shown in Table 6A. The terminal and / or access network equipment can determine L and β based on the values ​​of parameter combination -x and the correspondence shown in Table 6A. As another example, the correspondence between the values ​​of parameter combination -x, L, and β can be shown in Table 6B. The terminal and / or access network equipment can determine L and β based on the values ​​of parameter combination -x and the correspondence shown in Table 6B. For details regarding β, please refer to the explanation of β in the terminology section above; it will not be repeated here.

[0517] Table 6A

[0518]

[0519]

[0520] It should be noted that Table 6A above is merely an illustrative example and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application. Any reasonable modifications, additions, or deletions to the content of Table 6A that result in new table content fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0521] Table 6B

[0522]

[0523]

[0524] It should be noted that Table 6B above is merely an illustrative example and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application. Any reasonable modifications, additions, or deletions to the content of Table 6B that result in new table content fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0525] Optionally, the first coefficient can be a positive number less than or equal to 1. For example, the first coefficient can be a1 / a2, where a2 is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and a1 is an integer greater than 0 and less than a2. Here, a2 can be, for example, one of the following: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 32, or 64. For example, the first coefficient can be one of the following: 1 / 2, 1 / 3, 2 / 3, 1 / 4, 3 / 4, 1 / 5, 2 / 5, 3 / 5, 4 / 5, 1 / 6, 5 / 6, 1 / 7, 2 / 7, 3 / 7, 4 / 7, 5 / 7, 6 / 7, 1 / 8, 3 / 8, 5 / 8, 7 / 8, 1 / 9, 2 / 9, 4 / 9, 5 / 9, 7 / 9, 8 / 9, 1 / 10, 3 / 10, 7 / 10, 9 / 10, 1 / 11, 2 / 11, 3 / 11, 4 / 11, 5 / 11, 6 / 11, 7 / 11, 8 / 11, 9 / 11, 10 / 11, 1 / 1 2, 5 / 12, 7 / 12, 11 / 12, 1 / 13, 2 / 13, 3 / 13, 4 / 13, 5 / 13, 6 / 13, 7 / 13, 8 / 13, 9 / 13, 10 / 13, 11 / 13, 12 / 13, 1 / 14, 3 / 14, 5 / 14, 9 / 14, 11 / 14, 13 / 14, 1 / 15, 2 / 15, 4 / 15, 7 / 15, 8 / 15, 11 / 15, 13 / 15, 14 / 15, 1 / 16, 3 / 16, 5 / 16, 7 / 16, 9 / 16, 11 / 16, 13 / 16 or 15 / 16.

[0526] The first coefficient may have other names, such as frequency domain coefficient or frequency domain compression coefficient, without restriction.

[0527] In this way h2, the first information can accurately indicate the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors.

[0528] As previously stated, the first information can be used to indicate each of the m-th group of second vectors in the M-group of second vectors, and the indication can be in various ways, such as at least one of the ways i1 to i3.

[0529] Method i1: The second vector in the m-th group includes Mv m A second vector, where Mv m For each integer greater than or equal to 1, m takes values ​​from 1 to M; the first information may include the Mv value. m The index of each of the second vectors in the second vector.

[0530] For details on method i1, please refer to method e1 above, except that the first vector is replaced with the second vector, n is replaced with m, N is replaced with M, and L is replaced with L. n Replace with Mv m I will not go into details.

[0531] In this way, the first information can accurately indicate the second vector of the m-th group.

[0532] Method i2: The second vector in the m-th group includes Mv m A second vector, where Mv m For integers greater than or equal to 1, m takes values ​​from 1 to M; the first information indicates bit map #2, which is used to indicate this Mv m A second vector.

[0533] For details on method i2, please refer to method e2 above, except that the first vector is replaced with the second vector, n is replaced with m, N is replaced with M, and L is replaced with L. n Replace with Mv m Bitmap #1 is replaced with Bitmap #2, which will not be elaborated further.

[0534] In method i2, the first information can accurately indicate the second vector in the m-th group. Furthermore, in this method, the first information can indicate the second vector in the m-th group through bitmap #2. Thus, the first information can indicate whether one or more second vectors belong to the m-th group using a single bit. This can save signaling overhead when the number of second vectors in the m-th group is large.

[0535] Method i3: The first information may include (or indicate) the index of the second vector in the m-th group.

[0536] For details on method i3, please refer to method e3 above, except that the first vector is replaced with the second vector, n is replaced with m, N is replaced with M, and L is replaced with L. n Replace with Mv m Replace L with N3, and replace bitmap #1 with bitmap #2. Further details are omitted.

[0537] In method i3, the first information can accurately indicate the m-th group of second vectors. Furthermore, in this method, the first information can indicate the m-th group of second vectors through the index of the m-th group of second vectors. This eliminates the need for the terminal to send the index of each second vector in the m-th group of second vectors to the access network device, thus saving signaling overhead.

[0538] As previously mentioned, N sets of first vectors and M sets of second vectors can be used to determine the precoding matrix. Optionally, the nth first vector in the N sets of first vectors and the mth second vector in the M sets of second vectors can be used to determine the nth matrix among N matrices, and these N matrices can be used to determine the precoding matrix. Accordingly, the access network device can determine the nth matrix among the N matrices based on the nth first vector in the N sets of first vectors and the mth second vector in the M sets of second vectors, and determine the precoding matrix based on these N matrices. Here, n takes integer values ​​from 1 to N, and m takes integer values ​​from 1 to M.

[0539] In some implementations, the first information may also indicate N sets of feedback parameters. The nth set of feedback parameters in these N sets, the nth set of first vectors in these N sets, and the mth set of second vectors in these M sets of second vectors can be used to determine the nth matrix in the N matrices. These N matrices can be used to determine the precoding matrix. Accordingly, the access network device can determine the nth matrix in the N matrices based on the nth set of feedback parameters in these N sets, the nth set of first vectors in these N sets, and the mth set of second vectors in these M sets of second vectors, and determine the precoding matrix based on these N matrices.

[0540] Optionally, the N sets of feedback parameters may include the amplitude coefficient and / or phase coefficient corresponding to the first vector in the nth set. This application does not limit the specific content of the amplitude coefficient and / or phase coefficient corresponding to the first vector in the nth set; for example, the content specified in the agreement may be referred to.

[0541] In some examples, the precoding matrix W satisfies the following formula (3); accordingly, the access network device can determine the precoding matrix W according to formula (3):

[0542]

[0543] Among them, W 1,j It is the first vector of the nth group in the N groups of first vectors; For W 2,j The conjugate matrix, The non-zero element in the N-group feedback parameter is the nth feedback parameter in the N-group feedback parameter; For W f,j The conjugate transpose of the matrix, W f,j It is the second vector of the m-th group in the second vector of the M-group.

[0544] Optionally, j can be n-1.

[0545] Optionally, W 1,j For the first vector of the nth group in the N groups of first vectors, it can be understood as at least one of the following: W 1,j Including the nth first vector in the Nth set of first vectors; W 1,jIt is determined based on the nth first vector in the Nth set of first vectors; or, W 1,j Used to indicate the first vector of the nth group in the N groups of first vectors.

[0546] For example, W 1,0 W is the first vector in the first group of the N groups of first vectors; 1,1 W is the first vector of the second group in the N groups of first vectors; 1,2 This is the first vector of the third group in the N groups of first vectors, and so on, without further explanation.

[0547] Optionally, W f,j For the second vector of the m-th group in the M-group second vectors, it can be understood as at least one of the following: W f,j Including the m-th second vector in the M-th group of second vectors; W f,j It can be determined based on the m-th second vector in the M-group of second vectors; or, W f,j Used to indicate the m-th second vector in the second vector of group M.

[0548] For example, W f,0 W is the second vector in the first group of the M groups of second vectors; f,1 The second vector W in the second group of the M groups of second vectors f,2 This is the second vector of the third group in the second vector of group M, and so on, without further explanation.

[0549] Using formula (3), the access network device can accurately determine the precoding matrix based on N sets of first vectors and M sets of second vectors.

[0550] In other examples, the precoding matrix W satisfies the following formula (4); accordingly, the access network device can determine the precoding matrix W according to formula (4):

[0551]

[0552] in, W1 represents the nth first vector in N groups of first vectors, and is used to indicate the L first vectors. Used to indicate that the first vector in the nth group includes L of the L first vectors. n The first vector, L, is an integer greater than or equal to 1. For example, if L is an integer greater than or equal to 2, L... n It is a positive integer; For W 2,j The conjugate matrix, The non-zero element in the N-group feedback parameter is the nth feedback parameter in the N-group feedback parameter; For W f,j The conjugate transpose of the matrix, W f,j It is the second vector of the m-th group in the second vector of the M-group.

[0553] Optionally, j can be n-1.

[0554] Optionally, W1 is used to indicate the L first vectors, which can be understood as at least one of the following: W1 includes the L first vectors; or, W1 is determined based on the L first vectors. The specific content of the L first vectors can be referred to the explanation of the L first vectors in step A1 above, and will not be repeated here. Optionally, the L first vectors can be indicated by first information; the specific indication method can be referred to the explanation of "first information is used to indicate L first vectors" in method e4 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0555] Optionally, Used to indicate that the first vector in the nth group includes L of the L first vectors. n The first vector can be understood as: It is used to select L from L first vectors. n The selection matrix of the first vector.

[0556] For example, Among them, a 1,j,e [0,0,0,…,1,0] T a 1,1,e The dimension is L×1, [] T This represents the transpose of a vector, where e takes values ​​from 1 to L. n an integer. 1,j,e The element 1 in the vector can be used to indicate the e-th vector in the first vector of the n-th group. For example, if a 1,j,e Element 1 in the array is a 1,j,e If the f-th element is found in the first vector of the n-th group, then the e-th vector in the first vector of the n-th group is the f-th vector in the L-th vector. f is an integer from 1 to L.

[0557] W f,j For details regarding the second vector of the m-th group within the M-group second vectors, please refer to the above explanation of "W". f,j The explanation of "the second vector of the m-th group in the second vector of the M-th group" will not be repeated.

[0558] Using formula (4), the access network device can accurately determine the precoding matrix based on N sets of first vectors and M sets of second vectors.

[0559] In some possible approaches, the first information is also used to indicate N bitmaps and N sets of feedback parameters. The nth bitmap in the N bitmaps corresponds to: the nth set of feedback parameters in the N sets of feedback parameters, the nth set of first vectors in the N sets of first vectors, and the mth set of second vectors in the M sets of second vectors. Here, n takes integers from 1 to N, and m takes integers from 1 to M. The nth bitmap can be used to indicate the position in the first space corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the nth set of feedback parameters; correspondingly, the access network device can determine the position in the first space corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the nth set of feedback parameters based on the nth bitmap. The first space is determined based on the nth set of first vectors and the mth set of second vectors.

[0560] The specific content of the N sets of feedback parameters can be found in the explanation of the N sets of feedback parameters above, and will not be repeated here. The specific method by which the first information indicates the N bitmaps is not limited. For example, the first information may include the N bitmaps.

[0561] Optionally, the first space is determined based on the nth group of first vectors and the mth group of second vectors. It can be understood as: the first space is the space formed (or defined) by the nth group of first vectors and the mth group of second vectors.

[0562] Optionally, the nth bitmap can be used to indicate the position of the non-zero feedback parameter in the first space corresponding to the nth group of feedback parameters, which can be understood as at least one of the following: the nth bitmap can be used to indicate the position of the non-zero element corresponding to the mth group of second vectors and the nth group of first vectors; the nth bitmap can be used to indicate the matrix corresponding to the mth group of second vectors and the nth group of first vectors (e.g., in formula (3) or formula (4) above). In the nth group of feedback parameters, the position corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter.

[0563] by Figure 7I For example, the first group of first vectors includes the 1st to 4th first vectors from top to bottom; the first group of second vectors includes the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 11th, and 12th second vectors from left to right. The first space determined by the first group of first vectors and the first group of second vectors includes a grid of diagonally filled squares. The first bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the diagonally filled squares corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameters in the first group of feedback parameters.

[0564] The second set of first vectors includes the 5th to 8th first vectors from top to bottom; the second set of second vectors includes the 1st, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 10th second vectors from left to right. The first space determined by the second set of first and second vectors comprises vertically filled squares. The second bitmap can be used to indicate the positions (or squares) in the vertically filled squares corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameters in the second set of feedback parameters.

[0565] The third set of first vectors includes the 9th to 12th first vectors from top to bottom; the third set of second vectors includes the 3rd, 7th, 8th, and 12th second vectors from left to right. The first space determined by the third set of first and second vectors includes a dot-filled grid. The third bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the dot-filled grid corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the third set of feedback parameters.

[0566] The fourth group of first vectors comprises the 13th to 16th first vectors from top to bottom; the fourth group of second vectors comprises the 4th, 10th, and 12th second vectors from left to right. The first space defined by the fourth group of first and second vectors comprises a grid of line-filled squares. The fourth bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the line-filled squares corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameters in the third group of feedback parameters.

[0567] by Figure 7I For example, the first group of first vectors includes the 1st to 4th first vectors from top to bottom; the first group of second vectors includes the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 11th, and 12th second vectors from left to right. The first space determined by the first group of first vectors and the first group of second vectors includes a grid of diagonally filled squares. The first bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the diagonally filled squares corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameters in the first group of feedback parameters.

[0568] The second set of first vectors comprises the 5th to 8th first vectors from top to bottom; the second set of second vectors comprises the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 11th, and 12th second vectors from left to right. The first space defined by the second set of first and second vectors comprises vertically filled squares. The second bitmap can be used to indicate the positions (or squares) in the vertically filled squares corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameters in the second set of feedback parameters.

[0569] The third set of first vectors includes the 9th to 12th first vectors from top to bottom; the third set of second vectors includes the 3rd, 7th, 8th, and 12th second vectors from left to right. The first space determined by the third set of first and second vectors includes a dot-filled grid. The third bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the dot-filled grid corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the third set of feedback parameters.

[0570] The fourth group of first vectors comprises the 13th to 16th first vectors from top to bottom; the fourth group of second vectors comprises the 4th, 10th, and 12th second vectors from left to right. The first space defined by the fourth group of first and second vectors comprises a grid of line-filled squares. The fourth bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the line-filled squares corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameters in the third group of feedback parameters.

[0571] In some implementations, K bits in the nth bitmap may correspond to at least one position. These K bits may be some or all of the bits in the nth bitmap. Each of these K bits can be used to indicate whether the position corresponding to that bit belongs to the position corresponding to a non-zero feedback parameter in the nth set of feedback parameters. For example, if a bit among these K bits takes the third value (e.g., 1 or 0), then the position corresponding to that bit belongs to the position corresponding to a non-zero feedback parameter in the nth set of feedback parameters; if a bit among these at least one bits takes the fourth value (e.g., 0 or 1), then the position corresponding to that bit does not belong to the position corresponding to a non-zero feedback parameter in the nth set of feedback parameters. The third and fourth values ​​are different.

[0572] Optionally, the K bits can be arranged first according to the index order of the first vector corresponding to their respective positions, and then according to the index order of the second vector corresponding to their respective positions; or, the K bits can be arranged first according to the index order of the second vector corresponding to their respective positions, and then according to the index order of the first vector corresponding to their respective positions. When arranged according to the index order of the first vector corresponding to their respective positions, the K bits can be arranged in ascending order of the index of the first vector corresponding to their respective positions, or in descending order of the index of the first vector corresponding to their respective positions. And / or, when arranged according to the index order of the second vector corresponding to their respective positions, the K bits can be arranged in ascending order of the index of the second vector corresponding to their respective positions, or in descending order of the index of the second vector corresponding to their respective positions.

[0573] The following example illustrates the N-bit bitmap. In this example, the K bits can be arranged first according to the index order of the first vector corresponding to their respective positions, and then according to the index order of the second vector corresponding to their respective positions. When arranged according to the index order of the first vector corresponding to their respective positions, the K bits can be arranged in ascending order of the index of the first vector corresponding to their respective positions; similarly, when arranged according to the index order of the second vector corresponding to their respective positions, the K bits can be arranged in ascending order of the index of the second vector corresponding to their respective positions. Assume that... Figure 7I In the diagram, the higher the position of the first vector, the smaller its index; the further to the left the position of the second vector, the smaller its index. The third value is 1, and the fourth value is 0.

[0574] The following is based on Figure 7I For example, let's illustrate with an N-bit bitmap.

[0575] For example, the first bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the diagonally filled squares that corresponds to the non-zero feedback parameter in the first group of feedback parameters. If the first bitmap is 100010001000100010001000, it means that the position corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the first group of feedback parameters is the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 11th, and 12th squares from left to right in the first row of squares.

[0576] For example, the second bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the vertically filled squares that corresponds to the non-zero feedback parameter in the second set of feedback parameters. If the second bitmap is 10001000100010001000, it means that the position corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the second set of feedback parameters is the 1st, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 10th squares from left to right in the fifth row.

[0577] For example, the third bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the filled squares that corresponds to the non-zero feedback parameter in the third group of feedback parameters. If the third bitmap is 1000100010001000, it means that the position corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the third group of feedback parameters is the 3rd, 7th, 8th and 12th squares from left to right in the ninth row of squares.

[0578] For example, the fourth bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the line-filled squares that corresponds to the non-zero feedback parameter in the fourth group of feedback parameters. If the fourth bitmap is 100010001000, it means that the position corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the fourth group of feedback parameters is the 4th, 10th, and 12th squares from left to right in the 13th row of squares.

[0579] The following is based on Figure 7J For example, let's illustrate with an N-bit bitmap.

[0580] For example, the first bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the diagonally filled squares that corresponds to the non-zero feedback parameter in the first group of feedback parameters. If the first bitmap is 100010001000100010001000, it means that the position corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the first group of feedback parameters is the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 11th, and 12th squares from left to right in the first row of squares.

[0581] For example, the second bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the vertically filled squares that corresponds to the non-zero feedback parameter in the second set of feedback parameters. If the second bitmap is 100010001000100010001000, it means that the position corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the second set of feedback parameters is the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 11th, and 12th squares from left to right in the fifth row.

[0582] For example, the third bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the filled squares that corresponds to the non-zero feedback parameter in the third group of feedback parameters. If the third bitmap is 1000100010001000, it means that the position corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the third group of feedback parameters is the 3rd, 7th, 8th and 12th squares from left to right in the ninth row of squares.

[0583] For example, the fourth bitmap can be used to indicate the position (or square) in the line-filled squares that corresponds to the non-zero feedback parameter in the fourth group of feedback parameters. If the fourth bitmap is 100010001000, it means that the position corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the fourth group of feedback parameters is the 4th, 10th, and 12th squares from left to right in the 13th row of squares.

[0584] In this method, the first information can accurately indicate the position in the first space corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the nth group of feedback parameters. Furthermore, in this method, the first information indicates the position corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the nth group of feedback parameters through the nth bitmap, which can save signaling overhead.

[0585] The first message can be carried in a traditional message or in a new message. For example, the first message can be carried in a CSI report. Alternatively, the first message can be carried in a UCI or MAC CE, which in turn can be carried in a PUCCH or PUSCH. Again, the first message can be carried in a PUCCH or PUSCH. It should be understood that the above examples can be independent or combined.

[0586] The first message can be sent periodically, aperiodically, or semi-continuously.

[0587] The first information may have other names and is not limited thereto. Optionally, the first information may include at least one of the following: PMI, CRI, CQI, RI, LI, RSRP (e.g., layer 1 RSRP, L1-RSRP) or SSBRI, etc.

[0588] Optionally, in S604, the first vector can be replaced with at least one of the following: antenna port, port, or beam; and / or, the second vector can be replaced with the vector corresponding to the sub-band. For example, when Figure 6 When the method shown is applied to the PS codebook, the first vector can be replaced with at least one of the following: antenna port, port, or beam; and / or, the second vector can be replaced with the vector corresponding to the subband.

[0589] pass Figure 6 The method shown allows the terminal to send information indicating N sets of first vectors to the access network device. These N sets of first vectors can be determined by the terminal. For example, the terminal can determine the channel based on the received reference signal, thereby determining the N sets of first vectors that match the channel of the reference signal. Then, the PMI can be determined based on the N sets of first vectors, improving the accuracy of the precoding matrix corresponding to the PMI and reducing the computational complexity of the precoding matrix.

[0590] For example, the terminal can determine the precoding matrix using algorithms such as SVD. The computational complexity of these algorithms is directly proportional to the number of first vectors. For instance, if the terminal determines the precoding matrix based on L first vectors, the computational complexity of the precoding matrix can be (2L*2L). 3 If the terminal divides the L first vectors into N groups of first vectors and determines the precoding matrix using these N groups of first vectors, then the computational complexity of the nth group of first vectors ca...

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Receive reference signal; Send first information, which is determined based on the reference signal, and the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors in N groups of first vectors, or each first vector in the nth group of first vectors; Where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, n takes integers from 1 to N, the nth group of first vectors is a proper subset of L first vectors, L is less than or equal to the number of first vectors corresponding to the reference signal, the first vectors are spatially correlated basis vectors corresponding to the precoding matrix, and L is a positive integer.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Receive second information, which indicates the value of N; or The value of N is preset.

3. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Send a reference signal; Receive first information, which is determined based on the reference signal, and the first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors in N groups of first vectors, or each first vector in the nth group of first vectors; Where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, n takes integers from 1 to N, the nth group of first vectors is a proper subset of L first vectors, L is less than or equal to the number of first vectors corresponding to the reference signal, the first vectors are spatially correlated basis vectors corresponding to the precoding matrix, and L is a positive integer.

4. The method as described in claim 3, characterized in that, Also includes: Send a second message, which indicates the value of N; or The value of N is preset.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Some or all of the N sets of first vectors are used to determine the precoding matrix.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first vectors in the N groups do not overlap.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, In the N groups of first vectors, the number of first vectors is the same in every two groups of first vectors; Alternatively, the N groups of first vectors may include at least two groups of first vectors, wherein different groups of first vectors may include different numbers of first vectors.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate each first vector in the nth group of first vectors, including: The first information is used to indicate the L first vectors and the index of the first combination in at least one combination; Wherein, the first combination belongs to at least one combination, and each combination in the at least one combination includes a first number of first vectors in the L first vectors, the first number being the number of first vectors in the nth group of first vectors, and the first combination including each first vector in the nth group of first vectors.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The first information is also used to indicate M groups of second vectors, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The N groups of first vectors and the M groups of second vectors are used to determine the precoding matrix. The N groups of first vectors correspond to the M groups of second vectors. Any two groups of second vectors in the M groups of second vectors are not completely identical. The second vector is the frequency domain-dependent basis vector corresponding to the precoding matrix.

10. The method as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The N sets of first vectors and the M sets of second vectors are used to determine the precoding matrix, including: The nth first vector in the N first vector groups and the mth second vector in the M second vector groups are used to determine the nth matrix in the N matrices. The N matrices are used to determine the precoding matrix, where n takes integers from 1 to N and m takes integers from 1 to M.

11. The method as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The precoding matrix W satisfies the following formula: Among them, W 1,j It is the first vector of the nth group in the N groups of first vectors; For W 2,j The conjugate matrix, The non-zero element in the N-group feedback parameter is the nth feedback parameter in the N-group feedback parameter; For W f,j The conjugate transpose of the matrix, W f,j Let be the m-th second vector in the M-group of second vectors.

12. The method as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The precoding matrix W satisfies the following formula: in, W1 is the nth first vector in the N groups of first vectors, and W1 is used to indicate the L first vectors. Used to indicate that the nth group of first vectors includes L of the L first vectors. n There are two first vectors, where L is an integer greater than or equal to 2. n It is a positive integer; For W 2,j The conjugate matrix, The non-zero element in the N-group feedback parameter is the nth feedback parameter in the N-group feedback parameter; For W f,j The conjugate transpose of the matrix, W f,j Let be the m-th second vector in the M-group of second vectors.

13. The method as described in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The first information also indicates the N sets of feedback parameters.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that, The M groups of second vectors include at least two groups of second vectors, and the number of second vectors included in different groups of the at least two groups of second vectors is different.

15. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate the M groups of second vectors, including: The first information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the number of second vectors in the m-th group of second vectors in the M groups of second vectors, or each second vector in the m-th group of second vectors; Where m takes any integer from 1 to M.

16. The method as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate the number of second vectors in the m-th group of the M-group second vectors, including: The first information is used to indicate the first coefficient corresponding to the second vector in the m-th group, and the first coefficient is used to indicate the number of second vectors in the m-th group.

17. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 16, characterized in that, The first information is also used to indicate N bitmaps and N sets of feedback parameters, wherein the nth bitmap in the N bitmaps corresponds to: the nth set of feedback parameters in the N sets of feedback parameters, the nth set of first vectors in the N sets of first vectors, and the mth set of second vectors in the M sets of second vectors, where m takes integer values ​​from 1 to M. The nth bitmap is used to indicate the position in the first space corresponding to the non-zero feedback parameter in the nth group of feedback parameters, and the first space is determined based on the nth group of first vectors and the mth group of second vectors.

18. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a unit for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-17.

19. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a processor for running a computer program to cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 17.

20. The communication device as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that, The communication device further includes a memory for storing the computer program.

21. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, which, when executed, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-17.

22. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes: computer program code, which, when the computer program code is run, implements the method as described in any one of claims 1-17.

23. A chip, characterized in that, Includes a processor configured to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 17.

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