User device, network device, and method

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for communication. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a terminal device receives a first indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a first set of reference signal (RS) resources. The terminal device receives a second indication indicating a second TA value associated with a second set of RS resources. In response to detecting a beam obstruction event associated with the first set of RS resources, the terminal device identifies an RS in the second set of RS resources and, based on the identified RS, performs a first uplink transmission with the second TA value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of wireless communication, and more particularly, to methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for timing adjustment associated with a plurality of network devices.

Background Art

[0002] A wireless communication system may include a plurality of base stations or network access nodes such as transmission reception points (TRPs), each of which simultaneously supports communication with a plurality of communication devices, also called terminal devices. In most wireless communication systems, communication between a network access node and a terminal device must meet timing requirements. In other words, these wireless communication systems are timing synchronization systems. However, in communication (e.g., uplink transmission or downlink transmission) between a terminal device and a network device (e.g., a TRP), a propagation delay may occur between the terminal device and the network device. For example, an uplink grant may be transmitted by a network device that permits a terminal device to access resources for uplink transmission. The terminal device can utilize the permitted resources, but can apply a timing advance (TA) to compensate for the transmission delay so that the uplink transmission arrives at the base station at the expected time. The timing advance can be indicated to the terminal device within a TA command transmitted from the network device (e.g., by an uplink grant, upper layer signaling). When terminal devices communicating with a base station are different, different propagation delays may occur, and thus different TAs may be required. With the development of communication technologies, a terminal device can access a communication system via a plurality of network devices. Therefore, the terminal device needs to apply different TAs to different links respectively associated with different network devices.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Generally, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for timing adjustment associated with a plurality of network devices.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] In a first aspect, a method implemented in a terminal device is provided. In this method, the terminal device receives a first indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a first set of reference signal (RS) resources. The terminal device receives a second indication indicating a second TA value associated with a second set of RS resources. In response to detecting a beam failure event associated with the first set of RS resources, the terminal device identifies the RS in the second set of RS resources and, based on the identified RS, executes a first uplink transmission with the second TA value.

[0005] In a second aspect, a method implemented in a terminal device is provided. In this method, the terminal device receives a first indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a first set of reference signal (RS) resources, and the first set of RS resources is applied to the first transmission opportunity among two consecutive transmission opportunities. The terminal device receives a second indication indicating a second TA value associated with a second set of RS resources, and the second set of RS resources is applied to the second transmission opportunity among two consecutive transmission opportunities. The terminal device executes a second uplink transmission with the first TA value in the first transmission opportunity and a third uplink transmission with the second TA value in the second transmission opportunity based on an order mapping table indicating the order of the first transmission opportunity and the second transmission opportunity in two consecutive transmission opportunities.

[0006] In a third aspect, a method implemented in a network device is provided. In this method, the network device transmits an instruction indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a set of first reference signal (RS) resources to a terminal device. In response to detecting a beam failure event associated with the set of first RS resources, the network device performs reception of a first uplink transmission from the terminal device with a second TA value.

[0007] In a fourth aspect, a method implemented in a network device is provided. In this method, the network device transmits an instruction indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a set of first reference signal (RS) resources to a terminal device. The network device performs reception of a second uplink transmission with the first TA value in a first transmission opportunity based on an order mapping table indicating the order of the first transmission opportunity and the second transmission opportunity in two consecutive transmission opportunities.

[0008] In a fifth aspect, a terminal device is provided. The terminal device includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions. When the instructions are executed by the processor, the instructions cause the terminal device to execute the method according to either the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0009] In a sixth aspect, a network device is provided. The network device includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions. When the instructions are executed by the processor, the instructions cause the network device to execute the method according to either the third aspect or the fourth aspect.

[0010] In a ninth aspect, a computer-readable medium storing instructions is provided. When the instructions are executed in at least one processor, the instructions cause the at least one processor to execute the method according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

[0011] It should be understood that the summary of the invention is not intended to identify important or essential features of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure should be readily understood through the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] Next, some exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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[0024] Throughout all the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The principles of the present disclosure will be described with reference to some embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are described for illustrative purposes only and are helpful for those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation to the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure described herein can be implemented in various ways other than those described below.

[0026] In the following description and claims, unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs.

[0027] As used herein, the term "terminal device" refers to any device having a wireless or wired communication function.Examples of terminal devices include user equipment (UE), personal computers, desktops, mobile phones, cell phones, smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable computers, tablets, wearable devices, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) devices, Internet of Everything (IoE) devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, vehicle-mounted devices for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication (where X means pedestrian, vehicle, or infrastructure / network), integrated access and backhaul (IAB), small data transmission (SDT), mobility, multicast broadcast service (MBS), positioning, dynamic / flexible duplexing in commercial networks, devices for Reduced Capability (RedCap), spacecraft or aircraft in non-terrestrial networks (NTN) including high altitude platforms (HAP) and satellites that include unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), extended reality (XR) devices that include different types of reality such as augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are aircraft generally known as drones and do not require a human pilot, devices on high speed trains (HSTs), imaging devices such as digital cameras, sensors, gaming devices, music storage / playback devices, or Internet devices that enable wireless / wired Internet access and browsing, etc., but are not limited thereto.The "terminal device" can further have a multicast / broadcast function and support public safety, mission-critical, V2X applications, transparent IPv4 / IPv6 multicast delivery, IPTV, smart TV, wireless services, wireless software delivery, group communication, and IoT applications. Also, one or more subscriber identity modules (SIMs), known as multi-SIM, may be incorporated. The term "terminal device" can be used interchangeably with UE, mobile station, subscriber equipment, mobile terminal, user terminal, wireless device, or reduced-capability terminal device.

[0028] As used herein, the term "network device" refers to a device capable of providing or hosting a cell or coverage with which a terminal device can communicate. Examples of network devices include, but are not limited to, Node B (NodeB or NB), Evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), Next Generation NodeB (gNB), transmission reception point (TRP), remote radio unit (RRU), radio head (RH), remote radio head (RRH), IAB node, low-power nodes such as femto nodes, pico nodes, etc., reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), network-controlled repeater (NCR), etc.

[0029] The terminal device or network device may have an artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning function. Generally, it includes a model that can learn from a large number of data collected for a specific function and be used to predict some information. The terminal device or network device may function in a plurality of frequency ranges, such as FR1 (410 MHz to 7125 MHz), FR2 (24.25 GHz to 71 GHz), 71 GHz to 114 GHz, frequency bands higher than 100 GHz, terahertz (THz), etc. Furthermore, it can function in licensed / unlicensed / shared spectrum. In a scenario of multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC) application, the terminal device may have multiple connections with the network device. The terminal device or network device can function in full-duplex, flexible-duplex, and cross-divided duplex modes.

[0030] The network device may have functions of network energy saving, self-organizing network (SON) / minimization of drive tests (MDT). The terminal may have a power-saving function.

[0031] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be executed in test devices such as, for example, signal generators, signal analyzers, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, test terminal devices, test network devices, channel emulators, etc.

[0032] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be executed in accordance with any generation of communication protocols known currently or developed in the future. Examples of communication protocols include, but are not limited to, the communication protocols of the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G) communication protocol, 5.5G, 5G-advanced network, or the sixth generation (6G) network.

[0033] In one embodiment, the terminal device may be connected to a first network device and a second network device. One of the first network device and the second network device may be a master node, and the other may be a secondary node. The first network device and the second network device may use different radio access technologies (RATs). In one embodiment, the first network device may be a first RAT device, and the second network device may be a second RAT device. In one embodiment, the first RAT device is an eNB, and the second RAT device is a gNB. Information related to different RATs may be transmitted from at least one of the first network device and the second network device to the terminal device. In one embodiment, the first information may be transmitted from the first network device to the terminal device, and the second information may be directly transmitted from the second network device to the terminal device or transmitted via the first network device. In one embodiment, information related to the settings of the terminal device set by the second network device may be transmitted from the second network device via the first network device. Information related to the re - settings of the terminal device set by the second network device may be directly transmitted from the second network device to the terminal device or transmitted via the first network device.

[0034] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term "comprising" and variations thereof are to be construed as an open-ended term meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" is to be construed as "at least partially based on". The terms "one embodiment" and "an embodiment" are to be construed as "at least one embodiment". The term "another embodiment" is to be construed as "at least one other embodiment". The terms "first", "second", etc. may refer to different objects or the same object. There may be other explicit and implicit definitions included in the following content.

[0035] In some instances, values, processes, or devices are referred to as "optimal", "lowest", "highest", "minimum", "maximum", etc. Such descriptions are intended to indicate that a selection is possible from among a plurality of functional alternatives being used, and it will be understood that such a selection need not be superior, smaller, higher, or more preferred than other selections.

[0036] As used herein, the term "circuit" may mean a hardware circuit and / or a combination of a hardware circuit and software. For example, a circuit may be a combination of an analog hardware circuit and / or a digital hardware circuit and software / firmware. As a further example, a circuit may be any portion of a hardware processor with software, such as a digital signal processor, software, and memory that cooperate to cause a device, such as a terminal device or a network device, to perform various functions. In yet another example, a circuit may be a hardware circuit and / or a processor, such as a microprocessor or a portion of a microprocessor, that requires software / firmware for operation but may not have software present when not required for operation. As used herein, the term "circuit" encompasses merely a hardware circuit or processor, or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor, and the implementation of its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware.

[0037] Generally, one TRP usually corresponds to one SRS resource set. As used herein, the term "single-TRP" refers to the use of a single SRS resource set to perform related transmissions (such as PUSCH transmission), and the term "multi-TRP" refers to the use of multiple SRS resource sets to perform related transmissions (such as PUSCH transmission). The terms "SRI", "SRS resource set index", "UL TCI", "UL spatial domain filter", "UL beam", and "joint TCI" can be used interchangeably. It has been agreed that the maximum number of sounding reference signal (SRS) resource sets can be increased to 2, and two SRS resource indicator fields corresponding to the two SRS resource sets can be introduced into the DCI for scheduling PUSCH transmission. Regarding CG PUSCH, the term "PUSCH transmission" as used herein can refer to nominal transmission or actual transmission.

[0038] The terms "transmission capability information", "UE capability information", "capability-related information", "capability value set", "panel information", and "panel-related information" can be used interchangeably.

[0039] The terms "precoder", "precoding", "precoding matrix", "beam", "spatial relation information", "spatial relation info", "precoding information", "precoding information and number of layers", "precoding matrix indicator (PMI)", "precoding matrix indicator", "transmission precoding matrix indication", "precoding matrix indication", "TCI state", "transmission configuration indicator", "quasi co-location (QCL)", "quasi co-location", "QCL parameter", "QCL assumption", "QCL relationship", and "spatial relation" can be used interchangeably.

[0040] The terms "single TRP", "single TCI state", "single TCI", "S-TCI", "single CORESET", "single control resource set pool", "S-TRP", and "S-TCI state" can be used interchangeably.

[0041] The terms "multiple TRPs", "multiple TCI states", "multiple CORESETs", "multiple control resource set pools", "multi-TRP", "multi-TCI state", "multi-TCI", "multi-CORESET", "multi-control resource set pool", "MTRP", "M-TCI", and "M-TPR" can be used interchangeably.

[0042] The terms "resource(s)", "resource(s) in a resource set", and "resource set" can be used interchangeably.

[0043] The terms "group", "subset", and "set" can be used interchangeably.

[0044] Furthermore, one panel as discussed in this specification refers to one or more antenna elements arranged in a specific area of a terminal device. The panel as discussed in this specification can refer to a downlink panel, an uplink panel, a panel type, a panel state, a set of capability values, a reference signal (RS) resource, an RS resource set, an antenna port, an antenna port group, a beam, or a beam group. In this regard, the terms "panel", "panel type", "set of antenna port(s)", "antenna element(s)", "antenna array(s)" (and equivalent expressions) can be used interchangeably.

[0045] Furthermore, the panel information discussed in this specification can refer to UE panel index / identifier (ID), downlink panel ID, uplink panel ID, panel type indication, panel status indication, capability set index, RS resource ID, RS resource set ID, antenna port ID, antenna port group ID, beam ID, and beam group ID.

[0046] As used herein, the term "TRP" refers to an antenna array (having one or more antenna elements) available to a network device at a particular geographical location. Although some embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to scenarios of multiple TRPs (or a single TRP scenario), these embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are helpful for those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, and do not imply any limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the present disclosure described herein can be implemented in various ways other than those described below.

[0047] As used herein, the term "SRS transmission" refers to the transmission of an SRS resource specified by an SRS signal resource indicator (SRI) in a DCI message for an uplink grant. Thus, the term "the latest SRS transmission" refers to the latest transmission of an SRS resource specified by the SRI in a DCI message for an uplink grant.

[0048] As used herein, the terms "network" / "network device(s)" refer to one or more network devices. Accordingly, the terms "network", "network device", and "one or more network devices" can be used interchangeably.

[0049] "BWP ID / index" can be used interchangeably with "BWP / CC ID / index", "CC identifier / index", "cell identifier / index", "cell group identifier / index", "physical cell identifier / index", and "serving cell identifier / index".

[0050] "Beam failure" can be used interchangeably with "link failure", and "beam failure recovery request" can be used interchangeably with "link recovery request".

[0051] As described above, the terminal device can access the communication system via a plurality of network devices. In this case, since the radio path between the terminal device and a certain network device may be different from the radio path between the terminal device and another network device, the terminal device may be required to apply different TA values for uplink transmissions to different network devices. One solution is to set a specific TA value in the resource set of the terminal device so that the terminal device can apply the specific TA value for uplink transmission in the resource set. However, when a beam failure event occurs between the terminal device and the network device, the TA value for subsequent uplink transmissions must be further considered. Also, the scheduling of uplink transmissions for different network devices in time-division multiplexing (TDM) transmission and the TA values to be applied are also important aspects.

[0052] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure propose a mechanism for timing adjustment associated with a plurality of network devices. In this mechanism, the terminal device receives a first indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a set of first reference signal (RS) resources. The terminal device receives a second indication indicating a second TA value associated with a set of second RS resources. In response to detecting a beam failure event associated with the set of first RS resources, the terminal device identifies the RS in the set of second RS resources and performs a first uplink transmission with the second TA value.

[0053] In this way, the terminal device can correctly transmit a beam failure-recover request (BFRQ) and correctly transmit the uplink channel after the beam failure recovery (BFR) procedure.

[0054] In addition, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure propose another mechanism for timing adjustment associated with a plurality of network devices. In another mechanism, a terminal device receives a first indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a first set of reference signal (RS) resources, and the first set of RS resources is applied to a first transmission opportunity among two consecutive transmission opportunities. The terminal device receives a second indication indicating a second TA value associated with a second set of RS resources, and the second set of RS resources is applied to a second transmission opportunity among two consecutive transmission opportunities. The terminal device performs a second uplink transmission with the first TA value in the first transmission opportunity and a third uplink transmission with the second TA value in the second transmission opportunity based on an order mapping table indicating the order of the first transmission opportunity and the second transmission opportunity in two consecutive transmission opportunities.

[0055] In this way, uplink transmissions with different TA values for different network devices can be scheduled in a specific order indicated by the order mapping table. Furthermore, by reusing existing indicators, a specific order can be indicated.

[0056] In the present disclosure, T c is the basic timing unit, where T c = 1 / (Δfmax·N f ), Δfmax = 480·10 3 Hz, N f = 4096. As other time units, milliseconds (ms), frames, sub - frames, slots, and symbols are possible, and these are mutually convertible. For example, the frame length T f =(Δfmax·N f / 100)·T c = 10 ms, and it can be converted to T c . Each frame is composed of 10 sub - frames. The number of consecutive OFDM symbols per sub - frame is TIFF2025516229000002.tif20168. Furthermore, in a slot, in ascending order within a sub - frame TIFF2025516229000003.tif is numbered 24168 and is in ascending order within the frame TIFF2025516229000004.tif is numbered 26164. Further, the following table shows other parameters associated with the above-mentioned timing unit conversion. Table 1 shows the supported transmission numerologies. Table 1 TIFF2025516229000005.tif42167

[0057] Table 2 shows the number of OFDM symbols per slot, the number of slots per frame, and the number of slots per subframe for the case of a normal cyclic prefix. Table 2 TIFF2025516229000006.tif43167

[0058] Table 3 shows the number of OFDM symbols per slot, the number of slots per frame, and the number of slots per subframe for the case of an extended cyclic prefix. Table 3 TIFF2025516229000007.tif12167

[0059] In this disclosure, the granularity of the TA value adjustment is 16·64 / 2 μ One solution for indicating the TA value of the terminal device is to transmit N TA and N TA,offset using an absolute TA command, a TA command, radio resource control (RRC) signaling, or other signaling, where N TA and N TA,offset are dimensionless integers. And the terminal device may calculate the TA value according to the following formula (1). TIFF2025516229000008.tif7168 Here the parameter TIFF2025516229000009.tif928 and TIFF2025516229000010.tif1021 is usually only considered in a non-terrestrial network and can be omitted in this disclosure. Therefore, in this disclosure, the terminal device has parameter N TA and N TA,offset Based on this, the terminal device can determine the actual physical TA value. Therefore, the indication of the TA value can also be realized as an indication of these two parameters.

[0060] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary environment 100 in which an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented.

[0061] The environment 100 may be part of a communication network and includes a terminal device 110, a first network device 120, and a second network 130. The terminal device 110 may communicate with the first network device 120 via an uplink channel indicated by reference numeral 140 and communicate with the second network device 130 via an uplink channel 150 indicated by reference numeral 150. Further, the uplink channel 140 may be transmitted with a first beam assigned to the communication between the terminal device 110 and the first network device 120, and the uplink channel 150 may be transmitted with a second beam assigned to the communication between the terminal device 110 and the second network device 130. In some cases, the terminal device can communicate using multiple panels / antennas. For illustrative purposes only, the two panels supported by the terminal device 110 are represented as reference numerals 160 and 170, respectively. These panels are also referred to as the first panel 160 and the second panel 170. It should be understood that the terminal device 110 may have a first set of one or more beams based on beamforming on the first panel 160 and may have a second set of one or more beams based on beamforming on the second panel 170. Further, the first beam transmitting the first uplink channel 140 may be included in the first set of one or more beams or the second set of one or more beams, and the second beam transmitting the second uplink channel 150 may be included in the second set of one or more beams or the first set of one or more beams.

[0062] It should be understood that the numbers of the terminal devices and network devices shown in Environment 100 are for illustrative purposes only and do not imply any limitation to the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, Environment 100 may include additional terminal devices that communicate information with additional network devices.

[0063] Communication in the environment 100 may follow any suitable communication standard or protocol, existing or to be developed in the future, such as the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), 5th Generation (5G) New Radio (NR), Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) standards. For example, any suitable communication technology such as Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), Code Division Multiplexing (CDM), Bluetooth, ZigBee, Machine Type Communication (MTC), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communication (mMTC), ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC), Carrier Aggregation (CA), Dual Connection (DC), New Radio Unlicensed (NR-U) technology, etc. may be adopted.

[0064] FIG. 2 shows a signaling process 200 for timing adjustment associated with a plurality of network devices according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the process 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

[0065] In the signaling process 200, the terminal device 110 receives a first indication (210) indicating a first TA value associated with a first set of reference signal (RS) resources. The terminal device 110 further receives a second indication (210) indicating a second TA value associated with a second set of RS resources. In some embodiments, for example, in a single downlink control information (DCI) mode, the terminal device 110 may receive the first indication and the second indication from the first network device 120. Additionally, or alternatively, the terminal device 110 may receive the first indication and the second indication from the second network device 130.

[0066] In some embodiments, for example, in a multi-DCI mode, the terminal device 110 may receive the first indication and the second indication respectively. For example, the terminal device 110 may receive the first indication from the first network device 120 and the second indication from the second network device 130. Without any limitation, the terminal device 110 may also receive the first indication from the second network device 130 and the second indication from the first network device 120.

[0067] In some embodiments, before receiving the first indication and the second indication, the terminal device 110 may exchange capability information with the network devices 120 and 130. For example, the terminal device 110 may report UE capabilities to the network devices 120 and 130. The UE capabilities may include the ability of the terminal device 110 to support multi-TA values, the ability of the multi-panel of the terminal device 110, the ability to switch the multi-TA values of the terminal device 110, etc.

[0068] Then, the network devices 120 and 130 may set a first instruction and a second instruction for the terminal device 110 in RRC signaling. Additionally, or alternatively, the network devices 120 and 130 may set a first instruction and a second instruction for the terminal device 110 in a TA command.

[0069] In some embodiments, receiving the first instruction and the second instruction may include receiving at least one first parameter indicating a TA value and at least one second parameter indicating a TA offset value. For example, receiving the first instruction and the second instruction may include receiving two N TA parameters "N TA,1 and N TA,2 " and two N TA,offset parameters "N TA,offset,1 and N TA,offset,2 " indicating a TA offset value. Then, the terminal device 110 may determine a first TA value "T TA,1 " and a second TA value "T TA,2 " based on the following formula (2). TIFF2025516229000011.tif14168

[0070] Additionally, or alternatively, receiving the first instruction and the second instruction may include receiving one N TA parameter "N TA " and two N TA,offset parameters "N TA,offset,1 and N TA,offset,2 ". Then, the terminal device 110 may determine the first TA value and the second TA value based on the following formula (3). TIFF2025516229000012.tif14168

[0071] Additionally, or alternatively, receiving the first instruction and the second instruction may include receiving two N TA parameters "N TA,1 and N TA,2 " and one N TA,offset parameter "N TA,offsetIt may include receiving "」. Then, the terminal device 110 may determine the first TA value and the second TA value based on the following formula (4). TIFF2025516229000013.tif15168

[0072] Additionally, or alternatively, receiving the first instruction and the second instruction may involve receiving one N TA parameter "N TA ", one N TA,offset parameter "N TA,offset ", and another offset value "N TA,offset,add " that also indicates an additional TA value. Then, the terminal device 110 may determine the first TA value and the second TA value based on the following formula (5). TIFF2025516229000014.tif14168

[0073] In some embodiments, the parameters N TA,offset , N TA,offset,1 , N TA,offset,2 are transmitted by RRC signaling, and the parameters N TA , N TA,1 , N TA,2 , N TA,offset,add are transmitted by DCI signaling or MAC control element (CE). In some embodiments, RRC signaling, DCI signaling, and MAC CE may be combined to transmit the above-mentioned parameters associated with the first TA value and the second TA value.

[0074] In some embodiments, the TA value (e.g., N TA , N TA,1 , N TA,2 , and N TA,offset,add ) is transmitted by random access response (RAR), absolute TA command signaling, or TA command. The TA value (e.g., T A,1 and T A,2) When transmitted by RAR or absolute TA commands, it is in absolute value format (e.g., by 12 bits), for example, TIFF2025516229000015.tif764 and TIFF2025516229000016.tif762. When TA values (e.g., T A,1 and T A,2 ) are transmitted by TA commands (e.g., in 6 bits), they are in relative format, for example, TIFF2025516229000017.tif581 and TIFF2025516229000018.tif582, and the correspondence between the old TA value and the new TA value is associated with the same network device, the same beam, or the same UE panel. Further, TA offset values (e.g., N TA,offset , N TA,offset,1 , N TA,offset,2 ) are transmitted in RRC configurations or are predefined. Additionally, or alternatively, if multiple TA values are set or indicated such that only one or a subset of the TA values can be applied, a default TA value is required. For example, the TA value at initial access or random access can be treated as the default TA value. In another example, the default TA value can be the minimum, maximum, first, or last TA value among the set or indicated multiple TA values. Additionally, or alternatively, in the case of multiple BWP / CCs, the same TA value pair (measured at the absolute transmission opportunity) is ensured across BWP / CCs so that the change of BWP / CC does not affect the TA value. Additionally, or alternatively, if the TA value is set for each BWP / CC and depends on the SCS, the TA value with the minimum or maximum SCS is applied, or the TA value with the maximum or minimum absolute time duration is applied.

[0075] In the present disclosure, the first set of RS resources and the second set of RS resources may represent any of the communication resource types used for multi-TRP communication between the terminal device 110 and the network devices 120 and 130. For example, the received indication may indicate that an association between the TA value and the network device / beam / UE panel has been established. Thus, a change in the TRP / beam / UE panel leads to a change in the applicable TA. For example, the first indication or the second indication may be directly included in the respective RS resource settings of the terminal device 110. In this way, the terminal device 110 can implicitly determine the TA value associated with the set of RS resources. For example, receiving the first indication may include receiving a first setting of the first set of RS resources having a first TA value. Similarly, receiving the second indication may include receiving a second setting of the second set of RS resources having a second TA value. Additionally, or alternatively, the association may be explicitly and directly indicated by a TA command. In some embodiments, the association can also be indicated by RRC signaling. In some other embodiments, the association may be explicitly or implicitly indicated by any other signaling. Additionally, or alternatively, the association indication includes information on the TA value, the RS set, and their mapping relationship. In this way, the terminal device can directly or indirectly derive the association between the TA value and the set of RS resources. Also, the first set of RS resources and the second set of RS resources may be any type of set of RS resources, such as a set of CSI-RS resources, a set of SRS resource sets, or a set of SS / PBCH blocks, etc.

[0076] The first set of RS resources and the second set of RS resources may be, for example, a set of RS resources for the first network device 110, another set of RS resources for the second network device 120, etc., a set of RS resources for the TRP. In this case, the first set of RS resources may be represented as either CORESETPoolIndex0 or DCI1. The second set of RS resources may be represented as either CORESETPoolIndex1 or DCI2. Similarly, the first TA value may be associated with a specific set of RS resources, and accordingly, the second TA value may be associated with another specific set of RS resources.

[0077] In some embodiments, the set of RS resources may be a set of RS resources for a spatial filter (e.g., a beam). In this case, the first set of RS resources may be represented as the transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state 1, and the second set of RS resources may be represented as the TCI state 2. Additionally, or alternatively, the set of RS resources may be a set of RS resources for the UE panel. For example, the first set of RS resources may be represented as UE panel 1, and the second set of RS resources may be represented as UE panel 2.

[0078] Additionally, or alternatively, the first set of RS resources may be represented as a beam failure detection (BFD) RS set associated with the first network device 120 and / or a candidate beam detection (CBD) RS set associated with the first network device 120. Similarly, the second set of RS resources may be represented as a BFD RS set associated with the second network device 130 and / or a CBD RS set associated with the second network device 130.

[0079] Additionally, or alternatively, in some embodiments, the first set of RS resources may be represented as a BFD RS set. The second set of RS resources may be represented as a CBD RS set. In this case, the BFD RS set may include at least one of the BFD RS sets associated with the first network device 120 and the second network device 130. The CBD RS set may include at least one of the CBD RS sets associated with the first network device 120 and the second network device 130.

[0080] Based on the associations between the TA value and the set of RS resources, the TA value and the TRP, the TA value and the beam, or the TA value and the UE panel described above, the terminal device and the network device may determine the corresponding TA value based on the RS resource set, the TRP, the beam, or the UE panel of the terminal device. When the RS resource set, the TRP, the beam, or the UE panel is switched, accordingly, the applied TA value may be switched in the terminal device and the network device. Further, in some embodiments, there may be additional TA commands indicating updated first and second TA values. And when the TA command is confirmed by the terminal device, the TA value may be updated. For example, the signaling / procedure / condition for switching the TRP / beam / UE panel may be an implicit signaling of the change in the applied TA. Additionally, or alternatively, when the terminal device requests a change in the applied TRP / beam / UE panel, the applied TA value may be changed accordingly.

[0081] In addition to, or instead of, the RS resource set, the first TA value and the second TA value can also be associated with the UL channel resources.

[0082] In addition to, or instead of, the RS resource set, the TA value may be associated with a component carrier (CC) or a bandwidth part (BWP). For example, the first TA value may be associated with BWP 0, and the second TA value may be associated with BWPs 1, 2, and 3. In this way, by establishing the association between the TA value and the CC / BWP, a change in the CC / BWP leads to a change in the applied TA value. The signaling / terminal request for the change in the CC / BWP may be an implicit signaling of the change in the applied TA, and vice versa. The CC / BWP may be represented as a CC ID or a BWP ID, and may be extended to one or more of a cell index, a cell group ID, a PCI, band information, and band combination information.

[0083] In the above embodiments, since the radio path between the terminal device and the network device is considered, the number of TA values is equal to the number of network devices to which the terminal device 110 is connected. Since the radio path between the first panel of the terminal device 110 and the first network device 120 may be different from the radio path between the second panel of the terminal device 110 and the first network device 120, in order to perform more precise timing adjustment, the number of panels of the terminal device may be further considered.

[0084] Returning to FIG. 1, for example, the wireless path between the first panel 160 and the first network device 120 may be different from the wireless path between the second panel 170 and the first network device 120. In this case, the number of panels at the terminal device 110 should be considered. For example, in this case, there may be four indications respectively indicating the TA values applied to each wireless path between the panel and the network device. Further, in this case, when the terminal device 110 exchanges capability information with the network devices 120 and 130, the terminal device 110 may further report whether it supports multi TA values for multi panels. Also, the capability information may provide whether the terminal device 110 can support either the same TA (or number of TAs) for multiple uplink panels or the same TA (or number of TAs) for multiple UL panels for the same network device.

[0085] Returning to FIG. 2, after determining the corresponding TA values based on the first indication and the second indication, the terminal device performs uplink transmissions to the first network device 120 and the second network device 130 respectively with the corresponding TA values (220). For example, CORESETPoolIndex 0 associated with the first network device 120 may be set in the terminal device 110, and CORESETPoolIndex 1 associated with the second network device 130 may be set. Further, CORESETPoolIndex 0 has the first TA value, and CORESETPoolIndex 1 has the second TA value. Then, the terminal device 110 may perform an uplink transmission to the first network device 120 with the first TA value and perform an uplink transmission to the second network device 130 with the second TA value.

[0086] To ensure the accuracy of the TA value, some further adjustment of the indicated TA value may be required.

[0087] In some situations, it is assumed that the TA value is not applied to the Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) or a TA value of 0 is applied, and the TA value is calculated during the physical random access procedure on the PRACH. However, in some situations, a specific TA value may be applied to some PRACHs. In this case, the calculated TA value may be inaccurate. For the sake of clarity in the discussion, the adjustments related to the PRACH with the TA value can be discussed with reference to FIG. 3.

[0088] FIG. 3 shows the timing adjustment of the TA value according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the timing adjustment is discussed with reference to FIG. 1.

[0089] In FIG. 3, the blocks in the left column show the determination of the TA value when the PRACH is transmitted with a TA of zero, and the blocks in the right column show the determination of the TA value when the PRACH is transmitted with a non-zero TA. Without any limitation, for example, assume that a TA value of zero is applied to the PRACH to the first network device 120, and a non-zero TA value is applied to the PRACH to the second network device. It should be understood that the non-zero TA value can also be applied to the PRACH to the first network device 110 or any other PRACH in MTRP communication. In some embodiments, whether the TA value applied to the PRACH is zero depends on the function of the PRACH transmission or the triggering condition of the PRACH. For example, when the PRACH is used for synchronization, or when the PRACH is a contention-based PRACH, or a PRACH triggered by an order of the PDCCH, the applied TA value is equal to 0. In another example, when the PRACH transmits additional information, for example, when the PRACH during the BFR procedure transmits information associated with a recovery beam, or in the case of the PRACH during the two-step random access (RA) procedure, a non-zero TA value may be applied to the transmission of the PRACH. In a further example, the network device may notify the terminal device 110 whether to apply a non-zero TA during the transmission of the PRACH.

[0090] In FIG. 3, the X-axis represents the time domain. For the calculation of the TA value by the first network device 120, the first network device 120 transmits the DL frame i at the first time opportunity. When the terminal device 110 receives the DL frame i at the second time opportunity, the terminal device 110 transmits the PRACH to the first network device 120. The network device 110 may determine the TA value of the terminal device 110 based on the measurement of the timing difference. In FIG. 3, the length 310 represents the time delay from the first network device 120 to the terminal device 110, and the length 320 represents the time delay from the terminal device 110 to the first network device 120. Usually, according to the reciprocity of the channel, the length 310 is equal to the length 320. Thereafter, the first network device 120 may determine the first TA value of the terminal device 110 by measuring the time delay in the opposite direction. In FIG. 3, the time length 330 of the first TA value may be equal to the sum of the length 310 and the length 320.

[0091] In the calculation of the TA value by the second network device 130, it is assumed that the terminal device 110 transmits the PRACH with a non-zero TA value. The second network device 130 transmits the DL frame j to the terminal device 110 at the third time opportunity (it should be understood that the third time opportunity may be the same as the first time opportunity or the second time opportunity). The time delay from the second network device 130 to the terminal device 110 is represented as a time length of 340. Since a non-zero TA value is applied to the PRACH, the terminal device 110 may transmit the PRACH to the second device 130 before receiving the DL frame j. In one example, the time difference (non-zero TA value) between the PRACH transmission and the reception of the DL frame j is represented as the time length 350 in FIG. 3. Without considering the non-zero TA value, the second network device 130 may determine the timing difference as a time length of 370. However, from the perspective of the second network device 130, due to the time length 350 (or the non-zero TA value applied to the PRACH to the second network device 130), the transmission delay 360 from the second network device 130 to the terminal device 110 is reduced. To ensure the accuracy of the TA value, the second network device 120 should adjust the second TA value of the terminal device 110 according to the non-zero TA value of the PRACH. In the example of FIG. 3, the second TA value is equal to the sum of the measured time length 370 and the non-zero TA value 350 of the PRACH. The above-described situation is merely an example, and it should be understood that in some embodiments, a non-zero TA value is also applied to the PRACH to the first network device 120. And the first network device 120 should adjust the first TA value of the terminal device 110 accordingly.

[0092] For example, in the case of MTRP communication, T TA,1 =T‘ TA,1 +Δ1, T TA,2 =T‘ TA,2 +Δ2, where T TA,1 , T TA,2is the TA value indicated by the first instruction and the second instruction by the network device. For example, in RAR signaling, Δ1 and Δ2 may be the same or different. Additionally, or alternatively, the network device may inform in RAR signaling whether to apply an adjustment to the TA value. Additionally, or alternatively, the network device may also inform the terminal device 110 whether to apply a non-zero TA value.

[0093] In addition to the situation of PRACH transmission where the TA value is non-zero, there may be other situations where the TA value should be further adjusted. In some embodiments, the downlink channel transmission from the network device is not synchronized, that is, asynchronous. In this case, based on the time-domain difference during the timing synchronization of the network device, the first TA value and / or the second TA value should be further adjusted. Also, this adjustment is based on selecting one network device as the reference network device. The TA adjustment regarding the asynchronous network device will be discussed in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0094] FIGS. 4A and 4B show the timing adjustment of the TA value according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the timing adjustment will be discussed with reference to FIG. 1.

[0095] In FIG. 4A, the downlink channel transmission 401 from the second network device 130 and the downlink channel transmission 403 from the first network device 120 (DL frame i from the first network device in FIG. 4) (DL frame i from the second network device in FIG. 4) are asynchronous. In one example, the timing difference is T d is. To ensure the timing synchronization of the uplink transmission, the timing difference T dIt should be considered. In some embodiments, a time domain reference or a reference network device is determined to adjust the first TA value and the second TA value of the terminal device 110. For example, when the DL frame i from the first network device is selected as the reference network device, the second TA value is further adjusted by adding T d to the shown second TA value. Additionally, or alternatively, when the second network device 130 is selected as the reference network device, the first TA value is further adjusted by subtracting T d from the shown first TA value.

[0096] Additionally, or alternatively, in some embodiments, the timing difference between these two downlink channel transmissions is corrected on the network side. As shown in FIG. 4B, the timing difference between these two downlink channel transmissions is the time length 410. Also, the time length 420 is the time delay from the first network device 120 to the terminal device 110, and the time length 430 is the time delay from the second network device 130 to the terminal device 110. Similarly, the time length 440 is the time delay in the opposite direction respectively. The time length 460 is the time delay in another opposite direction respectively. In this case, the network device side pre-corrects the timing difference 410 (corresponding to T d described above) so that the DL frames i from different network devices 120 and 130 arrive at the terminal device 110 simultaneously or with an acceptable delay. When receiving the DL frame i, the terminal device 110 may transmit the PRACH without applying the TA. Then, the network devices 120 and 130 can determine appropriate TA values for the terminal device 110 under timing asynchrony between the network devices. Thereafter, the network device indicates the determined TA values to the terminal device 110 as the first TA value and the second TA value.

[0097] In some embodiments, T dAlternatively, the time duration 410 may be composed of at least one of the timing differences existing in the network device, such as the timing difference observed on the terminal device side like the reference signal timing difference, and the timing difference observed on the panels of different terminal devices.

[0098] Returning to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, in order to adjust the uplink transmission from the terminal device 110 and the downlink channel transmission to the terminal device 110, the difference between the first TA value and the second TA value should be restricted. For the sake of clarity in discussion, the restrictions on the first TA value and the second TA value can be discussed with reference to FIG. 5.

[0099] FIG. 5 shows the restrictions on a plurality of TA values according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the timing adjustment is discussed with reference to FIG. 1.

[0100] In FIG. 5, the expected downlink transmission timing is shown for reference. The time duration 510 represents the first TA value of the uplink transmission to the first network device 120, and the time duration 520 represents the second TA value of the uplink transmission to the second network device 130. In order to avoid the overlap between the uplink transmission to the first network device 120 or the second network device 130 and the downlink channel transmission from the second network device 130 or the downlink channel transmission from the first network device 120, the timing difference value between the first TA value and the second TA value must be smaller than the first threshold value. For example, when the difference value is very large, the end of the downlink channel transmission frame associated with the smaller TA value may overlap with the start of the uplink transmission frame associated with the larger TA value.

[0101] In some embodiments, the first threshold may be determined based on at least one of the length of a cyclic prefix (CP), the Tx-Rx transition time, the downlink - uplink transition time, the maximum uplink transmission timing difference, the timing tolerance value related to the cell size, and the timing tolerance value related to the length of the path between different network devices and the terminal device. Further, the value of the threshold may also consider the beam switching time, the panel switching time, or the TRP timing difference.

[0102] Additionally, or alternatively, the first threshold may be predefined and may be based on at least one of signaling via the NW or reported from the terminal device as the terminal's capabilities or proposals. Additionally, or alternatively, the first threshold may be different for different frequency ranges, SCS, band / band combinations, cells / cell groups, BWPs. Additionally, or alternatively, the first threshold is applied to each TA value. Additionally, or alternatively, overlapping or partially overlapping slots are dropped. Additionally, or alternatively, overlapping or partially overlapping slots are not used for transmission. Additionally, or alternatively, the duration of the later slot is shortened compared to the previous slot.

[0103] In some embodiments, the timing difference value between the first TA value and the second TA value may be greater than the second threshold. In some embodiments, the second threshold may be determined in the same way as the first threshold or may be predefined.

[0104] Returning to FIG. 2, the terminal device may apply the first TA value and the second TA value to respective uplink transmissions at a specific time opportunity. In some embodiments, the first TA value and the second TA value are conditionally applied. In some embodiments, the conditions for enabling the first TA value and the second TA value are predefined between the terminal device 110 and the network devices 120 and 130 so that the first TA value and the second TA value can be applied simultaneously.

[0105] In some embodiments, a first TA value and a second TA value are each applied. For example, when the first TA value and the second TA value are indicated by explicit or implicit signaling (such as TA commands, RAR signaling, RRC signaling, etc. as described above), the indicated TA values are each applied as follows. When the signaling is a TA command, for example, via a MAC CE, the first TA value and the second TA value are applied after TIFF2025516229000019.tif980. Here, n is the time slot when the signaling is received or when the signaling is confirmed by the ACK signaling by the terminal device 110, and is TIFF2025516229000020.tif790. When the signaling is via DCI, it is n + y + 1 (optionally + 2 μ ·K offset ), where y is less than k, for example, N T,1 is replaced by the PDCCH decoding time. n is the time slot when the signaling is received or when the signaling is confirmed by the ACK signaling of the terminal device 110. Also, the first TA value is from slot n + k1 + 1 and the second TA value is from n + k2 + 1, where k1 and k2 are the periods required to adjust the TA value for each network device, respectively.

[0106] In the M-DCI mode, since the terminal device 110 receives DCI 1 and DCI 2 and may change the first TA value and the second TA value individually, the parameter n associated with the first network device 120 and the parameter n associated with the second network device 130 can each be considered.

[0107] Additionally, or alternatively, the first TA value and the second TA value may be applied simultaneously, later after the timing opportunity where the corresponding TA is applicable (for example, TIFF2025516229000021.tif760). Additionally, or alternatively, when multiple TA values are included in the signaling, for example, to switch multiple TA values from slot n + k’ + 1, k’ > k, more time is required.

[0108] In some embodiments, the first TA value and the second TA value may be applied at least partially based on the beam switching procedure. In one example, the signaling of beam switching also implicitly indicates a change in the TA value. Thus, the first TA value and the second TA value are indicated at least partially based on the fact that the beam switching procedure is being executed. The terminal device 110 can enable the first TA value and the second TA value when the beam switching procedure is completed. For example, the timing of applying the new beam and the time of applying the new TA should be aligned, and the application timing is the latest time to apply the new beam and the new TA value, or at least one of the TA application timing and the beam switching timing. Also, the terminal device 110 can determine the latest time opportunity of the time opportunity when the TA value can be applied (for example, in the case of MAC CE TIFF2025516229000022.tif871, in the case of DCI is n + y + 1) and another time opportunity when the beam switching procedure is completed (for example, in the case of MAC CE is n + 3 milliseconds, in the case of DCI is n + beam application timing). In one example, the parameter “n” of the TA value application timing is the slot in which the terminal device 110 receives the command, and the parameter “n” of the beam switching application timing is the slot in which the terminal device 110 sends HARQ-ACK on the channel that transmits the command.

[0109] Additionally, or alternatively, the first TA value and the second TA value may be applied at least partially based on a power control procedure. For example, the first TA value and the second TA value are indicated during the execution of the power control procedure, or the beam switching signaling also indicates a change in uplink power, such as a change in a path loss reference signal, or the signaling indicates both beam switching and changes in both the path loss reference signal and the TA value. The terminal device 110 may apply the first TA value and the second TA value when the power control procedure is completed. For example, it is necessary to align the timings for applying a new beam, a new TA, and a new PL RS. In that case, the application timing is the maximum value among the TA command application timing, the beam switching timing, and the path loss RS switching timing.

[0110] Alternatively, the application timing of the first TA value and the second TA value described above can also be expressed as follows. If the ACK feedback corresponds to a command for switching the TCI state and the TA received in uplink slot n, the corresponding TCI state and the adjustment of the uplink transmission timing are from the beginning of uplink slot max( TIFF2025516229000023.tif658, n + TIFF2025516229000024.tif1144). If the ACK feedback corresponds to a command for switching the TCI state and the TA received in uplink slot n, the corresponding TCI state and the adjustment of the uplink transmission timing are from the beginning of uplink slot max( TIFF2025516229000025.tif655, n + TIFF2025516229000026.tif663).

[0111] Regarding the validity periods of the first TA value and the second TA value, a timer may be set for these TA values. In some embodiments, a first timer is set for the first TA value, and a different second timer is set for the second TA value. Additionally, or alternatively, the same third timer is set for the first TA value and the second TA value. In such cases, when an instruction indicating the corresponding TA value is received, the corresponding timer is triggered to start or resume. For example, when respective timers are set for the first TA value and the second TA value, when the first instruction is received, the timer set for the first TA value may be triggered to start or resume. In another example, when the same set timer exists for the first TA value and the second TA value, when either the first instruction or the second instruction is received by the terminal device 110, the same set timer is started or resumed.

[0112] In some embodiments, when the terminal device 110 switches a set of RS resources, it is not necessary to receive the first instruction and the second instruction, and the timer can also be triggered to start or resume.

[0113] Also, any one of the above-mentioned first timer, second timer, and third timer may be determined to have expired based on at least one of the following: the execution time of at least one timer has reached the corresponding expiration time; the first maximum uplink transmission timing difference between multiple TA values has been exceeded (each of the multiple TA values is associated with a respective network device); the second maximum uplink transmission timing difference between multiple network devices has been exceeded (each of the multiple network devices is associated with a respective TA group of a media access control (MAC) entity); and the third maximum uplink transmission timing difference between multiple network devices has been exceeded (each of the multiple network devices is associated with a respective TA group of a media access control (MAC) entity of the terminal device).

[0114] When it is determined that the timer has expired, the terminal device 110 may perform corresponding operations. The corresponding operations may include flushing all HARQ buffers of the corresponding network device, notifying the RRC to release the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) of the corresponding network device, notifying the RRC to release the sounding reference signal (SRS) of the corresponding network device, clearing all configured downlink allocations and configured uplink grants for the corresponding network device, clearing all physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) resources for semi-persistent channel state information (CSI) reporting of the corresponding network device, considering that all running timeAlignmentTimers of the corresponding network device have expired, and maintaining the network timing advance (NTA) of the corresponding network device. When timers are set for all TA values (for example, when timers are set for all network devices), the corresponding network device may be all of these network devices.

[0115] From the above, the terminal device 110 can determine and apply the correct TA value for each uplink transmission to the network device. Thus, in MIMO communication, the terminal device can appropriately perform timing adjustment and appropriately coordinate the timing adjustment with other resource settings or power control procedures.

[0116] Returning to FIG. 2, in MIMO communication (or, for example, multi-transmission reception points - MTRP communication), there may be a beam failure event associated with one of the multiple network devices that provide services to the terminal device at the terminal device. For example, there may be an obstacle in the beam assigned to the downlink channel transmission 140 from the first network device 120 to the terminal device 110. In this case, the terminal device 110 may initiate the BFR recovery procedure accordingly. In the BFR recovery procedure in MTRP communication, further consideration may be given to which TA value should be applied to the beam failure recovery request (BFRQ) and subsequent uplink transmissions.

[0117] As described above, the first set of RS resources and the second set of RS resources associated with the first TA value and the second TA value may also include a BFD RS set and a CBD RS set. In some embodiments, the first TA value may be associated with any of the RS sets for the first network device 120, and the second TA value may be associated with any of the RS sets for the second network device 130. As shown in Table 4 below, the first TA value is associated with the CORESETPoolIndex 0 of the first network device 120, associated with the BFD-RS set q_(0,0) for the first network device 120, and associated with the CBD-RS set q_(1,0) for the first network device 120. The BFD-RS set includes one or more beam failure detection-reference signals for detecting a beam failure associated with the first network device. The CBD-RS set includes one or more beam detection reference signals for selecting candidate beams for the recovery procedure. Table 4 TIFF2025516229000027.tif28168 Similarly, the second TA value is associated with each RS set for the second network device 130. Additionally, or alternatively, in some other embodiments, the second TA value may also be associated with the BFD-RS set and the CBD-RS set for the second network device 130, for example, the BFD-RS set q_(0,1) and the CBD-RS set q_(1,1).

[0118] The terminal device 110 may declare that it has detected a beam failure in the BFD-RS set q_(0,0) (230). For example, the beam failure may be caused by either a failure occurring in the first network device 120 or the link quality deteriorating below a threshold. Additionally, or alternatively, the terminal device 110 may declare that it has detected a beam failure for both the BFD-RS set q_(0,0) and the BFD-RS set q_(0,1).

[0119] In such a situation, the terminal device 110 may attempt to recover to the second network device 130. In one example, when the terminal device 110 attempts to recover to the second network device 130, the terminal device 110 may select the RS (also referred to as "q_new") of the CBD-RS set q_(1,1). q_new corresponds to the recovery beam for the second network 130. Then, the terminal device 110 may select, as the recovery beam, a candidate beam corresponding to q_new for which the L1-RSRP parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold. Additionally, or alternatively, even if the RS within the CBD-RS set q_(1,1) does not meet a predefined threshold, the TA applied to subsequent uplink transmissions is adjusted to the TA associated with the second network device 130. For example, in MTRP communication, when a failure occurs in the first TRP, the application of the first TA associated with the first network device 110 is stopped, and the application of the second TA value associated with the second network device 120 is started. Additionally, or alternatively, in MTRP communication, when a failure occurs in the first panel of the terminal device 110, the application of the first TA associated with the first panel is stopped, and the application of the second TA associated with the second panel is started.

[0120] In this case, since the terminal device 110 determines the recovery beam from the CBD-RS set q_(1,1), the terminal device 110 may transmit a beam failure recovery request (BFRQ) with a second TA value associated with the recovery beam (240). Therefore, after transmitting the BFRQ or after receiving a response to the BFRQ, the terminal device 110 can also perform uplink transmission with the second TA value associated with the recovery beam until it receives a new indication indicating the TA value (240). In some embodiments, uplink transmission may include PUCCH, PUSCH, and SRS. In some embodiments, the response to the BFRQ may be that the UE detects a DCI format with a CRC scrambled by RAR, C-RNTI (radio network temporary identification information), or MCS-C-RNTI, the first PDDCH PDCCH reception in the search space set provided by recoverySearchSpaceID, or the PUSCH transmission with the same HARQ process number as the transmission of the first PUSCH, and the PDCCH reception with a DCI format having a toggled new data indicator (NDI) field value. In some embodiments, the new indication may be a beam indication, TCI state, UL TCI state, spatial relation, at least one setting, activation, or indication of BWP / CC switching. Further, the terminal device 110 may further notify the network in the BFRQ of the information associated with the recovery beam.

[0121] Additionally, or alternatively, if there is another beam without an obstacle configured for PUCCH scheduling request (SR) or PUSCH, the TA value associated with that beam may be applied. Additionally, or alternatively, if there are multiple PUCCH-SR or PUSCH resources, a resource having the same TA as the recovery beam is selected as the resource for sending BFRQ. Additionally, or alternatively, if there are multiple beams for one or more PUCCH-SR or PUSCH resources, a beam and / or resource having the same TA as the recovery beam is selected as the beam and / or resource for sending BFRQ.

[0122] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may transmit BFRQ with a default TA value. The default TA value may be determined from at least one of zero, a first TA value, a second TA value, the TA value applied before BFD, and the TA value applied to the most recent successful uplink transmission. For example, if a beam failure is considered an out-of-sync case, the terminal device 110 may transmit BFRQ with a TA value of zero. Additionally, or alternatively, if BFRQ is a PRACH-based BFRQ or a contention-based PRACH-based BFRQ, the terminal device 110 may transmit BFRQ with a TA value of zero. Additionally, or alternatively, the default TA value may be equal to either the first TA value and the second TA value, the maximum value of the first TA value and the second TA value, the minimum value of the first TA value and the second TA value, or the sum of the first TA value and the second TA value, etc. Additionally, or alternatively, the terminal device 110 may also transmit subsequent uplink channels with the default TA value. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may also transmit BFRQ with a TA value according to the UL channel used for BFRQ such as, for example, PUSCH BFRQ, PUCCH-SR BFRQ, non-contention RACH, etc. Alternatively, msg.A is transmitted with a non-zero TA and PRACH-based BFRQ is transmitted with a TA of zero.

[0123] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may also transmit the BFRQ with a third TA value associated with the uplink channel resource of the BFRQ. For example, when the terminal device 110 still selects a recovery beam from the CBD-RS set q_(1,0) for the first network device 120, since a failure is considered to have occurred in the first network device 120, the terminal device 110 may transmit the BFRQ with a third TA value associated with the uplink channel resource of the BFRQ. Also, when multiple UL resources are available, some priority rules can be defined. For example, the priority is based on the associated TA value, for example, based on a larger / smaller TA value compared to the selected recovery beam, the same / different TA values, etc.

[0124] In response to the transmitted BFRQ, the network device may transmit a BFRQ response to the terminal device 110. In some embodiments, the BFRQ includes an updated TA value, which may be referred to as the third TA value. Then, the terminal device 110 may perform further uplink transmissions with the third TA value. For example, the BFRQ response may include information regarding TA adjustment. The BFRQ may be included in the above-described first instruction and second instruction such as RAR signaling. In one example, the BFRQ includes only one valid TA value corresponding to q_new. In this case, when multiple TA values are indicated, the other TA values are ignored. Additionally, or alternatively, the BFRQ may include information for triggering UL timing alignment of the channel / signal. In this case, the terminal device 110 needs to send a PRACH or SRS with TA value = 0 to obtain new timing requirements. Then, the network device transmits an RAR or TA command to adjust the applied TA.

[0125] Additionally, or alternatively, the network device may send a specific indication indicating the updated TA value. This TA value may also be referred to as the fourth TA value. And the terminal device 110 may perform further uplink transmission with the fourth TA value. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may receive the fourth TA value in the same way as the first TA value and the second TA value. For example, the specific indication may include information regarding TA adjustment. The specific indication may be included in the above-mentioned first indication and second indication such as RAR signaling. As an example, the specific indication includes only one valid TA value corresponding to q_new. In this case, if multiple TA values are indicated, the other TA values are ignored. Additionally, or alternatively, the specific indication may include information for triggering UL timing adjustment of the channel / signal. In this case, the terminal device 110 needs to send a PRACH or SRS with TA value = 0 to obtain new timing requirements. Then, the network device sends an RAR or TA command to adjust the applied TA.

[0126] Thus, when a beam failure event occurs in M-TRP communication, the terminal device can determine an appropriate TA value for transmitting the BFRQ and the uplink channel, for example, based on the selection of the recovery beam. As a result, the terminal device can correctly transmit the UL signal and the channel.

[0127] Additionally, or alternatively, in the beam failure recovery procedure, the first TA value and the second TA value may be associated with the BFD-RS set and the CBD-RS set in an approach different from Table 4 described above. For example, the first TA value may be associated with a BFD-RS set q_(0) that includes all BFD-RS, and the second TA value may be associated with a CBD-RS set q_(1) that includes all CBD-RS. In this case, the terminal device 110 may transmit the BFRQ and the uplink channel with the second TA value. Further, for other BFR settings, there are included a BFR timer, a BFD timer, a BFI counter and its maximum value, BFD and CBD thresholds, UL resources for transmitting BFRQ, a CORESET / search space for monitoring BFR responses, power, power ramping, a retransmission counter and its maximum value, etc. These can be set for each UE or for each TRP. These can be set for each BWP / CC / CC group / band / band combination.

[0128] Alternatively, the above-described BFR procedure in MTRP communication can also be expressed as the following three alternative descriptions. In the case of a PCell or a PSCell, until the UE receives an activation command for PUCCH-SpatialRelationInfo[11,TS38.321] or until the PUCCH-SpatialRelationInfo of the PUCCH resource is provided, after 28 symbols from the last symbol of the first PDCCH reception in the search space set provided by recoverySearchSpaceID, where the UE detects a DCI format having a CRC scrambled by a C-RNTI or an MCS-C-RNTI, the UE transmits the PUCCH in the same cell as the PRACH transmission using the following. · The same spatial filter as the previous PRACH transmission · q as described in Section 7.2.1 u =0, q d =q new 、l = 0, the power determined · The same TA as the TA associated with q new ​ When TCI-State_r17 indicating a unified TCI state is provided to the UE, after X symbols from the last symbol of PDCCH reception with a DCI format having a toggled NDI field value, scheduling a PUSCH transmission having the same HARQ process number as the transmission of the first PUSCH, the UE shall do the following. · Monitor PDCCH in all CORESETs and, if any, receive PDSCH and aperiodic CSI-RS in resources from a CSI-RS resource set using the same antenna port quasi-collocation parameters associated with the corresponding index q_new. · If any q new Transmit PUCCH and SRS using the same spatial domain filter as that corresponding to q, and for PUSCH, using the same spatial domain filter indicating the same TCI state as in the case of PUCCH and PUSCH. · If any q new Transmit PUCCH and PUSCH and SRS (which may not be necessary) using the same TA as that corresponding to q, and for PUSCH, using the same spatial domain filter indicating the same TCI state as in the case of PUCCH and PUSCH. When TCI-State_r17 indicating the integrated TCI state of the PCell or PSCell is provided to the UE [6, TS38.214], after X symbols from the last symbol of the first PDCCH reception in the search space set provided by recoverySearchSpaceID, where the UE detects a DCI format having a CRC scrambled by C-RNTI or MCS-C-RNTI, the UE shall do the following. · If AdditionalPCIInfo is not provided, monitor PDCCH in all CORESETs and, if any, the corresponding index q newReceive PDSCH and aperiodic CSI-RS in resources from a CSI-RS resource set that indicates the same TCI state as in the case of PDCCH and PDSCH, using the same antenna port pseudo-collocation parameters associated therewith. · Transmit PUCCH and SRS that uses the same spatial domain filter as in the case of PUSCH and that indicates the same TCI state as in the case of PUCCH and PUSCH, using the same spatial domain filter as the last PRACH transmission. · Transmit PUCCH and SRS that uses the same spatial domain filter as in the case of PUSCH and that indicates the same TCI state as in the case of PUCCH and PUSCH (which may not be necessary), using the same TA as the last PRACH transmission.

[0129] Returning to FIG. 2, when the terminal device 110 transmits a second uplink channel to the first network device 120 with one TA value and a third uplink channel to the second network device 130 with another TA value in a time division multiplexing (TDM) mechanism, the order in which the first TA value and the second TA value are applied should be considered. Further, the guard interval between the applications of different TA values is also an important aspect.

[0130] In some embodiments, a first set of RS resources associated with a first TA value is applied to a first transmission opportunity among two consecutive transmission opportunities, and a second set of RS resources associated with a second TA value is applied to a second transmission opportunity among two consecutive transmission opportunities. The terminal device 110 further executes a second uplink channel and a third uplink channel with different TA values in two consecutive transmission opportunities based on an order mapping table. The order mapping table may indicate the order of TA values applied within two consecutive transmission opportunities. It should be understood that the expressions "first transmission opportunity" and "second transmission opportunity" in the present disclosure are not intended to indicate the order of transmission opportunities within two consecutive transmission opportunities, but are only used to distinguish transmission opportunities. For the sake of clarity in discussion, the mapping order between the TA value applied in TDM transmission and the guard interval will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

[0131] FIGS. 6A and 6B show exemplary mapping orders of TA values according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0132] In FIG. 6A, the terminal device may be the terminal device 110 of FIG. 1, the first network device may be the first network device 120 of FIG. 1, and the second network device may be the second network device 130 of FIG. 1. In the example of FIG. 6A, the order of uplink transmissions to the network device is indicated by reference numerals 601, 603, 605, and 607. It should be understood that the number of uplink transmissions is shown for illustrative purposes only and is not subject to any limitation. In some embodiments, the order of TA values applied to uplink transmissions may be shown in an order mapping table. For example, the first TA value is applied to the first uplink transmission 601, and the second TA value is applied to the second uplink transmission 603. Thereafter, the mapping order can be repeatedly applied to subsequent uplink transmissions. It should be understood that the periodicity of the "two uplink transmissions" is for discussion purposes only and is not subject to any limitation.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 6B, in one example, time duration 610 represents a second TA value applied to a third uplink transmission, and time duration 620 represents a first TA value applied to a second uplink transmission. Further, the second TA value is applied to a second transmission opportunity. The first TA value is applied to a first transmission opportunity. In some embodiments, a transmission opportunity may include a slot.

[0134] In some embodiments, the order mapping table may include a bit field indicating the mapping order of TA values applied within two consecutive transmission opportunities. For example, the bit field may be {10}, and this bit field indicates that the first TA value is applied to the first transmission opportunity among the consecutive transmission opportunities, and the second TA value is applied to the second transmission opportunity among the consecutive transmission opportunities. Additionally, or alternatively, the first TA value is associated with a first SRS resource set, and the second TA value is associated with a second SRS resource set. In another example, the bit field may be {11}, and this bit field indicates that the first transmission opportunity of the first TA value is arranged as the end position of two consecutive transmission opportunities (as shown in FIG. 6), and the second transmission opportunity of the second TA value is arranged as the start position of two consecutive transmission opportunities. In a further example, the bit field may be {01}, and both of the two transmission opportunities are the second transmission opportunity of the second TA value. In yet another example, the bit field may be {00}, and both of the two transmission opportunities are the first transmission opportunity of the first TA value. Also, the first SRS resource set and the second SRS resource set are, respectively, the lower and higher srs-ResourceSetID of the two SRS resource sets.

[0135] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned bit field may be indicated by an SRS resource set indicator in DCI, for example, as shown in Table 5. Table 5 TIFF2025516229000028.tif26167 Note that the above association is shown as an example, and the association between the SRS resource set indicator and the mapping order of TA values in time units can be arbitrarily defined in advance.

[0136] As shown in FIG. 6B, since the first TA value is different from the second TA value, there is a possibility that the first transmission opportunity of the first network device 120 and the second transmission opportunity of the second network device 130 overlap with each other. In this case, in order to avoid the overlap 630 between these transmission opportunities, a guard interval 640 is required. In some embodiments, the guard interval is greater than |the first TA value - the second TA value|. Additionally, or alternatively, the guard interval may be determined based on more conditions such as, for example, UE panel switching time, beam switching time, Tx-Rx transition time, channel preparation time, signaling decoding time, etc.

[0137] The guard interval 640 is ensured between the transmission opportunities of repetition-based transmissions such as, for example, PUSCH repetition, PUCCH repetition, PRACH repetition, etc. Additionally, or alternatively, the guard interval is ensured between the transmission opportunities of multi-opportunity transmissions such as, for example, multi-slot PUSCH transmission, slot aggregation, slot bundling, etc. Regarding PUSCH, PUSCH can be a grant-based PUSCH or a configured grant-based PUSCH, and can refer to nominal transmission or actual transmission.

[0138] The guard interval is counted between the last symbol of the UL transmission to which the first TA value is applied and the first symbol of the UL transmission to which the second TA value is applied. Alternatively, it can be counted between the last symbol of the slot of the UL transmission to which the first TA value is applied and the first symbol of the slot of the UL transmission to which the second TA value is applied. Additionally, or alternatively, overlapping or partially overlapping transmission opportunities are dropped.

[0139] In a more general case, the guard interval is ensured between two transmission opportunities of any UL channel / signal. For example, between two PUSCH transmissions scheduled by different DCIs, between two PUSCH transmissions by each of a UL grant and a configured grant, between two PUCCH transmissions transmitting ACKs of different TRPs, between a PUCCH and a PUSCH, between two SRS resources, between two SRS resource sets, etc.

[0140] Also, when considering asynchronous network devices, when considering the length of the guard interval, it is necessary to include the timing difference between network devices. For example, the guard interval is at least greater than TIFF2025516229000029.tif7109. Alternatively, TIFF2025516229000030.tif855, or TIFF2025516229000031.tif788.

[0141] Alternatively, the above-mentioned TDM transmission setting in MTRP communication can also be expressed as follows. When two SRS resource sets are set in srs-ResourceSetToAddModList or srs-ResourceSetToAddModListDCI-0-2 where the usage of the upper layer parameter of the SRS-ResourceSet is set to "codebook" or "noncodebook", in PUSCH repetition type A, when K>1, the same symbol assignment is applied to the entire continuous K slots. The UE is assumed to apply the same symbol assignment to each slot and repeat the TB over the continuous K slots, and the association of each slot of the first SRS resource set and the second SRS resource set in srs-ResourceSetToAddModList or srs-ResourceSetToAddModListDCI-0-2 is determined as follows. -<Omitted> - When DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2 indicates the code point "10" of the SRS resource set indicator, the association of the first SRS resource set and the second SRS resource set to consecutive K slots is determined as follows. - When K = 2, the first SRS resource set and the second SRS resource set are applied to the first slot and the second slot of two consecutive slots respectively. The first TA value and the second TA value are applied respectively. The time gap between the last symbol of the PUSCH in the first slot and the first symbol of the PUSCH in the second slot must be greater than the difference between the first TA value and the second TA value. - When K > 2 and cyclicMapping of PUSCH-Config is valid, the first SRS resource set and the second SRS resource set are applied to the first slot and the second slot of consecutive K slots respectively, and the same SRS resource set mapping pattern continues to the remaining slots of consecutive K slots. The first TA value and the second TA value are applied respectively, and the same TA mapping pattern continues to the remaining slots of consecutive K slots. The time gap between the last symbol of the PUSCH in the k-th slot and the first symbol of the PUSCH in the (k + 1)-th slot must be greater than the difference between the first TA value and the second TA value. - <Omitted> - Otherwise, DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2 indicates the code point "11" of the SRS resource set indicator, and the association of the first SRS resource set and the second SRS resource set to consecutive K slots is determined as follows. - When K = 2, the second SRS resource set and the first SRS resource set are applied to the first slot and the second slot of two consecutive slots respectively. The second TA value and the first TA value are applied respectively. The time gap between the last symbol of the PUSCH in the first slot and the first symbol of the PUSCH in the second slot must be greater than the difference between the first TA value and the second TA value. - When K > 2 and the cyclicMapping of PUSCH-Config is valid, the second SRS resource set and the first SRS resource set are applied to the first slot and the second slot of K consecutive slots respectively, and the same SRS resource set mapping pattern continues to the remaining slots of the K consecutive slots. The second TA value and the first TA value are applied respectively, and the same TA mapping pattern continues to the remaining slots of the K consecutive slots. The time gap between the last symbol of the PUSCH in the k-th slot and the first symbol of the PUSCH in the (k + 1)-th slot must be greater than the difference between the first TA value and the second TA value. - <Omitted> In the case of PUSCH repetition type B, when two SRS resource sets are set in srs-ResourceSetToAddModList or srs-ResourceSetToAddModListDCI-0-2 where the usage of the upper layer parameter of SRS-ResourceSet is set to "codebook" or "non-codebook", the association of the SRS resource set to the nominal PUSCH repetitions follows the same method as the association of the SRS resource set to the slots in the PUSCH type A repetition, considering the nominal repetitions instead of the slots.

[0142] In this way, the terminal device can reuse the existing indicator to determine the mapping order between the TA value and the transmission opportunity, and can further avoid the overlap between the transmission opportunities.

[0143] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a communication method 700 implemented by a terminal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Method 700 can be implemented by the terminal device 110 shown in FIG. 1. For the purpose of discussion, method 700 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. Method 700 may include additional operations not shown and / or may omit some of the operations shown, and it should be understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

[0144] In block 710, the terminal device 110 receives a first indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a set of first reference signal (RS) resources.

[0145] In block 720, the terminal device 110 receives a second indication indicating a second TA value associated with a set of second RS resources.

[0146] In block 730, in response to detecting a beam obstruction event associated with the set of first RS resources, the terminal device 110 identifies a recovery beam corresponding to a second RS resource in the set of second RS resources.

[0147] In block 740, the terminal device 110 performs a first uplink transmission with the second TA value.

[0148] In some embodiments, receiving the first indication and the second indication includes receiving a first configuration of a set of first RS resources having the first TA value and a second configuration of a set of second RS resources having the second TA value, respectively.

[0149] In some embodiments, receiving the first indication and the second indication includes receiving at least one first parameter indicating a TA value and at least one second parameter indicating a TA offset value.

[0150] In some embodiments, the method further includes adjusting at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value to a third TA value in response to transmission of a physical random access channel (PRACH) at the third TA value.

[0151] In some embodiments, the method further includes adjusting at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value by a first timing difference value in response to detecting that there is a first timing difference value between a first downlink channel transmission from a first network device and a second downlink channel transmission from a second network device.

[0152] In some embodiments, a second timing difference value between the first TA value and the second TA value is less than a first threshold value, and / or the second timing difference value between the first TA value and the second TA value is greater than a second threshold value.

[0153] In some embodiments, the method further includes enabling at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value based on an end time of a beam switching procedure in response to the beam switching procedure being executed, and / or enabling at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value based on an end time of a power control procedure in response to the power control procedure being executed.

[0154] In some embodiments, a first timer is set for the first TA value, a different second timer is set for the second TA value, or a third timer is set for the first TA value and the second TA value.

[0155] In some embodiments, at least one of the first timer, the second timer, and the third timer is started or resumed based at least on receiving an indication indicating a corresponding TA value, and at least one timer expires when the execution time of at least one timer reaches the corresponding expiration time, the first maximum uplink transmission timing difference between a plurality of TA values is exceeded (each of the plurality of TA values is associated with a respective network device), the second maximum uplink transmission timing difference between a plurality of network devices is exceeded (each of the plurality of network devices is associated with a respective TA group of a media access control (MAC) entity), and the third maximum uplink transmission timing difference between a plurality of network devices is exceeded (each of the plurality of network devices is associated with a respective TA group of a media access control (MAC) entity of a terminal device), and is determined to have expired based on at least one of the above.

[0156] In some embodiments, the method further includes transmitting a beam failure recovery request (BFRQ) with a second TA value, transmitting a BFRQ with a default TA value, and transmitting a BFRQ with a third value associated with an uplink channel resource of the BFRQ.

[0157] In some embodiments, the method further includes performing an uplink transmission with an updated TA value, where the updated TA value is received in a BFRQ response in response to the transmitted BFRQ, or is received in a fourth indication indicating the updated TA value in response to the transmitted BFRQ.

[0158] In some embodiments, the method further includes determining that the default TA value is determined from at least one of zero, a first TA value, a second TA value, and a TA value applied to the most recent successful uplink transmission.

[0159] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a communication method 800 implemented by a terminal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method 800 can be implemented in the first network device 120 or the second network device 130 shown in FIG. 1. For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The method 800 may include additional operations not shown and / or may omit some of the operations shown, and it should be understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

[0160] In block 810, the network device 120 or 130 transmits an indication to the terminal device indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a set of first reference signal (RS) resources.

[0161] In block 820, in response to detecting a beam obstruction event associated with the set of first RS resources, the network device 120 or 130 performs reception of a first uplink transmission from the terminal device with a second TA value.

[0162] FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of a communication method 900 implemented by a terminal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method 900 can be implemented in the terminal device 110 shown in FIG. 1. For the purpose of discussion, the method 900 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The method 900 may include additional operations not shown and / or may omit some of the operations shown, and it should be understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

[0163] In block 910, the terminal device 110 receives a first indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a set of first reference signal (RS) resources. The set of first RS resources is applied to the first transmission opportunity of two consecutive transmission opportunities.

[0164] In block 920, the terminal device 110 receives a second indication indicating a second TA value associated with a second set of RS resources. The second set of RS resources is applied to the second transmission opportunity among two consecutive transmission opportunities.

[0165] In block 930, based on an order mapping table indicating the order of the first transmission opportunity and the second transmission opportunity in two consecutive transmission opportunities, the terminal device 110 performs a second uplink transmission with a first TA value in the first transmission opportunity and performs a third uplink transmission with a second TA value in the second transmission opportunity.

[0166] In some embodiments, receiving the first indication and the second indication includes receiving a first setting of a first set of RS resources having a first TA value and a second setting of a second set of RS resources having a second TA value, respectively.

[0167] In some embodiments, receiving the first indication and the second indication includes receiving at least one first parameter indicating a TA value and at least one second parameter indicating a TA offset value.

[0168] In some embodiments, the method further includes adjusting at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value by a third TA value in response to transmission of a physical random access channel (PRACH) with the third TA value.

[0169] In some embodiments, the method further includes adjusting at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value by a first timing difference value in response to detecting that there is a first timing difference value between a first downlink channel transmission from a first network device and a second downlink channel transmission from a second network device.

[0170] In some embodiments, a second timing difference value between a first TA value and a second TA value is less than a first threshold value, and / or a second timing difference value between the first TA value and the second TA value is greater than a second threshold value.

[0171] In some embodiments, the method further includes enabling at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value based on an end time of a beam switching procedure in response to the beam switching procedure being executed, and / or enabling at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value based on an end time of a power control procedure in response to the power control procedure being executed.

[0172] In some embodiments, a first timer is set for the first TA value, a different second timer is set for the second TA value, or a third timer is set for the first TA value and the second TA value.

[0173] In some embodiments, at least one of the first timer, the second timer, and the third timer is started or restarted based at least on receiving an indication indicating a corresponding TA value, and at least one timer is determined to have expired based on at least one of: an execution time of the at least one timer reaching a corresponding expiration time; a first maximum uplink transmission timing difference between a plurality of TA values being exceeded (each of the plurality of TA values is associated with a respective network device); a second maximum uplink transmission timing difference between a plurality of network devices being exceeded (each of the plurality of network devices is associated with a respective TA group of a media access control (MAC) entity); and a third maximum uplink transmission timing difference between a plurality of network devices being exceeded (each of the plurality of network devices is associated with a respective TA group of a media access control (MAC) entity of a terminal device).

[0174] In some embodiments, the order indicated by the order mapping table corresponds to a sounding reference signal (SRS) indicator.

[0175] In some embodiments, the method further includes the terminal device 110 performing a second uplink transmission at a first transmission opportunity and a third uplink transmission at a second transmission opportunity based on a guard interval between the first transmission opportunity and the second transmission opportunity.

[0176] In some embodiments, the guard interval is greater than a second timing difference value between a first TA value and a second TA value.

[0177] FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of a communication method 1000 implemented by a network device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method 1000 can be implemented in the first network device 120 or the second network device 130 shown in FIG. 1. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1000 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. It should be understood that the method 1000 may include additional operations not shown and / or may omit some of the operations shown, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

[0178] In block 1010, the network device 120 or 130 transmits an indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a set of first reference signal (RS) resources to the terminal device. The set of first RS resources is applied to the first transmission opportunity of two consecutive transmission opportunities.

[0179] In block 1020, the network device 120 or 130 performs reception of a second uplink at the first TA value at the first transmission opportunity based on an order mapping table indicating the order of the first transmission opportunity and the second transmission opportunity in two consecutive transmission opportunities.

[0180] FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 1100 suitable for implementing some embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus 1100 can be considered as a further exemplary embodiment of the terminal device 110 shown in FIG. 1, or the network devices 120 and 130 shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the apparatus 1100 can be implemented in, or at least as part of, the above-described network device or terminal device.

[0181] As shown in the figure, the apparatus 1100 includes a processor 1110, a memory 1120 coupled to the processor 1110, a suitable transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) 1140 coupled to the processor 1110, and a communication interface coupled to the TX / RX 1140. The memory 1120 stores at least a part of the program 1130. The TX / RX 1140 is for bidirectional communication. The TX / RX 1140 has at least one antenna for facilitating communication, but in practice, the access node described in the present application may have a plurality of antennas. The communication interface may represent any interface necessary for communicating with other network elements, for example, the X2 interface for bidirectional communication between gNBs or eNBs, the S1 interface for communication between a Mobility Management Entity (MME) / Serving Gateway (S-GW) and a gNB or eNB, the Un interface for communication between a gNB or eNB and a Relay Node (RN), or the Uu interface for communication between a gNB or eNB and a terminal device.

[0182] Program 1130 is considered to include program instructions, and when the program is executed by the associated processor 1110, as discussed with reference to FIGS. 1-10 herein, it enables the apparatus 1100 to operate in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Embodiments herein may be implemented by computer software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware that is executable by the processor 1110 of the apparatus 1100. The processor 1110 may be configured to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, the combination of the processor 1110 and the memory 1120 may constitute processing means 1150 suitable for implementing various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0183] The memory 1120 may be of any type suitable for a local technical network and may be implemented by any suitable data storage technology (examples include, but are not limited to, computer-readable non-transitory storage media, semiconductor-based storage devices, magnetic storage devices and systems, optical storage devices and systems, fixed memory, and removable memory, etc.). Although only one memory 1120 is shown for the apparatus 1100, multiple physically different memory modules may be installed in the apparatus 1100. The processor 1110 may be of any type suitable for a local technical network and may include, for example, but is not limited to, a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and one or more processors based on a multi-core processor configuration. The apparatus 1100 may have multiple processors, for example, an application-specific integrated circuit chip that is temporally dependent on a clock synchronized with the main processor.

[0184] In some embodiments, the terminal device includes circuitry configured to execute method 700 or 900.

[0185] In some embodiments, the network device includes circuitry configured to execute method 800 or 1000.

[0186] The components included in the apparatus and / or device of the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms including software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, one or more units may be implemented using software and / or firmware, such as machine-executable instructions stored in a storage medium. In addition to or instead of the machine-executable instructions, some or all of the units of the apparatus and / or device may be implemented at least partially by one or more hardware logic components. Exemplary types of hardware logic components that may be used include, but are not limited to, Field-programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Application-specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Application-specific Standard Product (ASSP), System-on-a-chip system (SOC), Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), etc.

[0187] Generally, the various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by hardware or dedicated circuits, software, logic, or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented by hardware, and other aspects may be implemented by firmware or software that can be implemented by a controller, a microprocessor, or other computing devices. The various aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or other pictorial representations, and the blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques, or methods described herein may be implemented, for example, by hardware, software, firmware, dedicated circuits or logic, general-purpose hardware or controllers or other computing devices, or combinations thereof, but it will be understood that the scope is not limited thereto.

[0188] The present disclosure further provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer-readable non-transitory memory medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as instructions included in program modules. The instructions are executed on a device on a target physical processor or virtual processor to perform the process or method described above with reference to any of FIGS. 3 to 14. Usually, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, etc. that perform specific tasks or implement specific abstract data types. In various embodiments, the functions of program modules may be combined or divided among program modules as needed. The machine-executable instructions of program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located on both local and remote storage media.

[0189] The program code for implementing the method of the present disclosure may be described in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device. When the program code is executed by the processor or controller, the functions / operations defined in the flowchart and / or block diagram are implemented. The program code may be executed entirely on the machine, partially on the machine, executed as an independent software package, executed partially on the machine and partially on a remote machine, or entirely on a remote machine or server.

[0190] The above program code may be embodied on a machine-readable medium, which may be any tangible medium that includes or stores a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The machine-readable medium may be a machine-readable signal medium or a machine-readable storage medium. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the machine-readable storage medium include an electrical connection including one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0191] Note that although the operations have been described in a particular order, it should be understood that in order to obtain the desired results, these operations may be performed in the particular order shown or sequentially, or that all of the operations shown may be required. In some situations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Similarly, although the above discussion includes details of some specific embodiments, these are not limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather explanations of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Some features described in the context of individual embodiments may be implemented in combination in one embodiment. Conversely, various features described in the context of one embodiment may be implemented separately in a plurality of embodiments, or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0192] Although the present disclosure has been described in terms of words specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure defined by the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claims.

[0193] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method implemented in a terminal device is provided. In this method, the terminal device receives a first indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a first set of reference signal (RS) resources. The terminal device receives a second indication indicating a second TA value associated with a second set of RS resources. In response to detecting a beam obstruction event associated with the first set of RS resources, the terminal device identifies the RSs in the second set of RS resources and, based on the identified RSs, performs a first uplink transmission with the second TA value.

[0194] In some embodiments, receiving the first indication and the second indication includes receiving a first configuration of a first set of RS resources having the first TA value and a second configuration of a second set of RS resources having the second TA value, respectively.

[0195] In some embodiments, receiving the first indication and the second indication includes receiving at least one first parameter indicating a TA value and at least one second parameter indicating a TA offset value.

[0196] In some embodiments, the method further includes adjusting at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value to a third TA value in response to transmission of a physical random access channel (PRACH) with the third TA value.

[0197] In some embodiments, the method further includes adjusting at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value by the first timing difference value in response to detecting that there is a first timing difference value between a first downlink channel transmission from a first network device and a second downlink channel transmission from a second network device.

[0198] In some embodiments, a second timing difference value between the first TA value and the second TA value is less than a first threshold value, and / or a second timing difference value between the first TA value and the second TA value is greater than a second threshold value.

[0199] In some embodiments, the method further includes enabling at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value based on an end time of a beam switching procedure in response to the beam switching procedure being executed, and / or enabling at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value based on an end time of a power control procedure in response to the power control procedure being executed.

[0200] In some embodiments, a first timer is set for the first TA value, a different second timer is set for the second TA value, or a third timer is set for the first TA value and the second TA value.

[0201] In some embodiments, at least one of the first timer, the second timer, and the third timer is started or resumed based at least on receiving an indication indicating a corresponding TA value, and at least one timer expires when the execution time of at least one timer reaches the corresponding expiration time, when a first maximum uplink transmission timing difference between a plurality of TA values is exceeded (each of the plurality of TA values is associated with a respective network device), when a second maximum uplink transmission timing difference between a plurality of network devices is exceeded (each of the plurality of network devices is associated with a respective TA group of a media access control (MAC) entity), and when a third maximum uplink transmission timing difference between a plurality of network devices is exceeded (each of the plurality of network devices is associated with a respective TA group of a media access control (MAC) entity of a terminal device), and is determined to have expired based on at least one of the above.

[0202] In some embodiments, the method further includes transmitting a beam failure recovery request (BFRQ) with a second TA value, transmitting a BFRQ with a default TA value, and transmitting a BFRQ with a third value associated with an uplink channel resource of the BFRQ.

[0203] In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving a fourth indication indicating a fourth TA value in response to the transmitted BFRQ, and performing an uplink transmission with the fourth TA value.

[0204] In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving a BFRQ response including a third TA value in response to the transmitted BFRQ, and performing an uplink transmission with the third TA value.

[0205] In some embodiments, the method further includes determining that the default TA value is determined from at least one of zero, a first TA value, a second TA value, and a TA value applied to the most recent successful uplink transmission.

[0206] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-readable medium storing instructions is provided. When the instructions are executed on at least one processor, the at least one processor is caused to execute any of methods 700 to 1000.

Claims

Claim 1 A communication method implemented by a terminal device, comprising: receiving a first indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a set of first reference signal (RS) resources; receiving a second indication indicating a second TA value associated with a set of second RS resources; identifying an RS in the set of second RS resources in response to detecting a beam failure event associated with the set of first RS resources; performing a first uplink transmission with the second TA value based on the identified RS; and a communication method. Claim 2 A communication method implemented by a terminal device, comprising: receiving a first indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a set of first reference signal (RS) resources, wherein the set of first RS resources is applied to a first transmission opportunity among two consecutive transmission opportunities; receiving a second indication indicating a second TA value associated with a set of second RS resources, wherein the set of second RS resources is applied to a second transmission opportunity among the two consecutive transmission opportunities; performing a second uplink transmission with the first TA value in the first transmission opportunity and performing a third uplink transmission with the second TA value in the second transmission opportunity based on an order mapping table indicating the order of the first transmission opportunity and the second transmission opportunity among the two consecutive transmission opportunities; and a communication method. Claim 3 Receiving the first indication and the second indication includes: receiving a first setting of the set of first RS resources having the first TA value and a second setting of the set of second RS resources having the second TA value, respectively. The method according to claim 1 or 2. The method according to claim 1 or 2. Claim 4 Receiving the first indication and the second indication includes: receiving at least one first parameter indicating a TA value and at least one second parameter indicating a TA offset value. The method according to claim 1 or 2. The method according to claim 1 or 2. Claim 5 Further comprising adjusting at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value by the third TA value in response to transmission of a physical random access channel (PRACH) at the third TA value. The method according to claim 1 or 2.

6. Further comprising adjusting at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value by the first timing difference value in response to detecting that there is a first timing difference value between a first downlink channel transmission from a first network device and a second downlink channel transmission from a second network device. The method according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The second timing difference value between the first TA value and the second TA value is less than a first threshold value, and / or The second timing difference value between the first TA value and the second TA value is greater than a second threshold value. The method according to claim 1 or 2.

8. Enabling at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value based on an end time of the beam switching procedure in response to the beam switching procedure being executed, and / or Enabling at least one of the first TA value and the second TA value based on an end time of the power control procedure in response to the power control procedure being executed Further comprising. The method according to claim 1 or 2.

9. A first timer is set for the first TA value, and a different second timer is set for the second TA value, or A third timer is set for the first TA value and the second TA value. The method according to claim 1 or 2.

10. At least one of the first timer, the second timer, and the third timer is started or restarted based at least on receiving an indication indicating a corresponding TA value, and the at least one timer is That the execution time of the at least one timer has reached a corresponding expiration time, and That a first maximum uplink transmission timing difference between a plurality of TA values has been exceeded, each of the plurality of TA values being associated with a respective network device. The second maximum uplink transmission timing difference between a plurality of network devices has been exceeded, and each of the plurality of network devices is associated with a respective TA group of a media access control (MAC) entity. The third maximum uplink transmission timing difference between a plurality of network devices has been exceeded, and each of the plurality of network devices is associated with a respective TA group of a media access control (MAC) entity of the terminal device. Based on at least one of the above, it is determined that the process has been completed. The method according to claim 9.

11. Transmitting a beam failure recovery request (BFRQ) with the second TA value. Transmitting a BFRQ with a default TA value. Transmitting a BFRQ with a third value associated with the uplink channel resource of the BFRQ. Further including at least one of the above. The method according to claim 1.

12. Further including performing uplink transmission with an updated TA value, wherein the updated TA value is received in a BFRQ response according to the transmitted BFRQ, or is received in a fourth indication indicating the updated TA value according to the transmitted BFRQ. The method according to claim 11.

13. The default TA value is determined from at least one of zero, the first TA value, the second TA value, and the TA value applied to the most recent successful uplink transmission. The method according to claim 11.

14. The order indicated by the mapping order table corresponds to a sounding reference signal (SRS) indicator. The method according to claim 2.

15. Further including performing the second uplink transmission at the first transmission opportunity and the third uplink transmission at the second transmission opportunity based on a guard interval between the first transmission opportunity and the second transmission opportunity. The method according to claim 2.

16. The guard interval is greater than a second timing difference value between the first TA value and the second TA value. The method according to claim 15.

17. A method implemented in a network device, comprising: sending an indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a set of first reference signal (RS) resources to a terminal device; performing reception of a first uplink transmission from the terminal device with a second TA value in response to detecting a beam obstruction event associated with the set of the first RS resources; comprising: a method.

18. A method implemented in a network device, comprising: sending an indication indicating a first timing advance (TA) value associated with a set of first reference signal (RS) resources to a terminal device, wherein the set of the first RS resources is applied to a first transmission opportunity among two consecutive transmission opportunities; performing reception of a second uplink transmission with the first TA value in the first transmission opportunity based on an order mapping table indicating an order of the first transmission opportunity and a second transmission opportunity among the two consecutive transmission opportunities; comprising: a method.

19. A terminal device comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by the processor, the method according to any one of Claims 1 and 3 to 13, or any one of Claims 2 to 10 and 14 to 16 is executed. a terminal device.

20. A network device comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by the processor, the method according to Claim 17 or 18 is executed. a network device. ​ ​

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