Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for solving the problem of how a network device configures an NCD-SSB to be used for cell measurements in a BWP. The method and apparatus may be used in an M2M system. The method includes the network device determining that at least one non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (NCD-SSB) among X NCD-SSBs in a first bandwidth portion (BWP) is to be used for measurements, where the X NCD-SSBs have different frequency domain locations and X is a positive integer. In addition, the network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device, where the first configuration information includes configuration parameters for the X NCD-SSBs. Furthermore, the network device may send the X NCD-SSBs based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs, where the X NCD-SSBs include at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202210971900.5, entitled "COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS," filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on August 12, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method and a communication device. [Background technology]

[0003] In new radio (NR) systems, when accessing a network, a terminal device implements time-frequency synchronization with network devices by acquiring a synchronization signal block / physical broadcast channel block (SSB). There are two types of SSBs: cell-defining SSB (CD-SSB) and non-cell-defining SSB (NCD-SSB). CD-SSB and NCD-SSB have the same structure but different functions and application scenarios. Both CD-SSB and NCD-SSB can be used for channel quality measurement, radio resource management (RRM) measurement, radio link monitor (RLM) measurement, beam management (BM) measurement, beam failure detection (BFD) measurement, etc. However, CD-SSB includes relevant information about system information block (SIB) 1, while NCD-SSB does not include relevant information about SIB1. Therefore, CD-SSB can be further used for cell search, camping, access, etc.

[0004] Currently, if the CD-SSB used for cell measurements is not configured in an active bandwidth part (BWP), the network device may alternatively configure the NCD-SSB used for cell measurements in the BWP. However, there is currently no relevant solution on how the network device configures the NCD-SSB used for cell measurements in the BWP. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus for solving the problem of how a network device configures an NCD-SSB used for cell measurements in BWP.

[0006] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the following technical solutions are used in the embodiments of this application. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be implemented by a network device, a part of the network device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the network device, or a logical module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the network device. The following describes an example in which the method is implemented by a network device. The communication method includes the network device determining that at least one non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (NCD-SSB) among X NCD-SSBs in a first bandwidth portion (BWP) is to be used for measurement. The X NCD-SSBs have different frequency domain positions, where X is a positive integer. The network device sends first configuration information to a terminal device. The first configuration information includes configuration parameters for the X NCD-SSBs. The network device sends the X NCD-SSBs based on the configuration parameters for the X NCD-SSBs. The X NCD-SSBs include at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement.

[0008] Based on the communication method of the first aspect, the network device may configure one or more NCD-SSBs within one BWP, and may configure at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement when configuring multiple NCD-SSBs. In this way, the measurement problem of the terminal device when there is no NCD-SSB in one BWP can be solved, and the NCD-SSB configuration in the BWP is more flexible, resulting in improved resource utilization. In addition, the network device may further send configuration parameters of the multiple configured NCD-SSBs to the terminal device. In this way, the problem of how the terminal device performs rate matching when multiple NCD-SSBs are configured within one BWP can be further solved, the impact on PDSCH demodulation can be avoided, and data transmission efficiency can be improved.

[0009] Optionally, the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present application may further include: the network device sending first indication information to the terminal device, where the first indication information indicates at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement among the X NCD-SSBs. In this way, when multiple NCD-SSBs are configured in one BWP, the network device may use the first indication information to indicate to the terminal device a specific NCD-SSB to be used for measurement. This can solve the problem that the terminal device cannot know the specific NCD-SSB to be received for measurement, and can improve communication reliability.

[0010] Optionally, the first configuration information may further include first indication information, where the first indication information indicates at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements on the X NCD-SSBs. In this way, the first indication information may be carried in the first configuration information and sent together with configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs, so that signaling overhead can be reduced and the measurement rate of the terminal device can be increased.

[0011] Optionally, the X NCD-SSB configuration parameters include at least one of the following: frequency domain location information, time domain location information, periodicity information, beam information, or transmit power information.

[0012] In a possible design solution, the frequency domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs may include frequency domain location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to a reference resource block, or absolute radio frequency channel numbers of the X NCD-SSBs.

[0013] In a possible design solution, the time domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs may include location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to the cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block CD-SSB, or the system frame number and / or half frame number of the first SSB synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs.

[0014] In a possible design solution, the location information of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to the CD-SSB may include an offset value of the first synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to the first synchronization burst set of the CD-SSB. In this way, to ensure SSB coverage, network devices typically perform power boosting on SSBs. Therefore, if a network device needs to send multiple SSBs at once, implementation of the network device becomes difficult. The offset between the time-domain locations of the NCD-SSBs and the CD-SSBs prevents the network device from sending multiple SSBs at once and from performing power boosting on multiple SSB signals at once, thereby reducing the complexity of the network device.

[0015] In a possible design solution, the offset value may include at least one of the following: 5 ms, 10 ms, 15 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 60 ms, or 80 ms. In this way, when the offset value is 5 ms, 10 ms, or 15 ms, NCD-SSB and CD-SSB can be within the same 20 ms. In addition, because SIB1 and paging need to be sent in a beam-sweeping manner at 20 ms, when the offset value is 20 ms, 40 ms, 60 ms, or 80 ms, NCD-SSB and CD-SSB do not need to be within the same 20 ms. As a result, the impact of introducing NCD-SSB on existing channel transmission time sequences is avoided and the complexity of network devices is reduced.

[0016] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different time-domain location information. In this way, the X NCD-SSBs have different time-domain location information, which means that the offsets between the NCD-SSBs and the CD-SSBs are different. This further prevents a network device from sending multiple SSBs at once and prevents a network device from implementing power boosting on multiple SSB signals at once, reducing the complexity of the network device.

[0017] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different periodicity information. In this way, the X NCD-SSBs have different periodicity information, allowing the network device to more flexibly balance the measurement performance of the terminal device and the SSB resource overhead. This ensures the implementation flexibility of the network device.

[0018] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSB periodicity values may be any one of the following: 320 ms, 640 ms, 1280 ms, or 2560 ms. In this way, the longer NCD-SSB periodicity helps to reduce NCD-SSB resource overhead, resulting in improved network resource utilization.

[0019] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSB beams may be the same as the CD-SSB beam information, so that the X NCD-SSB beams are the same as the CD-SSB beam information, thereby reducing the implementation complexity of the terminal device and the network device.

[0020] In a possible design solution, X NCD-SSBs may have the same transmission power information, which can ensure that the X NCD-SSBs have the same coverage performance.

[0021] According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be implemented by a terminal device, or may be implemented by a part of the terminal device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the terminal device, or by a logical module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The following describes an example in which the method is implemented by a terminal device. The communication method includes the terminal device receiving first configuration information from a network device. The first configuration information includes configuration parameters for X non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel blocks (NCD-SSBs) within a first bandwidth portion (BWP), where the X NCD-SSBs have different frequency domain positions, and at least one NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs is used for measurement, where X is a positive integer. The terminal device receives the at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement from the network device based on the configuration parameters of the at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement in the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs.

[0022] Optionally, the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present application may further include: the terminal device receiving first indication information from the network device, the first indication information indicating at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement in the X NCD-SSBs.

[0023] Optionally, the first configuration information includes first indication information, where the first indication information indicates at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement in the X NCD-SSBs.

[0024] In a possible design solution, the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present application may further include: the terminal device determining, based on the X NCD-SSB configuration parameters and the first indication information, at least one NCD-SSB configuration parameter to be used for measurement.

[0025] In another possible design solution, the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present application may further include: the terminal device determining, based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs and pre-configured information about the NCD-SSBs used for the measurement, the configuration parameters of at least one NCD-SSB used for the measurement.

[0026] Optionally, the X NCD-SSB configuration parameters include at least one of the following: frequency domain location information, time domain location information, periodicity information, beam information, or transmit power information.

[0027] In a possible design solution, the frequency domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs may include frequency domain location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to a reference resource block, or absolute radio frequency channel numbers of the X NCD-SSBs.

[0028] In a possible design solution, the time domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs may include location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to the cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block CD-SSB, or the system frame number and / or half frame number of the first SSB synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs.

[0029] In a possible design solution, the position information of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to the CD-SSB may include an offset value of the first synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to the first synchronization burst set of the CD-SSB.

[0030] In possible design solutions, the offset value may include at least one of the following: 5 ms, 10 ms, 15 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 60 ms, or 80 ms.

[0031] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different time domain position information.

[0032] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different periodicity information.

[0033] In a possible design solution, the periodicity values of the X NCD-SSBs may be any one of the following: 320 ms, 640 ms, 1280 ms, or 2560 ms.

[0034] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSB beams may be the same as the CD-SSB beam information.

[0035] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have the same transmit power information.

[0036] In addition, for the technical effects of the communication method according to the second aspect, please refer to the technical effects of the method according to the first aspect, and the details will not be described again here.

[0037] According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be implemented by a network device, a part of the network device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the network device, or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the network device. The following describes an example in which the method is implemented by the network device. The communication method includes the network device determining a rate matching pattern. The rate matching pattern includes time-frequency resources of Y non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel blocks (NCD-SSBs) within a first bandwidth portion (BWP), where the Y NCD-SSBs have different frequency-domain positions, and Y is a positive integer. The network device sends configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern to a terminal device.

[0038] When configuring multiple NCD-SSBs in one BWP based on the communication method of the third aspect, the network device may send configuration parameters of a rate matching pattern to the terminal device, and may cover the time-frequency resources of one or more NCD-SSBs configured in the BWP by using the rate matching pattern without sending configuration parameters of multiple NCD-SSBs to the terminal device, which is transparent to the terminal device, thereby reducing the computational complexity of the terminal device and improving the computational speed of the terminal device.

[0039] Furthermore, the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may include a first bitmap and a second bitmap. Each bit in the first bitmap indicates whether an associated time-domain symbol belongs to the rate matching pattern, and each bit in the second bitmap indicates whether an associated resource block or resource element belongs to the rate matching pattern. In this way, the rate matching pattern may indicate the time-frequency resources of the NCD-SSB by using the bitmap, so that resource overhead can be reduced and data transmission rate can be increased.

[0040] In a possible design solution, the bit length of the first bitmap is equal to the number of time-domain symbols within a preset duration, and the number of time-domain symbols within the preset duration is greater than the number of time-domain symbols within two slots. In this way, a rate-matching pattern with three or more slots can be defined, which covers a wider time-frequency resource and results in a more accurate rate-matching pattern.

[0041] Furthermore, the time domain resources indicated by the first bitmap and the frequency domain resources indicated by the second bitmap form a first time-frequency resource pair. In this way, the terminal device may determine the time-frequency resources occupied by the NCD-SSB based on the first bitmap and the second bitmap to determine the time-frequency resources used for rate matching.

[0042] Optionally, the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may further include a third bitmap, where each bit in the third bitmap indicates whether an associated first time-frequency resource pair exists.

[0043] In a possible design solution, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to the bit length of the third bitmap.

[0044] In a possible design solution, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to or greater than the maximum periodicity corresponding to all Y NCD-SSBs. In this way, a rate matching pattern with a longer periodicity is more accurate.

[0045] According to a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be implemented by a terminal device, or may be implemented by a part of the terminal device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the terminal device, or may be implemented by a logical module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The following describes an example in which the method is implemented by a terminal device. The communication method includes the terminal device receiving configuration parameters of a rate matching pattern from a network device. The rate matching pattern includes time-frequency resources of Y non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel blocks (NCD-SSBs) within a first bandwidth portion (BWP), where the Y NCD-SSBs have different frequency-domain positions, and Y is a positive integer. The terminal device determines the rate matching pattern based on the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern.

[0046] Furthermore, the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may include a first bitmap and a second bitmap, where each bit in the first bitmap indicates whether an associated time-domain symbol belongs to the rate matching pattern, and each bit in the second bitmap indicates whether an associated resource block or resource element belongs to the rate matching pattern.

[0047] In a possible design solution, the bit length of the first bitmap is equal to the number of time domain symbols in a preset duration, and the number of time domain symbols in a preset duration is greater than the number of time domain symbols in two slots.

[0048] Furthermore, the time domain resources indicated by the first bitmap and the frequency domain resources indicated by the second bitmap form a first time-frequency resource pair.

[0049] Optionally, the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may further include a third bitmap, where each bit in the third bitmap indicates whether an associated first time-frequency resource pair exists.

[0050] In a possible design solution, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to the bit length of the third bitmap.

[0051] In a possible design solution, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to or greater than the maximum periodicity among the periodicities corresponding to all Y NCD-SSBs.

[0052] In addition, for the technical effects of the communication method according to the fourth aspect, please refer to the technical effects of the method according to the second aspect, and the details will not be described again here.

[0053] According to a fifth aspect, a communications device is provided. The communications device includes a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module is configured to determine that at least one non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (NCD-SSB) among X NCD-SSBs in a first bandwidth portion (BWP) is used for measurement. The X NCD-SSBs have different frequency domain positions, where X is a positive integer. The transceiver module is configured to send first configuration information to a terminal device. The first configuration information includes configuration parameters for the X NCD-SSBs. The transceiver module is further configured to send the X NCD-SSBs based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs. The X NCD-SSBs include at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement.

[0054] Optionally, the transceiver module is further configured to send first indication information to the terminal device, wherein the first indication information indicates at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement in the X NCD-SSBs.

[0055] Optionally, the first configuration information may further include first indication information, where the first indication information indicates at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement in the X NCD-SSBs.

[0056] Optionally, the X NCD-SSB configuration parameters may include at least one of the following: frequency domain location information, time domain location information, periodicity information, beam information, or transmit power information.

[0057] In a possible design solution, the frequency domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs may include frequency domain location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to a reference resource block, or absolute radio frequency channel numbers of the X NCD-SSBs.

[0058] In a possible design solution, the time domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs may include location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to the cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block CD-SSB, or the system frame number and / or half frame number of the first SSB synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs.

[0059] In a possible design solution, the position information of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to the CD-SSB may include an offset value of the first synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to the first synchronization burst set of the CD-SSB.

[0060] In possible design solutions, the offset value may include at least one of the following: 5 ms, 10 ms, 15 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 60 ms, or 80 ms.

[0061] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different time domain position information.

[0062] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different periodicity information.

[0063] In a possible design solution, the periodicity values of the X NCD-SSBs may be any one of the following: 320 ms, 640 ms, 1280 ms, or 2560 ms.

[0064] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSB beams may be the same as the CD-SSB beam information.

[0065] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have the same transmit power information.

[0066] Optionally, the transceiver module may include a receiving module and a sending module, the sending module configured to implement a sending function of the communication device according to the fifth aspect, and the receiving module configured to implement a receiving function of the communication device according to the fifth aspect.

[0067] Optionally, the communication device according to the fifth aspect may further include a storage module, which stores a program or instruction, and when the processing module executes the program or instruction, the communication device according to the fifth aspect can perform the method according to the first aspect.

[0068] It should be noted that the communication device according to the fifth aspect may be a network device, a chip (system) or other part or component disposed in a network device, or a device including a network device.

[0069] This is not limited to this embodiment of this application.

[0070] According to a sixth aspect, a communications device is provided. The communications device includes a transceiver module. The transceiver module is configured to receive first configuration information from a network device. The first configuration information includes configuration parameters for X non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel blocks (NCD-SSBs) within a first bandwidth portion (BWP), the X NCD-SSBs having different frequency domain locations, and at least one NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs being used for measurements, where X is a positive integer. The transceiver module is further configured to receive the at least one NCD-SSB used for measurements from the network device based on the configuration parameters of the at least one NCD-SSB used for measurements in the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs.

[0071] Optionally, the transceiver module is further configured to receive first indication information from the network device, the first indication information indicating at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement in the X NCD-SSBs.

[0072] Optionally, the first configuration information may include first indication information, where the first indication information indicates at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement in the X NCD-SSBs.

[0073] In a possible design solution, the communication device in this embodiment of the present application further includes a processing module, which is configured to determine at least one NCD-SSB configuration parameter used for measurement based on the X NCD-SSB configuration parameters and the first indication information.

[0074] In another possible design solution, the communication device in this embodiment of the present application further includes a processing module, which is configured to determine the configuration parameters of at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs and pre-configured information about the NCD-SSB used for measurement.

[0075] Optionally, the X NCD-SSB configuration parameters may include at least one of the following: frequency domain location information, time domain location information, periodicity information, beam information, or transmit power information.

[0076] In a possible design solution, the frequency domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs may include frequency domain location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to a reference resource block, or absolute radio frequency channel numbers of the X NCD-SSBs.

[0077] In a possible design solution, the time domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs may include location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to the cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block CD-SSB, or the system frame number and / or half frame number of the first SSB synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs.

[0078] In a possible design solution, the position information of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to the CD-SSB may include an offset value of the first synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to the first synchronization burst set of the CD-SSB.

[0079] In possible design solutions, the offset value may include at least one of the following: 5 ms, 10 ms, 15 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 60 ms, or 80 ms.

[0080] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different time domain position information.

[0081] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different periodicity information.

[0082] In a possible design solution, the periodicity values of the X NCD-SSBs may be any one of the following: 320 ms, 640 ms, 1280 ms, or 2560 ms.

[0083] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSB beams may be the same as the CD-SSB beam information.

[0084] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have the same transmit power information.

[0085] Optionally, the transceiver module may include a receiving module and a sending module, wherein the sending module is configured to implement a sending function of the communication device according to the sixth aspect, and the receiving module is configured to implement a receiving function of the communication device according to the sixth aspect.

[0086] Optionally, the communication device according to the sixth aspect may further include a processing module, the processing module configured to implement processing functions of the communication device according to the sixth aspect.

[0087] Optionally, the communication device according to the sixth aspect may further include a storage module for storing a program or instruction, and when the processing module executes the program or instruction, the communication device according to the sixth aspect can perform the method according to the second aspect.

[0088] It should be noted that the communication device according to the sixth aspect may be a terminal device, a chip (system) or other part or component disposed in the terminal device, or a device including the terminal device.

[0089] This is not limited to this embodiment of this application.

[0090] For the technical effects of the communication devices according to the fifth and sixth aspects, please refer to the technical effects of the method according to the first aspect, and the details will not be described again here.

[0091] According to a seventh aspect, there is provided a communications device. The communications device includes a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module is configured to determine a rate matching pattern. The rate matching pattern includes time-frequency resources of Y non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel blocks (NCD-SSBs) within a first bandwidth portion (BWP), where the Y NCD-SSBs have different frequency-domain positions, and Y is a positive integer. The transceiver module is configured to send configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern to a terminal device.

[0092] Furthermore, the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may include a first bitmap and a second bitmap, where each bit in the first bitmap indicates whether an associated time-domain symbol belongs to the rate matching pattern, and each bit in the second bitmap indicates whether an associated resource block or resource element belongs to the rate matching pattern.

[0093] In a possible design solution, the bit length of the first bitmap is equal to the number of time domain symbols in a preset duration, and the number of time domain symbols in a preset duration is greater than the number of time domain symbols in two slots.

[0094] Furthermore, the time domain resources indicated by the first bitmap and the frequency domain resources indicated by the second bitmap form a first time-frequency resource pair.

[0095] Optionally, the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may further include a third bitmap, where each bit in the third bitmap indicates whether an associated first time-frequency resource pair exists.

[0096] In a possible design solution, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to the bit length of the third bitmap.

[0097] In a possible design solution, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to or greater than the maximum periodicity among the periodicities corresponding to all Y NCD-SSBs.

[0098] Optionally, the transceiver module may include a receiving module and a sending module, wherein the sending module is configured to implement a sending function of the communication device according to the seventh aspect, and the receiving module is configured to implement a receiving function of the communication device according to the seventh aspect.

[0099] Optionally, the communication device according to the seventh aspect may further include a storage module. The storage module stores a program or instruction. When the processing module executes the program or instruction, the communication device according to the seventh aspect can perform the method according to the third aspect.

[0100] It should be noted that the communication device according to the seventh aspect may be a network device, a chip (system) or other part or component disposed in a network device, or a device including a network device.

[0101] This is not limited to this embodiment of this application.

[0102] According to an eighth aspect, a communications device is provided. The communications device includes a processing module and a transceiver module. The transceiver module is configured to receive configuration parameters of a rate matching pattern from a network device. The rate matching pattern includes time-frequency resources of Y non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel blocks (NCD-SSBs) within a first bandwidth portion (BWP), where the Y NCD-SSBs have different frequency-domain positions, and Y is a positive integer. The processing module is configured to determine the rate matching pattern based on the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern.

[0103] Furthermore, the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may include a first bitmap and a second bitmap, where each bit in the first bitmap indicates whether an associated time-domain symbol belongs to the rate matching pattern, and each bit in the second bitmap indicates whether an associated resource block or resource element belongs to the rate matching pattern.

[0104] In a possible design solution, the bit length of the first bitmap is equal to the number of time domain symbols in a preset duration, and the number of time domain symbols in a preset duration is greater than the number of time domain symbols in two slots.

[0105] Furthermore, the time domain resources indicated by the first bitmap and the frequency domain resources indicated by the second bitmap form a first time-frequency resource pair.

[0106] Optionally, the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may further include a third bitmap, where each bit in the third bitmap indicates whether an associated first time-frequency resource pair exists.

[0107] In a possible design solution, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to the bit length of the third bitmap.

[0108] In a possible design solution, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to or greater than the maximum periodicity among the periodicities corresponding to all Y NCD-SSBs.

[0109] Optionally, the transceiver module may include a receiving module and a sending module, the sending module configured to implement a sending function of the communication device according to the eighth aspect, and the receiving module configured to implement a receiving function of the communication device according to the eighth aspect.

[0110] Optionally, the communication device according to the eighth aspect may further include a storage module. The storage module stores a program or instruction. When the processing module executes the program or instruction, the communication device according to the eighth aspect can perform the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0111] It should be noted that the communication device according to the eighth aspect may be a terminal device, a chip (system) or other part or component disposed in the terminal device, or an apparatus including the terminal device.

[0112] This is not limited to this embodiment of this application.

[0113] For the technical effects of the communication devices according to the seventh and eighth aspects, please refer to the technical effects of the method according to the third aspect, and the details will not be described again here.

[0114] According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a communication device, the communication device including a processor coupled to a memory, the processor configured to execute a computer program stored in the memory such that the communication device according to the ninth aspect can perform a method according to any one of the possible implementations of the first to fourth aspects.

[0115] In a possible design solution, the communication device according to the ninth aspect may further include a transceiver. The transceiver may be a transceiver circuit or an interface circuit. The transceiver may be used by the communication device according to the ninth aspect to communicate with other communication devices.

[0116] In an embodiment of the present application, the communication device according to the ninth aspect may be a network device in the first or third aspect, a terminal device in the second or fourth aspect, a chip (system) or another part or component that may be disposed in the network device or the terminal device, or a device including the network device or the terminal device.

[0117] For the technical effects of the communication device according to the ninth aspect, please refer to the technical effects of the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, and the details will not be described again here.

[0118] According to a tenth aspect, there is provided a communication system, the communication system including a network device and a terminal device, the network device configured to implement the communication method according to the first aspect or the third aspect, and the terminal device configured to implement the communication method according to the second aspect or the fourth aspect.

[0119] According to an eleventh aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions, which, when run on a computer, enables the computer to perform a method according to any one of the possible implementations of the first to fourth aspects.

[0120] According to a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer program product, the computer program product including a computer program or instructions, which, when run on a computer, enables the computer to perform a method according to any one of the possible implementations of the first to fourth aspects. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0121] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the structure of an SSB time-frequency resource structure according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a structure for configuring SSB by RedCap UE in BWP according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 5] 4 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0122] (1) BWP Because NR has terminal devices with multiple bandwidth capabilities, the concept of BWP is introduced to support terminals with different bandwidth capabilities and save the power of the terminal devices. A BWP is a combination of multiple contiguous resource blocks (RBs) in one carrier, including an uplink BWP and a downlink BWP used for uplink and downlink transmissions, respectively. During the initial access phase of the terminal device, the network device configures an initial uplink BWP and an initial downlink BWP for the terminal device. After the terminal device completes initial access and enters a radio resource control (RRC) connected state, the network device further configures one or more dedicated uplink BWPs and downlink BWPs for the terminal device. For multiple configured BWPs, the terminal device can operate with only one BWP at a time, and the BWP used for operation may be referred to as the active BWP.

[0123] The bandwidth of the BWP cannot exceed the maximum bandwidth of the terminal device. Otherwise, the terminal device cannot access the network. For example, if the maximum bandwidth capability of a reduced capability (RedCap) terminal device is 20 megahertz (MHz), the maximum bandwidth of the BWP cannot exceed 20 MHz. Because the terminal device can only transmit data within the range of the BWP, most parameters used for data transmission, such as physical layer parameters and upper layer parameters, are configured based on the BWP.

[0124] (2)SSB For example, Figure 1 shows the structure of an SSB time-frequency resource structure. As shown in Figure 1, the SSB includes a primary synchronic signal (PSS), a secondary synchronic signal (SSS), and a physical broadcast channel (PBCH). One SSB occupies four orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in the time domain and 240 subcarriers, i.e., 20 physical resource blocks (PRBs), in the frequency domain.

[0125] The time-frequency resources of the SSB used for the PSS, SSS, PBCH, and demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) are shown in Table 1.

number

number

[0126] [Table 1]

[0127] Referring to Figure 1 and Table 1, the PSS occupies 127 subcarriers in the center of symbol 0, and the SSS occupies 127 subcarriers in the center of symbol 2. To protect the PSS and SSS, there are different zeroed subcarriers at the two ends of each. The PBCH is located on symbol 1, symbol 3, and symbol 2, occupying all subcarriers 0 to 239 on symbol 1 and symbol 3, and occupies all subcarriers on symbol 2 except for the subcarriers occupied by the SSS and the zeroed subcarriers used to protect the SSS. The DM-RS is located on symbol 1 and symbol 3 and is located in the center of the PBCH. Each symbol contains 60 DM-RSs, which are spaced by four subcarriers, with a subcarrier position offset of v.

[0128] Multiple SSBs are defined in one half-frame in the time domain. The multiple SSBs are located at different time-domain positions but the same frequency-domain position. The multiple SSBs form one SSB burst set. Each SSB in an SSB burst set corresponds to one SSB index, and the SSBs are transmitted in different directions at different times using different beams to cover the cell. One SSB burst set may be transmitted periodically throughout the half-frame; this periodicity may be referred to as SSB burst periodicity. During the cell search phase, the SSB burst periodicity is 20 milliseconds (ms) by default, but may alternatively be reconfigured.

[0129] In addition, the SSB PBCH carries a master information block (MIB), and the MIB update periodicity is 80 ms.

[0130] Note that different NR frequency bands support different numbers of SSB beams, or in other words, different numbers of SSBs within one half-frame. For example, the 3-6 gigahertz (GHz) NR frequency band supports up to eight SSB beams, NR frequency bands below 3 GHz support up to four SSB beams, and NR frequency bands above 6 GHz support up to 64 SSB beams.

[0131] During network access, the terminal device may complete time-frequency synchronization with the network device based on the PSS and SSS in the received SSB, obtain the PCI, and then obtain broadcast information and timing-related information such as MIB from the physical layer based on the PBCH.

[0132] In addition, the SSB may be further used for channel quality measurement, RRM measurement, RLM measurement, BM measurement, BFD measurement, etc. For specific implementation processes, please refer to existing related implementation processes. Details will not be described in the embodiments of the present application.

[0133] Currently, in NR systems, SSBs are classified into two types: CD-SSB and NCD-SSB. Both CD-SSB and NCD-SSB may be used for channel quality measurement, RRM measurement, RLM measurement, BM measurement, BFD measurement, etc. CD-SSB includes information about MIB and information about SIB1, while NCD-SSB does not include related information about SIB1. Therefore, CD-SSB can further support terminal devices in completing processes such as cell search, camping, and access, while NCD-SSB cannot support terminal devices in completing processes such as cell search, camping, and access.

[0134] When introduced in Release 15 (Rel-15 / R15), NCD-SSB is used only for measurements in secondary cells. In Release 17 (Rel-17 / R17), NCD-SSB is further referenced for use in the serving cell and is primarily used in scenarios where the active BWP does not include CD-SSB. Rel-17 also specifies that if one BWP does not include CD-SSB, only one NCD-SSB can be configured.

[0135] For example, for the BWP of a RedCap terminal device, the maximum bandwidth of the RedCap terminal device is 20 MHz. The bandwidth of the BWP cannot exceed the maximum bandwidth of the terminal device, so the maximum bandwidth allocated to the BWP of the RedCap terminal device also cannot exceed 20 MHz. Therefore, only one CD-SSB or NCD-SSB can be configured in the BWP. As shown in FIG. 2, if the BWP of the RedCap UE does not include a CD-SSB, only one NCD-SSB can be configured in the BWP. In addition, after the RedCap UE enters the RRC_Connected state, the network device may configure parameter information using RRC-dedicated signaling. The parameter information of the NCD-SSB may include information such as the periodicity, beam, and time-domain location of the NCD-SSB.

[0136] In another example, the maximum bandwidth of an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) terminal device is 100 MHz. The BWP bandwidth configured by a network device for an eMBB terminal device is typically large, for example, 80 MHz or 100 MHz. The BWP range of an eMBB terminal device may cover the NCD-SSBs in multiple BWPs of multiple RedCap UEs, as shown in Figure 2. From this, it can be seen that the BWP of an eMBB terminal device may include multiple NCD-SSBs, and it is unknown how the network device configures the NCD-SSBs used for cell measurements in the BWP.

[0137] As can be seen from the above, if the CD-SSB used for cell measurement is not configured in one BWP, the network device may alternatively configure the NCD-SSB used for cell measurement in the BWP. However, there is currently no relevant solution on how the network device configures the NCD-SSB used for cell measurement in the BWP.

[0138] Therefore, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method for solving the problem of how a network device configures an NCD-SSB used for cell measurement in BWP.

[0139] The following describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0140] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to various communication systems, such as machine-to-machine (M2M) systems, It may be applied to future communication systems such as wireless fidelity (WiFi) systems, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems, device-to-device (D2D) communication systems, vehicular internet of things (IoT) communication systems, fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication systems such as long-term evolution (LTE) systems or worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems such as new radio (NR) systems, and sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication systems.

[0141] All aspects, embodiments, or features are presented in the embodiments of the present application by describing a system that may include multiple devices, components, modules, etc. It is to be appreciated and understood that each system may include other devices, components, modules, etc. and / or may not include all of the devices, components, modules, etc. described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Additionally, combinations of these solutions may be used.

[0142] Additionally, in the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "example" and "for example" are used to denote providing an example, illustration, or explanation. Any embodiment or design solution described as an "example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be described as preferred or having more advantages over another embodiment or design solution. Rather, the word "example" is used to present a concept in a particular way.

[0143] In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "information," "signal," "message," "channel," and "signaling" may sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that the meanings expressed by the terms are consistent when the differences between the terms are not emphasized. "of," "corresponding," and "corresponding" may sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that the meanings expressed by the terms are consistent when the differences between the terms are not emphasized.

[0144] The network architectures and service scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute limitations on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. As those skilled in the art can see, with the evolution of network architectures and the emergence of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to similar technical problems.

[0145] In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the communication system shown in Figure 3 is first used as an example to describe in detail the communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application. For example, Figure 3 is a diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0146] As shown in Figure 3, the communication system includes a network device and at least one terminal device. The network device and the terminal device may communicate with each other, and the terminal devices may also communicate with each other. Figure 3 shows an example of one network device and two terminal devices. The number of network devices and the number of terminal devices in the system architecture are not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0147] In a possible design solution, the network device determines that at least one non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (NCD-SSB) among X NCD-SSBs in the first bandwidth portion (BWP) is used for measurement, where the X NCD-SSBs have different frequency domain positions, and X is a positive integer. Furthermore, the network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device, where the first configuration information includes configuration parameters for the X NCD-SSBs. The network device sends the X NCD-SSBs based on the configuration parameters for the X NCD-SSBs. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first configuration information from the network device and receives from the network device the at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement based on the configuration parameters for the at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement in the configuration parameters for the X NCD-SSBs. For a specific implementation process of this solution, please refer to the following method embodiment. Details will not be described here.

[0148] In another possible design solution, the network device determines a rate matching pattern and sends configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern to the terminal device. The rate matching pattern includes time-frequency resources of Y non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel blocks (NCD-SSBs) in the first bandwidth portion (BWP), where the Y NCD-SSBs have different frequency domain positions, and Y is a positive integer. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern from the network device and determines the rate matching pattern based on the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern. For a specific implementation process of this solution, please refer to the following method embodiments. Details will not be described here.

[0149] The network device is a device, or a chip or chip system that can be disposed in a device, that is disposed on the network side of a communication system and has wireless transceiver functionality. Examples of the network device include, but are not limited to, an access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, such as a home gateway, router, server, switch, or bridge, an evolved Node B (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., home evolved Node B or home Node B (HNB)), a baseband unit (BBU), a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, and a transmission and reception point (TRP or TP). The network device may alternatively be a gNB or a transmission point (TRP or TP) in a 5G system, for example, a new radio (NR) system, or may be one antenna panel or a group of antenna panels (including multiple antenna panels) of a base station in a 5G system. The network device may alternatively be a network node constituting a gNB or a transmission point, for example, a baseband unit (BBU) or a distributed unit (DU), a road side unit (RSU) having base station functionality, etc.

[0150] A terminal device is a terminal that accesses a communication system and has a wireless transceiver function, or a chip or chip system that can be disposed in a terminal. The terminal device may also be called a user equipment, an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user equipment. The terminal device in an embodiment of the present application may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer (Pad), a computer with a wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, an in-vehicle terminal, an RSU with a terminal function, etc. Alternatively, the terminal device in the embodiments of the present application may be an on-board module, an on-board assembly, an on-board part, an on-board chip, or an on-board unit built into the vehicle as one or more parts or units. The vehicle may implement the communication method in the embodiments of the present application by using the on-board module, the on-board assembly, the on-board part, the on-board chip, or the on-board unit built into the vehicle.

[0151] It should be noted that the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application is applicable to the terminal device and network device shown in Figure 3. For specific implementation, please refer to the following method embodiments, and details will not be described here.

[0152] It should be noted that the solutions in the embodiments of the present application may alternatively be used in another communication system, and the corresponding names may alternatively be replaced with names of corresponding functions in another communication system.

[0153] It should be understood that Figure 3 is merely a simplified diagram of an example for ease of understanding, and the communication system may further include other network devices, other terminal devices, and / or other communication devices including signal transmitting and receiving modules that are not shown in Figure 3.

[0154] The following describes in detail the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG.

[0155] For example, Figure 4 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication method may be applicable to the communication system shown in Figure 3.

[0156] As shown in FIG. 4, the communication method includes the following steps.

[0157] S401: A network device determines that at least one NCD-SSB among X NCD-SSBs in a first BWP is used for measurement.

[0158] The X NCD-SSBs are NCD-SSBs configured by the network device at different frequencies in the first BWP, where the X NCD-SSBs have different frequency domain locations, and X is a positive integer.

[0159] It should be noted that when X=1, specifically when the first BWP includes only one NCD-SSB, the network device may indicate that the configured one NCD-SSB is to be used for measurement without selection. In this case, the configuration parameters in the following steps S402 and S403 may also include parameter information of only one NCD-SSB.

[0160] The use of at least one NCD-SSB for measurement may be understood as the network device configuring two or more NCD-SSBs for the terminal device to perform measurements. Alternatively, it may be understood that the multiple NCD-SSBs may include at least one NCD-SSB used for measurements. The measurements may be channel quality measurements, time-frequency synchronization detection, radio link failure measurements, RRM measurements, RLM measurements, BM measurements, BFD measurements, etc.

[0161] The first BWP may be an active BWP configured by a network device for a terminal device. The terminal device may receive an NCD-SSB, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS), etc. based on the active BWP, or may send a channel sounding reference signal (SRS), a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), etc. based on the active BWP.

[0162] For example, the network device may configure X NCD-SSBs at different frequencies in the first BWP, and the network device may select one or more NCD-SSBs from the X NCD-SSBs for measurement according to a predefined rule. The predefined rule may be defined in a protocol or may be determined by the network device and the terminal device through negotiation, which is not limited to this embodiment of the present application.

[0163] It will be appreciated that different NCD-SSBs may partially overlap, but the frequencies of the NCD-SSBs are different.

[0164] Note that all X NCD-SSBs configured in the first BWP must be used for rate matching; in other words, the time-frequency resources occupied by the NCD-SSBs cannot be used for the PDSCH. If the PDSCH collides or overlaps with the NCD-SSBs, the terminal device must assume that the PDSCH is not transmitted on the time-frequency resources occupied by the NCD-SSBs.

[0165] S402: The network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device, and in response, the terminal device receives the first configuration information from the network device.

[0166] The first configuration information may include X NCD-SSB configuration parameters. The X NCD-SSB configuration parameters may include at least one of the following: frequency domain location information, time domain location information, periodicity information, beam information, or transmit power information.

[0167] It will be understood that the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs may further include identifiers of the X NCD-SSBs. One identifier may correspond to an NCD-SSB of one frequency, and the identifier may be in the form of a frequency number, index, etc. For example, when X=4, frequency numbers f0 to f3 correspond to NCD-SSBs on four frequency points, respectively. Any identifier type or identification scheme that can be used to identify different NCD-SSBs is applicable to this embodiment of the present application, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0168] The frequency domain location information may include frequency domain location information of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to a reference resource block, or the absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN) (carrier frequency number) of the X NCD-SSBs. The reference resource block may be the common resource block RB0. Any NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs may or may not be located on a synchronization raster. This is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0169] The time-domain location information may include location information of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs relative to the CD-SSB, or the system frame number and / or half-frame number of the first SSB synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs. The location information of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs relative to the CD-SSB may be an offset value of the first synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs relative to the first synchronization burst set of the CD-SSB.

[0170] The offset value may be set with a granularity of 5 ms, and the candidate values may be any one of 0 ms, 5 ms, 10 ms, 15 ms, 20 ms, ..., and 150 ms. Furthermore, the offset value may include any one of the following: 5 ms, 10 ms, 15 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 60 ms, and 80 ms. When the offset value is 20 ms, 40 ms, 60 ms, or 80 ms, the CD-SSB and the NCD-SSB do not have to be positioned within the same 20 ms. This reduces the impact of the introduction of NCD-SSB on the existing system timeline and reduces the complexity of network devices. The offset values corresponding to different NCD-SSBs may be different or the same. This is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0171] It will be appreciated that the CD-SSB is obtained in the process when the terminal device performs cell search and access, and each cell has only one specific CD-SSB.

[0172] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different time-domain location information. In other words, the network device may separately configure a different time-domain location for each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs. The time-domain location information includes X time-domain location information, and one time-domain location information corresponds to one NCD-SSB.

[0173] In another possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have the same time-domain location information. In other words, the X NCD-SSBs are arranged at the same time-domain location. The time-domain location information may include the time-domain location information of only one NCD-SSB, and the X NCD-SSBs share the same time-domain location information. Alternatively, the time-domain location information may still include X time-domain location information, but the X time-domain location information may be understood to be the same.

[0174] It should be noted that the time-domain positions of the X NCD-SSBs may alternatively be partly the same and partly different, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0175] The periodicity information may include the periodicity of repeated transmission of the X NCD-SSBs. In the case of NCD-SSBs at different frequencies, the network device sends the NCD-SSBs in the form of a burst set. Therefore, the periodicity information may alternatively be understood as the periodicity of sending a set of NCD-SSB bursts at one frequency. The periodicity value of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs may be any one of 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms, or 160 ms.

[0176] Furthermore, to reduce the resource overhead of the NCD-SSBs and improve resource utilization, the periodicity of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs may be any one of 320 ms, 640 ms, 1280 ms, or 2560 ms.

[0177] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different periodicity information. In other words, the network device may configure different periodicities for different NCD-SSBs. In other words, the periodicity information includes X periodicity information, and one periodicity information corresponds to one NCD-SSB.

[0178] In another possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have the same periodicity information. In other words, the periodicity information may include the periodicity information of only one NCD-SSB, and the X NCD-SSBs share the same periodicity information. It will be understood that the periodicity information still includes X periodicity information, and the X periodicity information is the same.

[0179] In yet another possible design solution, the periodicity information may include the periodicity information of some of the X NCD-SSBs, and the periodicity information of the NCD-SSBs may be the same or different. For an NCD-SSB for which no periodicity information is configured among the X NCD-SSBs, the periodicity information of the NCD-SSB may be considered to be the same as the periodicity information of the CD-SSB.

[0180] The beam information may include beam information for X NCD-SSBs. NCD-SSBs of different frequencies are sent in the form of burst sets via beam sweeping. One burst set includes multiple NCD-SSBs of the same frequency, and each NCD-SSB in a burst set corresponds to one SSB index. For example, one burst set may include eight NCD-SSBs of the same frequency, and the SSB indexes corresponding to the eight NCD-SSBs of the same frequency range from 0 to 7. The eight SSBs of the same frequency are sent in different directions at different times using beams. Therefore, the beam information may include the number of sweeping beams, beam transmission direction, beam width, etc. for each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs.

[0181] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have the same beam information. Optionally, the beam information of the X NCD-SSBs is the same as the beam information of the CD-SSB, and the CD-SSBs and NCD-SSBs with the same SSB index are quasi-colocated (QCL). For example, in an NCD-SSB burst set with a frequency of f0, the beam information of the NCD-SSB with an SSB index of 1 is the same as the beam information of the CD-SSB with an SSB index of 1, and the NCD-SSB with an SSB index of 1 and the CD-SSB with an SSB index of 1 are QCL.

[0182] A QCL may indicate the relationship between two ports or two signals. If two signals from two ports are QCLs, the signals from the two ports have some of the same properties. These properties may include average gain, spatial reception parameters, Doppler frequency shift, delay spread, etc.

[0183] The transmit power information may include at least one of the SSS transmit power, PSS transmit power, PBCH transmit power, or PBCH DMRS transmit power of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs. For example, the transmit power information includes only the SSS transmit power and PSS transmit power of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs. Alternatively, the transmit power information includes the SSS transmit power, PBCH transmit power, and PBCH DMRS transmit power of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs.

[0184] In a possible design solution, X NCD-SSBs may have the same transmit power information. The transmit power information may include transmit power information for only one NCD-SSB, and X NCD-SSBs use the same transmit power information. Alternatively, the transmit power information may still include X transmit power information, and the X transmit power information may be understood to be the same.

[0185] Optionally, the transmit power of the X NCD-SSBs may be the same as the transmit power of the CD-SSB, in which case the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs may not include transmit power information, and the transmit power information of the X NCD-SSBs is the same as the transmit power information of the CD-SSB by default.

[0186] In another possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different transmit power information. The transmit power information includes X transmit power information, and one transmit power information corresponds to one NCD-SSB. It will be understood that the different transmit power information may be different types of transmit power, different values of transmit power, or different types and values of transmit power. This is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0187] Optionally, the first configuration information may further include first indication information. The first indication information may indicate at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement among the X NCD-SSBs. For example, the first indication information may include a frequency number or an index of the NCD-SSB to be used for measurement.

[0188] Optionally, the first configuration information may be carried in RRC signaling, media access control (MAC) signaling, SIB, or downlink control information (DCI) for transmission.

[0189] In some other embodiments, the first indication information and the first indication information may be sent separately. Optionally, the network device may send the first indication information to the terminal device. In response, the terminal device receives the first indication information from the network device.

[0190] Optionally, the first indication information may also be carried in RRC signaling, media access control (MAC) signaling, SIB, or downlink control information (DCI) for transmission.

[0191] Furthermore, after receiving the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs, the terminal device may determine, based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs, a specific time-frequency resource on which the NCD-SSB exists, such that the time-frequency resource performs rate matching on the PDSCH that overlaps with the time-frequency resource of the X NCD-SSBs. In addition, the terminal device may further receive, based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs, at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement. For specific processes, please refer to the related description in S404 below.

[0192] S403: The network device sends X NCD-SSBs based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs.

[0193] The X NCD-SSBs include at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement. The network device may send the X NCD-SSBs on time-frequency resources specified in a beam-sweeping scheme based on configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs.

[0194] S404: The terminal device receives at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement from the network device based on the configuration parameters of the at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement in the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs.

[0195] It should be noted that the terminal device may not receive an NCD-SSB that is not used for measurement. In other words, the terminal device may not measure an NCD-SSB that is not used for measurement. In the case of another NCD-SSB that is not received and measured by the terminal device, upon receiving a PDSCH, the terminal device may perform rate matching based on the configuration parameters of the other NCD-SSB. If the NCD-SSB collides or conflicts with the PDSCH, in other words, if the time-frequency resources of the NCD-SSB overlap with the time-frequency resources of the PDSCH, the terminal device assumes that the PDSCH is not transmitted on the time-frequency resources of the NCD-SSB.

[0196] When the first configuration information includes first indication information or the network device separately sends the first indication information, the terminal device may determine the configuration parameters of at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs and the first indication information, and then receive at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement from the network device based on the determined configuration parameters of the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement. For example, the terminal device may determine the configuration parameters of one or more NCD-SSBs to be used for measurement from the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs based on the first indication information, and then receive one or more NCD-SSBs to be used for measurement based on the configuration parameters of the one or more NCD-SSBs to be used for measurement.

[0197] In the absence of the first indication information, the terminal device may determine the configuration parameters of at least one NCD-SSB to be used for the measurement from the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs based on preconfigured information about the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for the measurement, and then receive one or more NCD-SSBs to be used for the measurement based on the determined configuration parameters of the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for the measurement. The preconfigured information about the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for the measurement may be a frequency number, index, etc. of a specified NCD-SSB. Alternatively, the first one or some NCD-SSBs of the X NCD-SSBs are used for the measurement by default. The preconfigured information about the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for the measurement may be predefined in a protocol or may be determined in advance by the network device and the terminal device through negotiation. This is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0198] Furthermore, after receiving at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement, the terminal device performs measurement using the at least one NCD-SSB. For example, the terminal device obtains a PBCH and an SSS based on each NCD-SSB used for measurement, and performs RRM measurement based on the SSS and the PBCH DM-RS.

[0199] In a possible implementation, the terminal device may separately measure multiple received NCD-SSBs used for measurement and send measurement results obtained by measuring each NCD-SSB used for measurement to the network device, or may perform joint processing, for example, weighted averaging, on the measurement results obtained by measuring each NCD-SSB used for measurement to obtain joint measurement results, and then send the joint measurement results to the network device.

[0200] In a possible implementation, the terminal device may alternatively receive X NCD-SSBs from the network device based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs, and the terminal device may discard the received NCD-SSBs that are not used for measurements and may not perform measurements.

[0201] Based on the communication method shown in FIG. 4, the network device may configure one or more NCD-SSBs within one BWP, and may configure at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement when configuring multiple NCD-SSBs. In this way, the measurement problem of the terminal device when there is no NCD-SSB in one BWP can be solved, and the NCD-SSB configuration in the BWP is more flexible, resulting in improved resource utilization. In addition, the network device may further send configuration parameters of the multiple configured NCD-SSBs to the terminal device. In this way, the problem of how the terminal device performs rate matching when multiple NCD-SSBs are configured within one BWP can be further solved, the impact on PDSCH demodulation can be avoided, and data transmission efficiency can be improved.

[0202] In the above embodiment, the network device may configure two or more NCD-SSBs in one BWP for measurement. In addition, the problem of how the terminal device performs rate matching when multiple NCD-SSBs are configured in one BWP is addressed by the network device in the above embodiment by sending configuration parameters for multiple NCD-SSBs to the terminal device.

[0203] However, if the network device can configure only one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement and configures another NCD-SSB in the BWP, the terminal device cannot know the other NCD-SSB configured by the network device in the BWP. As a result, the rate matching performed by the terminal device fails. Therefore, the network device can transparently instruct the terminal device how to perform rate matching. Note that in this case, the terminal device may receive only one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement.

[0204] For example, Figure 5 shows another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 5, the communication method includes the following steps:

[0205] S501: A network device determines a rate matching pattern.

[0206] The rate matching pattern includes time-frequency resources of Y NCD-SSBs in the first BWP, where the Y NCD-SSBs have different frequency domain positions, and Y is a positive integer. For a specific description of the first BWP and the Y NCD-SSBs, please refer to the relevant description in S401 above. Details will not be described again here.

[0207] For example, the network device may determine a rate matching pattern based on how one or more NCD-SSBs are configured in the first BWP. Furthermore, the network device may perform uplink resource mapping and downlink resource mapping based on the determined rate matching pattern. For example, the network device may determine resources used to send a PUSCH or resources used to send a PDSCH based on the rate matching pattern to resolve a problem in which PDSCH resources or PUSCH resources overlap or collide with resources of multiple NCD-SSBs configured in the first BWP.

[0208] Note that the difference between Y NCD-SSBs and X NCD-SSBs is that all Y NCD-SSBs may be used only for rate matching, not including NCD-SSBs used for measurement.

[0209] S502: The network device sends a configuration parameter of a rate matching pattern to the terminal device, and in response, the terminal device receives the configuration parameter of the rate matching pattern from the network device.

[0210] The configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may include configuration parameters indicating time domain resources and configuration parameters indicating frequency domain resources, and may be carried in signaling, such as RRC signaling and MAC signaling, for sending.

[0211] For example, a configuration parameter indicating a time domain resource may be indicated by a first bitmap, and a configuration parameter indicating a frequency domain resource may be indicated by a second bitmap. In other words, a rate matching pattern may include a first bitmap and a second bitmap.

[0212] Each bit in the first bitmap indicates whether the associated time-domain symbol belongs to the rate-matching pattern. The bit length of the first bitmap is equal to the number of time-domain symbols in a preset time duration, which is greater than the number of time-domain symbols in two slots, thereby improving the accuracy of the rate-matching pattern. The length of the first bitmap is the number of bits in the first bitmap. The number of symbols varies depending on the subcarrier space (SCS). Therefore, the number of bits in the first bitmap is related to the SCS. For example, the preset time duration is 2 ms (two subframes). If the SCS is 30 kHz, two subframes contain 56 symbols, and the length of the first bitmap is 56 bits. If the SCS is 15 kHz, two subframes contain 28 symbols, and the length of the first bitmap is 28 bits.

[0213] For example, if the preset duration is 2 ms and the SCS is 15 kHz, the length of the first bitmap is 28, and the 28 bits in the first bitmap correspond to 28 symbols in 2 ms each. When a bit in the first bitmap is 1, it indicates that the time domain symbol corresponding to or associated with that bit belongs to the time domain resource of the rate matching pattern. When a bit is 0, it indicates that the time domain symbol corresponding to or associated with that bit does not belong to the time domain resource of the rate matching pattern.

[0214] Each bit in the second bitmap indicates whether an associated resource block or resource element belongs to the rate matching pattern. The length of the second bitmap is equal to the number of associated resource blocks or resource elements. For example, if the number of RBs indicated by the second bitmap is 20, the length of the second bitmap is 20 bits. When a bit in the second bitmap is 1, it indicates that the RB corresponding to or associated with that bit belongs to the frequency domain resource of the rate matching pattern. When a bit is 0, it indicates that the RB corresponding to or associated with that bit does not belong to the frequency domain resource of the rate matching pattern.

[0215] It will be appreciated that the length of the second bitmap cannot exceed the number of RBs contained in the BWP.

[0216] The time domain resources indicated by the first bitmap and the frequency domain resources indicated by the second bitmap form a first time-frequency resource pair. For example, if the preset duration is 2 ms, the first time-frequency resource pair represents the time-frequency resources of a 2 ms rate matching pattern.

[0217] Optionally, the configuration parameters of the rate-matching pattern may include a plurality of second bitmaps, where the frequency domain resources indicated by the plurality of second bitmaps are different, and the frequency domain resources indicated by each second bitmap and the time domain resources indicated by the first bitmap may form one first time-frequency resource pair to form a plurality of first time-frequency resource pairs.

[0218] Optionally, the rate matching pattern configuration parameters may further include a third bitmap, where each bit in the third bitmap indicates whether an associated first time-frequency resource pair exists. For example, when a bit in the third bitmap is 1, it indicates that the corresponding or associated first time-frequency resource pair exists. When a bit is 0, it indicates that the corresponding or associated first time-frequency resource pair does not exist.

[0219] The length of the third bitmap may indicate the repeat periodicity of the rate matching pattern, and the length of the third bitmap may be equal to the periodicity of the rate matching pattern. The value of the periodicity of the rate matching pattern may be {1 ms, 2 ms, 4 ms, 5 ms, 8 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms}.

[0220] Optionally, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to or greater than the maximum periodicity among the periodicities corresponding to all Y NCD-SSBs. For example, if the maximum periodicity of the NCD-SSBs is 160 ms, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern may be equal to or greater than 160 ms. A rate matching pattern with a longer maximum periodicity is more accurate.

[0221] Optionally, multiple third bitmaps may be configured, and each third bitmap may correspond to one first time-frequency resource pair.

[0222] S503: The terminal device determines a rate matching pattern based on the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern.

[0223] For example, the terminal device may construct a rate matching pattern based on the configuration parameters of the received rate matching pattern, and further determine the time-frequency resource of the PDSCH based on the rate matching pattern.

[0224] 5, when configuring multiple NCD-SSBs in one BWP, the network device may send configuration parameters of a rate matching pattern to the terminal device, and may cover the time-frequency resources of one or more NCD-SSBs configured in the BWP by using the rate matching pattern without sending configuration parameters of multiple NCD-SSBs to the terminal device. This is transparent to the terminal device, so that the computational complexity of the terminal device can be reduced and the computational speed of the terminal device can be improved.

[0225] In addition, after configuring an SSB, a network device may notify other network devices of related information about the SSB configured by the network device. In the current protocol, a network device may transfer the CD-SSB and NCD-SSB of the serving cell over the Xn interface by using the Served Cell Information NR IE carried in the XN SETUP REQUEST message or the XN SETUP RESPONSE message. The NCD-SSB is mainly used by terminal devices to perform carrier aggregation (CA) / dual-connectivity (DC)-related measurements. To perform related configurations, the network device may distinguish between the CD-SSB configuration and the NCD-SSB configuration of a neighboring station based on the received Served Cell Information NR IE.

[0226] The Served Cell Information NR IE includes a Measurement Timing Configuration field. In the 38.331 protocol, the MeasTimingList in the Measurement Timing Configuration field may include configuration information for one or more SSB frequencies, such as the frequency (ARFCN), SCS, synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block measurement timing configuration (SMTC), and SSB-received signal strength indication (SS-RSSI) measurement configuration. Also, the campOnFirstSSB in the Measurement Timing Configuration field indicates the frequency of the first SSB in the MeasTimingList. The first SSB is the SSB used for camping and PCell configuration, i.e., CD-SSB, and the SSBs on other frequencies are NCD-SSB.

[0227] Although the RedCap terminal device does not support CA / DC related operations, the RedCap terminal device may perform serving cell measurements based on the corresponding SSB in the active BWP, i.e., the NCD-SSB measurement configuration indicated by the serving cell measurement object (servingCellMO) in the BWP-only configuration.

[0228] Therefore, for a cell that supports RedCap, in addition to being used by a general NR terminal device to perform CA- or DC-related measurement configurations, the NCD-SSB may also be used by a RedCap terminal device to perform serving cell measurements and function as an intra-frequency reference point. Therefore, similar to the purpose of distinguishing between CD-SSB and NCD-SSB, for a cell / base station that supports RedCap, the sent XN SETUP REQUEST message or the XN SETUP RESPONSE message includes a RedCap Broadcast Information field, which indicates that the cell can support RedCap terminal devices and whether the cell prohibits access for RedCap 1R / 2R terminal devices. In this case, the network device may further distinguish between a specific SSB that is within the NCD-SSB supported by the cell and is a dedicated SSB for RedCap terminal devices and the NCD-SSB used by RedCap terminal devices for measurements.

[0229] In a possible design solution, the Measurement Timing Configuration includes information about a list having a length equal to the length of the MeasTimingList, and each element in the list indicates whether the NCD-SSB is an NCD-SSB of a RedCap terminal device, or indicates that a particular NCD-SSB among the remaining NCD-SSBs other than the first element (CD-SSB) is an NCD-SSB of a RedCap device.

[0230] In another possible design solution, each MeasTiming in the MeasTimingList includes one indication information indicating whether the SSB included in the MeasTiming is an NCD-SSB of the RedCap device. The indication information may be added in an extended manner.

[0231] It will be understood that in the foregoing embodiments, the methods and / or steps implemented by the network device may alternatively be implemented by parts that may be used in the network device (e.g., a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit, a logic module, or software), and the methods and / or steps implemented by the terminal device may alternatively be implemented by parts that may be used in the terminal device (e.g., a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit, a logic module, or software).

[0232] The above mainly describes the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Correspondingly, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device. The communication device is configured to implement the method in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The communication device may be a network device in the above-mentioned method embodiment, an apparatus including the network device, or a part that can be used in the network device, such as a chip or a chip system. Alternatively, the communication device may be a terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiment, an apparatus including the terminal device, or a part that can be used in the terminal device, such as a chip or a chip system.

[0233] It can be understood that to implement the aforementioned functions, the communication device includes corresponding hardware configurations and / or software modules for implementing the functions. In combination with the examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, those skilled in the art should easily recognize that the units, algorithms, and steps can be implemented by hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software in the embodiments of the present application. Whether the functions are implemented by hardware or by hardware driven by computer software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may implement the described functions using various methods for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of the present application.

[0234] In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device may be divided into functional modules based on the above-described method embodiments. For example, each functional module may be obtained by dividing the functional modules based on their corresponding functions, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module. It should be noted that the division into modules in the embodiments of the present application is merely an example and represents a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used.

[0235] For example, the communication device is a terminal device or a network device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. Figure 6 is a structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 6, the communication device 600 includes a processing module 601 and a transceiver module 602.

[0236] For example, the communication device 600 is a network device in the above method embodiment.

[0237] In some embodiments, the processing module 601 is configured to determine that at least one non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block NCD-SSB among X NCD-SSBs in the first bandwidth portion BWP is used for measurement, where the X NCD-SSBs have different frequency domain positions and X is a positive integer.

[0238] The transceiver module 602 is configured to send first configuration information to the terminal device, the first configuration information including X NCD-SSB configuration parameters.

[0239] The transceiver module 602 is further configured to send the X NCD-SSBs based on configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs, the X NCD-SSBs including at least one NCD-SSB used for measurements.

[0240] Optionally, the transceiver module is further configured to send first indication information to the terminal device, wherein the first indication information indicates at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement in the X NCD-SSBs.

[0241] Optionally, the first configuration information may further include first indication information, where the first indication information indicates at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement in the X NCD-SSBs.

[0242] Optionally, the X NCD-SSB configuration parameters may include at least one of the following: frequency domain location information, time domain location information, periodicity information, beam information, or transmit power information.

[0243] In a possible design solution, the frequency domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs may include frequency domain location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to a reference resource block, or absolute radio frequency channel numbers of the X NCD-SSBs.

[0244] In a possible design solution, the time domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs may include location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to the cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block CD-SSB, or the system frame number and / or half frame number of the first SSB synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs.

[0245] In a possible design solution, the position information of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to the CD-SSB may include an offset value of the first synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to the first synchronization burst set of the CD-SSB.

[0246] In possible design solutions, the offset value may include at least one of the following: 5 ms, 10 ms, 15 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 60 ms, or 80 ms.

[0247] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different time domain position information.

[0248] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different periodicity information.

[0249] In a possible design solution, the periodicity values of the X NCD-SSBs may be any one of the following: 320 ms, 640 ms, 1280 ms, or 2560 ms.

[0250] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSB beams may be the same as the CD-SSB beam information.

[0251] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have the same transmit power information.

[0252] In some other embodiments, the processing module 601 is configured to determine a rate-matching pattern, the rate-matching pattern including time-frequency resources of Y non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel blocks NCD-SSBs in the first bandwidth portion BWP, the Y NCD-SSBs having different frequency-domain positions, and Y being a positive integer.

[0253] The transceiver module 602 is configured to send configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern to a terminal device.

[0254] Furthermore, the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may include a first bitmap and a second bitmap, where each bit in the first bitmap indicates whether an associated time-domain symbol belongs to the rate matching pattern, and each bit in the second bitmap indicates whether an associated resource block or resource element belongs to the rate matching pattern.

[0255] In a possible design solution, the bit length of the first bitmap is equal to the number of time domain symbols in a preset duration, and the number of time domain symbols in a preset duration is greater than the number of time domain symbols in two slots.

[0256] Furthermore, the time domain resources indicated by the first bitmap and the frequency domain resources indicated by the second bitmap form a first time-frequency resource pair.

[0257] Optionally, the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may further include a third bitmap, where each bit in the third bitmap indicates whether an associated first time-frequency resource pair exists.

[0258] In a possible design solution, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to the bit length of the third bitmap.

[0259] In a possible design solution, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to or greater than the maximum periodicity among the periodicities corresponding to all Y NCD-SSBs.

[0260] For example, the communication device 600 is a terminal device in the above method embodiment.

[0261] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 602 is configured to receive first configuration information from a network device, the first configuration information including configuration parameters for X non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel blocks NCD-SSBs in a first bandwidth portion BWP, the X NCD-SSBs having different frequency domain locations, and at least one NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs to be used for measurements, where X is a positive integer.

[0262] The transceiver module 602 is further configured to receive, from the network device, at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement based on configuration parameters of the at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement in the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs.

[0263] Optionally, the transceiver module 602 is further configured to receive first indication information from the network device, the first indication information indicating at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements in the X NCD-SSBs.

[0264] Optionally, the first configuration information may include first indication information, where the first indication information indicates at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurement in the X NCD-SSBs.

[0265] In a possible design solution, the processing module 601 is configured to determine at least one NCD-SSB configuration parameter to be used for measurement based on the X NCD-SSB configuration parameters and the first indication information.

[0266] In another possible design solution, the processing module 601 is configured to determine configuration parameters of at least one NCD-SSB to be used for the measurement based on preconfigured information about the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs and the NCD-SSB to be used for the measurement.

[0267] Optionally, the X NCD-SSB configuration parameters may include at least one of the following: frequency domain location information, time domain location information, periodicity information, beam information, or transmit power information.

[0268] In a possible design solution, the frequency domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs may include frequency domain location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to a reference resource block, or absolute radio frequency channel numbers of the X NCD-SSBs.

[0269] In a possible design solution, the time domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs may include location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to the cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block CD-SSB, or the system frame number and / or half frame number of the first SSB synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs.

[0270] In a possible design solution, the position information of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to the CD-SSB may include an offset value of the first synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs relative to the first synchronization burst set of the CD-SSB.

[0271] In possible design solutions, the offset value may include at least one of the following: 5 ms, 10 ms, 15 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 60 ms, or 80 ms.

[0272] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different time domain position information.

[0273] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have different periodicity information.

[0274] In a possible design solution, the periodicity values of the X NCD-SSBs may be any one of the following: 320 ms, 640 ms, 1280 ms, or 2560 ms.

[0275] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSB beams may be the same as the CD-SSB beam information.

[0276] In a possible design solution, the X NCD-SSBs may have the same transmit power information.

[0277] In some other embodiments, the transceiver module 602 is configured to receive configuration parameters of a rate-matching pattern from a network device, the rate-matching pattern including time-frequency resources of Y non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel blocks NCD-SSBs within the first bandwidth portion BWP, the Y NCD-SSBs having different frequency-domain positions, and Y being a positive integer.

[0278] The processing module 601 is configured to determine a rate matching pattern based on configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern.

[0279] Furthermore, the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may include a first bitmap and a second bitmap, where each bit in the first bitmap indicates whether an associated time-domain symbol belongs to the rate matching pattern, and each bit in the second bitmap indicates whether an associated resource block or resource element belongs to the rate matching pattern.

[0280] In a possible design solution, the bit length of the first bitmap is equal to the number of time domain symbols in a preset duration, and the number of time domain symbols in a preset duration is greater than the number of time domain symbols in two slots.

[0281] Furthermore, the time domain resources indicated by the first bitmap and the frequency domain resources indicated by the second bitmap form a first time-frequency resource pair.

[0282] Optionally, the configuration parameters of the rate matching pattern may further include a third bitmap, where each bit in the third bitmap indicates whether an associated first time-frequency resource pair exists.

[0283] In a possible design solution, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to the bit length of the third bitmap.

[0284] In a possible design solution, the periodicity of the rate matching pattern is equal to or greater than the maximum periodicity among the periodicities corresponding to all Y NCD-SSBs.

[0285] Optionally, in this embodiment of the present application, the transceiver module 602 may include a receiving module and a sending module (not shown in FIG. 6 ). The transceiver module is configured to implement the sending and receiving functions of the communication device 600.

[0286] Optionally, the communication device 600 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 6 ). The storage module stores programs or instructions. When the processing module 601 executes the programs or instructions, the communication device 600 can perform the functions of a network device or a terminal device in the communication method shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 .

[0287] It should be understood that the processing module 601 in the communication device 600 may be implemented by a processor or processor-related circuitry, and may be a processor or a processing unit. The transceiver module 602 may be implemented by a transceiver or transceiver-related circuitry, and may be a transceiver or a transceiver unit.

[0288] All relevant contents of the steps in the foregoing method embodiments can be cited in the functional descriptions of the corresponding functional modules, and the details will not be described again here.

[0289] The communication device 600 provided in this embodiment may implement the aforementioned communication method. Therefore, please refer to the aforementioned method embodiment for the technical effects that can be achieved by the communication device 600. Details will not be described again here.

[0290] For example, Figure 7 is a diagram of the structure of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device may be a terminal device or a network device, or may be a chip (system) or other part or component that can be disposed on a terminal device or a network device. As shown in Figure 7, the communication device 700 may include a processor 701. Optionally, the communication device 700 may further include a memory 702 and / or a transceiver 703. The processor 701 is coupled to the memory 702 and the transceiver 703 and may be connected to the memory 702 and the transceiver 703 via a communication bus, for example.

[0291] Each part of the communication device 700 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

[0292] The processor 701 is a control center of the communication device 700 and may be a single processor or a collective term for multiple processing elements. For example, the processor 701 may be one or more central processing units (CPUs), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or configured as one or more integrated circuits implementing embodiments of the present application, such as one or more digital signal processors (DSPs) or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

[0293] Optionally, the processor 701 may perform various functions of the communication device 700 by running or executing software programs stored in the memory 702 and accessing data stored in the memory 702.

[0294] In a specific implementation, in one embodiment, the processor 701 may include one or more CPUs, for example, CPU0 and CPU1 shown in FIG.

[0295] In a particular embodiment, communications device 700 may alternatively include multiple processors, such as processor 701 and processor 704 shown in FIG. 7. Each of the processors may be a single-core processor (single-CPU) or a multi-core processor (multi-CPU). A processor herein may be one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores configured to process data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0296] The memory 702 is configured to store a software program for implementing the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, and the processor 701 controls the execution of the software program. For specific implementation forms, please refer to the above-mentioned method embodiments. Details will not be described again here.

[0297] Optionally, memory 702 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or another type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, or a random access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or may be an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compact optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), a magnetic disc storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or some other medium that can be configured to carry or store expected program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. This is not limited thereto. Memory 702 may be integrated with processor 701 or may exist independently, and is coupled to processor 701 via an interface circuit (not shown in FIG. 7 ) in communication device 700. This is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0298] The transceiver 703 is configured to communicate with other communication devices. For example, the communication device 700 is a terminal device, and the transceiver 703 may be configured to communicate with a network device or other terminal devices. As another example, the communication device 700 is a network device, and the transceiver 703 may be configured to communicate with a terminal device or other network devices.

[0299] Optionally, the transceiver 703 may include a receiver and a transmitter (not separately shown in FIG. 7), where the receiver is configured to implement a receiving function and the transmitter is configured to implement a sending function.

[0300] Optionally, the transceiver 703 may be integrated with the processor 701 or may exist independently, and is coupled to the processor 701 via an interface circuit (not shown in FIG. 7) in the communication device 700, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0301] It should be noted that the structure of the communication device 700 shown in Figure 7 does not constitute a limitation on the communication device. An actual communication device may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, may combine some components, or may have a different component arrangement.

[0302] In addition, for the technical effects of the communication device 700, please refer to the technical effects of the communication method in the above method embodiments, and the details will not be described again here.

[0303] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes the aforementioned network device and a terminal device.

[0304] In some embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, the communication device including a processor configured to perform the method in any one of the embodiments of the method described above.

[0305] In one possible implementation, the communication device further includes a memory. The memory is configured to store necessary computer programs and data. The computer programs may include instructions. The processor may call instructions in the computer programs stored in the memory to instruct the communication device to perform the method in any one of the above-mentioned method embodiments. Of course, the communication device may not include a memory.

[0306] In another possible implementation, the communication device further includes an interface circuit, which is a code / data read / write interface circuit configured to receive computer-executable instructions (which may be stored in a memory and read directly from the memory or read via another component) and to transmit the computer-executable instructions to the processor.

[0307] In yet another possible implementation, the communication device further includes a communication interface, the communication interface configured to communicate with a module other than the communication device.

[0308] It will be understood that the communication device may be a chip or a chip system. When the communication device is a chip system, the communication device may include a chip, or may include a chip and other individual components. This is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0309] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction, which, when executed by a computer, implements the functions of any one of the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0310] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which, when executed by a computer, performs the functions of any one of the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0311] Those skilled in the art may understand that for the purpose of simplifying the description, the detailed operation processes of the aforementioned systems, devices and units may refer to the corresponding processes of the aforementioned method embodiments, and the details will not be described again here.

[0312] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this specification describes only the relational relationship between related objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent the following three cases: only A is present, both A and B are present, and only B is present. A and B may be singular or plural. In addition to the above, the character " / " in this specification usually indicates an "or" relationship between related objects, but it may also indicate an "and / or" relationship. For details, please refer to the context for understanding. In the embodiments of this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "At least one of the following items (moieties)" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of a singular item (moiety) or multiple items (moieties). For example, at least one of a, b, or c may represent a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c may be singular or plural.

[0313] It should be understood that the sequence numbers of the above processes do not mean the execution sequence in various embodiments of the present application, and the execution sequence of the processes should be determined according to the functions and internal logic of the processes, and should not be construed as any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0314] It will be understood that the systems, devices, and methods described in the embodiments of the present application may alternatively be implemented in other ways. For example, the described device embodiments are merely examples. For example, the division into units is merely a logical division of function. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not implemented. Furthermore, the shown or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented through some interfaces. Indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be implemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

[0315] The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separated, specifically, may be co-located or distributed across multiple network units. The parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units. Some or all of the units may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions of the embodiments. In addition, the functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0316] All or part of the above embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When a software program is used to implement the embodiments, the embodiments may be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded into a computer and executed, the procedures or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from a computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from a website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, radio, or microwave) transmission. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium accessible by a computer, or a data storage device, such as a server or data center, incorporating one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid state disk (SSD)), etc. In an embodiment of the present application, a computer may include the aforementioned devices.

[0317] Although the present application has been described with reference to embodiments, in the course of implementing the claimed application, those skilled in the art may understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments by studying the accompanying drawings, the disclosed content, and the appended claims. In the claims, "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may implement several functions recited in the claims. Although several measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims, this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce better effects.

[0318] Although the present application has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is apparent that various modifications and combinations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Correspondingly, this specification and the accompanying drawings are merely exemplary descriptions of the present application as defined by the appended claims, and any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents are contemplated to fall within the scope of the present application. It is apparent that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. The present application intends to cover these modifications and variations of the present application as long as they fall within the scope of protection defined by the following claims and their equivalent technologies. [Explanation of symbols]

[0319] 600 Communication Equipment 601 Processing Module 602 Transceiver Module 700 Communication Equipment 701 processor 702 memory 703 Transceiver 704 processor

Claims

1. 1. A method of communication, the method comprising: determining, by the network device, that at least one non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block NCD-SSB among X NCD-SSBs in a first bandwidth portion BWP is to be used for measurement, wherein the X NCD-SSBs have different frequency domain positions, and X is a positive integer; sending, by the network device, first configuration information to a terminal device, the first configuration information including configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs; sending, by the network device, the X NCD-SSBs based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs, the X NCD-SSBs including at least one NCD-SSB used for measurements; A method comprising:

2. The method comprises: sending, by the network device, first indication information to the terminal device, the first indication information indicating the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements on the X NCD-SSBs; The method of claim 1 further comprising:

3. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration information includes first instruction information, and the first instruction information indicates the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements in the X NCD-SSBs.

4. 1. A method of communication, the method comprising: receiving, by the terminal device, first configuration information from a network device, the first configuration information including configuration parameters of X non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel blocks NCD-SSBs in a first bandwidth portion BWP, the X NCD-SSBs having different frequency domain locations, and at least one NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs being used for measurement, where X is a positive integer; receiving, by the terminal device, from the network device, at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement based on configuration parameters of the at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement in the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs; A method comprising:

5. The method comprises: receiving, by the terminal device, first indication information from the network device, the first indication information indicating the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements on the X NCD-SSBs; 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

6. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first configuration information includes first instruction information, and the first instruction information indicates the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements in the X NCD-SSBs.

7. The method comprises: determining, by the terminal device, the configuration parameters of the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs and the first indication information; 7. The method of claim 5 or 6, further comprising:

8. The method comprises: determining, by the terminal device, the configuration parameters of the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs based on preconfigured information about the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs and the NCD-SSBs to be used for measurements; 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

9. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs include at least one of the following: frequency domain location information, time domain location information, periodicity information, beam information, or transmit power information.

10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the frequency domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs includes frequency domain location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to a reference resource block, or an absolute radio frequency channel number of the X NCD-SSBs.

11. 11. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the time domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs includes location information of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs relative to a cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block CD-SSB, or a system frame number and / or half-frame number of a first SSB synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs.

12. The position information of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs relative to the CD-SSB is: an offset value of the first synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs relative to the first synchronization burst set of the CD-SSB; 12. The method of claim 11, comprising:

13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the offset value comprises at least one of the following: 5 ms, 10 ms, 15 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 60 ms, or 80 ms.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the X NCD-SSBs have different time domain location information.

15. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the X NCD-SSBs have different periodicity information.

16. 16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the periodicity value of the X NCD-SSBs is one of the following: 320 ms, 640 ms, 1280 ms, or 2560 ms.

17. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein the X NCD-SSB beams are the same as the CD-SSB beam information.

18. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 17, wherein the X NCD-SSBs have the same transmission power information.

19. 1. A communications device, the device comprising: a processing module and a transceiver module; the processing module is configured to determine that at least one non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block NCD-SSB among X NCD-SSBs in a first bandwidth portion BWP is used for measurement, the X NCD-SSBs having different frequency domain positions, and X is a positive integer; the transceiver module is configured to send first configuration information to a terminal device, the first configuration information including configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs; the processing module is further configured to send the X NCD-SSBs based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs, the X NCD-SSBs including at least one NCD-SSB used for measurements. Device.

20. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the transceiver module is further configured to send first indication information to the terminal device, the first indication information indicating the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements on the X NCD-SSBs.

21. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first configuration information includes first instruction information, and the first instruction information indicates the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements in the X NCD-SSBs.

22. 1. A communications device, the device comprising: a processing module and a transceiver module; the transceiver module is configured to receive first configuration information from a network device, the first configuration information including configuration parameters of X non-cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel blocks (NCD-SSBs) in a first bandwidth portion (BWP), the X NCD-SSBs having different frequency domain locations, and at least one NCD-SSB among the X NCD-SSBs being used for measurements, where X is a positive integer; the processing module is configured to receive, from the network device, the at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement based on configuration parameters of the at least one NCD-SSB used for measurement in the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs; Device.

23. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the transceiver module is further configured to receive first indication information from the network device, the first indication information indicating the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements on the X NCD-SSBs.

24. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first configuration information includes first instruction information, and the first instruction information indicates the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements in the X NCD-SSBs.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 or 24, wherein the processing module is further configured to determine the configuration parameters of the at least one NCD-SSB to be used for measurements on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs based on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs and the first indication information.

26. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processing module is further configured to determine the configuration parameters of the at least one NCD-SSB used for measurements on the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs based on preconfigured information about the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs and an NCD-SSB used for measurements.

27. 27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the configuration parameters of the X NCD-SSBs include at least one of the following: frequency domain location information, time domain location information, periodicity information, beam information, or transmit power information.

28. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the frequency domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs includes frequency domain location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to a reference resource block, or an absolute radio frequency channel number of the X NCD-SSBs.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 or 28, wherein the time domain location information of the X NCD-SSBs includes location information of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs relative to a cell-defined synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block CD-SSB, or a system frame number and / or half-frame number of a first SSB synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB within the X NCD-SSBs.

30. The position information of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs relative to the CD-SSB is: an offset value of the first synchronization burst set of each NCD-SSB in the X NCD-SSBs relative to the first synchronization burst set of the CD-SSB; 30. The apparatus of claim 29, comprising:

31. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the offset value comprises at least one of the following: 5 ms, 10 ms, 15 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 60 ms, or 80 ms.

32. The apparatus of any one of claims 27 to 31, wherein the X NCD-SSBs have different time domain location information.

33. The apparatus of any one of claims 27 to 32, wherein the X NCD-SSBs have different periodicity information.

34. 34. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the X NCD-SSB periodicity values are any one of the following: 320 ms, 640 ms, 1280 ms, or 2560 ms.

35. The apparatus of any one of claims 27 to 34, wherein the X NCD-SSB beams are the same as the CD-SSB beam information.

36. The apparatus of any one of claims 27 to 35, wherein the X NCD-SSBs have the same transmission power information.

37. 1. A communications device comprising: a processor, the processor coupled to a memory; the memory is configured to store a computer program; The processor is configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory so as to enable the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 18. Communication equipment.

38. 19. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions, the computer program or instructions being run on a computer to enable the computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 18.

39. 19. A computer program product comprising a computer program or instructions, which, when run on a computer, enable the computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 18.

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