Method and apparatus for deciding to switch uplink transmissions

Abstract

This application provides a method and apparatus for determining to switch uplink transmission, wherein a terminal device may determine an operating state based on a port configuration for a previous uplink transmission and a port configuration for a subsequent uplink transmission to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202211372734.3, entitled "METHOD FOR DETERMINING TO SWITCH UPLINK TRANSMISSION AND APPARATUS," filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on November 3, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Technical field] TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments of this application relate to the field of communications, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for deciding to switch uplink transmissions. [Background technology]

[0002] In a scenario such as a supplementary uplink (SUL) scenario, a terminal device needs to switch between at least three bands (e.g., 700 MHz to 800 MHz, 700 MHz to 900 MHz, 1.8 GHz to 2.1 GHz, and 3.5 GHz to 4.9 GHz) to ensure data transmission performance. However, current protocols only define the conditions under which the terminal device needs to switch the transmission state of a radio frequency chain when switching between two bands. When the terminal device needs to switch between at least three bands, how the terminal device determines whether the transmission state of a radio frequency chain needs to be switched has become a technical problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The embodiments of this application provide a method for determining to switch uplink transmission, so that a terminal device can determine the operation state and ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0004] According to a first aspect, there is provided a method for determining to switch uplink transmission, which may be performed by a terminal device (e.g., user equipment) or a component (e.g., a chip or circuit) of the terminal device, but is not limited thereto.

[0005] The method includes: a terminal device determining a first port configuration, the first port configuration being used for a first uplink transmission, the terminal device being capable of performing uplink switching on at least three bands or at least three carriers; and a terminal device determining a second port configuration, the second port configuration being used for a second uplink transmission, the first uplink transmission being faster than the second uplink transmission. The terminal device performs a first operation based on the first port configuration and the second port configuration, and the terminal device performing the first operation includes at least one of the following: the terminal device is not expected to perform an uplink transmission within a switching time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; the terminal device determines to change a transmission state when performing the second uplink transmission; the terminal device determines that switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission is necessary; the terminal device determines to perform switching before performing the second uplink transmission; the terminal device determines a switching time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; or the terminal device determines that the terminal device will not perform an uplink transmission within the switching time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission.

[0006] In this application, there may be a plurality of first uplink transmissions, each corresponding to a different carrier. Correspondingly, there may be a plurality of first port configurations. The first port configurations are port configurations corresponding to the first uplink transmissions. For example, the first port configurations may have a one-to-one correspondence with the first uplink transmissions.

[0007] Similarly, there may be multiple second uplink transmissions, each corresponding to a different carrier. Correspondingly, there may be multiple second port configurations. The second port configurations are port configurations corresponding to the second uplink transmissions. For example, the second port configurations may have a one-to-one correspondence with the second uplink transmissions.

[0008] In a possible implementation, a plurality of the first uplink transmissions of the at least one first uplink transmission correspond to a first port configuration, and similarly, a plurality of the second uplink transmissions of the at least one second uplink transmission correspond to a second port configuration.

[0009] It should be noted that these different carriers may be on the same band or on different bands.

[0010] In this application, the terminal device being able to perform uplink switching on at least three bands may be understood as follows: the terminal device supports uplink switching on at least three bands by reporting capability information, or the terminal device determines to perform uplink switching on at least three bands by receiving second RRC signaling.

[0011] Alternatively, it may be understood that the method includes: a terminal device determining at least one first port configuration, the at least one first port configuration being used for at least one first uplink transmission, the terminal device being capable of performing uplink switching on at least three bands or at least three carriers; and a terminal device determining at least one second port configuration, the at least one second port configuration being used for at least one second uplink transmission, the first uplink transmission being earlier than the second uplink transmission. The terminal device performs a first operation based on the first port configuration and the second port configuration, and the terminal device performing the first operation includes at least one of the following: the terminal device is not expected to perform an uplink transmission within a switching time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; the terminal device determines to change a transmission state when performing the second uplink transmission; the terminal device determines that switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission is necessary; the terminal device determines to perform switching before performing the second uplink transmission; the terminal device determines a switching time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; or the terminal device determines that the terminal device will not perform an uplink transmission within the switching time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission.

[0012] In this application, "at least one" may be understood as one or more.

[0013] In this application, "a terminal device determines at least one first port configuration" may alternatively be understood as follows: the terminal device receives first information, the first information including at least one first port configuration, and each of the at least one first port configuration is used by the terminal device to perform a first uplink transmission within a first time unit; each of the at least one first port configuration is used for a first uplink transmission performed by the terminal device within the first time unit; each of the at least one first port configuration is used for a first uplink transmission of the terminal device within the first time unit; or each of the at least one first port configuration is used for a first uplink transmission of the terminal device. The first information may be delivered by using downlink control information (DCI) in combination with radio resource control (RRC) signaling, by using only DCI signaling, or by using only RRC signaling. This is not limited thereto.

[0014] In this application, "the terminal device determines at least one second port configuration" may alternatively be understood as follows: the terminal device receives second information, the second information including at least one second port configuration, and each of the at least one second port configuration is used by the terminal device to perform a second uplink transmission within a second time unit; each of the at least one second port configuration is used for a second uplink transmission performed by the terminal device within the second time unit; each of the at least one second port configuration is used for a second uplink transmission of the terminal device within the second time unit; or each of the at least one second port configuration is used for a second uplink transmission of the terminal device. The second information may be delivered by using DCI in combination with RRC signaling, by using DCI signaling alone, or by using RRC signaling alone. This is not limited thereto.

[0015] In this application, "a first uplink transmission is earlier than a second uplink transmission" may alternatively be understood as the first uplink transmission being an uplink transmission prior to the second uplink transmission. The first uplink transmission is an uplink transmission within a first time unit, and the second uplink transmission is an uplink transmission within a second time unit. The first time unit is earlier than the second time unit.

[0016] In this application, "is not envisaged" may alternatively be understood as "is not envisaged."

[0017] In this application, "the terminal device decides to change the transmission state when performing the second uplink transmission" may alternatively be understood as "the transmission state is changed or converted when the terminal device decides to perform the second uplink transmission."

[0018] In this application, one first port configuration may configure at least one first uplink transmission, or one first port configuration may simultaneously configure two first uplink transmissions.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the at least one first port configuration corresponds one-to-one to the at least one first uplink transmission, and the at least one second port configuration corresponds one-to-one to the at least one second uplink transmission.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the at least three bands correspond one-to-one to the at least three carriers, and the at least three carriers are located in the at least three bands, respectively.

[0021] In this application, a "first carrier" may be understood as a carrier on a first band, a carrier belonging to a first band, a carrier located in a first band, or a carrier included in a first band. Similarly, a "second carrier" may be understood as a carrier on a second band, a carrier belonging to a second band, a carrier located in a second band, or a carrier included in a second band. A "third carrier" and a "fourth carrier" may be understood in a similar manner and will not be described one by one.

[0022] In this application, the three bands may be, for example, a first band (e.g., Band #A), a second band (e.g., Band #B), and a third band (e.g., Band #C). The four bands may be, for example, a first band (e.g., Band #A), a second band (e.g., Band #B), a third band (e.g., Band #C), and a fourth band (e.g., Band #D). The three carriers may be, for example, a first carrier (Carrier #1), a second carrier (Carrier #2), and a third carrier (Carrier #3). The four carriers may be, for example, a first carrier (Carrier #1), a second carrier (Carrier #2), a third carrier (Carrier #3), and a fourth carrier (Carrier #4).

[0023] In this application, three bands are used as examples: a first band to which the first carrier belongs or which includes the first carrier, a second band to which the second carrier belongs or which includes the second carrier, and a third band to which the third carrier belongs or which includes the third carrier. Four bands are used as examples: a first band to which the first carrier belongs or which includes the first carrier, a second band to which the second carrier belongs or which includes the second carrier, a third band to which the third carrier belongs or which includes the third carrier, and a fourth band to which the fourth carrier belongs or which includes the fourth carrier. However, this application is not limited thereto. The three bands may have four or five carriers, and one band may have multiple carriers. A one-to-one correspondence between bands and carriers means that each band includes at least one carrier.

[0024] In other words, the technical solution can alternatively be understood as follows: a terminal device determines a first port configuration for performing a first uplink transmission within a first time unit, and the terminal device supports uplink switching on at least three bands or at least three carriers; and a terminal device determines a second port configuration for performing a second uplink transmission within a second time unit, and the first time unit is earlier than the second time unit. The terminal device performs a first operation based on the first port configuration and the second port configuration, and the terminal device performing the first operation includes at least one of the following: the terminal device is not expected to perform an uplink data transmission within a switching time required to switch from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; determining to switch a transmission state of a radio frequency chain when the terminal device performs the second uplink transmission within a second time unit; the terminal device determining that switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission is required; determining to perform switching before the terminal device performs the second uplink transmission; determining the switching time required for the terminal device to switch from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; or determining that the terminal device will not perform an uplink data transmission within the switching time required to switch from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission.

[0025] In this application, "the terminal device performs a first operation" may alternatively be understood as follows: the terminal device is not expected to perform uplink data transmission on at least three carriers within a switching time required to switch from a first uplink transmission to a second uplink transmission, and the at least three carriers belong to at least three bands, respectively (i.e., the at least three carriers have a one-to-one correspondence with the at least three bands), or the terminal device determines not to perform uplink data transmission on at least three carriers within a switching time required to switch from a first uplink transmission to a second uplink transmission, and the at least three carriers belong to at least three bands, respectively.

[0026] In the above description, the "transmission state of the terminal device" may be understood as the transmission state of the terminal device within a first time unit, or the transmission state of the terminal device corresponding to a first port configuration.

[0027] In this application, "uplink data" may include at least one of the following: a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), or an uplink signal (e.g., a sounding reference signal (SRS)).

[0028] In this application, a first carrier on a first band may alternatively be directly the first carrier. Correspondingly, a second carrier on a second band may alternatively be directly the second carrier. Correspondingly, a third carrier on a third band may alternatively be directly the third carrier. Correspondingly, a fourth carrier on a fourth band may alternatively be directly the fourth carrier.

[0029] In a possible implementation manner, when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band is one-port transmission or two-port transmission, and the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band and the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band are one-port transmission, respectively, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0030] In this application, "the second port configuration is to transmit..." may alternatively be understood as "when the second port configuration is to transmit...".

[0031] Based on the technical solution, according to this application, if the previous port configuration is "0P+1P+1P" and the later port configuration is "2P+0P+0P" or "1P+0P+0P", the terminal device needs to perform the first operation.

[0032] In a possible implementation manner, when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band and the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band are each one-port transmission, if the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission or two-port transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0033] Based on the technical solution, according to this application, if the previous port configuration is "0P+0P+1P" or "0P+0P+2P" and the later port configuration is "1P+1P+0P", the terminal device needs to perform the first operation.

[0034] In a possible implementation manner, when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band and the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band are each one-port transmission, if the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band and the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band are each one-port uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation; or when the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band and the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band are each one-port transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0035] Based on the technical solution, according to this application, if the previous port configuration is "1P+0P+1P" or "0P+1P+1P" and the later port configuration is "1P+1P+0P", the terminal device needs to perform a first operation.

[0036] In a possible implementation manner, when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band and the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band are each one-port transmission, and the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band and the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the fourth carrier on the fourth band are each one-port transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0037] Based on the technical solution, according to this application, if the previous port configuration is "1P+1P+0P+0P" and the later port configuration is "0P+0P+1P+0P", the terminal device needs to perform a first operation.

[0038] In a possible implementation manner, when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band is a two-port transmission, and the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band is a two-port transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0039] Based on the technical solution, according to this application, if the previous port configuration is "2P+0P" and the later port configuration is "0P+2P", the terminal device needs to perform a first operation.

[0040] Because the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during uplink transmission of the terminal device is limited, based on the solution provided in this application, in a scenario where the terminal device needs to switch the transmission state on at least three bands or at least three carriers, the terminal device can clearly know or determine the operating state, correctly switch the transmission state, and ensure the upload data transmission performance.

[0041] In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device performing a first operation based on the first port configuration and the second port configuration includes: the terminal device performing the first operation based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and a transmission state within a first time unit.

[0042] Based on the technical solution, in this application, the terminal device may determine an operating state based on the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission, the port configuration for the later uplink transmission, and the transmission state of the previous uplink transmission to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device determines that a transmission state of a radio frequency chain corresponding to a first port configuration is a first set and that a transmission state of a radio frequency chain corresponding to a second port configuration is a second set; if the terminal device determines, based on the first set and the second set, that an intersection set between the first set and the second set is the transmission state of the first radio frequency chain, and determines that the transmission state within the first time unit is not the transmission state of the first radio frequency chain, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0044] "Determining that the transmission state within the first time unit is not the transmission state of the first radio frequency chain" may alternatively be understood as "Determining that the transmission state within the first time unit does not include the transmission state of the first radio frequency chain."

[0045] Alternatively, the realization manner can be alternatively understood as follows: the transmission state of the first radio frequency chain is not included in the transmission state in the first time unit, or the transmission state in the first time unit does not include the transmission state of the first radio frequency chain, or the intersection set between the transmission state of the first radio frequency chain and the transmission state in the first time unit is empty.

[0046] In this application, considering that there are one or more transmission states of a radio frequency chain corresponding to some port configurations, in this case, the transmission states corresponding to the previous port configuration and the subsequent port configuration may be the same, and the terminal device cannot determine the operating state. Based on this, according to this application, when the previous uplink transmission state of the terminal device is different from one or more transmission states corresponding to the port configuration for the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation. Based on the technical solution, the terminal device can determine the operating state to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0047] In a possible implementation manner, when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band is one-port transmission, the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that one-port transmissions simultaneously performed on the first carrier on the first band and the third carrier on the third band are not supported, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0048] The realization manner may alternatively be described as follows: when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band is one-port transmission, and the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that one-port transmission is supported on the second carrier on the second band, or the transmission state of the terminal device is that two-port transmission is supported on the third carrier on the third band, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0049] Based on the technical solution, according to this application, if the previous port configuration is "0P+0P+1P" and the later port configuration is "1P+0P+0P", and the previous transmission state is not Tx state #2, or the previous transmission state is Tx state #3, or the previous transmission state is Tx state #6, the terminal device needs to perform a first operation.

[0050] In a possible implementation manner, when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band is one-port transmission, the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state is that one-port transmissions simultaneously performed on the first carrier on the first band and the second carrier on the second band are not supported, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0051] The realization manner may alternatively be described as follows: when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band is one-port transmission, and the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state is that one-port transmission is supported on the third carrier on the third band, or the transmission state is that two-port transmission is supported on the second carrier on the second band, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0052] Based on the technical solution, according to this application, if the previous port configuration is "0P+1P+0P" and the later port configuration is "1P+0P+0P", and the previous transmission state is not Tx state #1, or the previous transmission state is Tx state #3, or the previous transmission state is Tx state #5, the terminal device needs to perform a first operation.

[0053] In a possible implementation manner, when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band is one-port transmission, the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that one-port transmissions simultaneously performed on the second carrier on the second band and the third carrier on the third band are not supported, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0054] The realization manner may alternatively be described as follows: when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the carrier on the second band is one-port transmission, the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that one-port transmission is supported on the first carrier on the first band, or the transmission state of the terminal device is that two-port transmission is supported on the third carrier on the third band, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0055] Based on the technical solution, according to this application, if the previous port configuration is "0P+0P+1P" and the later port configuration is "0P+1P+0P", and the previous transmission state is not Tx state #3, or the previous transmission state is Tx state #2, or the previous transmission state is Tx state #6, the terminal device needs to perform a first operation.

[0056] In a possible implementation manner, when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band is one-port transmission, the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that two-port transmission is supported on the third carrier on the third band, the terminal device decides to switch the transmission state of the radio frequency chain.

[0057] Based on the technical solution, according to this application, if the previous port configuration is "0P+0P+1P", the later port configuration is "1P+0P+0P", and the previous transmission state is Tx state #6, the terminal device needs to perform a first operation.

[0058] In a possible implementation manner, when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band is one-port transmission, the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that two-port transmission is supported on the third carrier on the third band, the terminal device decides to switch the transmission state of the radio frequency chain.

[0059] Based on the technical solution, according to this application, if the previous port configuration is "0P+0P+1P", the later port configuration is "0P+1P+0P", and the previous transmission state is Tx state #6, the terminal device needs to perform a first operation.

[0060] In a possible implementation, the second port configuration corresponds to at least one transmission state, and if the at least one transmission state is different from the at least one transmission state corresponding to the first port configuration, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0061] Based on the technical solution, according to this application, when at least one transmission state corresponding to a later port configuration is different from at least one transmission state corresponding to a previous port configuration, the terminal device needs to perform a first operation, so that the terminal device determines the operation state to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0062] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the terminal device receives first radio resource control signaling from the network device, the first radio resource control signaling indicating that the terminal device is configured with a first option or a second option, the first option indicating that the terminal device is configured to perform switched uplink transmission, and the second option indicating that the terminal device is configured to perform dual uplink transmission.

[0063] Based on the technical solution, in this application, the network device may configure the terminal device to perform switched uplink transmission or dual uplink transmission, so that the terminal device can perform uplink switching on at least three bands or at least three carriers.

[0064] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the terminal device receives second radio resource control signaling from the network device, where the second radio resource control signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured to support uplink switching on three bands, or the second radio resource control signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured to support uplink switching on four bands.

[0065] Based on the technical solution, in this application, the network device may configure the terminal device to support uplink switching on at least three bands, so that the terminal device can perform flexible switching on multiple bands based on specific application scenarios.

[0066] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the terminal device receives third RRC signaling from the network device, the third RRC signaling indicating that the terminal device performs one radio frequency chain transmission or two radio frequency chain transmission on at least one band; and the terminal device determines a switching time for performing uplink transmission based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the third RRC signaling.

[0067] In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device determining a switching time for performing uplink transmission based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the third RRC signaling includes: the terminal device determines a switching time for performing uplink transmission based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the third RRC signaling and according to a predefined rule.

[0068] Based on the technical solution, in this application, the terminal device may determine an operation state, and may further determine, based on the third signaling, how to specifically switch between bands when performing uplink transmission, and determine a switching time for performing uplink transmission.

[0069] In a possible implementation manner, the predefined rule includes at least one of the following: if the terminal device supports uplink switching on three bands, the predefined rule may specify the priority of the three bands during uplink switching; or if the terminal device supports uplink switching on four bands, the predefined rule may specify the priority of the four bands during uplink switching.

[0070] In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device determining, based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the third RRC signaling and according to a predefined rule, a switching time for performing uplink transmission by the terminal device includes: the network device determining, based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, the third RRC signaling, and an operation manner of the radio frequency chain and according to a predefined rule, a switching time for performing uplink transmission by the terminal device.

[0071] In this application, the operation of the radio frequency chains may be understood as each of the radio frequency chains may operate independently, or each of the radio frequency chains may not operate independently.

[0072] In a possible implementation, the method further includes a step of receiving a fifth RRC signaling from the network device, the fifth RRC signaling being used to configure a band or carrier within the switching time.

[0073] In a possible implementation, the band or carrier during the switching time may be a switch from a band or a switch from a carrier. In another possible implementation, the band or carrier during the switching time may be a switch to a band or a switch to a carrier.

[0074] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the terminal device performs uplink data transmission on the resource scheduled by the network device based on the switching time.

[0075] Based on the technical solution, in this application, the terminal device may perform upload data transmission on resources scheduled by the network device based on the switching time to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0076] In a possible implementation, when the first uplink transmissions are at least two first uplink transmissions on at least two different fifth carriers, and the second uplink transmission is a second uplink transmission on a sixth carrier, the switching time from the first uplink transmissions to the second uplink transmissions is at least two corresponding switching times from the at least two first uplink transmissions to the second uplink transmissions.

[0077] For example, the at least two different fifth carriers correspond one-to-one to the at least two first uplink transmissions.

[0078] It should be noted that in this application, the fifth carrier or the sixth carrier is a general carrier name, which may be understood to include any of the first to fourth carriers (e.g., carrier #1 to carrier #4). Alternatively, the fifth carrier or the sixth carrier may be understood to be any of the first to fourth carriers (e.g., carrier #1 to carrier #4). The fifth band or the sixth band is a general band name, which may be understood to include any of the first to fourth bands (e.g., band #A to band #D). Alternatively, the fifth band or the sixth band may be understood to include any of the first to fourth bands (e.g., band #A to band #D).

[0079] In this application, "two different fifth carriers" may be understood as, for example, two different fifth carriers being any two different carriers among the first carrier to the fourth carrier (e.g., carrier #1 to carrier #4). For example, the "two different fifth carriers" may be the first carrier (e.g., carrier #1) and the second carrier (e.g., carrier #2). In another example, the "two different fifth carriers" may be the third carrier (e.g., carrier #3) and the fourth carrier (e.g., carrier #4). In yet another example, the "two different fifth carriers" may be the first carrier (e.g., carrier #1) and the third carrier (e.g., carrier #3). The above description is also applicable to the sixth carrier, i.e., "two different sixth carriers" may be understood in a similar manner.

[0080] In this application, the "sixth carrier" may be understood as a carrier different from the two different fifth carriers. For example, when the two different fifth carriers are any two different carriers among the first carrier to the fourth carrier, the "sixth carrier" may be any one of the remaining two carriers among the first carrier to the fourth carrier. For example, when the "two different fifth carriers" are the first carrier and the second carrier, the "sixth carrier" may be the third carrier or the fourth carrier. In another example, when the "two different fifth carriers" are the third carrier and the fourth carrier, the "sixth carrier" may be the first carrier or the second carrier. In yet another example, when the "two different fifth carriers" are the first carrier and the third carrier, the "sixth carrier" may be the second carrier or the fourth carrier. The above description is also applicable to the fifth carrier. For example, the "fifth carrier" may be understood as a carrier different from the two different sixth carriers.

[0081] Similarly, in this application, "two different fifth bands" may be understood as two different bands among the first to fourth bands. For example, the "two different fifth bands" may be the first band (e.g., band #A) and the second band (e.g., band #B). In another example, the "two different fifth bands" may be the third band (e.g., band #C) and the fourth band (e.g., band #D). In yet another example, the "two different fifth bands" may be the first band (e.g., band #A) and the third band (e.g., band #C). The above description is also applicable to the sixth band, i.e., "two different sixth bands" may be understood in a similar manner.

[0082] In this application, the "sixth band" may be understood as a band different from the two different fifth bands. For example, when the two different fifth bands are any two different bands among the first band to the fourth band, the "sixth band" may be any one of the remaining two bands among the first band to the fourth band. For example, when the "two different fifth bands" are the first band and the second band, the "sixth band" may be the third band or the fourth band. In another example, when the "two different fifth bands" are the third band and the fourth band, the "sixth band" may be the first band or the second band. In yet another example, when the "two different fifth bands" are the first band and the third band, the "sixth band" may be the second band or the fourth band. The above description is also applicable to the fifth band. For example, the "fifth band" may be understood as a band different from the two different sixth bands.

[0083] Based on the technical solution, in this application, the switching time may be two switching times corresponding to switching from two first uplink transmissions 1T+1T on two different carriers to two second uplink transmissions 2T on other carriers.

[0084] In a possible implementation, when the first uplink transmission is a first uplink transmission on a fifth carrier and the second uplink transmission is at least two second uplink transmissions on at least two different sixth carriers, the switching time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission is at least two corresponding switching times from the first uplink transmission to the at least two second uplink transmissions.

[0085] For example, the at least two different sixth carriers correspond one-to-one to the at least two second uplink transmissions.

[0086] In a possible implementation, each of the at least two different fifth carriers is different from the sixth carrier, and / or each of the at least two different sixth carriers is different from the fifth carrier.

[0087] Based on the technical solution, in this application, the switching time may be two switching times corresponding to switching from two first uplink transmissions 2T on one carrier to two second uplink transmissions 1T+1T on two different carriers.

[0088] In a possible implementation, when the first uplink transmissions are at least two first uplink transmissions on at least two different fifth carriers and the second uplink transmissions are at least two second uplink transmissions on at least two different sixth carriers, the switching time from the first uplink transmissions to the second uplink transmissions is at least two corresponding switching times from the at least two first uplink transmissions to the at least two second uplink transmissions.

[0089] In a possible implementation, at least two different fifth carriers correspond one-to-one to at least two first uplink transmissions, and at least two different sixth carriers correspond one-to-one to at least two second uplink transmissions.

[0090] In a possible implementation, each of the at least two fifth carriers is different from each of the at least two sixth carriers, or one of the at least two fifth carriers is the same as one of the at least two sixth carriers.

[0091] Based on the technical solution, in this application, the switching time may be two corresponding switching times from two first uplink transmissions to two second uplink transmissions, and the first uplink transmissions and the second uplink transmissions may share one carrier, or the first uplink transmissions and the second uplink transmissions may not share a carrier.

[0092] In a possible implementation, the first uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one fifth band, the second uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one sixth band, and the terminal device is not expected to perform an uplink transmission on a corresponding carrier within a switching time of at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, the corresponding carrier being associated with at least one band switching pair, each of the at least one band switching pair including one fifth band and one sixth band.

[0093] In this application, the bands included in a "band-switched pair" are different bands. For example, one fifth band and one sixth band included in a band-switched pair are different bands.

[0094] In a possible implementation, the first uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one fifth band, the second uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one sixth band, and the terminal device determines not to perform uplink transmission on a corresponding carrier within a switching time of at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, the corresponding carrier being associated with at least one band switching pair, each of the at least one band switching pair including one fifth band and one sixth band.

[0095] Based on the technical solution, in this application, the switching time may be the time of the carrier related to the switching.

[0096] In a possible implementation, the first uplink transmission includes at least one uplink transmission on a fifth band, and the second uplink transmission includes at least one uplink transmission on a sixth band, and the switching time includes at least one of the following: a maximum value of switching times corresponding to at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; a sum of switching times corresponding to at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; or a switching time corresponding to at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, and each of the at least one band switching pair includes one fifth band and one sixth band.

[0097] In a possible implementation, if the first uplink transmission includes uplink transmissions on at least two fifth bands, the at least two fifth bands are different; if the first uplink transmission includes uplink transmissions on at least two sixth bands, the at least two sixth bands are different; one of the at least two fifth bands is the same as one of the at least two sixth bands; or each fifth band is different from each sixth band.

[0098] In a possible implementation, the switching time of the at least one band switching pair is a switching time respectively corresponding to the at least one band switching pair.

[0099] Based on the technical solution, in this application, the switching time may be flexibly determined.

[0100] According to a second aspect, there is provided a method for determining to switch uplink transmission, which may be performed by a terminal device (e.g., user equipment) or a component (e.g., a chip or circuit) of the terminal device, but is not limited thereto.

[0101] The beneficial effects corresponding to the method refer to the beneficial effects corresponding to the implementation of the first aspect.

[0102] The method includes: a terminal device determining a first port configuration for performing a first uplink transmission within a first time unit, the terminal device supporting uplink switching on at least three bands or at least three carriers; a terminal device determining a second port configuration for performing a second uplink transmission within a second time unit, the first time unit being earlier than the second time unit; and a terminal device determining whether a first condition is met. If the terminal device determines that the first condition is met, the terminal device performs a first operation, the first operation including at least one of the following:

[0103] The terminal device is not expected to perform an uplink data transmission within a switching time required to switch from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, the terminal device determines to switch the transmission state of the radio frequency chain when performing the second uplink transmission within the second time unit, the terminal device determines that switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission is required, the terminal device determines to perform switching before performing the second uplink transmission, the terminal device determines the switching time required to switch from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, or the terminal device determines not to perform an uplink data transmission within the switching time required to switch from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission.

[0104] The first condition is that:

[0105] When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band is one-port transmission, the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that one-port transmissions simultaneously performed on the first carrier on the first band and the third carrier on the third band respectively are not supported; When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band is one-port transmission, and the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that one-port transmission is supported on the second carrier on the second band, or the transmission state of the terminal device is that two-port transmission is supported on the third carrier on the third band; When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band is one-port transmission, the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that one-port transmissions simultaneously performed on the second carrier on the second band and the third carrier on the third band respectively are not supported; When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the carrier on the second band is one-port transmission, and the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that one-port transmission is supported on the first carrier on the first band, or the transmission state of the terminal device is that two-port transmission is supported on the third carrier on the third band; When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band is one-port transmission, and the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that two-port transmission is supported on the third carrier on the third band; When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band is one-port transmission, the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that two-port transmission is supported on the third carrier on the third band; When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band is one-port transmission or two-port transmission, if the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band and the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band are one-port transmission respectively; When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band and the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band are each one-port transmission, and the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band is one-port transmission or two-port transmission; When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band and the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band are each one-port transmission, if the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band and the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band are each one-port uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation; or when the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band and the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band are each one-port transmission; When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band and the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band are each one-port transmission, the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier on the third band and the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the fourth carrier on the fourth band are each one-port transmission; or When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier on the second band is a two-port transmission, and the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier on the first band is a two-port transmission, Contains at least one of the following:

[0106] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the terminal device receives first radio resource control signaling from the network device, the first radio resource control signaling indicating that the terminal device is configured with a first option or a second option, the first option indicating that the terminal device is configured to perform switched uplink transmission, and the second option indicating that the terminal device is configured to perform dual uplink transmission.

[0107] In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device receives second radio resource control signaling from the network device, where the second radio resource control signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured to support uplink switching on three bands, or the second radio resource control signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured to support uplink switching on four bands.

[0108] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the terminal device receives third RRC signaling from the network device, the third RRC signaling indicating that the terminal device performs one radio frequency chain transmission or two radio frequency chain transmission on at least one band; and the terminal device determines a switching time for performing uplink transmission or performing the first operation based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the third RRC signaling.

[0109] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device receives third RRC signaling from the network device, the third RRC signaling indicating that the terminal device performs one radio frequency chain transmission or two radio frequency chain transmission on at least one band; and the terminal device determines a switching time for performing uplink transmission or performing the first operation based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the third RRC signaling and according to a predefined rule.

[0110] In a possible implementation manner, the predefined rule includes at least one of the following: if the terminal device supports uplink switching on three bands, the predefined rule may specify the priority of the three bands during uplink switching; or if the terminal device supports uplink switching on four bands, the predefined rule may specify the priority of the four bands during uplink switching.

[0111] In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device determining, based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the third RRC signaling and according to a predefined rule, a switching time for performing uplink transmission by the terminal device includes: the network device determining, based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, the third RRC signaling, and an operation manner of the radio frequency chain and according to a predefined rule, a switching time for performing uplink transmission by the terminal device.

[0112] In this application, the operation of the radio frequency chains may be understood as each of the radio frequency chains may operate independently, or each of the radio frequency chains may not operate independently.

[0113] In a possible implementation, the method further includes a step of receiving a fifth RRC signaling from the network device, the fifth RRC signaling being used to configure a band or carrier within the switching time.

[0114] In a possible implementation, the band or carrier during the switching time may be a switch from a band or a switch from a carrier. In another possible implementation, the band or carrier during the switching time may be a switch to a band or a switch to a carrier.

[0115] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the terminal device performs uplink data transmission on the resource scheduled by the network device based on the switching time.

[0116] In a possible implementation, when the first uplink transmissions are at least two first uplink transmissions on at least two different fifth carriers, and the second uplink transmission is a second uplink transmission on a sixth carrier, the switching time from the first uplink transmissions to the second uplink transmissions is at least two corresponding switching times from the at least two first uplink transmissions to the second uplink transmissions.

[0117] In a possible implementation, when the first uplink transmission is a first uplink transmission on a fifth carrier and the second uplink transmission is at least two second uplink transmissions on at least two different sixth carriers, the switching time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission is at least two corresponding switching times from the first uplink transmission to the at least two second uplink transmissions.

[0118] For example, the at least two different sixth carriers correspond one-to-one to the at least two second uplink transmissions.

[0119] In a possible implementation, each of the at least two different fifth carriers is different from the sixth carrier, and / or each of the at least two different sixth carriers is different from the fifth carrier.

[0120] In a possible implementation, when the first uplink transmissions are at least two first uplink transmissions on at least two different fifth carriers and the second uplink transmissions are at least two second uplink transmissions on at least two different sixth carriers, the switching time from the first uplink transmissions to the second uplink transmissions is at least two corresponding switching times from the at least two first uplink transmissions to the at least two second uplink transmissions.

[0121] In a possible implementation, at least two different fifth carriers correspond one-to-one to at least two first uplink transmissions, and at least two different sixth carriers correspond one-to-one to at least two second uplink transmissions.

[0122] In a possible implementation, each of the at least two fifth carriers is different from each of the at least two sixth carriers, or one of the at least two fifth carriers is the same as one of the at least two sixth carriers.

[0123] In a possible implementation, the first uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one fifth band, the second uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one sixth band, and the terminal device is not expected to perform an uplink transmission on a corresponding carrier within a switching time of at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, the corresponding carrier being associated with at least one band switching pair, each of the at least one band switching pair including one fifth band and one sixth band.

[0124] In this application, the bands included in a "band-switched pair" are different bands. For example, one fifth band and one sixth band included in a band-switched pair are different bands.

[0125] In a possible implementation, the first uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one fifth band, the second uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one sixth band, and the terminal device determines not to perform uplink transmission on a corresponding carrier within a switching time of at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, the corresponding carrier being associated with at least one band switching pair, each of the at least one band switching pair including one fifth band and one sixth band.

[0126] In a possible implementation, the first uplink transmission includes at least one fifth band and the second uplink transmission includes at least one sixth band, and the switching time includes at least one of the following: a maximum value of switching times corresponding to at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; a sum of switching times corresponding to at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; or a switching time corresponding to at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, each of the at least one band switching pair including one fifth band and one sixth band.

[0127] In a possible implementation, if the first uplink transmission includes uplink transmissions on at least two fifth bands, the at least two fifth bands are different; if the first uplink transmission includes uplink transmissions on at least two sixth bands, the at least two sixth bands are different; one of the at least two fifth bands is the same as one of the at least two sixth bands; or each fifth band is different from each sixth band.

[0128] In a possible implementation, the switching time of the at least one band switching pair is a switching time respectively corresponding to the at least one band switching pair.

[0129] According to a third aspect, there is provided a method for determining to switch uplink transmission, which may be performed by a network device (e.g., a base station) or a component (e.g., a chip or circuit) of the network device, but is not limited thereto.

[0130] The method includes: a network device transmitting first information to a terminal device, the first information indicating a first port configuration for performing a first uplink transmission by the terminal device within a first time unit; a network device transmitting second information to the terminal device, the second information indicating a second port configuration for performing a second uplink transmission by the terminal device within a second time unit; a network device transmitting third RRC signaling to the terminal device, the third RRC signaling indicating that the terminal device performs one radio frequency chain transmission or two radio frequency chain transmissions on at least one band; and a network device determining a switching time for performing uplink transmission by the terminal device based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the third RRC signaling.

[0131] In a possible implementation manner, the network device determining, based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the third RRC signaling, a switching time for performing uplink transmission by the terminal device includes: the network device determining, based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the third RRC signaling, a switching time for performing uplink transmission by the terminal device according to a predefined rule.

[0132] In a possible implementation manner, the predefined rule includes at least one of the following: if the terminal device supports uplink switching on three bands, the predefined rule may specify the priority of the three bands during uplink switching; or if the terminal device supports uplink switching on four bands, the predefined rule may specify the priority of the four bands during uplink switching.

[0133] In a possible implementation manner, the network device determining a switching time for performing uplink transmission by the terminal device based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the third RRC signaling and in accordance with a predefined rule includes: the network device determining a switching time for performing uplink transmission by the terminal device based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, the third RRC signaling, and an operation manner of the radio frequency chain and in accordance with a predefined rule.

[0134] In this application, the operation of the radio frequency chains may be understood as each of the radio frequency chains may operate independently, or each of the radio frequency chains may not operate independently.

[0135] In a possible implementation, the method further includes a step of receiving a fifth RRC signaling from the network device, the fifth RRC signaling being used to configure a band or carrier within the switching time.

[0136] In a possible implementation, the band or carrier during the switching time may be a switch from a band or a switch from a carrier. In another possible implementation, the band or carrier during the switching time may be a switch to a band or a switch to a carrier.

[0137] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the network device configures, for the terminal device, resources used for uplink transmission based on the switching time.

[0138] In a possible implementation, when the first uplink transmissions are at least two first uplink transmissions on at least two different fifth carriers, and the second uplink transmission is a second uplink transmission on a sixth carrier, the switching time from the first uplink transmissions to the second uplink transmissions is at least two corresponding switching times from the at least two first uplink transmissions to the second uplink transmissions.

[0139] In a possible implementation, when the first uplink transmission is a first uplink transmission on a fifth carrier and the second uplink transmission is at least two second uplink transmissions on at least two different sixth carriers, the switching time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission is at least two corresponding switching times from the first uplink transmission to the at least two second uplink transmissions.

[0140] For example, the at least two different sixth carriers correspond one-to-one to the at least two second uplink transmissions.

[0141] In a possible implementation, each of the at least two different fifth carriers is different from the sixth carrier, and / or each of the at least two different sixth carriers is different from the fifth carrier.

[0142] In a possible implementation, when the first uplink transmissions are at least two first uplink transmissions on at least two different fifth carriers and the second uplink transmissions are at least two second uplink transmissions on at least two different sixth carriers, the switching time from the first uplink transmissions to the second uplink transmissions is at least two corresponding switching times from the at least two first uplink transmissions to the at least two second uplink transmissions.

[0143] In a possible implementation, at least two different fifth carriers correspond one-to-one to at least two first uplink transmissions, and at least two different sixth carriers correspond one-to-one to at least two second uplink transmissions.

[0144] In a possible implementation, each of the at least two fifth carriers is different from each of the at least two sixth carriers, or one of the at least two fifth carriers is the same as one of the at least two sixth carriers.

[0145] In a possible implementation, the first uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one fifth band, the second uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one sixth band, and the terminal device is not expected to perform an uplink transmission on a corresponding carrier within a switching time of at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, the corresponding carrier being associated with at least one band switching pair, each of the at least one band switching pair including one fifth band and one sixth band.

[0146] In this application, the bands included in a "band-switched pair" are different bands. For example, one fifth band and one sixth band included in a band-switched pair are different bands.

[0147] In a possible implementation, the first uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one fifth band, the second uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one sixth band, and the terminal device determines not to perform uplink transmission on a corresponding carrier within a switching time of at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, the corresponding carrier being associated with at least one band switching pair, each of the at least one band switching pair including one fifth band and one sixth band.

[0148] In a possible implementation, the first uplink transmission includes at least one fifth band and the second uplink transmission includes at least one sixth band, and the switching time includes at least one of the following: a maximum value of switching times corresponding to at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; a sum of switching times corresponding to at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; or a switching time corresponding to at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, each of the at least one band switching pair including one fifth band and one sixth band.

[0149] In a possible implementation, if the first uplink transmission includes uplink transmissions on at least two fifth bands, the at least two fifth bands are different; if the first uplink transmission includes uplink transmissions on at least two sixth bands, the at least two sixth bands are different; one of the at least two fifth bands is the same as one of the at least two sixth bands; or each fifth band is different from each sixth band.

[0150] In a possible implementation, the switching time of the at least one band switching pair is a switching time respectively corresponding to the at least one band switching pair.

[0151] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a communication device configured to perform the method of any one of the first and second aspects and any one of possible implementations thereof. Specifically, the device may include a unit and / or module, such as a transceiver unit and / or a processing unit, configured to perform the method of any one of the first and second aspects and any one of possible implementations thereof.

[0152] In an implementation, the device is a terminal device. When the device is a communication device, the communication unit may be a transceiver or an input / output interface, and the processing unit may be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0153] In another implementation, the apparatus is a chip, chip system, or circuit used in a terminal device. When the apparatus is a chip, chip system, or circuit used in a communication device, the communication unit may be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, associated circuit, etc. of the chip, chip system, or circuit, and the processing unit may be at least one processor, processing circuit, logic circuit, etc.

[0154] According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a communication device configured to perform the method of any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect. Specifically, the device may include units and / or modules, such as a transceiver unit and / or a processing unit, configured to perform the method of any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect.

[0155] In an implementation, the device is a network device. When the device is a communication device, the communication unit may be a transceiver or an input / output interface, and the processing unit may be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0156] In another implementation, the apparatus is a chip, chip system, or circuit used in a network device. When the apparatus is a chip, chip system, or circuit used in a communication device, the communication unit may be an input / output interface, interface circuit, output circuit, input circuit, pin, associated circuit, etc. of the chip, chip system, or circuit, and the processing unit may be at least one processor, processing circuit, logic circuit, etc.

[0157] According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a communications device, the device including at least one processor configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in a memory to perform the method of any one of the first and second aspects and any one of possible implementations of the first and second aspects. Optionally, the device further includes a memory configured to store the computer program or instructions. Optionally, the device further includes a communications interface, through which the processor reads the computer program or instructions stored in the memory.

[0158] In an implementation, the device is a terminal device.

[0159] In another implementation, the apparatus is a chip, chip system or circuit used in a terminal device.

[0160] According to a seventh aspect, there is provided a communications device, the device including at least one processor configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in a memory to perform the method of any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect. Optionally, the device further includes a memory configured to store the computer program or instructions. Optionally, the device further includes a communications interface, through which the processor reads the computer program or instructions stored in the memory.

[0161] In an implementation, the device is a network device.

[0162] In another implementation, the apparatus is a chip, chip system, or circuit used in a network device.

[0163] According to an eighth aspect, the present application provides a processor including an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit, the processing circuit being configured to receive a signal through the input circuit and transmit a signal through the output circuit to enable the processor to perform a method according to any one of the first to third aspects and any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0164] In a specific implementation, the processor may be one or more chips, the input circuit may be an input pin, the output circuit may be an output pin, and the processing circuit may be a transistor, a gate circuit, a trigger, any logic circuit, etc. An input signal received by an input circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, received and input by a transceiver, and a signal output by an output circuit may be, for example, but not limited to, output to a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter, and the input circuit and the output circuit may be the same circuit, or a circuit may be used as an input circuit and an output circuit at different times. The specific implementation manner of the processor and various circuits is not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0165] Unless otherwise specified, or where operations such as transmitting and acquiring / receiving associated with a processor do not contradict the actual functions or internal logic in the relevant description, operations may be understood as operations such as output, receiving, and input performed by a processor, or as transmitting and receiving operations performed by a radio frequency circuit and an antenna, which is not limited in this application.

[0166] According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a processing device including a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to read instructions stored in the memory, receive signals through a transceiver, and transmit signals through a transmitter to perform the method of any one of the first to third aspects and any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0167] Optionally, there are one or more processors and one or more memories.

[0168] Optionally, the memory may be integrated with the processor, or the memory and processor may be located separately.

[0169] In a specific implementation, the memory may be a non-transitory memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM). The memory and the processor may be integrated into one chip or may be located separately on different chips. The type of memory and the manner in which the memory and the processor are located are not limited in this embodiment of this application.

[0170] It should be understood that a related data exchange process, such as transmitting instruction information, may be a process of outputting instruction information from a processor, and receiving capability information may be a process of receiving input capability information by a processor. Specifically, data output by a processor may be output to a transmitter, and input data received by a processor may be from a transceiver. The transmitter and transceiver may be collectively referred to as a transceiver.

[0171] The processing device according to the ninth aspect may be one or more chips. The processor in the processing device may be implemented using hardware or software. When the processor is implemented using hardware, the processor may be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc. When the processor is implemented using software, the processor may be a general-purpose processor and is implemented by reading software code stored in a memory. The memory may be integrated with the processor or may be located outside the processor and exist independently.

[0172] According to a tenth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing program code to be executed by a device, the program code being used to execute the method according to any one of the first to third aspects and any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0173] According to an eleventh aspect, there is provided a computer program product including instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enable the computer to perform the method according to any one of the first to third aspects and any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0174] According to a twelfth aspect, there is provided a chip system, the chip system including a processor configured to call a computer program from a memory and execute the computer program to enable a device in which the chip system is installed to perform a method in any one of the first to third aspects and any one of the possible implementation manners of the first to third aspects.

[0175] According to a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a communication system. The communication system includes a terminal device and a network device. The terminal device is a communication device according to any one of the first and second aspects. The network device is configured to execute a method according to any one of the possible implementation manners of the first and second aspects, and the network device is configured to execute a method according to any one of the possible implementation manners of the third aspect. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0176] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram of a system architecture to which this application is applicable. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic flowchart of a method 200 for determining to switch uplink transmissions according to the present application. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram of a communication device 100 according to the present application. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram of a communication device 200 according to the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0177] Below, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0178] Wireless communication systems to which embodiments of this application may be applied include, but are not limited to, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Long Term Evolution (LTE) frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, LTE systems, Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-Advanced, LTE-A) systems, next generation communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), and systems that integrate multiple access systems or evolved systems.

[0179] The technical solutions provided in this application may also be applied to machine-type communication (MTC), long-term evolution-machine (LTE-M) technology, device-to-device (D2D) networks, machine-to-machine (M2M) networks, Internet of Things (IoT) networks, or other networks. IoT networks may include, for example, the Internet of Vehicles. Communication methods in Internet of Vehicle systems are collectively referred to as vehicle-to-X (V2X, where X can represent anything). For example, V2X may include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication, vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication, etc.

[0180] The terminal device in the embodiments of this application may include various access terminals, mobile devices, user terminals, or user equipment having wireless communication capabilities. For example, the terminal device may be user equipment (UE), such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer (pad), a computer having wireless transmission and reception capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, or an augmented reality (AR) terminal device. Alternatively, the terminal device may be a wireless terminal in industrial control, a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, customer premise equipment (CPE), 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, a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone set, a session initiation protocol (SIP) telephone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device, another processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network, a terminal device in a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), etc.

[0181] A network device (e.g., a radio access network device) in an embodiment of this application may be an access device in a mobile communication system to which a terminal device is wirelessly connected. The radio access network device may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNB), or a Home NodeB, an access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, a transmission point (TP) or a transmission and reception point (TRP), or a macro base station, a micro base station, a high-frequency base station, etc. Alternatively, the radio access network device may be a next generation NodeB (gNB) in an NR system, or a component or some devices constituting a base station, such as a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a baseband unit (BBU). It should be understood that the specific technology and the specific device type used by the radio access network device are not limited in the embodiments of this application. In this application, a radio access network device is simply referred to as a network device for short. Unless otherwise specified, in this application, all network devices are radio access network devices. In this application, a network device may be the network device itself, or may be a chip used in a network device to complete wireless communication processing functions.

[0182] It should be understood that the scenario shown in Figure 1 is merely an example scenario used in the technical solution of this application. In this application, the terminal device also needs to switch between multiple bands in other scenarios. In other words, the technical solution of this application can be applied to various scenarios in which the terminal device needs to switch between multiple bands.

[0183] In a 5G new radio (NR) system, network devices (e.g., base stations) may transmit radio waves over very long distances with high transmission power. However, terminal devices have low transmission power and limited uplink coverage. As a result, when reaching the network device, the uplink transmission signal may not have sufficient received signal strength to ensure the coverage performance of the terminal device. Furthermore, the uplink spectrum may be insufficient. Therefore, it is impossible to ensure the uplink coverage performance of the terminal device through data retransmission.

[0184] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a scenario to which the technical solution of this application can be applied. As shown in FIG. 1, currently, a supplementary uplink (SUL) is used in NR as a substitute when uplink coverage in the NR system is insufficient. Since lower bands in long term evolution (LTE) typically have better coverage performance, for SUL, carriers on lower bands in LTE (e.g., 700 MHz, 1.8 GHz, or 2.1 GHz) are considered to be used for NR uplink transmission. Currently, it has been determined that when performing NR transmission by using an LTE band, a terminal device may reuse the band in LTE uplink time division duplex (TDD). Specifically, when a terminal device is within the coverage area of ​​a TDD intermediate band (2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz, or 4.9 GHz), the terminal device uses the TDD intermediate band. When a terminal device moves out of the coverage area of ​​the TDD mid-band (2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz, or 4.9 GHz), the terminal device may use the LTE low band in the uplink, which compensates for the weakness of the uplink coverage of the TDD mid-band and extends the uplink coverage area. Obviously, with future evolution, the terminal device may alternatively use other bands in the uplink as auxiliary uplinks to further extend the uplink coverage area.

[0185] It can also be understood that when a terminal device transmits uplink data on an NR band (e.g., 2.6 GHz), a carrier on a lower band in LTE (e.g., 700 MHz / 800 MHz / 900 MHz, 1.8 GHz, or 2.1 GHz) may be used for NR uplink transmission. The carrier can be understood as an SUL band. In other words, in an SUL scenario, it is assumed that the terminal device dynamically switches between multiple bands, such as 700 MHz / 800 MHz / 900 MHz, 1.8 GHz, 2.1 GHz, 3.5 GHz, or 4.9 GHz, based on the channel or load conditions of the corresponding band.

[0186] Currently, the protocol only defines the conditions under which a terminal device must switch the transmission state of a radio frequency chain when switching between two bands.When a terminal device needs to switch between at least three bands, how the terminal device determines whether the transmission state of a radio frequency chain needs to be switched has become a technical problem that needs to be solved.

[0187] In consideration of this, this application provides a method for determining to switch uplink transmission. When a terminal device supports uplink transmission switching on at least three bands, the terminal device can determine whether the transmission state of the current radio frequency chain needs to be switched to ensure uplink data transmission performance. In other words, based on the solution provided in this application, the terminal device can determine the operation that needs to be performed to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0188] The "radio frequency chain" in this application may alternatively be Tx, a transmit chain, an antenna, a radio frequency, a transmit channel, a transmit port, a receive channel, or any combination thereof, which will not be described in detail again below.

[0189] It should be understood that the term "band" referred to in the embodiments of this application may alternatively be understood as a "frequency band," a "frequency," or a "spectrum." A component carrier (CC) (which may simply be referred to as a "carrier") in this application may be understood as a carrier belonging to a band. For ease of understanding, in this application, carrier #1, carrier #2, carrier #3, and carrier #4 respectively represent different carriers on different bands. In this application, a first carrier, a second carrier, a third carrier, and a fourth carrier respectively represent different carriers on different bands.

[0190] In this application, a transmission radio frequency chain may alternatively be understood as a radio frequency chain that is used or can be used for transmission or transmission. Correspondingly, the number of transmission radio frequency chains may alternatively be understood as the number of radio frequency chains that are used or can be used for transmission or transmission. The number of transmission radio frequency chains may alternatively be understood as the "number of layers," the "number of antenna layers," or the "number of channels."

[0191] In this application, "support" may alternatively be written as "can support," "supported," or "can be supported," and "concurrently" may alternatively be written as "can simultaneously."

[0192] The term "switch" or "switching" referred to in the embodiments of this application may alternatively be understood as "switchover," "antenna switching," "radio frequency switching," or "radio frequency tuning / retuning." The term "switching time" referred to in the embodiments of this application may alternatively be understood as "carrier switching time," "carrier switchover time," "carrier switching period (period or interval)," or "switching gap." The term "switching time" referred to in the embodiments of this application may also be referred to as "switching time in carrier switching preparation time," "switching time in switching preparation advance," or "switching period." The term "switching time" referred to in the embodiments of this application may also be referred to as "switching delay."

[0193] In this application, the "port configuration" may be the number of ports, port numbers, number of layers, or number of streams, or may be demodulation reference signal (DMRS) ports, sounding reference signal (SRS) ports, channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) ports, antenna ports, or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) ports / physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) ports, or may be the number of DMRS ports, the number of SRS ports, the number of antenna ports, the number of PUSCH / PUCCH ports, etc. The information may be indicated by downlink control information (DCI), radio resource control (RRC) signaling, or DCI in combination with RRC signaling. For example, the information may be indicated by an antenna port or multiple antenna ports included in the DCI, or may be indicated by a port number or multiple port numbers or port index in the RRC signaling, or may be indicated by an antenna port or multiple antenna ports included in the DCI in combination with the RRC signaling.

[0194] In this application, "uplink data" may include at least one of the following: PUSCH, PUCCH, or uplink signals (eg, SRS).

[0195] This application assumes that a terminal device supports uplink switching on at least three bands or at least three carriers. For example, the terminal device may switch between Band #A, Band #B, Band #C, and Band #D. In another example, the terminal device may perform band switching on Band #A, Band #B, Band #C, and Band #D. For example, Band #A may be 3.5 GHz, Band #B may be 2.1 GHz, Band #C may be 1.8 GHz, and Band #D may be 700 MHz / 800 MHz / 900 MHz. For example, the terminal device may perform uplink switching on Carrier #1, Carrier #2, and Carrier #3. In another example, the terminal device may switch between Carrier #1, Carrier #2, Carrier #3, and Carrier #4.

[0196] In this application, the terms "transmission state," "state," "operational state," "state corresponding to port configuration," "radio frequency chain state," "radio frequency chain transmission state," and "Tx state" may be interchangeably described. In this application, "one port transmission" may be understood as "one antenna port transmission," "one port uplink transmission," "one antenna port uplink transmission," etc. In this application, "transmitting one radio frequency chain" may alternatively be described as "transmitting one radio frequency chain."

[0197] In this application, in possible implementations, a "previous uplink transmission" may alternatively be described as a "preceding uplink transmission," a "previous uplink transmission," etc. A "later uplink transmission" may alternatively be understood as a "current uplink transmission," a "target uplink transmission," etc.

[0198] In other possible implementations, the "previous uplink transmission" may alternatively be understood as the "current uplink transmission." The "later uplink transmission" may alternatively be described as the "uplink transmission to be performed," "target uplink transmission," etc.

[0199] In other possible implementations, the "previous uplink transmission" may alternatively be understood as the "first uplink transmission" or the "first uplink transmission." The "later uplink transmission" may alternatively be described as the "second uplink transmission," the "second uplink transmission," etc. The "first uplink transmission" is an uplink transmission that precedes the "second uplink transmission." Compared to the "second uplink transmission," the "first uplink transmission" is an uplink transmission that precedes the "second uplink transmission."

[0200] In this application, a "band pair" may alternatively be understood as a "band switching pair." A "band switching pair" may also be understood as switching from a band to a band. For example, if the uplink transmission before the terminal device is one-port uplink transmission performed on band #A and band #B, respectively, the uplink transmission after the terminal device is one-port uplink transmission performed on band #C and band #D, respectively. In another possible implementation, the "band switching pair" is band #A → band #C and band #B → band #D. In another possible implementation, the "band switching pair" is band #A → band #C and band #B → band #C.

[0201] It should be noted that a "band pair" or "band switching pair" referred to in this application is a band switching pair that is associated with switching from a first uplink transmission to a second uplink transmission.

[0202] In this application, "according to" may alternatively be understood as "based on."

[0203] In this application, the implementation solutions in the method 200 may be used in combination, or the implementation methods in the method 200 may be used in combination.

[0204] Specifically, when indicating a current data transmission for a terminal device, the base station may indicate a port configuration. When the terminal device needs to switch between at least three bands, there may be multiple transmission states of radio frequency chains for one or one type of antenna port transmission configuration. Therefore, in some cases, when the base station only indicates a port configuration, the terminal device does not determine whether the transmission state of the current radio frequency chain needs to be switched. As a result, the uplink data transmission performance of the terminal device may be affected. For example, the transmission state of the terminal device's radio frequency chain corresponding to the current port configuration may be the same as the transmission state of the terminal device's radio frequency chain corresponding to the port configuration indicated by the base station for the terminal device's uplink transmission in the next slot, i.e., the same transmission state of the radio frequency chain may support two port configurations. In this case, the terminal device does not need to switch the transmission state of the radio frequency chain. In another example, the transmission state of the terminal device's radio frequency chain corresponding to the current port configuration and the port configuration indicated by the base station for the terminal device's uplink transmission in the next slot change, i.e., the transmission state of the terminal device's radio frequency chain corresponding to the port configuration indicated by the base station, are supported under multiple transmission states of radio frequency chains. In this case, switching may be required. In yet another example, the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device corresponding to the current port configuration and the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device corresponding to the port configuration indicated by the base station for the uplink transmission of the terminal device in the next slot may be the same state or different states, that is, the port configuration indicated by the base station is supported under the transmission states of multiple radio frequency chains, and other signaling indicates that the transmission state of the next radio frequency chain is not the transmission state of the radio frequency chain corresponding to the current port configuration. In this case, switching is also required.

[0205] In this application, "corresponding to" may alternatively be understood as "located on" or "located on."

[0206] As described above, when a terminal device needs to switch between at least three bands, there are multiple transmission states of radio frequency chains for transmitting each antenna port transmission configuration. Hereinafter, Table 1 is used as an example for specific explanation. For example, the following Table 1 shows the transmission states of radio frequency chains that may exist when a terminal device supports uplink switching on three bands, and the port configurations supported in each transmission state of the radio frequency chain ("supported" can alternatively be understood as "corresponding to"). [Table 1]

[0207] Tx state #1 is used as an example for explanation. Tx state #1 indicates that the terminal device supports one radio frequency chain transmission on band #A (e.g., carrier #1 on band #A) and one radio frequency chain transmission on band #B (e.g., carrier #2 on band #B), and there is no radio frequency chain transmission on band #C. From Table 1, it can be seen that in Tx state #1, the terminal device may support three port configurations, which are respectively as follows: the terminal device performs one port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B; the terminal device performs one port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A; and the terminal device performs one port transmission on carrier #2 on band #B.

[0208] In this application, "performing one-port transmission" may alternatively be understood as the transmission of the terminal device on the carrier being one-port transmission, or one-port transmission being performed on the carrier.

[0209] In this application, "performing one radio frequency chain transmission respectively" may alternatively be understood as "performing transmission via one radio frequency chain respectively."

[0210] Tx state #6 is further used as an example for explanation. Tx state #6 indicates that the terminal device supports two radio frequency chain transmissions on band #C (e.g., carrier #3 on band #C). From Table 1, it can be seen that in Tx state #6, the terminal device may support two port configurations, which are respectively as follows: the terminal device performs two-port transmission on carrier #3 on band #C, and the terminal device performs one-port transmission on carrier #3 on band #C. It should be understood that the transmission states of other radio frequency chains in Table 1 may be understood with reference to Tx state #1 and Tx state #6, and will not be described by using examples one by one.

[0211] For example, if the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission of the terminal device is "0P+0P+1P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "1P+0P+0P." In this case, Table 1 may be rearranged to obtain Table 2. From Table 2, it can be seen that the port configuration of "0P+0P+1P" corresponds to Tx state #2, Tx state #3, and Tx state #6 of the terminal device, and the port configuration of "1P+0P+0P" corresponds to Tx state #1, Tx state #2, and Tx state #4 of the terminal device. Each port configuration may correspond to the transmission states of multiple radio frequency chains. Furthermore, in this example, Tx state #2 supports both the port configurations of "0P+0P+1P" and "1P+0P+0P." Therefore, in this port configuration, the terminal device does not determine whether the transmission state of the current radio frequency chain needs to be switched. In other words, in this port configuration, the operation that needs to be performed by the terminal device is unclear. As a result, the uplink data transmission performance of the terminal device is affected. [Table 2]

[0212] Similarly, the above problem also occurs when the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission of the terminal device is "0P+1P+0P" and the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "1P+0P+0P", or when the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission of the terminal device is "0P+0P+1P" and the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "0P+1P+0P".

[0213] It should be noted that various specific configuration methods of "previous port configuration" and "later port configuration" in Table 2 may be interchanged. For example, in some implementations, the "previous port configuration" may be "1P+0P+0P," and the corresponding "later port configuration" may be "0P+0P+1P." Alternatively, the "previous port configuration" may be "1P+0P+1P," and the corresponding "later port configuration" may be "0P+1P+0P." Alternatively, the "previous port configuration" may be "0P+1P+0P," and the corresponding "later port configuration" may be "0P+0P+1P." In this case, the above-mentioned problems still exist.

[0214] Regarding this problem, the following embodiments provide a method for determining to switch uplink transmission, so that the terminal device can determine the operation that needs to be performed to ensure uplink data transmission performance. The technical solutions provided in this application are described in detail below.

[0215] 2 is a schematic flowchart of a method 200 for determining to switch uplink transmission according to the present application. Each step shown in FIG. 2 is described below. It should be noted that steps represented by using dashed lines in FIG. 2 are optional and will not be repeated below. The method includes the following steps:

[0216] Optionally, step 201: a network device sends first radio resource control (RRC) signaling to a terminal device.

[0217] The first RRC signaling indicates at least one of the first option or the second option. In other words, the first RRC signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured with at least one of the first option, the second option, or the third option.

[0218] In an embodiment, the first RRC signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured with the second option or the third option.

[0219] The second option indicates that the terminal device performs dual uplink (dual UL) transmission or concurrent uplink (or 1Tx+1Tx) transmission. Alternatively, it can be understood that the terminal device may perform uplink transmission through two channels. The first option indicates that the terminal device performs switched uplink transmission or single uplink transmission. The third option indicates that the terminal device performs both switched uplink and dual uplink transmission.

[0220] In this application, "uplink transmission" may alternatively be understood as "uplink transmission." "Switched uplink transmission" may alternatively be understood as "switched uplink" or "switched transmission." "Dual uplink transmission" may alternatively be understood as "dual uplink" or "simultaneous transmission."

[0221] Step 202: The terminal device determines that the uplink transmission is dual uplink transmission or simultaneous uplink transmission.

[0222] For example, in a possible implementation manner, the terminal device may receive first RRC signaling from the network device, and determine, based on the first RRC signaling, that the uplink transmission is dual uplink transmission or simultaneous uplink transmission.

[0223] Optionally, step 203 is included: The network device sends second RRC signaling to the terminal device.

[0224] The second RRC signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured to perform uplink switching on at least three bands or at least three carriers. The second RRC signaling may indicate at least three bands on which the uplink transmission switching can be performed, or the second RRC signaling may indicate at least three carriers on which the uplink transmission switching can be performed. Optionally, the second RRC signaling may further indicate the number of radio frequency chains supported on each of the at least three bands (or at least three carriers) or the maximum number of radio frequency chains. The number of radio frequency chains may be configured per band or per serving cell on a band.

[0225] It should be understood that in this application, step 201 and step 203 may be performed simultaneously. In this case, the first RRC signaling and the second RRC signaling may be transmitted in the same message (e.g., the first message). Alternatively, it may be understood that the first message includes two information blocks, which are the first RRC signaling and the second RRC signaling, respectively.

[0226] For example, the second RRC signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured to perform uplink switching on three bands. In another example, the second RRC signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured to perform uplink switching on four bands. For example, the second RRC signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured to perform uplink switching on three carriers. In another example, the second RRC signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured to perform uplink switching on four carriers.

[0227] For example, the second RRC signaling indicates that the terminal device performs 2Tx transmissions on the 2.6 GHz band, the 4.9 GHz band, and the F band, respectively. Specifically, this may be alternatively understood as 2.6 GHz 160 MHz@2T + 4.9 GHz 160 MHz@2T + F 30 MHz@2T. In another example, the second RRC signaling indicates that the terminal device performs 2Tx transmissions on the 2.6 GHz band and the 4.9 GHz band, respectively, and performs 1Tx transmission on the F band and the A band, respectively. Specifically, this may be alternatively understood as FSA 2.6 GHz 160 MHz@2T + 4.9 GHz 160 MHz@2T + (F 30 MHz@1T + A 15 MHz@1T).

[0228] Step 204: The terminal device determines to perform uplink switching on at least three bands or at least three carriers.

[0229] For example, in a possible implementation manner, the terminal device receives second RRC signaling from the network device and determines, based on the second RRC signaling, that uplink switching may be performed on three bands or at least three carriers. In another example, in another possible implementation manner, the terminal device receives second RRC signaling from the network device and determines, based on the second RRC signaling, that uplink switching may be performed on four bands or at least four carriers.

[0230] The terminal device must ensure that the interval between two adjacent switching times is at least 500 microseconds or 14 symbols, and that the subcarrier spacing is 30 kHz. The terminal device may report the spacing requirement by using capability report information. Typically, the spacing requirement is reported when the total number of radio frequency chains on three or four bands is greater than a threshold. For example, the threshold is 5 Tx. The second RRC signaling indicates that the terminal device performs 2 Tx transmissions on the 2.6 GHz band, the 4.9 GHz band, and the F band, respectively. There are a total of 6 Tx transmissions on the three bands. If the UE's capability is that dynamic uplink transmission switching can only be performed within 5 Tx transmissions, the terminal device must report the spacing requirement. In another example, the second RRC signaling indicates that the terminal device performs 2 Tx transmissions on the 2.6 GHz band and the 4.9 GHz band, respectively, and 1 Tx transmission on the F band and the A band, respectively. There are a total of 6 Tx transmissions on the four bands. If the capability of a terminal device is such that dynamic uplink transmission switching can only be performed within 5 Tx transmissions, the terminal device needs to report a spacing requirement. This ensures that effective switching between multiple bands can still be performed when the terminal device's transmission capability for dynamic switching is exceeded. Optionally, the terminal device may report a more conservative capability value. For example, the terminal device needs to ensure that the interval between two adjacent switching times is at least 1000 microseconds or 14 symbols, and that the subcarrier spacing is 15 kHz. When reporting spacing requirements using capability reporting information, the terminal device may report an acceptable threshold value. The threshold value is the maximum value of the total number of radio frequency chains supported by all frequency bands when carrier switching is performed on three or four bands for dynamic uplink transmission.

[0231] Optionally, step 205: The network device sends the first information to the terminal device.

[0232] The first information indicates a first port configuration for performing a first uplink transmission by the terminal device within a first time unit.

[0233] In this application, the first information includes at least one first port configuration. Each of the at least one first port configurations is used by the terminal device to perform a first uplink transmission within a first time unit, each of the at least one first port configurations is used for a first uplink transmission performed by the terminal device within the first time unit, each of the at least one first port configurations is used for a first uplink transmission of the terminal device within the first time unit, or each of the at least one first port configurations is used for a first uplink transmission of the terminal device. The first information may be delivered using downlink control information (DCI) in combination with radio resource control (RRC) signaling, by using only DCI signaling, or by using only RRC signaling, but this is not limited thereto.

[0234] Step 206: The terminal device determines a first port configuration.

[0235] In this application, the first port configuration is used for the first uplink transmission.

[0236] In this application, there may be one or more first port configurations and one or more first uplink transmissions. Furthermore, at least one first port configuration is used for at least one first uplink transmission. The at least one first uplink transmission corresponds one-to-one to the at least one first port configuration.

[0237] For example, the terminal device determines at least one first port configuration for performing at least one first uplink transmission within a first time unit.

[0238] For example, in a possible implementation, a terminal device may receive first information from a network device and determine a first port configuration for performing a first uplink transmission within a first time unit.

[0239] Step 206 may alternatively be understood as the terminal device determining a port configuration for a previous or current uplink transmission.

[0240] Optionally, step 207: the network device sends the second information to the terminal device.

[0241] The second information indicates a second port configuration for performing a second uplink transmission by the terminal device within a second time unit.

[0242] In this application, the second information includes at least one second port configuration. Each of the at least one second port configuration is used to perform a second uplink transmission by the terminal device within the second time unit, each of the at least one second port configuration is used for a second uplink transmission performed by the terminal device within the second time unit, each of the at least one second port configuration is used for a second uplink transmission of the terminal device within the second time unit, or each of the at least one second port configuration is used for a second uplink transmission of the terminal device. The second information may be delivered using DCI in combination with RRC signaling, by using DCI signaling alone, or by using RRC signaling alone. This is not limited thereto.

[0243] It should be understood that in this application, step 205 and step 207 may be performed simultaneously. In another example, step 201, step 203, step 205, and step 207 may be performed simultaneously. In this case, for a specific implementation manner, refer to the relevant description in step 203. Details will not be described again. Alternatively, it can be understood that the execution order of any one of step 201, step 203, step 205, and step 207 is not limited.

[0244] Step 208: The terminal device determines a second port configuration.

[0245] In this application, the second port configuration is used for a second uplink transmission.

[0246] In this application, there may be one or more second port configurations and one or more second uplink transmissions. Furthermore, at least two second port configurations are used for at least two second uplink transmissions. The at least two second uplink transmissions correspond one-to-one to at least one second port configuration.

[0247] For example, the terminal device determines at least one second port configuration for performing at least one second uplink transmission within a second time unit.

[0248] For example, in a possible implementation, the terminal device may receive second information from the network device and determine a second port configuration for performing a second uplink transmission within a second time unit.

[0249] Step 208 may alternatively be understood as the terminal device determining a port configuration for current or future uplink transmissions.

[0250] When step 206 is for the terminal device to determine the port configuration for a previous uplink transmission, step 208 is for the terminal device to determine the port configuration for a current uplink transmission.When step 206 is for the terminal device to determine the port configuration for a current uplink transmission, step 208 is for the terminal device to determine the port configuration for a subsequent uplink transmission.

[0251] Obviously, alternatively, when step 206 is for the terminal device to determine a port configuration for a previous uplink transmission, it can be understood that step 208 is for the terminal device to determine a port configuration for a later uplink transmission, where the "previous" and "later" uplink transmissions are two adjacent uplink transmissions or two uplink transmissions in time order.

[0252] In this application, the first time unit being earlier than the second time unit can be understood as follows: The first time unit and the second time unit are time units in a certain order, or the first time unit is the previous time unit. That is, the first time unit is the time unit earlier than the second time unit. Specifically, the first time unit and the second time unit may be adjacent time units. Specifically, the first time unit may alternatively not be adjacent to the second time unit, but the first time unit is the time unit before the second time unit. In conclusion, the first uplink transmission is an uplink transmission before the second uplink transmission. This is not a limitation in this application.

[0253] In this application, a "time unit" may be, for example, one or more radio frames, one or more subframes, one or more slots, one or more minislots, or one or more symbols. A symbol may be an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, a discrete fourier transform spread spectrum orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM) symbol, etc. Alternatively, a time unit may be one or more seconds (abbreviated as "s"), or one or more milliseconds (abbreviated as "ms"). For example, a first time unit may be slot #1 and a second time unit may be slot #2. In another example, a first time unit may be the second symbol in slot #3, and a second time unit may be the fourth symbol in slot #4.

[0254] Step 209: The terminal device performs a first operation based on the first port configuration and the second port configuration, or the terminal device performs a first operation based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration and the transmission state of the first uplink transmission.

[0255] Step 209 may alternatively be understood as the terminal device performing a first operation based on the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission and the port configuration for the later uplink transmission (in some cases, the previous uplink transmission state needs to be further taken into consideration).

[0256] In this application, "the terminal device performs a first operation" may alternatively be one of the following descriptions. For example, the terminal device is not expected to perform an uplink data transmission within a switching time required to switch from a first uplink transmission to a second uplink transmission. In another example, the terminal device is not expected to perform an uplink data transmission on at least three carriers within a switching time required to switch from a first uplink transmission to a second uplink transmission. The at least three carriers belong to (or may alternatively be understood as "located in") at least three bands, respectively (i.e., the at least three carriers correspond one-to-one to the at least three bands). In another example, the terminal device determines to switch the transmission state of the radio frequency chain when performing a second uplink transmission within a second time unit. For example, the terminal device determines that switching from a first uplink transmission to a second uplink transmission is required. In another example, the terminal device determines to perform the switching before performing the second uplink transmission. For example, the terminal device determines the switching time required to switch from a first uplink transmission to a second uplink transmission. In another example, the terminal device determines not to perform an uplink data transmission within a switching time required to switch from a first uplink transmission to a second uplink transmission. In yet another example, the terminal device determines not to perform an uplink data transmission on at least three carriers within a switching time required to switch from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, the at least three carriers belonging to at least three bands respectively.

[0257] In yet another example, the terminal device determines not to perform uplink data transmission on a carrier associated with switching among the at least three carriers within a switching time required to switch from a first uplink transmission to a second uplink transmission. The terminal device performs uplink data transmission on a carrier not associated with switching among the at least three carriers. Based on the capability of the terminal device, when the terminal device supports a case where, in a switching process of one radio frequency chain, other radio frequency chains can operate independently without being affected by the radio frequency chain, the terminal device may not perform uplink data transmission only on the carrier associated with switching.

[0258] In another example, the terminal device determines, within a switching time required to switch from a first uplink transmission to a second uplink transmission, not to perform uplink data transmission on a carrier associated with the switching among the at least three carriers within the corresponding switching time. The terminal device performs uplink data transmission on a carrier not associated with the switching among the at least three carriers. Based on the capability of the terminal device, when the terminal device supports a case in which, during the switching process of one radio frequency chain, other radio frequency chains can operate independently without being affected by the radio frequency chain, the terminal device may not perform uplink data transmission only on the carrier associated with the switching within the corresponding switching time. Examples are described below.

[0259] In one example, a first switching time is required for a terminal device to switch from a carrier on band #A to a carrier on band #B, and a second switching time is required to switch from a carrier on band #C to a carrier on band #D. When a terminal device switches from one port transmission on band #A and one port transmission on band #C to one port transmission on band #B and one port transmission on band #D, if the switching is from band #A to band #B and from band #C to band #D, the terminal device does not perform uplink transmission during the first switching time from the carrier on band #A to the carrier on band #B, and the terminal device does not perform uplink transmission during the second switching time from the carrier on band #C to the carrier on band #D. The first switching time and the second switching time may be the same value or different values. When the first switching time is different from the second switching time, transmission can be performed on one radio frequency chain and transmission cannot be performed on the other radio frequency chain during the time range of the difference between the first switching time and the second switching time. For example, if the first switching time is greater than the second switching time, when the terminal device is not switching from a carrier on band A to a carrier on band #B, the terminal device is switching from a carrier on band #C to a carrier on band #D. Thus, uplink transmission on the carrier on band #D may start earlier.

[0260] In another example, a first switching time is required for a terminal device to switch from a carrier on band #A to a carrier on band #B, a second switching time is required for switching from a carrier on band #C to a carrier on band #D, a third switching time is required for switching from a carrier on band #A to a carrier on band #D, and a fourth switching time is required for switching from a carrier on band #C to a carrier on band #B. When a terminal device switches from one port transmission on band #A and one port transmission on band #C to one port transmission on band #B and one port transmission on band #D, if the switching is from band #A to band #D and from band #C to band #B, the terminal device does not perform an uplink transmission from the carrier on band #A to the carrier on band #D within the third switching time, and the terminal device does not perform an uplink transmission from the carrier on band #C to the carrier on band #B within the fourth switching time. The third switching time and the fourth switching time may be the same value or different values. When the third switching time is different from the fourth switching time, during the time range of the difference between the third switching time and the fourth switching time, transmission can be performed on one radio frequency chain and transmission cannot be performed on the other radio frequency chain. For example, when the third switching time is greater than the fourth switching time, when the terminal device is not switching from a carrier on band #A to a carrier on band #D, the terminal device is switching from a carrier on band #C to a carrier on band #B. Therefore, uplink transmission on the carrier on band #B may start earlier.

[0261] In yet another example, a first switching time is required for a terminal device to switch from a carrier on band #A to a carrier on band #B, a second switching time is required for switching from a carrier on band #C to a carrier on band #D, a third switching time is required for switching from a carrier on band #A to a carrier on band #D, and a fourth switching time is required for switching from a carrier on band #C to a carrier on band #B. When a terminal device switches from one port transmission on band #A and one port transmission on band #C to one port transmission on band #B and one port transmission on band #D, if it cannot determine whether the switching is from band #A to band #D and from band #C to band #B, or from band #A to band #B and from band #C to band #D, the terminal device does not perform uplink transmission within Max {first switching time, second switching time, third switching time, and fourth switching time}. That is, the terminal device does not perform uplink transmission within the maximum of four switching times. When performing uplink scheduling transmission, the network device also follows the principle and does not perform uplink scheduling transmission within Max {first switching time, second switching time, third switching time and fourth switching time}.

[0262] In this application, the terminal device determines whether a first condition is met, and if the terminal device determines that the first condition is met, the terminal device performs a first action. The "first condition" includes at least one possible implementation method of any one of the following implementation solutions:

[0263] Alternatively, the terminal device may be understood as performing a first operation based on the first port configuration and the second port configuration (in some cases, the transmission state within the first time unit needs to be further considered). The following solutions may be specifically included. Various implementation solutions in this embodiment are specifically described below.

[0264] It should be noted that in the following solutions D1, D2, F1, F2, G1, and G2, the terminal device may determine that a first action needs to be performed based on the first port configuration and the second port configuration. In the following solutions A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2, the terminal device may determine that a first action needs to be performed based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the transmission state within the first time unit.

[0265] In this application, a first carrier on a first band (e.g., carrier #1 on band #A), a second carrier on a second band (e.g., carrier #2 on band #B), a third carrier on a third band (e.g., carrier #3 on band #C), and a fourth carrier on a fourth band (e.g., carrier #4 on band #D) are used as examples for illustration purposes.

[0266] Solution A1

[0267] In one example, if the port configuration for the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "0P+0P+1P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "1P+0P+0P." Alternatively, if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a 1-port transmission performed on carrier #3 on band #C, it can be understood that the terminal device should perform a 1-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A. See Table 3 below for the transmission states of the radio frequency chains corresponding to the port configurations. [Table 3]

[0268] Specifically, in the port configuration, there may be two implementation methods:

[0269] Implementation method 1

[0270] If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that simultaneous one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C, respectively, is not supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which simultaneous transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C is not supported during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0271] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is that one-port transmission on carrier #2 on band #B is supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which one-port transmission is performed on carrier #2 on band #B during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0272] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that one-port transmission is supported on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C, respectively, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which one-port transmission can be performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0273] For example, the transmission state of the previous uplink transmission is Tx state #3. In this case, the terminal device needs to perform a first operation based on the subsequent port configuration. For example, Tx state #3 is switched to Tx state #1. In another example, Tx state #3 is switched to Tx state #2. In yet another example, Tx state #3 is switched to Tx state #4.

[0274] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission was such that two-port transmission was supported on carrier #3 on band #C, the terminal device determines a switching behavior. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device was in a transmission state in which two-port transmission could be performed simultaneously on carrier #3 on band #C during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determined that a carrier on which the terminal device could perform simultaneous transmission during the previous uplink transmission is located in the third band, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, the transmission state of the previous uplink transmission was Tx state #6. In this case, the terminal device needs to perform a first operation based on the subsequent port configuration. For example, Tx state #6 is switched to Tx state #1. In another example, Tx state #6 is switched to Tx state #2. In yet another example, Tx state #6 is switched to Tx state #4.

[0275] The different schemes described above (or similar explanations) are also applicable to any other embodiment of this application.

[0276] The first implementation method may alternatively be understood as follows: if the terminal device determines that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is not Tx State #2, the terminal device may determine that a first operation needs to be performed. In other words, the first implementation method may alternatively be understood as the terminal device determining that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain corresponding to the first port configuration is a first set (e.g., the first set is {Tx State #2, Tx State #3, and Tx State #6}), determining that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain corresponding to the second port configuration is a second set (e.g., the second set is {Tx State #1, Tx State #2, and Tx State #4}), and determining, based on the first set and the second set, that the intersection set between the first set and the second set is the transmission state of the first radio frequency chain (e.g., Tx State #2), and determining that the transmission state within the first time unit is not the transmission state of the first radio frequency chain. In this case, the terminal device performs the first operation (alternatively, the transmission state of the first radio frequency chain is not included in the transmission state in the first time unit, or the transmission state in the first time unit does not include the transmission state of the first radio frequency chain, or the intersection set between the transmission state of the first radio frequency chain and the transmission state in the first time unit is empty). It should be understood that the implementation method 1 can be similarly understood in each of the following implementation solutions.

[0277] As shown in Table 4 below, in the implementation mode 1, the transmission states corresponding to the previous port configuration of the terminal device are Tx state #3 and Tx state #6, and the transmission states corresponding to the later port configuration are Tx state #1, Tx state #2, and Tx state #4. Therefore, in the implementation mode 1, for the later port configuration, the terminal device needs to perform the first operation. [Table 4]

[0278] Implementation method 2

[0279] If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C is supported (i.e., the transmission state is Tx state #2), the terminal device further needs to determine whether to perform the first operation based on the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission.

[0280] For example, if the terminal device determines that the state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is such that simultaneous one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B is supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determines that the terminal device is in a transmission state in which transmission can be performed simultaneously on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B during the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, Tx state #2 is switched to Tx state #1.

[0281] In another example, if the terminal device determines that the state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is such that two-port transmissions can be simultaneously supported on carrier #1 on band #A, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determines that the terminal device is in a transmission state in which two-port transmissions can be simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A during the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device determines to perform a first operation. For example, Tx state #2 is switched to Tx state #4.

[0282] Alternatively, implementation method 2 can be understood as follows. If the terminal device determines that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is Tx state #2, the terminal device further needs to refer to the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission (i.e., the transmission state within the second time unit) to determine whether the first operation needs to be performed. As shown in Table 5 below, in implementation method 2, the transmission state corresponding to the previous port configuration of the terminal device is Tx state #2. If the terminal device determines that the transmission states corresponding to the subsequent port configuration are Tx state #1 and Tx state #4, the terminal device performs the first operation. It should be understood that implementation method 2 can be understood in the same way in each of the following implementation solutions. [Table 5]

[0283] Solution A2

[0284] In one example, if the port configuration for the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "1P+0P+0P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "0P+0P+1P." This can alternatively be understood as meaning that if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a 1-port transmission performed on carrier #1 on band #A, the terminal device should perform a 1-port transmission on carrier #3 on band #C. See Table 6 below for the transmission states of the radio frequency chains corresponding to the port configurations. [Table 6]

[0285] Specifically, in the port configuration, there may be two implementation methods:

[0286] Implementation method 1

[0287] If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that simultaneous one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C, respectively, is not supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which simultaneous transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C is not supported during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0288] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is that one-port transmission on carrier #2 on band #B is supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which one-port transmission is performed on carrier #2 on band #B during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0289] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that one-port transmission is supported on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C, respectively, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which one-port transmission can be performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, if the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is Tx state #1, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0290] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission was such that two-port transmission was supported on carrier #3 on band #C, the terminal device determines a switching behavior. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device was in a transmission state in which two-port transmission can be performed simultaneously on carrier #3 on band #C during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a switching behavior. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determined that a carrier on which the terminal device could perform simultaneous transmission during the previous uplink transmission is located in the first band, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, if the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission was Tx state #4, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0291] The first implementation method can alternatively be understood as follows. If the terminal device determines that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is not Tx State #2, the terminal device may determine that a first operation needs to be performed. As shown in Table 7 below, in the first implementation method, the transmission states corresponding to the previous port configuration of the terminal device are Tx State #1 and Tx State #4, and the transmission states corresponding to the later port configuration are Tx State #2, Tx State #3, and Tx State #6. Therefore, in the first implementation method, for the later port configuration, the terminal device needs to perform a first operation. [Table 7]

[0292] Implementation method 2

[0293] If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that simultaneous one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C is supported, the terminal device further needs to determine whether to perform the first operation based on the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission. For example, if the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is Tx state #2, the terminal device needs to determine whether to perform the first operation based on the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission.

[0294] For example, if the terminal device determines that the state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is such that simultaneous one-port transmissions on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C are supported, the terminal device performs the first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determines that the terminal device is in a transmission state in which transmissions can be performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C during the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device performs the first operation. For example, if the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is Tx state #3, the terminal device performs the first operation.

[0295] In another example, if the terminal device determines that the state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is such that two-port transmissions performed simultaneously on carrier #3 on band #C are supported, the terminal device performs the first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determines that the terminal device is in a transmission state in which two-port transmissions can be performed simultaneously on carrier #3 on band #C during the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device determines to perform the first operation. For example, if the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is Tx state #6, the terminal device performs the first operation.

[0296] Alternatively, the implementation method 2 can be understood as follows. If the terminal device determines that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is Tx state #2, the terminal device further needs to refer to the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission (i.e., the transmission state within the second time unit) to determine whether the first operation needs to be performed. As shown in Table 8 below, in the implementation method 2, the transmission state corresponding to the previous port configuration of the terminal device is Tx state #2. If the terminal device determines that the transmission states corresponding to the subsequent port configuration are Tx state #3 and Tx state #6, the terminal device performs the first operation. [Table 8]

[0297] Solution B1

[0298] In one example, if the port configuration for a terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "0P+1P+0P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "1P+0P+0P." This can alternatively be understood as meaning that if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a one-port transmission performed on carrier #2 on band #B, the terminal device should perform a one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A. Table 9 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the port configuration for the later uplink transmission. [Table 9]

[0299] Specifically, in the port configuration, there may be two implementation methods:

[0300] Implementation method 1

[0301] If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that simultaneous one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B, respectively, is not supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which simultaneous transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B is not supported during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0302] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is that one-port transmission on carrier #3 on band #C is supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which one-port transmission is performed on carrier #3 on band #C during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0303] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that one-port transmission is supported on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C, respectively, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device was in a transmission state in which one-port transmission can be performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, Tx state #3 → Tx state #1. In another example, Tx state #3 → Tx state #2. In yet another example, Tx state #3 → Tx state #4.

[0304] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission was such that two-port transmission was supported on carrier #2 on band #B, the terminal device determines a switching behavior. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device was in a transmission state in which two-port transmission could be performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a switching behavior. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determined that a carrier on which the terminal device could perform simultaneous transmission during the previous uplink transmission is located in the second band, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, Tx state #5 → Tx state #1, Tx state #5 → Tx state #2, Tx state #5 → Tx state #4.

[0305] The implementation method 1 can alternatively be understood as follows: If the terminal device determines that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is not Tx state #1, the terminal device may determine that a first operation needs to be performed. Table 10 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the later uplink transmission in the implementation method 1. [Table 10]

[0306] Implementation method 2

[0307] If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that one-port transmission performed simultaneously on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B is supported, the terminal device further needs to determine whether to perform the first operation based on the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the later uplink transmission.

[0308] For example, if the terminal device determines that the state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is such that one-port transmissions performed simultaneously on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C are supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determines that it is in a transmission state in which transmissions can be performed simultaneously on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C during the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, Tx state #1 → Tx state #2.

[0309] In another example, if the terminal device determines that the state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is such that two-port transmission is supported simultaneously on carrier #1 on band #A, the terminal device performs the first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determines that the terminal device is in a transmission state in which two-port transmission can be performed simultaneously on carrier #1 on band #A during the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device determines to perform the first operation. For example, Tx state #1 → Tx state #4.

[0310] The implementation method 2 can alternatively be understood as follows: If the terminal device determines that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is Tx state #1, the terminal device further needs to refer to the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission (i.e., the transmission state within the second time unit) to determine whether the first operation needs to be performed. The following Table 11 shows the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the subsequent uplink transmission. [Table 11]

[0311] Solution B2

[0312] In one example, if the port configuration for a terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "1P+0P+0P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "0P+1P+0P." This can alternatively be understood as meaning that if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a 1-port transmission performed on carrier #1 on band #A, the terminal device should perform a 1-port transmission on carrier #2 on band #B. Table 12 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the port configuration for the later uplink transmission. [Table 12]

[0313] Specifically, in the port configuration, there may be two implementation methods:

[0314] Implementation method 1

[0315] If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that simultaneous one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B, respectively, is not supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which simultaneous transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B is not supported during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0316] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is that one-port transmission on carrier #3 on band #C is supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which one-port transmission is performed on carrier #3 on band #C during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0317] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission was such that one-port transmission was supported on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C, respectively, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device was in a transmission state in which one-port transmission could be performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, Tx state #2 → Tx state #1. In another example, Tx state #2 → Tx state #3. In yet another example, Tx state #2 → Tx state #5.

[0318] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission was such that two-port transmission was supported on carrier #2 on band #B, the terminal device determines a switching behavior. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device was in a transmission state in which two-port transmission could be performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a switching behavior. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determined that a carrier on which the terminal device could perform simultaneous transmission during the previous uplink transmission is located in the first band, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, Tx state #4 → Tx state #1. In another example, Tx state #4 → Tx state #3. In yet another example, Tx state #4 → Tx state #5.

[0319] The implementation method 1 can alternatively be understood as follows: If the terminal device determines that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is not Tx state #1, the terminal device may determine that a first operation needs to be performed. Table 13 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the later uplink transmission in the implementation method 1. [Table 13]

[0320] Implementation method 2

[0321] If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that one-port transmission performed simultaneously on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B is supported, the terminal device further needs to determine whether to perform the first operation based on the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the later uplink transmission.

[0322] For example, if the terminal device determines that the state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is such that one-port transmissions performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C are supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determines that it is in a transmission state in which transmissions can be performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C during the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, Tx state #1 → Tx state #3.

[0323] In another example, if the terminal device determines that the state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is such that two-port transmissions are supported simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B, the terminal device performs the first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determines that the terminal device is in a transmission state in which two-port transmissions can be performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B during the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device determines to perform the first operation. For example, Tx state #1 → Tx state #5.

[0324] Alternatively, the implementation method 2 can be understood as follows: If the terminal device determines that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is Tx state #1, the terminal device further needs to refer to the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission (i.e., the transmission state within the second time unit) to determine whether the first operation needs to be performed. Table 14 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the subsequent uplink transmission in the implementation method 2. [Table 14]

[0325] Solution C1

[0326] In one example, if the port configuration for a terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "0P+0P+1P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "0P+1P+0P." This can alternatively be understood as meaning that if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a one-port transmission performed on carrier #3 on band #C, the terminal device should perform a one-port transmission on carrier #2 on band #B. Table 15 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the port configuration for the later uplink transmission. [Table 15]

[0327] Specifically, in the port configuration, there may be two implementation methods:

[0328] Implementation method 1

[0329] If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that simultaneous one-port transmission on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C, respectively, is not supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which simultaneous transmission on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C is not supported during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0330] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A is supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device was in a transmission state in which one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A can be performed during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0331] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that simultaneous and concurrent one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C is supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which simultaneous one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C is supported during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, Tx state #2 → Tx state #1. Another example is Tx state #2 → Tx state #3. Yet another example is Tx state #2 → Tx state #5.

[0332] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission was such that two-port transmission was supported on carrier #3 on band #C, the terminal device determines a switching behavior. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device was in a transmission state in which two-port transmission could be performed simultaneously on carrier #3 on band #C during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a switching behavior. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determined that a carrier on which the terminal device could perform simultaneous transmission during the previous uplink transmission is located in the third band, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, Tx state #6 → Tx state #1. In another example, Tx state #6 → Tx state #3. In another example, Tx state #6 → Tx state #5.

[0333] The implementation method 1 can alternatively be understood as follows: If the terminal device determines that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is not Tx state #3, the terminal device may determine that a first operation needs to be performed. Table 16 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the later uplink transmission in the implementation method 1. [Table 16]

[0334] Implementation method 2

[0335] If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C is supported, the terminal device further needs to determine whether to perform the first operation based on the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the later uplink transmission.

[0336] For example, if the terminal device determines that the state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is such that simultaneous one-port transmissions on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C are supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determines that the terminal device is in a transmission state in which transmissions can be simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C during the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0337] For example, Tx state #3 → Tx state #1.

[0338] In another example, if the terminal device determines that the state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is such that two-port transmissions are supported simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B, the terminal device performs the first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determines that the terminal device is in a transmission state in which two-port transmissions can be performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B during the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device determines to perform the first operation. For example, Tx state #3 → Tx state #5.

[0339] Alternatively, the implementation method 2 can be understood as follows: If the terminal device determines that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is Tx state #3, the terminal device further needs to refer to the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission (i.e., the transmission state within the second time unit) to determine whether the first operation needs to be performed. Table 17 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the subsequent uplink transmission in the implementation method 2. [Table 17]

[0340] Based on solutions A1, B1 and C1, according to this application, when the port configuration of a terminal device for a previous uplink transmission is to perform one-port uplink transmission or two-port uplink transmission on one band, and the port configuration for a later uplink transmission is to perform one-port uplink transmission on another band, this can alternatively be understood as when there is no shared band (overlapping band) between the previous uplink transmission and the later uplink transmission, the terminal device may determine whether a switch needs to be performed in the port configuration (or whether data transmission needs to be interrupted) to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0341] Solution C2

[0342] In one example, if the port configuration for a terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "0P+1P+0P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "0P+0P+1P." This can alternatively be understood as meaning that if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a one-port transmission performed on carrier #2 on band #B, the terminal device should perform a one-port transmission on carrier #3 on band #C. Table 18 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the port configuration for the later uplink transmission. [Table 18]

[0343] Specifically, in the port configuration, there may be two implementation methods:

[0344] Implementation method 1

[0345] If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that simultaneous one-port transmission on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C, respectively, is not supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which simultaneous transmission on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C is not supported during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0346] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A is supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device was in a transmission state in which one-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A can be performed during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation.

[0347] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that one-port transmission is supported on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C, respectively, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device is in a transmission state in which one-port transmission can be performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, Tx state #1 → Tx state #3. Another example is Tx state #1 → Tx state #2. Yet another example is Tx state #1 → Tx state #6.

[0348] Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission was such that two-port transmission was supported on carrier #2 on band #B, the terminal device determines a switching behavior. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device was in a transmission state in which two-port transmission could be performed simultaneously on carrier #2 on band #B during the previous uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a switching behavior. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determined that a carrier on which the terminal device could perform simultaneous transmission during the previous uplink transmission is located in the second band, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, Tx state #5 → Tx state #3. In another example, Tx state #5 → Tx state #2. In another example, Tx state #5 → Tx state #6.

[0349] The implementation method 1 can alternatively be understood as follows: If the terminal device determines that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is not Tx state #2, the terminal device may determine that a first operation needs to be performed. Table 19 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the later uplink transmission in the implementation method 1. [Table 19]

[0350] Implementation method 2

[0351] If the transmission state of the radio frequency chain of the terminal device during the previous uplink transmission is such that one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #3 on band #C is supported, the terminal device further needs to determine whether to perform the first operation based on the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the later uplink transmission.

[0352] For example, if the terminal device determines that the state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is such that simultaneous one-port transmissions on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C are supported, the terminal device performs a first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determines that the terminal device is in a transmission state in which transmissions can be simultaneously performed on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C during the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device performs a first operation. For example, Tx state #3 → Tx state #2.

[0353] In another example, if the terminal device determines that the state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission is such that two-port transmission is supported simultaneously on carrier #3 on band #C, the terminal device performs the first operation. Alternatively, this may be written as follows: If the terminal device determines that the terminal device is in a transmission state in which two-port transmission can be performed simultaneously on carrier #3 on band #C during the subsequent uplink transmission, the terminal device determines to perform the first operation. For example, Tx state #3 → Tx state #6.

[0354] Alternatively, the implementation method 2 can be understood as follows: If the terminal device determines that the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the previous uplink transmission is Tx state #3, the terminal device further needs to refer to the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the subsequent uplink transmission (i.e., the transmission state within the second time unit) to determine whether the first operation needs to be performed. Table 20 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the subsequent uplink transmission in the implementation method 2. [Table 20]

[0355] Based on the technical solution, according to this application, the terminal device may determine an operating state based on the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission, the port configuration for the later uplink transmission, and the transmission state of the previous uplink transmission to ensure uplink data transmission performance. In some cases, the terminal device may further need to determine an operating state by referring to the transmission state of the later uplink transmission to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0356] Solution D1

[0357] In one example, if the port configuration for the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "0P+1P+1P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "1P+0P+0P" or "2P+0P+0P." This can alternatively be understood as the terminal device performing a first operation if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a single-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C, and the terminal device should perform a single-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A, or if the terminal device should perform a two-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A. For example, Tx State #3 → Tx State #4. Table 21 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the subsequent uplink transmission. [Table 21]

[0358] Based on Solution D1, according to this application, when the transmission state corresponding to the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission of the terminal device is that one-port uplink transmission is performed on two different bands respectively, and the transmission state corresponding to the port configuration for the later uplink transmission is that two-port uplink transmission is performed on another band, that is, when there is no shared band (overlapping band) between the previous uplink transmission and the later uplink transmission, the terminal device may determine an operating state to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0359] Solution D2

[0360] In one example, if the port configuration for the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "1P+0P+0P" or "2P+0P+0P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "0P+1P+1P." This can alternatively be understood as the terminal device performing a first operation if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a one-port transmission performed on carrier #1 on band #A, or if the terminal device is to perform a two-port transmission on carrier #1 on band #A and the uplink transmissions to be performed by the terminal device are one-port transmissions simultaneously performed on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C, respectively. For example, Tx state #4 → Tx state #3. Table 22 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the subsequent uplink transmission. [Table 22]

[0361] Solutions D1 and D2 may alternatively be understood as the terminal device performing a first operation when the second port configuration corresponds to at least one transmission state, and the at least one transmission state is different from the at least one transmission state corresponding to the first port configuration. The following implemented solutions E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, and G2 may also be understood similarly.

[0362] Solution E1

[0363] In one example, if the port configuration for the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "0P+0P+1P" or "0P+0P+2P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "1P+1P+0P." Alternatively, this can be understood as the terminal device performing a first operation if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a one-port transmission performed on carrier #3 on band #C, or if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a two-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #3 on band #C and the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is a one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B, respectively. For example, Tx State #2 → Tx State #1. In another example, Tx State #3 → Tx State #1. In yet another example, Tx State #6 → Tx State #1. Table 23 below shows transmission states corresponding to port configurations for the previous uplink transmission and transmission states corresponding to port configurations for the subsequent uplink transmission. [Table 23]

[0364] Based on Solution E1, according to this application, when the transmission state corresponding to the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission of the terminal device is that two-port uplink transmission is performed on one band, and the transmission state corresponding to the port configuration for the later uplink transmission is that one-port uplink transmission is performed on two other different bands, respectively, that is, when there is no shared band (overlapping band) between the previous uplink transmission and the later uplink transmission, the terminal device may determine an operating state to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0365] Solution E2

[0366] In one example, if the port configuration for the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "1P+1P+0P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "0P+0P+1P" or "0P+0P+2P." This can alternatively be understood as the terminal device performing a first operation if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a single-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B, and the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is a single-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #3 on band #C, or if the terminal device is to simultaneously perform two-port transmission on carrier #3 on band #C. For example, Tx State #1 → Tx State #2. For example, Tx State #1 → Tx State #3. For example, Tx State #1 → Tx State #6. Table 24 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the subsequent uplink transmission. [Table 24]

[0367] Solution F1

[0368] In one example, if the port configuration for the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "1P+0P+1P" or "0P+1P+2P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "1P+1P+0P." Alternatively, this can be understood as the terminal device performing a first operation if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B, or if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C, and the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is a one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B. For example, Tx State #2 → Tx State #1. In another example, Tx State #3 → Tx State #1. Table 25 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the subsequent uplink transmission. [Table 25]

[0369] Solution F2

[0370] In one example, if the port configuration for the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "1P+1P+0P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "1P+0P+1P" or "0P+1P+1P." Alternatively, this can be understood as the terminal device performing a first operation if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B, and the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is a one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B, or the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is a one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #2 on band #B and carrier #3 on band #C, respectively. For example, Tx State #1 → Tx State #2. For example, Tx State #1 → Tx State #3. Table 26 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the subsequent uplink transmission. [Table 26]

[0371] Based on solutions F1 and F2, according to this application, when a transmission state corresponding to a port configuration for a previous uplink transmission of a terminal device is that one-port uplink transmission is respectively performed on two different bands, and a transmission state corresponding to a port configuration for a later uplink transmission is that one-port uplink transmission is respectively performed on two different bands, and there is one shared band in the band used in the transmission state corresponding to the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission and the band used in the transmission state corresponding to the port configuration for the later uplink transmission, in this case, the terminal device may determine an operating state to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0372] Solution G1

[0373] In this solution, it is assumed that the terminal device supports uplink switching on four bands. Table 27 below shows the possible Tx states when the terminal device performs uplink switching on four bands. As shown in Table 27, there are a total of 10 Tx states. [Table 27]

[0374] In one example, if the port configuration for the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "1P+1P+0P+0P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "0P+0P+1P+1P." This can alternatively be understood as the terminal device performing a first operation if the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B, and the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is a one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #3 on band #C and carrier #4 on band #D. For example, Tx state #5 → Tx state #10. Table 28 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the later uplink transmission. [Table 28]

[0375] Solution G2

[0376] In one example, if the port configuration for the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "0P+0P+1P+1P," the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "1P+1P+0P+0P." Alternatively, this can be understood as the terminal device performing a first operation when the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is a one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #3 on band #C and carrier #4 on band #D, and the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is a one-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and carrier #2 on band #B. For example, Tx state #10 → Tx state #5. Table 29 below shows the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the previous uplink transmission and the transmission states corresponding to the port configurations for the later uplink transmission. [Table 29]

[0377] Based on solutions G1 and G2, according to this application, when a transmission state corresponding to a port configuration for a previous uplink transmission of a terminal device is that one-port uplink transmission is performed on two different bands, respectively, and a transmission state corresponding to a port configuration for a later uplink transmission is that one-port uplink transmission is performed on another two different bands, respectively, and there is no shared band in the band used in the transmission state corresponding to the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission and the band used in the transmission state corresponding to the port configuration for the later uplink transmission, in this case, the terminal device may determine an operating state to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0378] Furthermore, currently, when uplink switching is performed on two bands (e.g., band #A and band #B), there is no definition of the operation that needs to be performed if the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission of the terminal device is "2P+0P" and the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "0P+2P." This application currently defines the operation that needs to be performed if the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission of the terminal device is "2P+0P" and the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "0P+2P" when uplink switching is performed on two bands. Alternatively, if the previous uplink transmission of the terminal device is a two-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #1 on band #A and the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is a two-port transmission simultaneously performed on carrier #2 on band #B, it can be understood that the terminal device does not perform a transmission within the duration of either one of the two carriers. Alternatively, it can be understood that in this case, the terminal device performs the first operation. In this case, it should be noted that the first RRC signaling indicates the first option in step 201. Step 202: The terminal device determines that the uplink transmission is switched uplink transmission or single uplink transmission.

[0379] Based on the technical solution, the transmission state of the radio frequency chain during the uplink transmission of the terminal device is limited, so that based on the solution provided in this application, in a scenario where the terminal device needs to switch the transmission state on at least three bands or at least three carriers, the terminal device can clearly know or determine the working state, correctly switch the transmission state, and ensure the uplink data transmission performance.

[0380] Optionally, step 210 is further included, in which the network device sends third RRC signaling to the terminal device.

[0381] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives a third RRC signaling from the network device.

[0382] In this application, the third RRC signaling may indicate to a terminal device that one radio frequency chain transmission or two radio frequency chain transmission is supported on the band (or carriers on the band). The third RRC signaling may assist the terminal device in determining whether the transmission state needs to be switched based on the second port configuration. The third RRC signaling may be configured for a cell (per cell). That is, the third RRC signaling is configured for an uplink carrier or an uplink-downlink carrier pair. The third RRC signaling may be configured for a band (per band). In particular, the third RRC signaling may be uplinkTxSwitching-DualUL-TxState or MultiBandUplinkTxSwitching-DualUL-TxState, where multiband is at least three bands.

[0383] Supporting one radio frequency chain transmission or two radio frequency chain transmission on a band (or on a carrier on a band) may alternatively be understood as supporting 1Tx or 2Tx, or the transmission performed being a 1Tx transmission or a 2Tx transmission.

[0384] In this application, for example, the "later uplink transmission state" (which may alternatively be understood as a transmission state corresponding to a port configuration for the later uplink transmission) referred to in the above solutions A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2 may be determined with reference to, for example, the third RRC signaling and the port configuration for the later uplink transmission. Specifically, after determining the port configuration for the later uplink transmission, the terminal device jointly determines the transmission state corresponding to the port configuration for the later uplink transmission based on one radio frequency chain transmission or two radio frequency chain transmissions supported on the band and indicated by the third RRC signaling. Specifically, when the port configuration for the later uplink transmission is one port on band C (or on a carrier on band C), if one Tx is supported on band C (or on a carrier of band C), the transmission state corresponding to the port configuration for the later uplink transmission is determined to be Tx on band C1. If 2Tx is supported on band C (or on a carrier on band C), the transmission state corresponding to the port configuration for the subsequent uplink transmission is determined to be Tx of band C2. In another example, in some cases, the terminal device may further need to refer to a predefined rule to determine the subsequent uplink transmission state. For the "predefined rule," see the description in step 211.

[0385] In this application, a band may alternatively be understood as a carrier on a band.

[0386] However, in some cases, the terminal device cannot clearly determine whether the transmission state needs to be switched based on the third RRC signaling. For example, if the port configuration for the terminal device's previous uplink transmission is "0P+0P+1P", the port configuration for the uplink transmission to be performed by the terminal device is "1P+0P+0P". From Table 3, it can be seen that the "0P+0P+1P" configuration corresponds to Tx State #2, Tx State #3, and Tx State #6, and the "1P+0P+0P" configuration corresponds to Tx State #1, Tx State #2, and Tx State #4. Assume that the terminal device's previous transmission state is Tx State #2 (1T+0T+1T). Assume that the third signaling indicates that the terminal device performs one radio frequency chain transmission on band #A, and the instruction that the port configuration for subsequent uplink transmission is "1P+0P+0P" is suitable for Tx state #2 (1T+0T+1T) and Tx state #1 (1T+1T+0T). In this case, the terminal device cannot determine whether the transmission state needs to be switched. Based on the instruction of the third RRC signaling of the network device, the terminal device may not switch the transmission state (continue to perform uplink transmission in Tx state #2), or may switch the transmission state (Tx state #2 → Tx state #1). Based on the above implementation solutions provided in this application, this problem can be avoided, so that the terminal device may determine the operation state (i.e., whether to switch the uplink transmission state) to ensure uplink data transmission performance.

[0387] Optionally, the method further includes step 211, in which the terminal device determines a switching time for uplink transmission.

[0388] In a possible implementation, the terminal device may determine, based on the third RRC signaling, that the uplink transmission state needs to be switched during the uplink transmission, and may further determine how specifically to switch between bands, and determine a switching time for the uplink transmission based on the switching between bands.

[0389] In another possible implementation, the terminal device cannot determine whether the uplink transmission state needs to be switched during uplink transmission based on the third RRC signaling. In this case, based on the above technical solutions provided in this application, the terminal device can determine the operation state, i.e., whether to switch the previous transmission state. However, the terminal device may still be unable to determine how to specifically switch between bands. In this case, the terminal device may refer to a predefined rule to further determine how to specifically switch between bands during uplink transmission and determine the switching time for uplink transmission. For example, the predefined rule may be predefined in a protocol. In another example, the predefined rule may be transmitted to the terminal device by the network device. For example, the network device may transmit a fourth RRC signaling to the terminal device. The fourth RRC signaling is used to configure the predefined rule for the terminal device.

[0390] The predefined rules are described below.

[0391] For example, if a terminal device supports uplink switching on three bands, the predefined rule may specify the priorities of the three bands during uplink switching. When deciding to perform switching, the terminal device selects a carrier corresponding to a band with a higher switching priority to perform the switching. For example, when uplink switching is performed on three bands, the switching priorities of the bands in descending order are as follows: Band #A, Band #B, and Band #C. In another example, the switching priorities of the bands in descending order may depend on the values ​​of the band indexes. For example, the switching priorities of the bands in descending order may be the values ​​of the band indexes in descending order. Correspondingly, the terminal device selects a carrier corresponding to a band with the highest band index among the bands within the first time unit to perform the radio frequency chain switching. In another example, the switching priorities of the bands in descending order may be the values ​​of the band indexes in ascending order. Correspondingly, the terminal device selects a carrier corresponding to a band with the lowest band index among the bands within the first time unit to perform the radio frequency chain switching. For example, the switching priorities of the bands in descending order may be the values ​​of the serving cell indexes in descending order. Correspondingly, the terminal device selects a carrier having the highest cell index among the serving cells within the first time unit to perform radio frequency chain switching. For example, the band switching priority in descending order may be the serving cell index value in ascending order. Correspondingly, the terminal device selects a carrier having the lowest cell index among the serving cells within the first time unit to perform radio frequency chain switching.

[0392] For example, if a terminal device supports uplink switching on four bands, the predefined rule may specify the priorities of the four bands during uplink switching. For example, when uplink switching is performed on four bands, the band switching priorities in descending order are as follows: Band #A, Band #B, Band #C, and Band #D. In another example, the band switching priorities may depend on the value of the band index. For example, the band switching priorities in descending order may be the values ​​of the band index in descending order. In another example, the band switching priorities in descending order may be the values ​​of the band index in ascending order.

[0393] It should be noted that the band index may be a band identifier. For example, the identifier may be an integer value between 0 and N, where N is an integer greater than 0. The identifier may alternatively be the value n of n bands or the value m of m bands.

[0394] For example, assuming that a terminal device supports uplink switching on four bands, the terminal device can determine its operating state based on the solution provided in this application. However, when the terminal device switches from 1T on band #A and 1T on band #C to 1T on band #B and 1T on band #D, there may be two options: (1) band #A → band #B, in this case, band #C → frequency band #D, and (2) band #A → band #D, in this case, band #B → band #C. In this case, if the network device does not specifically indicate to the terminal device how to switch between bands, the terminal device cannot determine how to switch between bands, and as a result, cannot determine the switching time. For example, the terminal device cannot determine whether to select the maximum value of the switching time for {band pair #1 (A, B), band pair #9 (C, D)} or the maximum value of the switching time for {band pair #3 (A, D), band pair #5 (B, C)}. Based on this problem, this application provides the following two implementation methods.

[0395] In a possible implementation, the network device may not specify how to switch between bands. In this case, the terminal device may select the maximum value of the switching time among {Band Pair #1, Band Pair #9, Band Pair #3, Band Pair #5} and determine the maximum value as the switching time. For example, switching between the two bands in Band Pair #1 takes 35 microseconds, switching between the two bands in Band Pair #9 takes 40 microseconds, switching between the two bands in Band Pair #3 takes 80 microseconds, and switching between the two bands in Band Pair #5 takes 120 microseconds. In this case, the terminal device determines that the uplink switching time is 120 microseconds.

[0396] In another possible implementation, the terminal device determines a predefined rule. For example, the rule is that the band switching priority during switching among four bands is as follows: A, B, C, and D are the out-of-band switching in descending order, and A, B, C, and D are the in-to-band switching in descending order. In this case, when the terminal device switches from band #A(1T)+band #C(1T) to band #B(1T)+band #D(1T), band #A is selected first from the out-of-band switching, and band #B is selected first from the in-to-band switching, that is, band #A → band #B is determined. Then, it is determined that band #C is the out-of-band switching, and band #D is the in-to-band switching, that is, band #C → band #D is determined. In this case, the terminal device may select the maximum value of the switching time of {band pair #1(A,B), band pair #9(C,D)}, that is, it may determine that the switching time is 40 microseconds.

[0397] In yet another possible implementation, the network device may send {switch from band index, switch to band index} to the terminal device. For example, the network device may deliver various possible band pairs as shown in Table 30, and the order in which the band pairs follow is the switching priority order. The terminal device determines how to switch between bands based on the band pairs delivered by the network device. [Table 30]

[0398] In this application, the terminal device may determine how specifically to switch between bands during uplink transmission according to a "predefined rule." After determining the specific manner of switching between bands during uplink transmission, the terminal device may further determine a switching time for the uplink transmission.

[0399] In a possible implementation, the switching time may be indicated to the terminal device by the network device by using RRC signaling. In another possible implementation, the switching time may alternatively be carried in the capabilities of the terminal device. The terminal device may indicate the switching time to the network device by reporting its capabilities. In another possible implementation, the switching time may alternatively be pre-specified or pre-configured for either the network device or the terminal device.

[0400] For example, the switching time may be a fixed value. For example, the switching time may be any value in a set including four values: 35 microseconds, 140 microseconds, 210 microseconds, or 280 microseconds. In another example, the switching time may be any value in a set including three values: 35 microseconds, 140 microseconds, or 210 microseconds.

[0401] In other possible implementations, the switching times for different bands may be different. Table 30 shows the correspondence relationship between band pairs when a terminal device supports uplink transmission switching on four bands. The correspondence relationship in Table 29 may be transmitted to the terminal device by the network device using RRC signaling. For example, when the port configuration for the previous uplink transmission is "1P+1P+0P" (Tx state #1), if the port configuration for the subsequent uplink transmission is "1P+0P+1P" (Tx state #2), the terminal device may switch from band #A to band #C and from band #B to band #A. In this implementation, before the terminal device determines the switching time, the operating states of the radio frequency chains are first described below.

[0402] Method A

[0403] When two radio frequency chains of a terminal device may operate independently, i.e., when one radio frequency chain is interrupted for RF chain tuning / retuning, the other radio frequency chain may still be configured normally to perform uplink transmission without being affected. In this case, the operations performed by the terminal device are as follows. Assuming that the terminal device supports uplink switching on at least three bands, when switching is performed on a carrier on a band that needs to be switched (denoted as carrier #1), the terminal device is not expected to perform data transmission on carrier #1 on the band during the switching time, and uplink transmission on a carrier on a band that does not need to be switched (denoted as carrier #2) is not affected, i.e., uplink transmission may still be performed normally on carrier #2 during the switching time of carrier #1. Alternatively, during the switching time, the terminal device is not expected to perform data transmission on a carrier switching pair (e.g., from carrier #1 to carrier #3) associated with switching on at least three carriers (carrier #1, carrier #2, and carrier #3) on at least three bands. Since no radio frequency chain switching is performed on carrier #2, the terminal device may still perform data transmission.

[0404] In this application, the band or carrier within the switching time may be configured by using a fifth RRC signaling. For example, the band or carrier within the switching time may be configured as an off-carrier switch or an on-carrier switch. In this case, during a switch from carrier #1 to carrier #3, when the band or carrier within the switching time is configured as an off-carrier switch, the switching time is configured to use the end of carrier #1, or when the band or carrier within the switching time is configured as an on-carrier switch, the switching time is configured to use the beginning of carrier #2. In another example, the band or carrier within the switching time is configured as an off-carrier switch, a on-carrier switch, or both an off-carrier switch and a on-carrier switch (part of the band or carrier is located in the off-carrier switch, and part of the band or carrier is located in the on-carrier switch). In this case, during a switch from carrier #1 to carrier #3, when the band or carrier within the switch time is configured as a switch from a carrier, the switch time is configured to use the end of carrier #1, and when the band or carrier within the switch time is configured as a switch to a carrier, the switch time is configured to use the beginning of carrier #2, or when the band or carrier within the switch time is configured as both a switch from a carrier and a switch to a carrier, the switch time is configured to use the end of carrier #1 and the beginning of carrier #2.

[0405] In this application, the bands or carriers in the switching time may alternatively be configured through pre-designation. For example, the order of the bands or carriers may be designated as a preferred order of the bands or carriers in the switching time. This order may be understood as a priority rule. When the priority rule for bands A to C is band #A, band #B, and band #C, and band #A is switched to band #C, the switching time should use the last carrier on band #A. When the priority rule for bands A to D is band #A, band #B, band #C, and band #D, to switch from band #A and band #C to band #B and band #D, if the switching is from band #A to band #B and from band #C to band #D, the switching time should use the last carrier on band #A and the last carrier on band #C. When the priority rule for bands #A to #D is band #A, band #B, band #C and band #D, to switch from band #A and band #C to band #B and band #D, if the switching is from band #A to band #D and from band #C to band #B, the switching time should use the end of the carrier on band #A and the beginning of the carrier on band #B.

[0406] In an embodiment, the carrier or band on which the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) is located should be configured as a carrier or band within the switching time with low priority. A long-format PUCCH may occupy one slot from beginning to end, and the PUCCH should be used with high priority for reliable transmission. Therefore, if the switching from or to the carrier indicated by the fifth RRC signaling and the carrier on which the PUCCH is located are one carrier, the UE is not expected to apply the switching time to the carrier on which the PUCCH is located. For example, if the fifth RRC signaling indicates a switching from a carrier and the switching is from a PUCCH on a carrier on band #A to a PUSCH on a carrier on band #D, the switching time should occupy the switching to the band (i.e., band #D). That is, the switching from the carrier indicated by the fifth RRC signaling is not applicable. In another example, if the fifth RRC signaling indicates a switch from a carrier, and the switch is from a PUSCH on a carrier on band #D to a PUCCH on a carrier on band #A, then the switch time should occupy the switch from the band (i.e., band #D), i.e., the switch from the carrier indicated by the fifth RRC signaling is applicable.

[0407] In this application, one or more of the first to fifth RRC signaling may be located in one RRC signaling and occupy unused information elements, or one or more of the first to fifth RRC signaling may be located partially in one RRC signaling and occupy unused information elements, or all of the first to fifth RRC signaling may be different RRC signaling. For example, the first to fifth RRC signaling may be delivered in the same message. For example, the message includes multiple information blocks. In this case, the first to fifth RRC signaling may be information blocks within the message.

[0408] Method B

[0409] If the two radio frequency chains of the terminal device cannot operate independently, that is, when one radio frequency chain is interrupted due to radio frequency chain tuning, the other radio frequency chain cannot be normally configured to perform uplink transmission. In this case, the operation performed by the terminal device is as follows: Assuming that the terminal device supports uplink switching on at least three bands, when switching is performed on a carrier on the band that needs to be switched (denoted as carrier #3), the terminal device is not expected to perform data transmission on any carrier on the at least three bands during the switching time, or during the switching time, the terminal device is not expected to perform data transmission on at least three carriers (e.g., carrier #1, carrier #2, and carrier #3) that are related to the switching and are on the at least three bands, or during the switching time, the terminal device is not expected to perform data transmission on a carrier switching pair (e.g., from carrier #1 to carrier #3) related to the switching in at least three carriers (carrier #1, carrier #2, and carrier #3) on at least three bands and on a carrier that is not related to the radio frequency chain switching. Based on the operating status of the above radio frequency chain, the terminal device may determine the switching time in the following three ways:

[0410] Method 1

[0411] If the terminal device supports parallel switching of radio frequency chains (i.e., two band pairs are switched simultaneously), the switching time may be determined as the time required by the band pair with the longest switching time when the two band pairs are switched. For example, switching from band #A to band #C takes 140 microseconds, and switching from band #B to band #A takes 200 microseconds. In this case, the terminal device may determine the switching time to be 200 microseconds.

[0412] Method 2

[0413] If the terminal device does not support parallel switching of radio frequency chains but only supports serial switching, then the switching time may be determined as the sum of the time required to switch between two band pairs. For example, in this case, the terminal device may determine that the switching time is 140 microseconds + 200 microseconds, which is equal to 340 microseconds.

[0414] Method 3

[0415] Each band pair can be switched within a corresponding value of the switching period without interference. For example, the value corresponding to the switching period of one band pair (e.g., band pair #1) is 35 microseconds, and the value corresponding to the switching period of another band pair (e.g., band pair #5) is 140 microseconds. In this case, the band pairs can be switched within the corresponding switching times and do not affect each other.

[0416] In this application, step 211 may be performed before step 209 .

[0417] Optionally, the method further includes step 212, in which the network device determines a switching time for uplink transmission of the terminal device, and schedules resources to be used for the uplink transmission for the terminal device based on the switching time.

[0418] In a possible implementation, in step 212, after determining the switching time, the terminal device may report the switching time to the network device.

[0419] In another possible implementation manner, the network device may determine a switching time for uplink transmission of the terminal device based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and the third RRC signaling (in some cases, a "predefined rule" may need to be further considered), and may call resources to be used for uplink transmission for the terminal device based on the switching time. Specifically, for a specific implementation manner in which the network device determines the switching time for uplink transmission of the terminal device, refer to the description of determining the switching time for uplink transmission by the terminal device in step 211.

[0420] For example, when scheduling resources, the network device may reserve a switching time for the terminal device. For example, the uplink switching may be performed on the last four symbols in one slot, or the uplink switching may be performed on the first four symbols in the next slot. For example, the network device may schedule the first symbol in slot #2 for the terminal device to transmit uplink data based on the switching time (in this case, the terminal device performs uplink switching on the last four symbols in slot #1). Alternatively, the network device may schedule the fifth symbol in slot #2 for the terminal device to transmit uplink data based on the switching time (in this case, the terminal device performs uplink switching on the first four symbols in slot #1).

[0421] In this application, step 212 may be included in step 205 and / or step 207.

[0422] Optionally, step 213 is further included, in which the terminal device transmits data on the resource scheduled by the network device.

[0423] For example, if the terminal device cannot perform uplink switching in time within the slot scheduled by the network device (the network device may schedule the first symbol in slot #2 for the terminal device to transmit data on band #D), the terminal device punctures the uplink data. In this case, the network device may perform detection based on the number of uplink symbols originally scheduled, or may perform detection based on the number of symbols that can be reduced. For the latter, a mask may be added to the uplink demodulation reference signal (UL DMRS), or scrambling may be performed on the UL DMRS, and the number of currently reduced symbols may be indicated by using the mask or scrambling information, so that the network device can perform corresponding detection based on the reduced number of symbols. For example, the network device schedules 13 symbols for uplink transmission. When the terminal device's switching delay still needs to occupy one more symbol, i.e., when the terminal device finds that the one more symbol is insufficient to be occupied by the delay for switching between bands, the terminal device punctures more symbols.

[0424] Optionally, for uplink transmission of a terminal device, encoding may be performed based on 10 symbols. Optionally, the network device may detect that the energy of the first four symbols is 0 and perform preferential decoding based on 10 symbols, or may perform multiple decoding based on 11, 12, or even 13 symbols. For example, the network device may directly perform detection based on 13 symbols, with some loss of accuracy. However, this does not significantly affect the performance of lower-order modulation and coding schemes (MCS) (e.g., non-256 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)).

[0425] Based on steps 210 to 213, both the terminal device and the network device may determine an uplink switching time for uplink transmission of the terminal device. The network device may call resources to be used for uplink transmission for the terminal device based on the switching time. The terminal device may transmit uplink data on resources scheduled by the network device based on the switching time. In this way, uplink transmission performance is ensured.

[0426] It can be understood that the example of the method 200 in the embodiments of this application is merely intended to help those skilled in the art understand the embodiments of this application, and is not intended to limit the embodiments of this application to the specific scenarios in the examples. It is clear that those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or variations to the example of the method 200, and such modifications or variations also fall within the scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0427] It can be further understood that some optional features in the embodiments of this application may be independent of other features in some scenarios, or may be combined with other features in some scenarios, without limitation.

[0428] It can be further understood that the embodiments described in this application may be independent solutions or may be combined based on internal logic. All these solutions fall within the scope of protection of this application. Furthermore, the interpretation or explanation of terms in the embodiments may be mutually referenced or interpreted in the embodiments. This is not limited.

[0429] It can be further understood that the various numerical sequence numbers in the embodiments of this application do not indicate an execution order, but are merely intended as a distinction for facilitating description, and therefore should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application. For example, in method 200, step 201 and step 203 may be performed simultaneously, i.e., the network device simultaneously transmits the first RRC signaling and the second RRC signaling to the terminal device. In another example, in method 200, step 205 and step 207 may be performed simultaneously, i.e., the network device simultaneously transmits the first information and the second information to the terminal device. In another example, in method 200, step 203 may be performed before step 201, i.e., the network device first transmits the second RRC signaling to the terminal device, and then transmits the first RRC signaling to the terminal device. In another example, step 210 may be performed before step 205.

[0430] It should be understood that "predefine" in this application can be understood as define, predefine, store, prestore, prenegotiate, preconfigure, incorporate or pre-burn.

[0431] It can be understood that in this application, both "when" and "if" mean that the device executes the corresponding process in the intended situation, and are not intended to limit the time. These terms do not require that the device have a deterministic operation in the implementation, nor do they imply any other limitations.

[0432] It may be understood that the term "and / or" herein describes only an association relationship between related objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may indicate the following three cases: only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. Furthermore, the character " / " herein typically indicates an "or" relationship between related objects.

[0433] The above describes the solutions provided in the embodiments of this application mainly from the perspective of interactions between nodes. It can be understood that to realize the above functions, nodes such as terminal devices and network devices include corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for performing the functions. Those skilled in the art can recognize, with reference to the examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, that the units and algorithm steps in this application can be realized by hardware or a combination of computer software and hardware. Whether the functions are performed by hardware or hardware driven by computer software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to realize the described functions for each specific application, but the implementation methods should not be considered to go beyond the scope of this application.

[0434] In this embodiment of the present application, functional modules may be divided on the terminal device and the network device based on the above method example. For example, each functional module may be obtained through division based on each function, 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 in the embodiment of the present application, the module division is an example and is merely a logical functional division. In an actual implementation, other division methods may be used. An example in which each functional module is obtained through division based on each corresponding function is used below for explanation.

[0435] 3 is a block diagram of a communication device 100 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in the drawing, the device 100 may include a transceiver unit 110 and a processing unit 120.

[0436] In a possible design, the apparatus 100 may be a terminal device in the above method embodiment, or may be a chip configured to realize the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiment. It should be understood that the apparatus 100 may correspond to the terminal device in the method 200 in the embodiment of this application, and the apparatus 100 may perform steps corresponding to the terminal device in the method 200 in the embodiment of this application.

[0437] In a possible implementation, the processing unit is configured to determine a first port configuration, the first port configuration being used for a first uplink transmission, and the terminal device supports uplink switching on at least three bands or at least three carriers. The processing unit is configured to determine a second port configuration, the second port configuration being used for a second uplink transmission, and the first uplink transmission being faster than the second uplink transmission. The processing unit is configured to perform a first operation based on the first port configuration and the second port configuration.

[0438] In a possible implementation manner, the processing unit being configured to perform a first operation based on the first port configuration and the second port configuration includes: the processing unit being configured to perform a first operation based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and a transmission state of the first uplink transmission.

[0439] In a possible implementation, the processing unit is configured to determine that a transmission state corresponding to the first port configuration is a first set and a transmission state corresponding to the second port configuration is a second set. When the processing unit is configured to determine, based on the first set and the second set, an intersection set between the first set and the second set is a transmission state of the first radio frequency chain and determine that the first uplink transmission is not a transmission state of the first radio frequency chain, the processing unit is configured to perform a first operation.

[0440] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive first radio resource control signaling from the network device, the first radio resource control signaling indicating that the terminal device is configured with a first option or a second option.

[0441] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is configured to receive second radio resource control signaling from the network device, wherein the second radio resource control signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured to support performing uplink switching on three bands, or alternatively, the second radio resource control signaling indicates that the terminal device is configured to support performing uplink switching on four bands.

[0442] In another possible design, the apparatus 100 may be a network device in the above method embodiment, or a chip configured to implement the functions of the network device in the above method embodiment. It should be understood that the apparatus 100 may correspond to the network device in the method 200 in the embodiment of this application, and the apparatus 100 may perform steps corresponding to the network device in the method 200 in the embodiment of this application.

[0443] It should be further understood that the apparatus 100 herein is embodied in the form of a functional unit. The term "unit" herein may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (e.g., a shared processor, a dedicated processor, or a group processor) configured to execute one or more software or firmware programs, a memory, a merge logic circuit, and / or other suitable components supporting the described functionality. In optional examples, those skilled in the art will understand that the apparatus 100 may specifically be a terminal device or a network device in the above embodiments, and may be configured to perform procedures and / or steps corresponding to the terminal device in the above method embodiments. To avoid repetition, the details will not be described again here.

[0444] The device 100 in each of the above solutions has functions for implementing corresponding steps performed by a terminal device or a network device in the above methods. The functions may be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions. For example, a transceiver unit may alternatively be a transceiver (e.g., a transmitting unit in a transceiver unit may alternatively be a transmitting machine, and a receiving unit in a transceiver unit may alternatively be a receiving machine), and another unit, e.g., a processing unit, may alternatively be a processor for separately performing receiving / transmitting operations and related processing operations in method embodiments.

[0445] Furthermore, the transceiver unit 110 may alternatively be a transceiver circuit (eg, may include a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit) and the processing unit may alternatively be a processing circuit.

[0446] It should be noted that the device in Fig. 3 may be a terminal device or a network device in the above embodiments, or may be a chip or a chip system, such as a system on chip (SoC). The transceiver unit may be an input / output circuit or a communication interface. The processing unit is a processor, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit integrated on a chip, which is not limited in this specification.

[0447] 4 is a block diagram of a communication device 200 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in the drawing, the device 200 includes at least one processor 220. The processor 220 is coupled to a memory and configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to transmit signals and / or receive signals. Optionally, the device 200 further includes a memory 230 configured to store instructions. Optionally, the device 200 further includes a transceiver 210, where the processor 220 controls the transceiver 210 to transmit signals and / or receive signals.

[0448] It should be understood that the processor 220 and the memory 230 may be integrated into one processing device. The processor 220 is configured to execute program code stored in the memory 230 to implement the above-described functions. In a specific implementation, the memory 230 may alternatively be integrated into the processor 220 or may be separate from the processor 220.

[0449] It should be further understood that the transceiver 210 may include a transceiver (also referred to as a receiving machine) and a transmitter (also referred to as a transmitting machine). The transceiver may further include an antenna, and there may be one or more antennas. The transceiver 210 may be a communications interface or interface circuit.

[0450] In particular, the transceiver 210 in the apparatus 200 may correspond to the transceiver unit 110 in the apparatus 100 , and the processor 220 in the apparatus 200 may correspond to the processing unit 120 in the apparatus 200 .

[0451] In the solution, the apparatus 200 is configured to implement the operations performed by the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

[0452] For example, the processor 220 is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the memory 230 to implement the relevant operations performed by the radio access network device in the above method embodiments, e.g., the method performed by the terminal device in method 200.

[0453] In another solution, the apparatus 200 is configured to implement the operations performed by the network device in the above method embodiments.

[0454] For example, processor 220 is configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in memory 230 to implement the relevant operations performed by the network device in the method embodiments described above, such as the method performed by the network device in method 200.

[0455] It should be understood that the specific processes by which the transceiver and the processor perform the corresponding steps have been described in detail in the above method embodiments, and for the sake of brevity, the details will not be described again herein.

[0456] In the implementation process, the steps in the above method may be realized by using a hardware integrated logic circuit in a processor or by using instructions in the form of software. The steps in the method disclosed with reference to the embodiments of this application may be directly executed by a hardware processor, or may be executed by using a combination of hardware and software modules in a processor. The software modules may be located in a storage medium mature in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and completes the steps in the above method in combination with the hardware of the processor. To avoid repetition, the details will not be described again in this specification.

[0457] It should be noted that the processor in the embodiments of this application may be an integrated circuit chip and have signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, the steps in the above-described method embodiments may be realized by using hardware integrated logic circuits in the processor or by using instructions in the form of software. The processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. It may implement or perform the methods, steps, and logical block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor, etc. The steps in the methods disclosed with reference to the embodiments of this application may be directly performed and completed by a hardware decoding processor, or may be performed and completed by using a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in a storage medium that is mature in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and completes the steps in the above method in combination with the hardware of the processor.

[0458] It may be understood that the memory in this embodiment of this application may be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or may include volatile memory and nonvolatile memory. Nonvolatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM) used as an external cache. By way of example, and not limitation, many types of RAM may be used, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchlink dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus dynamic random access memory (DR RAM). It should be noted that memory in the systems and methods described herein includes, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0459] According to the method provided in the embodiment of this application, this application further provides a computer program product, which includes computer program code that, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method performed by the terminal device or network device in method 200.

[0460] Based on the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer-readable medium, which stores program code, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method performed by the terminal device or network device in the above embodiments.

[0461] Based on the method provided in the embodiment of this application, this application further provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device and a network device, wherein the terminal device is configured to perform steps corresponding to the terminal device in the method 200, and the network device is configured to perform steps corresponding to the network device in the method 200.

[0462] For the description of the relevant contents and beneficial effects of any of the devices provided above, please refer to the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and the details will not be described again in this specification.

[0463] All or part of the above embodiments may be realized by using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used to realize the embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be realized in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the procedures or functions according to the embodiments of this 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 a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, radio, or microwave) method. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium accessible by a computer, or a data storage device integrating one or more available media, such as a server or data center. The media that can be used may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disk drives, or magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., high-density digital video discs (DVDs)), semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state drives (SSDs)), etc.

[0464] In the above device embodiments, corresponding modules or units perform corresponding steps. For example, a transceiver unit may perform a receiving or transmitting step in a method embodiment, and a processing unit may perform steps other than a transmitting or receiving step. For the functions of a specific unit, refer to the corresponding method embodiment. There may be one or more processors.

[0465] As used herein, terms such as "component," "module," and "system" are used to refer to computer-related entities, hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software running on it. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and / or a computer. As illustrated through the use of figures, both computing devices and applications running on computing devices may be components. One or more components may reside within a process and / or thread of execution, and components may be located on one computer and / or distributed between two or more computers. Furthermore, these components may execute from various computer-readable media that store various data structures. For example, components may communicate using local and / or remote processes and based on signals, for example, comprising one or more data packets (e.g., data from two components interacting with other components in a local system, a distributed system, and / or data across a network such as the Internet interacting with other systems using signals).

[0466] Those skilled in the art may recognize that, in combination with the examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the units and algorithm steps may be realized by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether a function is performed by hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to realize the described functions for each specific application, but the implementation manner should not be considered to go beyond the scope of this application.

[0467] For the purpose of convenient and concise description, it can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the detailed operation processes of the above systems, devices and units may be referred to the corresponding processes in the above method embodiments, and the details will not be described again in this specification.

[0468] In some embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be realized in other ways. For example, the described device embodiments are merely examples. For example, the division into units is merely a logical functional division, and other divisions may be used in actual implementations. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into other systems, or some features may be omitted or not implemented. Furthermore, the shown or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be realized through some interfaces. Indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be realized in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

[0469] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, and may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions of the embodiments.

[0470] Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of this application may be integrated into one processing unit, each of the units may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0471] When a function is realized in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, the function may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application may essentially be realized, or a portion of the technical solution or a portion of the technical solution may be realized in the form of a software product. A computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes some instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in the embodiments of this application. The above storage medium includes any medium capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0472] It should be understood that the term "embodiment" used throughout this specification means that the particular feature, structure, or characteristic associated with this embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of this application. Thus, the entire specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0473] It should be further understood that ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" referred to in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish between multiple objects and are not intended to limit the size, content, order, time sequence, priority, importance, etc. of the multiple objects. For example, the first PDSCH and the second PDSCH may be the same physical channel or different physical channels. Furthermore, these names do not indicate that the two physical channels have different amounts of information, content, priority, importance, etc.

[0474] It should be further understood that in this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions means any combination of these items, including any combination of singular or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c may represent a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

[0475] In the embodiments of this application, it should be further understood that "B corresponding to A" means that B is associated with A, and B may be determined based on A.

[0476] The above description is merely a specific implementation of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any variations or replacements that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall fall within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application shall be subject to the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A method for determining to switch uplink transmission, comprising: determining, by a terminal device, a first port configuration, the first port configuration being used for a first uplink transmission, the terminal device being capable of performing uplink switching on at least three bands or at least three carriers; determining, by the terminal device, a second port configuration, the second port configuration to be used for a second uplink transmission, the first uplink transmission being earlier than the second uplink transmission; performing, by the terminal device, a first operation based on the first port configuration and the second port configuration; Including, Performing a first operation by the terminal device includes: the terminal device is not expected to perform uplink transmission within a switching time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; determining to change a transmission state when the terminal device performs the second uplink transmission; determining by the terminal device that a switch from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission is necessary; determining to perform a switchover before the terminal device performs the second uplink transmission; the terminal device determining a switch time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; or determining that the terminal device will not perform uplink transmission within a switching time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; The method includes at least one of the following:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least three bands correspond one-to-one to the at least three carriers, and the at least three carriers are located in the at least three bands, respectively.

3. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second port configuration corresponds to at least one transmission state, and the terminal device performs the first operation if the at least one transmission state is different from at least one transmission state corresponding to the first port configuration.

4. When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier is one-port transmission or two-port transmission, 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal device performs the first operation when the first port configuration is such that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on a second carrier and the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on a third carrier are each one-port transmission.

5. When the second port configuration is such that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on a first carrier and the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on a second carrier are one-port transmissions, respectively; 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal device performs the first operation if the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on a third carrier is a one-port transmission or a two-port transmission.

6. When the second port configuration is such that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on a first carrier and the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on a second carrier are one-port transmissions, respectively; When the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier and the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on a third carrier are one-port uplink transmissions, respectively, the terminal device performs the first operation; or 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal device performs the first operation when the first port configuration is such that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier and the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on the third carrier are each one-port transmission.

7. When the second port configuration is such that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on a first carrier and the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on a second carrier are one-port transmissions, respectively; 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal device performs the first operation when the first port configuration is such that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on a third carrier and the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on a fourth carrier are each one-port transmission.

8. When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the second carrier is a two-port transmission, 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal device performs the first operation if the first port configuration is such that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on a first carrier is a two-port transmission.

9. performing, by the terminal device, a first operation based on the first port configuration and the second port configuration; 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: performing, by the terminal device, the first operation based on the first port configuration, the second port configuration, and a transmission state of the first uplink transmission.

10. determining, by the terminal device, a first set of transmission states corresponding to the first port configuration and a second set of transmission states corresponding to the second port configuration; performing, by the terminal device, the first operation when the terminal device determines, based on the first set and the second set, that an intersection set between the first set and the second set is a first transmission state and determines that the transmission state of the first uplink transmission is not the first transmission state; The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

11. When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier is one-port transmission, 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal device performs the first operation when the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on a third carrier is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that one-port transmission is supported on a second carrier, or the transmission state of the terminal device is that two-port transmission is supported on the third carrier.

12. When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on the first carrier is one-port transmission, 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal device performs the first operation when the first port configuration is such that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on a third carrier is a one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is such that one-port transmissions simultaneously performed on the first carrier and the third carrier, respectively, are not supported.

13. When the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on a first carrier is one-port transmission, if the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on a third carrier is one-port transmission, and the transmission state of the terminal device is that two-port transmission is supported on the third carrier, the terminal device determines to perform the first operation; or 11. The method of claim 1, wherein when the second port configuration is that the second uplink transmission of the terminal device on a second carrier is one-port transmission, the first port configuration is that the first uplink transmission of the terminal device on a third carrier is one-port transmission, and a transmission state of the terminal device is that two-port transmission is supported on the third carrier, the terminal device determines to perform the first operation.

14. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein when the first uplink transmissions are at least two first uplink transmissions on at least two different fifth carriers and the second uplink transmission is a second uplink transmission on a sixth carrier, the switching time from the first uplink transmissions to the second uplink transmissions is at least two corresponding switching times from the at least two first uplink transmissions to the second uplink transmission.

15. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein when the first uplink transmission is a first uplink transmission on a fifth carrier and the second uplink transmissions are at least two second uplink transmissions on at least two different sixth carriers, the switching time from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission is at least two corresponding switching times from the first uplink transmission to the at least two second uplink transmissions.

16. 16. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein each of the at least two different fifth carriers is different from the sixth carrier, and / or each of the at least two different sixth carriers is different from the fifth carrier.

17. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein when the first uplink transmissions are at least two first uplink transmissions on at least two different fifth carriers and the second uplink transmissions are at least two second uplink transmissions on at least two different sixth carriers, the switching time from the first uplink transmissions to the second uplink transmissions is at least two corresponding switching times from the at least two first uplink transmissions to the at least two second uplink transmissions.

18. each of the at least two fifth carriers is different from each of the at least two sixth carriers; or 20. The method of claim 17, wherein one of the at least two fifth carriers is the same as one of the at least two sixth carriers.

19. the first uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one fifth band, and the second uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one sixth band; 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal device is not expected to perform uplink transmission on a corresponding carrier within a switching time of at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, the corresponding carrier being associated with the at least one band switching pair, each of the at least one band switching pair including one fifth band and one sixth band.

20. the first uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one fifth band, and the second uplink transmission includes an uplink transmission on at least one sixth band; 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal device determines not to perform uplink transmission on a corresponding carrier within a switching time of at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission, the corresponding carrier being associated with the at least one band switching pair, each of the at least one band switching pair including one fifth band and one sixth band.

21. the first uplink transmission includes the uplink transmission on the at least one fifth band and the second uplink transmission includes the uplink transmission on the at least one sixth band; The switching time may be: a maximum switching time corresponding to each of the at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; a sum of switching times respectively corresponding to the at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; or a switching time corresponding to each of the at least one band switching pair associated with switching from the first uplink transmission to the second uplink transmission; and 21. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one band-switching pair includes a fifth band and a sixth band.

22. when the first uplink transmission includes uplink transmissions on at least two fifth bands, the at least two fifth bands are different; when the first uplink transmission includes uplink transmissions on at least two sixth bands, the at least two sixth bands are different; 22. The method of claim 19, wherein one of the at least two fifth bands is the same as one of the at least two sixth bands, or each fifth band is different from each sixth band.

23. 23. The method of claim 19, wherein the switching times of the at least one band-switching pair are the switching times respectively corresponding to the at least one band-switching pair.

24. 24. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the terminal device, a first radio resource control signaling from a network device, the first radio resource control signaling indicating that the terminal device is configured with a first option or a second option, the first option indicating that the terminal device is configured to perform switched uplink transmission, and the second option indicating that the terminal device is configured to perform dual uplink transmission.

25. 24. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the terminal device, second radio resource control signaling from a network device, the second radio resource control signaling indicating that the terminal device is configured to support uplink switching on three bands, or the second radio resource control signaling indicating that the terminal device is configured to support uplink switching on four bands.

26. A communication device including a processor and a memory, 26. A communications device, wherein the memory is configured to store computer programs or instructions, and wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer programs or instructions in the memory to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 25.

27. 1. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising:

26. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to carry out a method according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

28. A computer program product comprising instructions for carrying out the method of any one of claims 1 to 25.

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