Method and device for configuring energy-saving cells in a network

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present invention, a method and apparatus for configuring a network energy-saving cell are provided, the method for configuring a network energy-saving cell includes: a network device sending first information to a terminal device; the first information is used to configure a second cell for the terminal device, thereby causing the network device to use the second cell to serve the terminal device, wherein the energy required by the network device to operate the second cell is lower than the energy required by the network device to operate the first cell.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of communications. [Background technology]

[0002] NR (New Radio) base stations need to work with a large bandwidth (e.g., 100 MHz), which requires the use of a large number of ports (64T / 64R) and a shorter TTI (transmission time interval) (e.g., 1 ms). NR base stations consume much more energy in functions such as baseband processing and digital front-end than LTE base stations. In addition, the operating frequency (>6 GHz) of NR's FR2 (frequency range 2) is relatively high, and the higher the frequency point, the greater the signal path loss. Therefore, in principle, NR designs use relatively narrow beams to transmit signals farther. Thus, the number of antenna units for analog beamforming in NR base stations increases significantly, and the number of RF units and RF channels for transmission and reception signals also increases accordingly. One power amplifier (PA) is provided for each RF channel, and the power consumption of the PA accounts for about 80% of the total power consumption of the base station. As the number of PAs increases, the power consumption of the base station also increases. At present, AAUs (active antenna units) in the FR1 (frequency range 1) band generally adopt 192 antenna units to support 64 channels, far more than the maximum 8 channels of LTE.

[0003] According to data statistics from telecommunications carriers, the average power consumption of a single NR base station is more than three times that of an LTE base station, and electricity costs account for about 50% of the cost of deploying 5G (fifth generation) networks for telecommunications carriers. More importantly, even during non-business (traffic) hours, the energy consumption of NR base stations is still large, because even when there is no business, the base station still needs to transmit common signals, such as SSB (synchronization signal block), SIB1 (system information block type 1), SI (system information), etc., which can greatly reduce the energy usage efficiency of NR base stations. Therefore, NR network energy saving (also called energy conservation) is a problem waiting to be solved.

[0004] In the prior art, in order to save power consumption of NR base stations, 3GPP Rel-15 supports NR cells to stop transmitting system information (SI). An NR cell broadcasts whether to transmit SI in SIB1, and a UE (user equipment) can request the base station to resume transmission of SI when it needs to receive SI (e.g., when the UE determines that the stored SI needs to be updated). When the NR base station receives a request from the associated UE, it resumes transmission of SI.

[0005] In 3GPP Rel-15 / Rel-16, NR network energy saving has been studied, and the proposed solution is to dynamically start (on) and stop (off) the signal reception and / or transmission of the NR cell based on information such as the business volume of the NR cell and its neighboring cells, UE measurement reports, etc., and when the signal reception and transmission of the NR cell is stopped, the cell enters an energy saving state. In this way, the purpose of saving power consumption can be achieved by making the NR cell turn off the signal transmission and reception device when the business volume is relatively low. The NR cell may decide to enter the energy saving state by itself (distributed network energy saving scheme) or by OAM (centralized network energy saving scheme). For example, it can be determined that the NR cell enters the energy saving state when the business volume is lower than a predetermined threshold.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a distributed network energy saving scheme. As shown in FIG. 1, in the distributed network energy saving scheme, when an NR cell enters an energy saving state, a base station switches a UE to a neighboring cell, and notifies a neighboring NR base station or LTE base station that the NR cell has entered an energy saving state, and the neighboring NR / LTE base station is responsible for the coverage and business load of the NR cell. Then, the neighboring NR / LTE base station can determine whether to request the NR cell that has entered the energy saving state to restore normal working based on information such as its business load, UE measurement report, etc. For example, when the business load of the neighboring NR / LTE base station reaches a predetermined threshold, it triggers the NR cell that has entered the energy saving state to request to restore normal working. When the NR cell restores normal working, it resumes signal reception and / or transmission, and some UEs that have been switched to the neighboring NR / LTE cell before are switched to the NR cell.

[0007] It should be noted that the introduction of the above background art is intended to clearly and completely explain the technical solutions of the present invention, and to facilitate understanding thereof by those skilled in the art, and these technical solutions are described in the background art of the present invention, and therefore should not be construed as being known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The inventor has found that: In the prior art, an NR cell entering an energy saving state means that the cell stops receiving and transmitting all signals, so that a UE originally connected to the cell needs to be switched to an adjacent cell, and a UE originally staying in the cell needs to perform cell re-selection to stay in the adjacent cell. When an NR cell dynamically enters an energy saving state multiple times, the UE needs to be frequently switched from the NR cell or frequently perform cell re-selection, which may affect the user experience. In addition, when a UE in a cell in an energy saving state is transferred to an adjacent cell, it inevitably increases the load level of the adjacent cell, which may affect the serving quality of the UE in the adjacent cell.

[0009] In view of the above problems, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method and apparatus for configuring a network energy-saving cell, which updates the configuration of the energy-saving cell via the network and instructs the terminal equipment to configure the energy-saving cell, thereby avoiding the interruption of the terminal equipment's business and the increase in the load level of the neighboring cell caused by the terminal equipment in the energy-saving state being transferred to an adjacent cell. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a network energy saving cell configuration device is provided, which is arranged in a network device, the device comprising: a transmitting unit for transmitting first information to a terminal device; The first information is used to configure a second cell in a terminal equipment, thereby causing the network equipment to serve the terminal equipment using the second cell, wherein the energy required when the network equipment operates the second cell is lower than the energy required when the network equipment operates the first cell.

[0011] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a network energy saving cell configuration device is provided, which is installed in a terminal device, and the device includes: a receiving unit for receiving first information transmitted by a network device; The first information is used to configure a second cell in the terminal equipment, thereby causing the network equipment to serve the terminal equipment using the second cell, wherein the energy required when the network equipment operates the second cell is lower than the energy required when the network equipment operates the first cell. Effect of the Invention

[0012] The advantageous effects of the embodiment of the present invention are at least as follows: according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the network device enters the energy saving state, it is possible to still serve the terminal device using the energy saving cell. For example, when the network device enters the energy saving state, the terminal device in the IDLE / INACTIVE state can normally stay in the energy saving cell, or the terminal device in the connected state can continue to transmit uplink and downlink data through the energy cell. In this way, it is possible to avoid the interruption of the terminal device's business and the increase in the load level of the neighboring cell due to the terminal device in the energy saving cell being transferred to the neighboring cell.

[0013] Specific embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in detail below with reference to the following description and drawings, which show how the principles of the present invention may be employed, but are not limited in scope to these embodiments, which may include various changes, modifications, and alternatives within the scope of the appended claims.

[0014] Furthermore, features described and / or illustrated in one embodiment may be used in the same or similar manner in one or more other embodiments, may be combined with features in the other embodiments, or may be substituted for features in the other embodiments.

[0015] It should be noted that terms such as "comprise / have" when used in this specification refer to the presence of a feature, element, step, or assembly, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps, or assemblies. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] Elements and features described in one drawing or one embodiment of the invention may be combined with elements and features shown in one or more other drawings or embodiments, and in the drawings, like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts in several drawings and to indicate corresponding parts used in several embodiments. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a distributed network energy saving scheme. [Diagram 2] A diagram showing a method for configuring a network energy-saving cell in an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] A diagram showing that the first cell and the second cell occupy different frequency domain resources. [Figure 4] A diagram showing that the first cell and the second cell occupy different frequency domain resources and different time domain resources. [Diagram 5] A diagram showing that the first cell and the second cell occupy the same frequency domain resources and different time domain resources. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is another diagram showing a method for configuring a network energy-saving cell in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is another diagram showing a method for configuring a network energy-saving cell in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is another diagram showing a method for configuring a network energy-saving cell in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is another diagram showing a method for configuring a network energy-saving cell in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is another diagram showing a method for configuring a network energy-saving cell in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a network energy-saving cell setting device in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is another diagram showing a network energy-saving cell setting device in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 illustrates a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The above and other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: While the specification and drawings disclose certain embodiments of the present invention, these are illustrative of only some of the embodiments which may employ the principles of the present invention, and it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, but rather includes all modifications, variations and alternatives which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, the term "communication network" or "wireless communication network" may refer to a network conforming to any communication standard, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA), etc.

[0019] Additionally, communications between devices in the communications system may be performed according to any stage of communications protocol, including, but not limited to, the following communications protocols: 1G (generation), 2G, 2.5G, 2.75G, 3G, 4G, 4.5G, 5G, New Radio (NR), and / or other conventional or future developed communications protocols.

[0020] In the embodiment of the present invention, the term "network equipment" refers to an apparatus that connects a terminal device to a communication network and provides services to the terminal device in a communication system, for example. The network equipment may include, but is not limited to, a "node" and / or a "donor" under the IAB architecture, a base station (BS), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a broadcast transmitter, a mobile management entity (MME), a network gateway, a server, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), etc.

[0021] Among them, the base station may include, but is not limited to, the following: Node B (NodeB or NB), evolved Node B (eNodeB or eNB), 5G base station (gNB), etc., and may further include RRH (Remote Radio Head), RRU (Remote Radio Unit), relay, or low power node (e.g., femto, pico, etc.). In addition, the term "base station" may include some or all of the functions thereof, and each base station can provide communication coverage for a specific geographical area. For example, a 5G base station gNB may include one gNB CU and one or more gNB DUs, in which the CU / DU is a logical node of the gNB that has some functions of the gNB. The term "cell" may refer to a base station and / or its coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

[0022] In the embodiment of the present invention, the term "User Equipment" (UE) or "Terminal Equipment" (TE) refers to a device that accesses a communication network and receives services from the network, for example, through a network device. The user equipment may be fixed or mobile, and may also be called a mobile station (MS), a terminal, a subscriber station (SS), an access terminal (AT), a station, etc. For example, a terminal equipment served by an IAB node or an IAB donor under the IAB architecture.

[0023] Among these, user equipment may include, but is not limited to, the following: a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a mobile device, a machine type communication device, a laptop computer, a cordless telephone, a smartphone, a smart watch, a digital camera, etc.

[0024] Furthermore, in a scenario such as the Internet of Things (IoT), the user equipment may also be a monitoring or measuring device or apparatus, including, but not limited to, a Machine Type Communication (MTC) terminal, an in-vehicle communication terminal, a Device to Device (D2D) terminal, a Machine to Machine (M2M) terminal, etc.

[0025] In addition, the term "network side" or "network equipment side" refers to the network side, which may be a base station or may include one or more network equipment as described above. The term "user side" or "terminal side" or "terminal equipment side" refers to the user or terminal side, which may be a UE or may include one or more terminal equipment as described above. Unless otherwise specified, "equipment" herein may refer to network equipment or may also refer to terminal equipment.

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0027] <Example of the first aspect> In an embodiment of the present invention, a method for configuring a network energy saving cell is provided.

[0028] 2 is a diagram showing a method for configuring a network energy-saving cell in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the method includes:

[0029] 201: A network device sends first information to a terminal device, and the first information is used to configure a second cell in the terminal device, thereby causing the network device to use the second cell to serve the terminal device, wherein an energy required when the network device operates the second cell is lower than an energy required when the network device operates the first cell.

[0030] Note that, although the above-mentioned FIG. 2 is for illustrative purposes, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, some other operations (steps) can be added or removed, or some of the operations can be deleted. In addition, a person skilled in the art can make appropriate modifications based on the above-mentioned contents without being limited to the description of the above-mentioned FIG. 2.

[0031] According to the method of the embodiment of the present invention, when the network device enters the energy saving state, it can still serve the terminal device using the energy saving cell. For example, when the network device enters the energy saving state, the terminal device in the IDLE / INACTIVE state can normally stay in the energy saving cell, or the terminal device in the connected state can continue to transmit uplink and downlink data through the energy cell. In this way, it is possible to avoid the interruption of the terminal device's business and the increase in the load level of the neighboring cell caused by the terminal device in the energy saving cell being transferred to the neighboring cell.

[0032] In the above-described embodiments, the energy required by the network equipment to operate the second cell is lower than the energy required to operate the first cell, i.e., the electrical energy consumed by the network equipment to transmit at a peak rate using the second cell is lower than the electrical energy consumed by the network equipment to transmit at a peak rate using the first cell, or the electrical energy consumed by the network equipment to transmit a unit amount of data using the second cell is lower than the electrical energy consumed to transmit a unit amount of data using the first cell.

[0033] In the above embodiment, the network device can save the consumption of electric energy when operating the second cell compared to when operating the first cell. To operate the second cell, i.e., to make the second cell serve the terminal device, the network device may set the second cell (i.e., energy-saving cell) for the terminal device in a connected state that is set to set the first cell (i.e., non-energy-saving cell) as a serving cell, or set the second cell (i.e., energy-saving cell) for the terminal device in a connected state that newly accesses the network, thereby making the second cell serve the terminal device in a connected state. Note that the present invention is not limited thereto, and the network device may further transmit system information of the second cell to make the terminal device in an idle or inactive state stay in the second cell, thereby making the second cell serve the terminal device in an idle or inactive state.

[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the network device can implement multiple energy saving methods through hardware or software, so as to enable the second cell to save electrical energy consumption compared with the first cell.

[0035] In some embodiments, the network appliance achieves energy savings in the time domain.

[0036] For example, the network device can use software to make the transmission period of the common signal of the second cell longer than that of the first cell, thereby realizing the second cell to save more energy than the first cell. That is, the transmission period of the common signal of the second cell is extended. The common signal here may be SSB (synchronization signal block), SS (synchronization signal), MIB (main information block), PBCH (physical broadcast channel), SIB1 (system information block type 1), SI (system information), Paging (paging), etc. Note that the present invention is not limited to these. For example, the transmission period ssb-periodicity of the SSB of the second cell is longer than that of the first cell, and for example, the transmission period of SIB1 and SI of the second cell is longer than that of the first cell, and for example, the period of the search space of the system information PDCCH (physical downlink control channel) of the second cell is longer than that of the first cell, and for example, the period of the paging period defaultPagingCycle or the period of the search space of the paging PDCCH of the second cell is longer than that of the first cell, etc.

[0037] In addition, for example, the network device can stop transmission of some downlink time units of the second cell by hardware or software, so that the second cell saves more energy than the first cell, i.e., stop transmission in some frames, subframes, slots, or symbols of the second cell. For example, the network device can stop transmission of some downlink time units in each BWP of the second cell by turning off the RF unit of the second cell in some downlink time units.

[0038] Also, for example, the network device does not transmit some signals of the second cell by software, or transmits a simplified common signal of the second cell, so that the second cell can save more energy than the first cell. The common signal here may be SSB (synchronization signal block), SS (synchronization signal), MIB (main information block), PBCH (physical broadcast channel), SIB1 (system information block type 1), SI (system information), paging, etc. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the second cell does not transmit a complete SSB, transmits only a reference signal (SS) in the SSB, stops transmitting MIB or PBCH, and does not transmit SIB1 and SI, that is, the second cell transmits only a simplified SSB and does not transmit system broadcast information. Also, for example, the second cell transmits only SSB, does not transmit SIB1 and SI, that is, the second cell transmits only a non-cell-defined SSB (NCD-SSB).

[0039] Also, for example, the network device can use software to make the number of CSI-RS (Channel State Information Reference Signal) symbols of the second cell less than the number of CSI-RS symbols of the first cell, thereby realizing the second cell to save more energy than the first cell. That is, the number of CSI-RS symbols of the second cell is less than that of the first cell. Wherein, the network device can indicate the number of CSI-RS symbols of the second cell to the terminal device through the CSI-RS resource configuration field in the downlink BWP configuration of the second cell, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0040] In some embodiments, the network appliance achieves energy savings in the spatial domain.

[0041] For example, the network equipment can use hardware to make the number of transmitting antenna units of the second cell less than that of the first cell, thereby making the second cell more energy-saving than the first cell. That is, the number of transmitting antenna units (including associated RF channels and power amplifiers) of the second cell is less than that of the first cell. For example, the network equipment can turn off some antenna units (including associated RF channels and power amplifiers) of the second cell, so that the number of transmitting antenna units of each downlink BWP in the second cell is all less than that of the first cell.

[0042] Also, for example, the network equipment can use hardware or software to make the number of transmission beams of the second cell less than the number of transmission beams of the first cell, thereby realizing the second cell to save more energy than the first cell. That is, the number of transmission beams of the second cell is less than that of the first cell. For example, the network equipment can turn off RF hardware corresponding to some beams of the second cell, so that the number of beams of the second cell is less than that of the first cell. Here, the beam of the second cell may refer to the SSB beam of the second cell, for example, the number of beams of all SSBs of the second cell is all less than that of the first cell. Wherein, the network equipment can instruct the terminal equipment on the beams that the second cell actually transmits by the ssb-PositionsInBurst field in the system information block (SIB1) of the second cell, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0043] In addition, for example, the network device can use software to reduce the number of MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) antenna ports of the second cell to be less than the number of MIMO antenna ports of the first cell, thereby realizing the second cell to save more energy than the first cell. That is, compared with the first cell, the network device transmits the signal of the second cell using fewer MIMO antenna ports. For example, the number of MIMO antenna ports of each BWP of the second cell is all less than that of the first cell. Wherein, the network device can instruct the terminal device on the number of MIMO antenna ports of the second cell according to the downlink demodulation reference signal (DMRS) setting region in the downlink BWP setting of the second cell, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0044] In some embodiments, the network device achieves energy savings in the frequency domain.

[0045] For example, the network device can use hardware or software to make the serving bandwidth of the second cell different from that of the first cell, thereby realizing the second cell to save more energy than the first cell. That is, the serving bandwidth of the second cell is different from that of the first cell. For example, the serving bandwidth of the second cell is larger than that of the first cell when the serving bandwidth is larger, and the serving bandwidth of the second cell is smaller than that of the first cell when the serving bandwidth is smaller. In this example, the serving bandwidths of all the BWPs of the second cell may all be different from those of the first cell, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the initial BWP bandwidth of the second cell may be different from that of the first cell. Wherein, the network device can indicate the bandwidth of the second cell to the terminal device according to the bandwidth setting range in the BWP setting of the second cell.

[0046] In some embodiments, the network appliance achieves energy savings in the power domain.

[0047] For example, the network device can use software to set the transmission power of the second cell lower than that of the first cell, so that the second cell saves more energy than the first cell. That is, the transmission power of the second cell is lower than that of the first cell. Here, the transmission power of the second cell can refer to the transmission power ssb-PBCH-BlockPower of the SSB of the second cell. For example, the transmission power of all SSBs of the second cell is lower than that of the first cell. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the transmission power of the SSB of the initial BWP of the second cell can be lower than that of the first cell. Wherein, the network device can instruct the terminal device to transmit the transmission power of the second cell through the ssb-PBCH-BlockPower field in the cell configuration or BWP configuration of the second cell.

[0048] Although the above-mentioned embodiments are illustrative of the energy saving methods, the present invention is not limited thereto, and furthermore, appropriate modifications can be made based on the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, the above-mentioned embodiments can be used alone, or a combination of the above-mentioned embodiments can be used.

[0049] In an embodiment of the present invention, the energy saving state can be divided into different degrees (grades), such as light energy saving, medium energy saving, deep energy saving, etc. For example, when the network device realizes energy saving in the time domain, the SSB transmission period of the second cell is 40 ms in light energy saving, the SSB transmission period of the second cell is 80 ms in medium energy saving, and the SSB transmission period of the second cell is 160 ms in deep energy saving. Also, for example, when the network device realizes energy saving in the space domain, the number of SSB transmission beams of the second cell is 4 in light energy saving, the number of SSB transmission beams of the second cell is 2 in medium energy saving, and the number of SSB transmission beams of the second cell is 1 in deep energy saving.

[0050] In the above energy saving method, the network device can reduce signal transmission only in the time domain, frequency domain, space domain and / or power domain of the energy saving cell, so as to ensure that the network device can still serve the terminal device using the energy saving cell, for example, the terminal device in the IDLE / INACTIVE state can normally stay in the energy saving cell, or the terminal device in the connected state can continue to transmit uplink and downlink data through the energy cell.

[0051] In some embodiments, the frequency domain resources occupied by the first cell and the second cell are different, for example, the frequency domain resources occupied by the first cell and the second cell do not overlap, or the center frequency points of the frequency domain resources occupied by the first cell and the second cell are different.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the PCI (Physical Cell Identification (ID)) or the center frequency point of the first cell and the second cell are different.

[0053] In the above embodiment, when the network equipment operates the first cell and the second cell at the same time, as shown in Fig. 3, the first cell and the second cell are simultaneously visible to the terminal equipment, so it is necessary to configure different hardware resources for the first cell and the second cell, and after the network equipment transfers all the terminal equipment of the first cell to the second cell, the network equipment can release the air interface resource corresponding to the first cell and stop the operation of the first cell. In this way, the terminal equipment can be seamlessly switched or transferred to the energy-saving cell. Because different hardware resources are required for the first cell and the second cell, when the network equipment operates the second cell, the network does not need to restart the hardware, and the interruption of the service of the terminal equipment can be avoided.

[0054] In the above embodiment, when the network equipment does not operate the first cell and the second cell at the same time, that is, the time domain resources occupied by the first cell and the second cell are different, the network equipment can use the same set of hardware resources to operate the first cell and the second cell, as shown in FIG. 4. In this case, the network equipment needs to transmit the signal of the first cell and the signal of the second cell using different time domain resources. The terminal equipment cannot seamlessly transition, and the service to the terminal equipment connected to the first cell may be interrupted after the network equipment starts transmitting the signal of the second cell. Therefore, in order to prevent the service interruption, the network equipment needs to instruct the terminal equipment to connect to the second cell by sending the above-mentioned first information to the terminal equipment before operating the second cell.

[0055] In some embodiments, the frequency domain resources occupied by the first cell and the second cell are the same, and the network equipment does not operate the first cell and the second cell at the same time, that is, the time domain resources occupied by the first cell and the second cell are different, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the first cell and the second cell occupy the same frequency resource and serve the same terminal equipment, so the coverage of the first cell and the second cell is the same. Since operating the first cell and the second cell at the same time may cause mutual interference to the terminal equipment, the first cell and the second cell need to occupy different time domain resources. The network can use the same set of hardware resources to operate the first cell and the second cell.

[0057] In the above-mentioned embodiments, the network can employ the same set of hardware resources to operate the first cell and the second cell, in which case the network equipment needs to utilize different time domain resources to transmit the signals of the first cell and the signals of the second cell.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the PCI of the first cell and the second cell may be different.

[0059] When the PCIs of the first cell and the second cell are different, the terminal equipment cannot seamlessly transition, and after the network equipment starts transmitting the second cell signal (changes the PCI), i.e., after the second cell is operated, the service to the terminal equipment connected to the first cell may be interrupted. Therefore, in order to prevent the service interruption, the network equipment needs to instruct the terminal equipment to connect to the second cell by transmitting the above-mentioned first information to the terminal equipment before operating the second cell.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the PCI of the first cell and the second cell may be the same.

[0061] When the PCI of the first cell and the second cell are the same, the network device can use the second cell to serve the terminal device of the first cell after operating the second cell, so that the terminal device can realize a seamless transition. When the network device does not need to reboot the hardware after operating the second cell, the service to the terminal device connected to the first cell may not be interrupted.

[0062] In some embodiments, the terminal device is not configured with a serving cell. In order to operate the energy-saving cell (secondary cell) and have the energy-saving cell (secondary cell) serve the terminal device, the network device can configure the energy-saving cell (secondary cell) as a secondary cell, a primary secondary cell (special cell SpCell of an SCG (secondary cell group)) of the terminal device, or a primary cell of the terminal device.

[0063] In some other embodiments, the terminal device is configured with a non-energy-saving cell (first cell) as a serving cell. When the network device enters an energy-saving state, the non-energy-saving cell (first cell) is changed to an energy-saving cell (second cell). Furthermore, when the network device leaves the energy-saving state, the network device changes the energy-saving cell (second cell) to a non-energy-saving cell (first cell).

[0064] The method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below in conjunction with a specific scenario.

[0065] In some implementations, the first cell is a configured or activated secondary cell of the terminal device, i.e., the network device changes a configured or activated non-energy saving secondary cell of the terminal device into an energy saving cell.

[0066] In some implementations, the network device does not need to pre-configure the second cell, and only needs to reconfigure at least one parameter of the first cell according to the first information to change the first cell to the second cell. For example, after the network device enters an energy-saving state, the network side changes a parameter configuration of at least one SCell of the terminal device through an RRC (Radio Resource Control) message to set the at least one SCell as an energy-saving SCell.

[0067] In the above-mentioned implementation manner, there may be multiple first cells, i.e., the terminal equipment has multiple configured or activated secondary cells, and the network equipment reconfigures parameters of at least one first cell of the terminal equipment according to the above-mentioned first information to change the first cell to a secondary cell.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the first information is carried by an RRC message as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first information may also be carried by other messages or signaling.

[0069] The method in the above embodiment can be used when the PCI of the first cell and the PCI of the second cell are the same or different, and the method in the above embodiment can save signaling overhead.

[0070] In some other implementations, the network device sets at least one second cell as a secondary cell of the terminal device according to the first information, and makes the terminal device set the initial state of the second cell to a deactive state. For example, before the network device enters the energy saving state, the network side sets an energy saving cell (second cell) as one secondary cell (SCell) in the primary cell group MCG or secondary cell group SCG of the terminal device through an RRC message, and makes the terminal device set the initial state of the cell to a deactive state.

[0071] FIG. 6 is another diagram illustrating a method for configuring a network energy saving cell in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] In the above-mentioned implementation manner, as shown in Fig. 6, the network device can further send second information to the terminal device (602), and the second information causes the terminal device to set the state of the second cell to an active state, and the second information causes the terminal device to set the state of the first cell to a deactive state. For example, after entering the energy-saving state, the network device sets the state of the energy-saving cell (second cell) to an active state by a MAC CE (medium access control unit), and sets the state of the non-energy-saving cell (first cell) to a deactive state by the MAC CE.

[0073] In the above-mentioned implementation manner, as shown in Fig. 6, the network device can further send third information to the terminal device (603), the third information causes the terminal device to set the state of the second cell to a deactive state, and the third information causes the terminal device to set the state of the first cell to an active state. For example, when the network device leaves energy saving, it sets the state of the energy-saving cell (second cell) to a deactive state through MAC CE, and causes the terminal device to set the state of the non-energy-saving cell (first cell) to an active state.

[0074] In the above-mentioned implementation manner, the first information is carried by an RRC message, and the second information and the third information are carried by a MAC CE as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first information, the second information and the third information may further be carried by other messages or signaling, for example, the third information may further be carried by a PDCCH or a DCI (downlink control information).

[0075] The method in the above-mentioned implementation manner can be used when the PCI of the first cell and the PCI of the second cell are the same or different. According to the method in the above-mentioned implementation manner, when the second cell is configured as the SCell of the terminal device by the RRC message, the terminal device can initiate downlink synchronization of the second cell, and the network side can immediately use the second cell to transmit data after activating the second cell, thereby reducing the interruption time of the terminal device's business.

[0076] In some other implementations, the network equipment configures at least one second cell as a secondary cell of the terminal equipment according to the first information, and configures a conversion timer for the terminal equipment to start or restart the conversion timer when the terminal equipment satisfies a predetermined condition, and to deactivate the first cell and activate the second cell when the conversion timer expires.

[0077] For example, the network device configures at least one energy-saving cell (second cell) for the terminal device through an RRC message, and configures a diversion timer for the non-energy-saving cell (first cell), and the terminal device starts or restarts the diversion timer when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and when the diversion timer expires, the terminal device deactivates the non-energy-saving cell (first cell) and activates the energy-saving cell (second cell).

[0078] In the above embodiment, the conversion timer is for the first cell, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the conversion timer may be set for other cells. For example, a conversion timer is set for a second cell, and when a predetermined condition is met, the terminal device starts or restarts the conversion timer, and when the conversion timer expires, the terminal device activates the energy-saving cell (second cell) and deactivates the non-energy-saving cell (first cell).

[0079] In the above-mentioned implementation manner, the network device can deactivate the first cell and activate the second cell when the terminal device has no data transmission. The above-mentioned predetermined condition includes at least one of the following: Activate the first cell; receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in a currently active primary cell; scheduling uplink grants or downlink resources in the currently active primary cell by the PDCCH; Sending uplink establishment grant CG data in the currently active primary cell; and Receive downlink establishment grant CG data in the currently active primary cell That is the thing.

[0080] For example, when activating the first cell, the terminal device starts the conversion timer, or when receiving a physical downlink control channel PDCCH in the currently active first cell, and / or when an uplink grant or downlink resources in the currently active first cell are scheduled by the PDCCH, and / or when transmitting uplink configuration grant CG data in the currently active first cell, and / or when receiving downlink configuration grant CG data in the currently active first cell, the terminal device restarts the conversion timer.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the first information is carried by an RRC message as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first information may also be carried by other messages or signaling.

[0082] The method in the above-mentioned implementation manner can be used when the PCIs of the first cell and the second cell are the same or different. According to the method in the above-mentioned implementation manner, when the second cell is configured as the SCell of the terminal equipment by an RRC message, the terminal equipment can initiate downlink synchronization of the second cell, and when the network side activates the second cell, it can immediately use the second cell to transmit data, thereby reducing the service interruption time of the terminal equipment.

[0083] In some embodiments, the first cell is a special cell SpCell of a first secondary cell set SCG configured or activated by the terminal device. That is, the network device changes a non-energy-saving special cell SpCell of a first secondary cell set SCG configured or activated by the terminal device to an energy-saving cell. The special cell SpCell may be, for example, a primary secondary cell PSCell, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0084] In some embodiments, the network device does not need to pre-configure the second cell, and only needs to reconfigure the parameters of the first cell according to the first information to change the first cell to the second cell. For example, after the network device enters the energy saving state, the network side changes the parameter configuration of the PSCell in the SCG configuration of the terminal device through an RRC message to set the PSCell as an energy saving PSCell.

[0085] In the above embodiment, the first information is carried by an RRC message as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first information may also be carried by other messages or signaling.

[0086] The method in the above embodiment can be used when the PCI of the first cell and the PCI of the second cell are the same or different, and the method in the above embodiment can save signaling overhead.

[0087] In some other implementations, the network device does not need to pre-configure the second cell, and only needs to release the first secondary cell set according to the first information and establish the second secondary cell set, where the second cell is a special cell of the second secondary cell set. For example, when only one secondary cell set can be configured in the terminal device, the set secondary cell set is an active secondary cell set, and after the network device enters the energy saving state, the network side releases the SCG (first secondary cell set) with the non-energy saving cell (first cell) as the special cell through an RRC message, and establishes the SCG (second secondary cell set) with the energy saving cell (second cell) as the special cell.

[0088] FIG. 7 is another diagram illustrating a method for configuring a network energy saving cell in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0089] In the above-mentioned implementation manner, as shown in Fig. 7, the network device can further send fourth information to the terminal device (702), and the fourth information can cause the terminal device to release the second secondary cell group and establish the first secondary cell group. For example, when the network device leaves the energy saving state, the network side can release the SCG (second secondary cell group) with the energy saving cell (second cell) as the designated cell through the RRC message, and establish the SCG (first secondary cell group) with the non-energy saving cell (first cell) as the designated cell.

[0090] In the above-described implementation manner, the first information and the fourth information are carried by an RRC message as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first information and the fourth information may also be carried by other messages or signaling.

[0091] In some other implementations, the first information includes a setting for changing the first cell to the second cell and a condition for applying the setting, so that the terminal equipment changes the first cell to the second cell when the condition is satisfied. For example, when a SCG (first secondary cell group) is currently configured in the terminal equipment with a non-energy saving cell as a special cell, the network equipment transmits a setting (ConditionalReconfiguration) for changing the non-energy saving cell to the terminal equipment in advance, and sets a condition for applying the setting, and when the condition is satisfied, the terminal equipment changes the non-energy saving cell to the energy saving cell.

[0092] In the above implementation manner, the format of the first information is not limited. Different from the previous implementation manner, this implementation manner does not adopt an immediate effective setting, but adopts a conditional setting, that is, the first cell is changed to the second cell only when a condition is satisfied, which can improve the flexibility of implementation.

[0093] In some other implementations, the network device configures at least one second secondary cell set according to the first information, and allows the terminal device to set the initial state of the second secondary cell set to a deactive state, where the second cell is a special cell of the second secondary cell set. For example, when multiple secondary cell sets can be configured in the terminal device, before the network device enters the energy saving state, the network side configures an SCG (second secondary cell set) with the energy saving cell (second cell) as a special cell as one SCG of the terminal device through an RRC message, and allows the terminal device to set the initial state of the SCG to a deactive state.

[0094] FIG. 8 is another diagram illustrating a method for configuring a network energy saving cell in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0095] In the above-mentioned implementation manner, as shown in Fig. 8, the network device can further send fifth information to the terminal device (802), and the fifth information causes the terminal device to set the second secondary cell set to an active state, and the fifth information causes the terminal device to set at least one of the above-mentioned first secondary cell sets to a deactive state. For example, after entering the energy-saving state, the network device sets the state of the SCG (second secondary cell set) with the energy-saving cell (second cell) as a designated cell to an active state through an RRC message, and sets the state of the SCG (first secondary cell set) with the non-energy-saving cell (first cell) as a designated cell to a deactive state through an RRC message.

[0096] In the above-mentioned implementation manner, as shown in Fig. 8, the network device can further send sixth information to the terminal device (803), and the sixth information causes the terminal device to set the first secondary cell set to an active state, and the sixth information causes the terminal device to set the second secondary cell set to a deactive state. For example, when the network device leaves the energy-saving state, it sets the state of the SCG (first secondary cell set) with the non-energy-saving cell (first cell) as a designated cell to an active state through an RRC message, and sets the state of the SCG (second secondary cell set) with the energy-saving cell (second cell) as a designated cell to a deactive state through an RRC message.

[0097] In the above-mentioned implementation manner, the first information, the fifth information and the sixth information are all carried by an RRC message as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first information, the fifth information and the sixth information may further be carried by other messages or signaling, for example, the fifth information and the sixth information may further be carried by a PDCCH or a DCI.

[0098] In some other implementations, the first information includes the configuration of at least one second secondary cell set with the second cell as a special cell, and conditions for activating the second secondary cell set and deactivating at least one first secondary cell set, such that when the terminal equipment satisfies the conditions, the second secondary cell set is activated and the above-mentioned first secondary cell set is deactivated.

[0099] The above implementation manner does not limit the format of the first information. Different from the previous implementation manner, this implementation manner does not adopt an immediate effective setting, but adopts a conditional setting, that is, only when a condition is satisfied, the second secondary cell set is activated and the first secondary cell set is deactivated, which can improve the implementation flexibility.

[0100] In some other implementation methods, the network equipment configures at least one second secondary cell set with the second cell as a special cell according to the first information, and configures a conversion timer for the terminal equipment to start or restart the conversion timer when the terminal equipment satisfies a predetermined condition, and to deactivate or release the first secondary cell set and activate or establish the second secondary cell set when the conversion timer expires, or to change the parameter settings of the first secondary cell set to the parameter settings of the second secondary cell set when the conversion timer expires.

[0101] For example, the network device configures at least one SCG (second secondary cell set) with an energy-saving cell as a serving cell by an RRC message, and configures a conversion timer for an SCG (first secondary cell set) with a non-energy-saving cell as a serving cell. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the terminal device starts or restarts the conversion timer. When the conversion timer expires, the terminal device deactivates or releases the first secondary cell set, and then activates or establishes the second secondary cell set. Alternatively, when the conversion timer expires, the terminal device updates the parameter settings of the first secondary cell set to the parameter settings of the second secondary cell set.

[0102] In the above embodiment, the diversion timer is for the first secondary cell set, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the diversion timer may be for the second secondary cell set mentioned above.

[0103] In the above embodiment, the network device deactivates or releases the first secondary cell set and activates or establishes the second secondary cell set when there is no data transmission to the terminal device, or changes the parameter setting of the first secondary cell set to the parameter setting of the second secondary cell set. The above-mentioned predetermined condition includes at least one of the following, namely: activating or establishing the first secondary cell set; receiving a PDCCH in the first secondary cell set; scheduling an uplink grant or a downlink resource in the first secondary cell set by a PDCCH; Transmitting uplink CG data in the first secondary cell set; and receiving downlink CG data from the first secondary cell set; That is the thing.

[0104] For example, the terminal device starts the conversion timer when activating or establishing the first secondary cell set, or restarts the conversion timer when receiving a PDCCH on the first secondary cell set and / or when an uplink grant or downlink resources on the first secondary cell set is scheduled by the PDCCH and / or when transmitting uplink CG data on the first secondary cell set and / or when receiving downlink CG data on the first secondary cell set.

[0105] In the above embodiment, the first information is carried by an RRC message as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first information may also be carried by other messages or signaling.

[0106] The methods in the above-mentioned implementation methods can be used when the PCIs of the first cell and the second cell are the same or different. According to the methods in the above-mentioned implementation methods, when the second cell is set as a special cell of the SCG of the terminal equipment by the RRC message, the terminal equipment can start obtaining timing synchronization information of the cell, and when the network side activates the SCG, it can immediately use the SCG to transmit data, thereby reducing the service interruption time of the terminal equipment.

[0107] In some embodiments, the first cell is the primary cell of the terminal equipment, i.e. the network equipment changes the non-energy saving primary cell of the terminal equipment to the energy saving cell.

[0108] In some implementations, the network device does not need to pre-configure the second cell, and only needs to reconfigure the parameters of the first cell according to the first information to change the first cell to the second cell. For example, after the network device enters the energy saving state, the network side changes (updates) the parameter configuration of the PCell of the terminal device according to a system information update procedure (i.e., the first information is system information) to set (change) the non-energy saving PCell (first cell) to the energy saving PCell (second cell).

[0109] In the above implementation, since the system information update procedure does not support changing the PCI of a cell, this method is used when the PCI of a non-energy-saving cell (first cell) and that of an energy-saving cell (second cell) are the same, and this method can save signaling overhead.

[0110] FIG. 9 is another diagram illustrating a method for configuring a network energy saving cell in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0111] In some other implementations, as shown in Fig. 9, the network device can further send eighth information to the terminal device (902), and the eighth information causes the terminal device to reconfigure the parameters of the second cell to change the second cell to the first cell. For example, when the network device enters an energy saving state, the network side switches the terminal device from a non-energy saving cell (first cell) to an energy saving cell (second cell), and reconfigures the parameters of the PCell of the terminal device through an RRC message (switching command). When the network device leaves the energy saving state, the network side switches the terminal device from the energy saving cell (second cell) to a non-energy saving cell (first cell).

[0112] In the above embodiment, since the reconfiguration parameters of the PCell include the PCI of the target cell, the method can be used when the PCI of the non-energy saving cell (first cell) and the PCI of the energy saving cell (second cell) are the same or different, and the method can reduce the service interruption time of the terminal device.

[0113] In some other implementation manners, the first information includes a configuration for changing the first cell to a second cell and a condition for applying the configuration, so that the terminal device changes the first cell to the second cell when the terminal device satisfies the condition. For example, when a non-energy-saving PCell (first cell) is currently configured in the terminal device, the network device transmits (configures) a configuration (ConditionalReconfiguration) for changing the non-energy-saving PCell (first cell) to an energy-saving PCell (second cell) in advance to the terminal device, and configures a condition for applying the configuration, and when the condition is satisfied, the terminal device changes the non-energy-saving PCell to an energy-saving PCell. Different from the previous implementation manner, this embodiment does not adopt an immediately effective configuration, but adopts a conditional configuration, i.e., the first cell is changed to the second cell only when a condition is satisfied, which can improve the flexibility of implementation.

[0114] The above-mentioned implementation methods are provided to exemplify the embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, appropriate modifications can be made based on the above-mentioned implementation methods. For example, the above-mentioned implementation methods can be used alone, or a combination of the above-mentioned implementation methods can be used. In addition, the above-mentioned implementation methods can be used not only for switching between an energy-saving cell (second cell) and a non-energy-saving cell (first cell), but also for switching between energy-saving cells with different degrees of energy saving (light energy saving, medium energy saving, deep energy saving). The different degrees of energy saving depend on the settings of the network device for the second cell, as described above, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0115] According to the method in the above embodiment, when the network device enters the energy saving state, it can still serve the terminal device using the energy saving cell. For example, when the network device enters the energy saving state, the terminal device in the IDLE / INACTIVE state can normally stay in the energy saving cell, or the terminal device in the connected state can continue to transmit uplink and downlink data through the energy cell. In this way, it is possible to avoid the interruption of the terminal device's business and the increase in the load level of the neighboring cell caused by the terminal device in the energy saving cell being transferred to the neighboring cell.

[0116] <Example of the second aspect> In an embodiment of the present invention, a method for configuring a network energy-saving cell is provided, which is a terminal device-side process corresponding to the method in the embodiment of the first aspect, and the duplicated description of the same content as in the embodiment of the first aspect will be omitted here.

[0117] 10 is a diagram showing a method for configuring a network energy-saving cell in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, the method includes:

[0118] 1001: A terminal device receives first information transmitted by a network device, and the first information is used to configure a second cell for the terminal device, thereby causing the network device to use the second cell to serve the terminal device, wherein the energy required when the network device operates the second cell is lower than the energy required when the network device operates the first cell.

[0119] In the embodiment of the present invention, the relevant contents of the first cell and the second cell have already been described in the embodiment of the first aspect, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0120] In some embodiments, the first cell is a configured or active secondary cell of the terminal equipment, and the above-mentioned first information configures the at least one second cell as a secondary cell of the terminal equipment and configures a handover timer.

[0121] In the above embodiment, the terminal equipment starts or restarts the above-mentioned diversion timer when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and when the diversion timer expires, the terminal equipment deactivates the first cell and activates the second cell.

[0122] In the above embodiment, the predetermined condition may include at least one of the following: Activate the first cell; receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in a currently active primary cell; scheduling uplink grants or downlink resources in the currently active primary cell by the PDCCH; Sending uplink establishment grant CG data in the currently active primary cell; and Receive downlink establishment grant CG data in the currently active primary cell That is the thing.

[0123] For example, when activating a first cell, the terminal equipment starts the diversion timer, when other conditions are satisfied, the terminal equipment restarts the diversion timer, and when the diversion timer expires, the terminal equipment deactivates the first cell and activates the second cell.

[0124] In some embodiments, the first cell is a special cell SpCell of a configured or active first secondary cell set SCG of the terminal device, and the above-mentioned first information includes a setting for changing the first cell to the secondary cell and a condition for applying the setting.

[0125] In the above embodiment, the terminal equipment changes the first cell to the second cell if the above conditions are met.

[0126] In some embodiments, the first cell is a special cell SpCell of a configured or active first secondary cell set SCG of the terminal device, and the above-mentioned first information includes configuration of at least one second secondary cell set with the second cell as a special cell, and conditions for activating the second secondary cell set and deactivating at least one first secondary cell set.

[0127] In the above embodiment, the terminal equipment activates the above-mentioned second set of secondary cells and deactivates the above-mentioned first set of secondary cells when the above-mentioned condition is satisfied.

[0128] In some embodiments, the first cell is a special cell SpCell of a configured or active first secondary cell set SCG of the terminal device, and the above-mentioned first information configures at least one second secondary cell set with the second cell as the special cell, and configures a conversion timer.

[0129] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the terminal equipment starts or restarts the above-mentioned conversion timer when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and when the conversion timer expires, deactivates or releases the above-mentioned first secondary cell set and activates or establishes the above-mentioned second secondary cell set, or changes the parameter settings of the above-mentioned first secondary cell set to the parameter settings of the above-mentioned second secondary cell set when the conversion timer expires.

[0130] In the above embodiment, the predetermined condition includes at least one of the following: activating or establishing a first secondary cell set; Receive PDCCH in the first secondary cell pair; Scheduling uplink grants or downlink resources in a first secondary cell set via a PDCCH; Transmitting uplink CG data in the first secondary cell set; and Receive downlink CG data in the first secondary cell set That is the thing.

[0131] For example, when activating or establishing a first secondary cell set, the terminal equipment starts the conversion timer, and when other conditions are satisfied, the terminal equipment restarts the conversion timer, and when the conversion timer expires, the terminal equipment deactivates or releases the first secondary cell set and activates or establishes the second secondary cell set, or changes the parameter settings of the first secondary cell set to the parameter settings of the second secondary cell set.

[0132] In some embodiments, the first cell is a primary cell of the terminal equipment, and said first information includes a setting for changing the first cell to a secondary cell and a condition for applying said setting.

[0133] In the above embodiment, the terminal equipment changes the primary cell to the secondary cell if the above conditions are met.

[0134] Although the above-mentioned embodiments are provided to exemplify the embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto, and furthermore, appropriate modifications can be made based on the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, each of the above-mentioned embodiments may be used alone, or a plurality of the above-mentioned embodiments may be used in combination.

[0135] According to the method in the above embodiment, when the network device enters the energy saving state, it can still serve the terminal device using the energy saving cell. For example, when the network device enters the energy saving state, the terminal device in the IDLE / INACTIVE state can normally stay in the energy saving cell, or the terminal device in the connected state can continue to transmit uplink and downlink data through the energy cell. In this way, it is possible to avoid the interruption of the terminal device's business and the increase in the load level of the neighboring cell caused by the terminal device in the energy saving cell being transferred to the neighboring cell.

[0136] <Example of the third aspect> In an embodiment of the present invention, a network energy saving cell setting device is provided. The device may be, for example, a network device, or may be one or more components or assemblies arranged in the network device. The device in the embodiment of the present invention corresponds to the method in the embodiment of the first aspect, and the duplicated description of the same content as the embodiment of the first aspect will be omitted here.

[0137] 11 is a diagram showing an example of a network energy-saving cell setting device 1100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11, the network energy-saving cell setting device 1100 includes:

[0138] A transmitting unit 1101: transmits first information to a terminal device, and the first information is used to configure a second cell for the terminal device, so as to cause the network device to use the second cell to serve the terminal device, in which the energy required when the network device operates the second cell is lower than the energy required when the network device operates the first cell.

[0139] In some embodiments, the second cell has one or a combination of the following characteristics: the transmission period of the common signal of the second cell is longer than the transmission period of the common signal of the first cell; the network equipment stopping transmission of some downlink time units of the second cell; The network device does not transmit a part of the signal of the second cell, or transmits a simplified common signal of the second cell; the number of transmitting antenna units of the second cell is less than the number of transmitting antenna units of the first cell; the number of symbols of the channel state information reference signal CSI-RS of the second cell is smaller than the number of CSI-RS symbols of the first cell; the number of transmitting beams of the second cell is less than the number of transmitting beams of the first cell; the number of multiple-input multiple-output MIMO antenna ports of the second cell is less than the number of MIMO antenna ports of the first cell; the serving bandwidth of the second cell is not the serving bandwidth of the first cell; and The transmission power of the second cell is lower than the transmission power of the first cell. These are its characteristics.

[0140] In the above embodiment, the common signal may include at least one of the following: a synchronization signal block SSB, a synchronization signal SS, a main information block MIB, a physical broadcast channel PBCH, a system information block SIB1, a system information SI, and a paging Paging.

[0141] In some embodiments, the frequency domain resources occupied by the first cell and the second cell are different, and the network equipment operates the first cell and the second cell simultaneously, or the network equipment does not operate the first cell and the second cell simultaneously.

[0142] In some embodiments, the frequency domain resources occupied by the first cell and the second cell are the same, and the network equipment does not operate the first cell and the second cell at the same time.

[0143] In the above embodiment, the transmitting unit 1101 transmits the signal of the first cell and the signal of the second cell using different time domain resources.

[0144] In the above embodiment, the physical cell identifiers PCI of the first cell and the second cell may be different.

[0145] In the above embodiment, the sending unit 1101 sends the above-mentioned first information to the terminal equipment before operating the second cell.

[0146] In the above embodiment, the PCI of the first cell and the second cell may be the same.

[0147] In some embodiments, the primary cell is a configured or active secondary cell of the terminal equipment.

[0148] In the above embodiment, in one implementation manner, the network device reconfigures at least one parameter of the first cell according to the first information, so as to change the first cell to a second cell.

[0149] In the above embodiment, in another implementation manner, the network equipment sets at least one second cell as a secondary cell of the terminal equipment according to the first information, and causes the terminal equipment to set the initial state of the second cell to an inactive state.

[0150] In the above embodiment, the transmitting unit 1101 can further transmit second information to the terminal equipment, the second information sets the state of the second cell to an active state, and the second information causes the terminal equipment to set the state of the first cell to an inactive state.

[0151] In the above embodiment, the transmitting unit 1101 can further transmit third information to the terminal equipment, the third information causing the terminal equipment to set the state of the second cell to an inactive state, and the third information causing the terminal equipment to set the state of the first cell to an active state.

[0152] In the above embodiment, and in another implementation manner, the network equipment sets at least one second cell as a secondary cell of the terminal equipment according to the first information, and sets a conversion timer for the terminal equipment to start or restart the conversion timer when the terminal equipment satisfies a predetermined condition, and to deactivate the first cell and activate the second cell when the conversion timer expires.

[0153] In the above embodiment, the predetermined condition may include at least one of the following: Activate the first cell; receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in a currently active primary cell; scheduling uplink grants or downlink resources in the currently active primary cell by the PDCCH; Sending uplink establishment grant CG data in the currently active primary cell; and Receive downlink establishment grant CG data in the currently active primary cell That is the thing.

[0154] In some other embodiments, the first cell is a special cell SpCell of a configured or active first secondary cell set SCG of the terminal equipment.

[0155] In the above embodiment, in one implementation manner, the network device reconfigures a parameter of the first cell according to the first information, so as to change the first cell of the terminal device into a second cell.

[0156] In the above embodiment, in another implementation manner, the network device releases a first secondary cell set according to the first information, and establishes a second secondary cell set, in which the second cell is a special cell of the second secondary cell set.

[0157] In the above embodiment, the transmitting unit 1101 can further transmit fourth information to the terminal equipment, which causes the terminal equipment to release the second secondary cell set, and causes the terminal equipment to establish the first secondary cell set.

[0158] In the above-mentioned embodiment, and in another implementation method, the first information includes a setting for changing the first cell to the second cell and a condition for applying the setting, so that the terminal equipment changes the first cell to the second cell when the condition is satisfied.

[0159] In the above embodiment, and in another implementation manner, the network equipment configures at least one second secondary cell set according to the first information, and causes the terminal equipment to set the initial state of the second secondary cell set to an inactive state, in which the second cell is a special cell of the second secondary cell set.

[0160] In the above embodiment, the transmitting unit 1101 can further transmit fifth information to the terminal equipment, the fifth information causing the terminal equipment to set a second secondary cell set to an active state, and the fifth information causing the terminal equipment to set at least one first secondary cell set to a deactivated state.

[0161] In the above embodiment, the transmitting unit 1101 can further transmit sixth information to the terminal equipment, the sixth information causing the terminal equipment to set the first secondary cell set to an active state, and the sixth information causing the terminal equipment to set the second secondary cell set to a deactivated state.

[0162] In the above-mentioned embodiment, and in another implementation method, the first information includes the configuration of at least one second secondary cell set with the second cell as a special cell, and conditions for activating the second secondary cell set and deactivating at least one first secondary cell set, so that the terminal equipment activates the second secondary cell set and deactivates the first secondary cell set when the terminal equipment satisfies the conditions.

[0163] In the above-mentioned embodiment, and in another implementation manner, the network equipment configures at least one second secondary cell set according to the first information, with the second cell being a special cell, and configures a conversion timer for the terminal equipment to start or restart the conversion timer when the terminal equipment satisfies a predetermined condition, and to deactivate or release the first secondary cell set and activate or establish the second secondary cell set when the conversion timer expires, or to change the parameter setting of the first secondary cell set to the parameter setting of the second secondary cell set when the conversion timer expires.

[0164] In the above embodiment, the predetermined condition may include at least one of the following: activating or establishing the first secondary cell set; receiving a PDCCH in the first secondary cell set; scheduling an uplink grant or a downlink resource in the first secondary cell set by a PDCCH; Transmitting uplink CG data in the first secondary cell set; and receiving downlink CG data from the first secondary cell set; That is the thing.

[0165] In some embodiments, the first cell is the primary cell of the terminal equipment.

[0166] In some embodiments, the network equipment reconfigures parameters of the first cell according to the first information to change the first cell to the second cell.

[0167] In the above embodiment, the first information may include system information, and the network equipment reconfigures a parameter of the primary cell through a system information update procedure to change the primary cell into a secondary cell.

[0168] In the above embodiment, the transmitting unit 1101 can further transmit eighth information to the terminal equipment, which causes the terminal equipment to reconfigure parameters of the second cell to change the second cell to the first cell.

[0169] In some other embodiments, the first information includes a setting for changing the first cell to the second cell and a condition for applying the setting, so that the terminal equipment changes the first cell to the second cell when the above-mentioned condition is satisfied.

[0170] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above as examples, the present invention is not limited thereto, and furthermore, appropriate modifications can be made based on the above-described embodiments. For example, each of the above-described embodiments may be used alone, or a plurality of the above-described embodiments may be used in combination.

[0171] It should be noted that, although only each component or module according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. The network energy-saving cell setting device 1100 may further include other components or modules, and the specific contents of these components or modules can be referred to in the related art. In addition, each of the above-mentioned components or modules can be realized by hardware such as a processor, a memory, a transmitter, a receiver, etc., but the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0172] According to the device in the above embodiment, when the network device enters the energy saving state, it can still serve the terminal device using the energy saving cell. For example, when the network device enters the energy saving state, the terminal device in the IDLE / INACTIVE state can normally stay in the energy saving cell, or the terminal device in the connected state can continue to transmit uplink and downlink data through the energy cell. In this way, it is possible to avoid the interruption of the terminal device's business and the increase in the load level of the neighboring cell caused by the terminal device in the energy saving cell being transferred to the neighboring cell.

[0173] <Example of the fourth aspect> In an embodiment of the present invention, a network energy saving cell setting device is provided. The device may be, for example, a terminal device, or may be one or more components or assemblies arranged in the terminal device. The device in the embodiment of the present invention corresponds to the method in the embodiment of the second aspect, and the duplicated description of the same content as the embodiment of the second aspect will be omitted here.

[0174] 12 is a diagram showing an example of a network energy-saving cell setting device 1200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 12, the network energy-saving cell setting device 1200 includes:

[0175] Receiving unit 1201: Receives first information transmitted by a network device, and the first information is used to configure a second cell for a terminal device, so that the network device uses the second cell to serve the terminal device, wherein the energy required when the network device operates the second cell is lower than the energy required when the network device operates the first cell.

[0176] In some embodiments, the first cell is a configured or active secondary cell of the terminal equipment, and the above-mentioned first information configures the at least one second cell as a secondary cell of the terminal equipment and configures a handover timer.

[0177] In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the apparatus 1200 further includes:

[0178] A first processing unit 1202: starts or restarts the above-mentioned diversion timer when a predetermined condition is met, and deactivates the first cell and activates the second cell when the diversion timer expires.

[0179] In the above embodiment, the predetermined condition may include at least one of the following: Activate the first cell; receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in a currently active primary cell; scheduling uplink grants or downlink resources in the currently active primary cell by the PDCCH; Sending uplink establishment grant CG data in the currently active primary cell; and Receive downlink establishment grant CG data in the currently active primary cell That is the thing.

[0180] In some embodiments, the first cell is a special cell SpCell of a first secondary cell set SCG configured or active in the terminal device, and the above-mentioned first information includes a setting for changing the first cell to the secondary cell and a condition for applying the setting.

[0181] In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the apparatus 1200 further includes:

[0182] A second processing unit 1203: Changes the first cell to the second cell if the above condition is satisfied.

[0183] In some embodiments, the first cell is a special cell SpCell of a configured or active first secondary cell set SCG of the terminal device, and the above-mentioned first information includes the configuration of at least one second secondary cell set with the second cell as a special cell, and conditions for activating the second secondary cell set and deactivating at least one first secondary cell set.

[0184] In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the apparatus 1200 further includes:

[0185] A third processing unit 1204: activating the second secondary cell set and deactivating the first secondary cell set when the above-mentioned condition is satisfied.

[0186] In some embodiments, the first cell is a special cell SpCell of a configured or active first secondary cell set SCG of the terminal device, and the above-mentioned first information configures at least one second secondary cell set with the second cell as the special cell, and configures a conversion timer.

[0187] In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the apparatus 1200 further includes:

[0188] A fourth processing unit 1205: starts or restarts the above-mentioned conversion timer when a predetermined condition is satisfied; and when the conversion timer expires, deactivates or releases the first secondary cell set and activates or establishes the second secondary cell set, or changes the parameter settings of the first secondary cell set to the parameter settings of the second secondary cell set, when the conversion timer expires.

[0189] In the above embodiment, the predetermined condition may include at least one of the following: activating or establishing the first secondary cell set; receiving a PDCCH in the first secondary cell set; scheduling an uplink grant or a downlink resource in the first secondary cell set by a PDCCH; Transmitting uplink CG data in the first secondary cell set; and receiving downlink CG data from the first secondary cell set; That is the thing.

[0190] In some embodiments, the first cell is a primary cell of the terminal equipment, and the first information includes a setting for changing the first cell to a secondary cell and a condition for applying the setting.

[0191] In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the apparatus 1200 further includes:

[0192] A fifth processing unit 1206: Change the first cell to the second cell if the above condition is satisfied.

[0193] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above as examples, the present invention is not limited thereto, and furthermore, appropriate modifications can be made based on the above-described embodiments. For example, each of the above-described embodiments may be used alone, or a plurality of the above-described embodiments may be used in combination.

[0194] It should be noted that, although only each component or module according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. The network energy-saving cell setting device 1200 may further include other components or modules, and the specific contents of these components or modules can be referred to in the related art. In addition, each of the above-mentioned components or modules can be realized by hardware such as a processor, a memory, a transmitter, a receiver, etc., but the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0195] According to the device in the above embodiment, when the network device enters the energy saving state, it can still serve the terminal device using the energy saving cell. For example, when the network device enters the energy saving state, the terminal device in the IDLE / INACTIVE state can normally stay in the energy saving cell, or the terminal device in the connected state can continue to transmit uplink and downlink data through the energy cell. In this way, it is possible to avoid the interruption of the terminal device's business and the increase in the load level of the neighboring cell caused by the terminal device in the energy saving cell being transferred to the neighboring cell.

[0196] <Example of the fifth aspect> In a further embodiment of the present invention, a communication system is provided, which includes a network device and a terminal device.

[0197] In some embodiments, the network device includes an apparatus as described in the embodiments of the third aspect and is configured to perform a method as described in the embodiments of the first aspect, which has already been described in detail in the embodiments of the first aspect, and the contents of which are incorporated herein and will not be described in detail again.

[0198] In some embodiments, the terminal device comprises an apparatus as described in the embodiments of the fourth aspect and is configured to perform a method as described in the embodiments of the second aspect, which has already been described in detail in the embodiments of the second aspect, the contents of which are incorporated herein and will not be described in detail herein.

[0199] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a network device is provided, for example, a gNB (a base station in NR).

[0200] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a network device in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 13, the network device 1300 may include a central processing unit (CPU) 1301 and a memory 1302, and the memory 1302 is connected to the central processing unit 1301. The memory 1302 can store various data and further store programs for information processing, and execute the programs under the control of the central processing unit 1301 to receive various information transmitted by terminal devices and transmit various information to terminal devices.

[0201] In some embodiments, the functions of the apparatus described in the embodiments of the third aspect may be integrated into the central processor 1301, and the functions of the apparatus described in the embodiments of the third aspect may be realized by the central processor 1301, in which case the functions of the apparatus described in the embodiments of the third aspect are merged here, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted here.

[0202] In some other embodiments, the device described in the embodiments of the third aspect may be configured separately from the central processor 1301, for example, the device described in the embodiments of the third aspect may be configured as a chip connected to the central processor 1301, and the functions of the device described in the embodiments of the third aspect may be realized under the control of the central processor 1301.

[0203] As shown in Fig. 13, the network device 1300 may further include a transceiver 1303, an antenna 1304, etc., and the functions of these components are similar to those of the prior art, so detailed explanations are omitted here. Note that the network device 1300 does not need to include all the components shown in Fig. 13. The network device 1300 may further include components not shown in Fig. 13, but the prior art can be referred to for this.

[0204] In an embodiment of the present invention, a terminal device, for example a UE, is further provided.

[0205] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 14, the terminal device 1400 may include a processor 1401 and a memory 1402, where the memory 1402 stores data and programs and is connected to the processor 1401. It should be noted that this diagram is merely an example, and other types of components may be used to supplement or replace the components to achieve electrical and telecommunication functions or other functions.

[0206] In some embodiments, the functions of the device in the embodiments of the fourth aspect may be integrated into the processor 1401, in which the processor 1401 may be configured to execute a program to realize the method described in the embodiments of the second aspect, the contents of which are incorporated herein and will not be described in detail herein.

[0207] In some other embodiments, the device in the embodiment of the fourth aspect may be configured separately from the processor 1401, for example, the device in the embodiment of the fourth aspect may be configured as a chip connected to the processor 1401, and the functions of the device in the embodiment of the fourth aspect may be realized by controlling the processor 1401.

[0208] As shown in Fig. 14, the terminal device 1400 may further include a communication module 1403, an input unit 1404, a display 1405, a power supply 1406, etc. Among them, the functions of these components are similar to those of the prior art, so detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted here. It is not necessary for the terminal device 1400 to include all the components shown in Fig. 14. In addition, the terminal device 1400 may further include components not shown in Fig. 14, and in this regard, reference can be made to the related art.

[0209] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer program, which, when executed by a network device, causes the terminal device to perform the method according to the embodiment of the first aspect.

[0210] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a storage medium storing a computer program, wherein the computer program causes a network device to perform the method according to the embodiment of the first aspect.

[0211] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer program, which, when executed on a terminal device, causes the terminal device to perform a method according to an embodiment of the second aspect.

[0212] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a storage medium storing a computer program, wherein the computer program causes a terminal device to perform the method according to the embodiment of the second aspect.

[0213] The above-mentioned devices and methods may be realized by software or hardware, or may be realized by a combination of hardware and software. The present invention further relates to a computer-readable program, which, when executed by a logic component, causes the logic component to realize the above-mentioned device or component, or causes the logic component to realize each of the above-mentioned methods or steps. The logic component may be, for example, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a microprocessor, a processor for use in a computer, etc. The present invention also relates to a storage medium, such as a hard disk, a magnetic disk, an optical hard disk, a DVD, a flash memory, etc., storing the above-mentioned program.

[0214] Additionally, one or more combinations of the functional blocks illustrated in the figures and / or one or more combinations of the functional blocks may be implemented as a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic component, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware assembly, or any other suitable combination for performing the functions described herein. Also, one or more combinations of the functional blocks illustrated in the figures and / or one or more combinations of the functional blocks may be further configured as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a combination of multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in communication with a DSP, or any other configuration.

[0215] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and any modifications to the present invention fall within the technical scope of the present invention as long as they do not depart from the spirit of the present invention.

[0216] Furthermore, with respect to the above-mentioned embodiments, the following supplementary notes are disclosed.

[0217] (Appendix 1) A method for configuring a network energy saving cell, comprising the steps of: The method comprises: The network device transmits first information to the terminal device; The first information is used to configure a second cell in a terminal device, so that the network device serves the terminal device using the second cell; wherein the energy required when the network device operates the second cell is lower than the energy required when the network device operates the first cell.

[0218] (Appendix 2) 2. The method according to claim 1, comprising: The second cell has one or a combination of the following characteristics: a transmission period of the common signal of the second cell is longer than a transmission period of the common signal of the first cell; The network device stops transmitting some downlink time units of the second cell; The network device does not transmit a part of the signal of the second cell, or transmits a common signal of the divided second cell; the number of transmitting antenna units of the second cell is less than the number of transmitting antenna units of the first cell; the number of symbols of the channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) of the second cell is less than the number of CSI-RS symbols of the first cell; the number of transmission beams of the second cell is less than the number of transmission beams of the first cell; the number of multiple-input multiple-output MIMO antenna ports of the second cell is less than the number of MIMO antenna ports of the first cell; the serving bandwidth of the second cell is different from the serving bandwidth of the first cell; and A method, wherein a transmit power of the second cell is lower than a transmit power of the first cell.

[0219] (Appendix 3) 3. The method according to claim 2, comprising: The method, wherein the common signal includes at least one of the following: a synchronization signal block SSB, a synchronization signal SS, a main information block MIB, a physical broadcast channel PBCH, a system information block SIB1, a system information SI, and a paging Paging.

[0220] (Appendix 4) 2. The method according to claim 1, comprising: The frequency domain resources occupied by the first cell and the second cell are different, The method, wherein the network equipment operates the first cell and the second cell simultaneously, or the network equipment does not operate the first cell and the second cell simultaneously.

[0221] (Appendix 5) 2. The method according to claim 1, comprising: The method, wherein the frequency domain resources occupied by the first cell and the second cell are the same, and the network equipment does not operate the first cell and the second cell at the same time.

[0222] (Appendix 6) 6. The method according to claim 5, The method, wherein the network equipment transmits the signal of the first cell and the signal of the second cell using different time domain resources.

[0223] (Appendix 7) 6. The method according to claim 5, The physical cell identifiers PCI of the first cell and the second cell are different.

[0224] (Appendix 8) 8. The method according to claim 7, The method, wherein the network equipment transmits the first information to the terminal equipment before operating the second cell.

[0225] (Appendix 9) 6. The method according to claim 5, The PCI of the first cell and the second cell is the same.

[0226] (Appendix 10) 10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising: The method, wherein the first cell is a configured or active secondary cell of the terminal equipment.

[0227] (Appendix 11) 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: The method, wherein the network device reconfigures at least one parameter of the first cell according to the first information to change the first cell to the second cell.

[0228] (Appendix 12) 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: The method, wherein the network equipment configures at least one of the second cells as a secondary cell of the terminal equipment using the first information, and causes the terminal equipment to set an initial state of the second cell to an inactive state.

[0229] (Appendix 13) 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: The method further comprises: The network device transmits second information to the terminal device; and The method includes the network equipment causing the terminal equipment to set a state of the second cell to an active state using the second information, and causing the terminal equipment to set a state of the first cell to an inactive state using the second information.

[0230] (Appendix 14) 14. The method of claim 13, comprising: The method further comprises: The network device transmits third information to the terminal device; and The method includes causing the network equipment to set the state of the second cell to an inactive state using the third information, and causing the terminal equipment to set the state of the first cell to an active state using the third information.

[0231] (Appendix 15) 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: The method includes the network equipment setting at least one of the second cells as a secondary cell of the terminal equipment according to the first information, and setting a conversion timer for the terminal equipment, whereby the terminal equipment starts or restarts the conversion timer when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and when the conversion timer expires, deactivating the first cell and activating the second cell.

[0232] (Appendix 16) 16. The method according to claim 15, The predetermined conditions include at least one of the following: Activate the first cell; receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in a currently active primary cell; scheduling uplink grants or downlink resources in the currently active primary cell by the PDCCH; Sending uplink establishment grant CG data in the currently active primary cell; and Receive downlink establishment grant CG data in the currently active primary cell That is, the method.

[0233] (Appendix 17) 10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising: The method, wherein the first cell is a special cell SpCell of a configured or active first secondary cell set SCG of the terminal equipment.

[0234] (Appendix 18) 18. The method according to claim 17, comprising: The network equipment changes the first cell of the terminal equipment to the second cell by reconfiguring parameters of the first cell based on the first information.

[0235] (Appendix 19) 18. The method according to claim 17, comprising: The method, wherein the network equipment causes the terminal equipment to release the first secondary cell set and causes the terminal equipment to establish a second secondary cell set using the first information, wherein the second cell is a special cell of the second secondary cell set.

[0236] (Appendix 20) 20. The method of claim 19, The method further comprises: The network device transmits fourth information to the terminal device; and The method includes the network equipment causing the terminal equipment to release the second secondary cell set and causing the terminal equipment to establish the first secondary cell set according to the fourth information.

[0237] (Appendix 21) 18. The method according to claim 17, comprising: A method in which the first information includes a setting for changing the first cell to the second cell and a condition for applying the setting, whereby the terminal equipment changes the first cell to the second cell when the condition is satisfied.

[0238] (Appendix 22) 18. The method according to claim 17, comprising: The method, wherein the network equipment configures at least one second secondary cell set according to the first information, and causes the terminal equipment to set the initial state of the second secondary cell set to an inactive state, wherein the second cell is a special cell of the second secondary cell set.

[0239] (Appendix 23) 23. The method of claim 22, The method further comprises: The network device transmits fifth information to the terminal device; and The method includes the network equipment causing the terminal equipment to set the second secondary cell set to an active state using the fifth information, and causing the terminal equipment to set at least one of the first secondary cell set to a deactivated state using the fifth information.

[0240] (Appendix 24) 24. The method of claim 23, The method further comprises: The network device transmits sixth information to the terminal device; and The method includes the network equipment causing the terminal equipment to set the first secondary cell set to an active state using the sixth information, and causing the terminal equipment to set the second secondary cell set to a deactivated state using the sixth information.

[0241] (Appendix 25) 18. The method according to claim 17, comprising: The method, wherein the first information includes a setting of at least one second secondary cell set with the second cell as a special cell, and a condition for activating the second secondary cell set and at least one condition for deactivating the first secondary cell set, whereby the terminal equipment activates the second secondary cell set and deactivates the first secondary cell set when the condition is satisfied.

[0242] (Appendix 26) 18. The method according to claim 17, comprising: The method includes the network equipment configuring at least one second secondary cell set with the second cell as a special cell according to the first information, and configuring a conversion timer for the terminal equipment, whereby the terminal equipment starts or restarts the conversion timer when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and when the conversion timer expires, deactivating or releasing the first secondary cell set and activating or establishing the second secondary cell set, or changing the parameter settings of the first secondary cell set to the parameter settings of the second secondary cell set when the conversion timer expires.

[0243] (Appendix 27) 27. The method according to claim 26, comprising: The predetermined conditions include at least one of the following: activating or establishing the first secondary cell set; receiving a PDCCH in the first secondary cell set; scheduling an uplink grant or a downlink resource in the first secondary cell set by a PDCCH; Transmitting uplink CG data in the first secondary cell set; and receiving downlink CG data from the first secondary cell set; That is, the method.

[0244] (Appendix 28) 10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising: The method, wherein the first cell is a primary cell of the terminal equipment.

[0245] (Appendix 29) 29. The method according to claim 28, comprising: The method includes the network device changing the first cell to the second cell by reconfiguring parameters of the first cell based on the first information.

[0246] (Appendix 30) 29. The method according to claim 29, The method, wherein the first information includes system information, and the network device changes the first cell to the second cell by reconfiguring parameters of the first cell through a system information update procedure.

[0247] (Appendix 31) The method according to claim 29 or 30, The method further comprises: The network device transmits eighth information to the terminal device; and The method includes causing the network device to change the second cell to the first cell by reconfiguring parameters of the second cell, using the eighth information.

[0248] (Appendix 32) 29. The method according to claim 28, comprising: A method in which the first information includes a setting for changing the first cell to the second cell and a condition for applying the setting, whereby the terminal equipment changes the first cell to the second cell when the condition is satisfied.

[0249] (Appendix 33) A method for configuring a network energy saving cell, comprising the steps of: The method comprises: A terminal device receives first information transmitted by a network device; The first information is used to configure a second cell in the terminal device, so that the network device serves the terminal device using the second cell; wherein the energy required when the network device operates the second cell is lower than the energy required when the network device operates the first cell.

[0250] (Appendix 34) 34. The method of claim 33, The first cell is a configured or active secondary cell of the terminal device, and the first information configures at least one of the second cells as a secondary cell of the terminal device and configures a handover timer; The method further comprises: The method includes the terminal device starting or restarting the diversion timer when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and when the diversion timer expires, deactivating the first cell and activating the second cell.

[0251] (Appendix 35) 35. The method according to claim 34, The predetermined conditions include at least one of the following: Activate the first cell; receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in a currently active primary cell; scheduling uplink grants or downlink resources in the currently active primary cell by the PDCCH; Sending uplink establishment grant CG data in the currently active primary cell; and Receive downlink establishment grant CG data in the currently active primary cell That is, the method.

[0252] (Appendix 36) 34. The method of claim 33, The first cell is a special cell SpCell of a configured or active first secondary cell set SCG of the terminal device, and the first information includes a setting for changing the first cell to the second cell and a condition for applying the setting; The method further comprises: The method includes the terminal device changing the first cell to the second cell if the condition is satisfied.

[0253] (Appendix 37) 34. The method of claim 33, The first cell is a special cell SpCell of a configured or active first secondary cell set SCG of the terminal device, and the first information includes at least one second secondary cell set configuration in which the second cell is a special cell, and a condition for activating the second secondary cell set and at least one first secondary cell set deactivating; The method further comprises: The method includes the terminal device activating the second set of secondary cells and deactivating the first set of secondary cells if the condition is satisfied.

[0254] (Appendix 38) 34. The method of claim 33, The first cell is a special cell SpCell of a configured or active first secondary cell set SCG of the terminal device, and the first information configures at least one second secondary cell set with the second cell as a special cell and configures a handover timer; The method further comprises: The terminal device starts or restarts the diversion timer when a predetermined condition is satisfied; and The method includes deactivating or releasing the first secondary cell set when the conversion timer expires and activating or establishing the second secondary cell set, or changing parameter settings of the first secondary cell set to parameter settings of the second secondary cell set when the conversion timer expires.

[0255] (Appendix 39) 39. The method according to claim 38, comprising: The predetermined conditions include at least one of the following: activating or establishing the first secondary cell set; receiving a PDCCH in the first secondary cell set; scheduling an uplink grant or a downlink resource in the first secondary cell set by a PDCCH; Transmitting uplink CG data in the first secondary cell set; and receiving downlink CG data from the first secondary cell set; That is, the method.

[0256] (Appendix 40) 34. The method of claim 33, The first cell is a primary cell of the terminal device, and the first information includes a setting for changing the first cell to the second cell and a condition for applying the setting, The method further comprises: The method includes the terminal device changing the first cell to the second cell if the condition is satisfied.

[0257] (Appendix 41) A network device, A memory and a processor are included, A network device, wherein the storage device stores a computer program, and the processor is configured to execute the computer program to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 32.

[0258] (Appendix 42) A terminal device, A memory and a processor are included, A terminal device, wherein the memory stores a computer program and the processor is configured to execute the computer program to implement the method according to any one of claims 33 to 40.

[0259] (Appendix 43) 1. A communication system comprising: 43. A communication system comprising the network device according to claim 41 and the terminal device according to claim 42.

Claims

1. A network energy saving cell setting device, a transmitting unit for transmitting first information to a terminal device; The first information configures a second cell to the terminal device, whereby the network device serves the terminal device using the second cell; The energy required when the network equipment operates the second cell is lower than the energy required when the network equipment operates the first cell.

2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, The second cell has one or a combination of the following characteristics: a transmission period of the common signal of the second cell is longer than a transmission period of the common signal of the first cell; The network device stops transmitting some downlink time units of the second cell; The network device does not transmit a part of the signal of the second cell, or transmits a common signal of the second cell that is divided; the number of transmitting antenna units of the second cell is smaller than the number of transmitting antenna units of the first cell; the number of symbols of the channel state information reference signal CSI-RS of the second cell is less than the number of CSI-RS symbols of the first cell; the number of transmission beams of the second cell is less than the number of transmission beams of the first cell; the number of multiple-input multiple-output MIMO antenna ports of the second cell is less than the number of MIMO antenna ports of the first cell; the serving bandwidth of the second cell is different from the serving bandwidth of the first cell; and The transmission power of the second cell is lower than the transmission power of the first cell. This is the device's characteristic.

3. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, The device, wherein the common signal includes at least one of the following: a synchronization signal block SSB, a synchronization signal SS, a main information block MIB, a physical broadcast channel PBCH, a system information block SIB1, a system information SI, and a paging Paging.

4. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, The frequency domain resources occupied by the first cell and the second cell are different, The network equipment operates the first cell and the second cell simultaneously, or the network equipment does not operate the first cell and the second cell simultaneously.

5. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, The frequency domain resources occupied by the first cell and the second cell are the same, and the network equipment does not operate the first cell and the second cell at the same time.

6. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, The physical cell identifiers (PCI) of the first cell and the second cell are different.

7. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, The PCI of the first cell and the second cell is the same.

8. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, The first cell is a configured or active secondary cell of the terminal equipment.

9. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, An apparatus, wherein the first information is used to set at least one of the second cells as a secondary cell of the terminal equipment and to cause the terminal equipment to set an initial state of the second cell to an inactive state.

10. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, The transmitting unit further transmits second information to the terminal equipment, and the second information is used to cause the terminal equipment to set the state of the second cell to an active state and to cause the terminal equipment to set the state of the first cell to an inactive state.

11. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, The first information is used to set at least one of the second cells as a secondary cell of the terminal equipment and to set a conversion timer for the terminal equipment, whereby the terminal equipment starts or restarts the conversion timer when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and when the conversion timer expires, deactivates the first cell and activates the second cell.

12. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, The first cell is a special cell SpCell of a configured or active first secondary cell set SCG of the terminal equipment, the device.

13. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, The first information is used to cause the terminal equipment to release the first secondary cell set and to cause the terminal equipment to establish a second secondary cell set, the second cell being a special cell of the second secondary cell set.

14. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, The first cell is a primary cell of the terminal equipment.

15. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, The first information is used to change the first cell to the second cell by reconfiguring a parameter of the first cell.

16. A network energy saving cell setting device, a receiving unit for receiving first information transmitted by a network device; The first information is used to configure a second cell in a terminal device, so that the network device serves the terminal device using the second cell; Wherein, the energy required when the network device operates the second cell is lower than the energy required when the network device operates the first cell.

17. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, the first cell is a configured or active secondary cell of the terminal device, and the first information is used to configure at least one of the second cells as a secondary cell of the terminal device and to configure a handover timer; The apparatus further includes a first processing unit that activates or restarts the conversion timer when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and deactivates the first cell and activates the second cell when the conversion timer expires.

18. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, The first cell is a special cell SpCell of a configured or active first secondary cell set SCG of the terminal device, and the first information configures at least one second secondary cell set with the second cell as a special cell, and configures a handover timer; The device further includes a fourth processing unit, which starts or restarts the conversion timer when a predetermined condition is satisfied; and deactivates or releases the first secondary cell set and activates or establishes the second secondary cell set when the conversion timer expires, or changes parameter settings of the first secondary cell set to parameter settings of the second secondary cell set when the conversion timer expires.

19. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, The first cell is a primary cell of the terminal device, and the first information includes a setting for changing the first cell to the second cell and a condition for applying the setting, The apparatus further includes a second processing unit that changes the first cell to the second cell if the condition is satisfied.

20. A network device, A memory and a processor are included, The storage unit stores a computer program, and the processor is configured to execute the computer program to realize the following method:

1. A method comprising: transmitting first information to a terminal device, A method for a network device, wherein the first information is used to configure a second cell in a terminal device, thereby causing the network device to serve the terminal device using the second cell, wherein the energy required when the network device operates the second cell is lower than the energy required when the network device operates the first cell.

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