COMMUNICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE

Abstract

To provide a communication method and a communication apparatus for preventing the introduction of the concept of "power saving signal" from affecting mobility radio resource management (RRM) measurements performed by terminals.SOLUTION: The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. The method includes the steps of: determining that a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is not detected within a first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle based on the reception status of a first power saving signal; and performing radio resource management (RRM) measurements on a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) transmitted by a network device during a first period within the first DRX cycle. The present application ensures sufficient RRM measurement opportunities for terminal devices, ensures the accuracy of RRM measurements, and can prevent the introduction of the concept of "power saving signal" from affecting mobility RRM measurements performed by the terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201910365288.5, entitled “COMMUNICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATIONS APPARATUS”, filed with the China Patent Office on April 30, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to communication methods and devices. [Background technology]

[0003] During communication between the terminal and the base station, in order to meet the mobility requirements of the communication system for the terminal, the terminal needs to perform radio resource management (RRM) measurements on the serving cell and neighboring cells, so as to perform cell selection / reselection / handover in time when the terminal enters a new cell.

[0004] In the new radio access technology (NR) of the 5th generation (5G) communication system, discontinuous reception (DRX) may be configured for terminals in radio resource control connected (RRC_connected) mode to allow the terminal to periodically enter an on duration to receive and transmit data and enter a sleep state at other times without monitoring the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), thereby reducing the energy consumption of the terminal.

[0005] In NR, a new concept, a "power saving signal," is expected to be introduced to further reduce the energy consumption of the terminal. A network device can configure a power saving signal for a terminal in a DRX state to indicate whether the terminal needs to be woken up to monitor the PDCCH within the next one or more DRX cycles. The power saving signal can indicate that the terminal will enter a sleep state within the entire DRX cycle. As a result, the active time of the terminal is reduced. This reduces the opportunity and accuracy of RRM measurements when the existing RRM measurement mechanism is used.

[0006] Based on the above analysis, a new RRM measurement mechanism needs to be provided urgently, assuming that the concept of "power saving signal" is introduced. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus for ensuring sufficient RRM measurement opportunities for a terminal device, ensuring the accuracy of the RRM measurements, and preventing the introduction of the concept of a "power saving signal" from affecting mobility RRM measurements performed by the terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be performed by a terminal device, or may be performed by a chip or circuit configured in the terminal device. This is not limited in the present application.

[0009] Specifically, the method includes determining, based on a reception status of a first power saving signal, not to detect a PDCCH within a first DRX cycle, and performing RRM measurements on a CSI-RS transmitted by the network device during a first period within the first DRX cycle.

[0010] According to a second aspect, there is provided a communication method, the method may be performed by a network device, or may be performed by a chip or circuit configured in the network device, which is not a limitation of the present application.

[0011] Specifically, the method includes the steps of determining that the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH within a first DRX cycle, and transmitting a CSI-RS to the terminal device during a first period within the first DRX cycle, where the CSI-RS is used by the terminal device to perform RRM measurements.

[0012] Specifically, the first DRX cycle includes a first period. In the first period, the network device transmits at least one CSI-RS used for RRM measurement to the terminal device. The terminal device can measure the CSI-RS in the first period. The first period may be specified by a system or protocol, or may be agreed upon between the network device and the terminal device. For example, the network device may configure the terminal device by using static signaling or dynamic signaling.

[0013] It should be noted that in this embodiment of the present application, the "protocol" may be a standard protocol in the communication field, for example, may include LTE protocol, NR protocol, and related protocols applied to future communication systems, which is not limited in the present application.

[0014] It may be understood that if the terminal device is in an inactive state before the first period of time, the terminal device may be woken up to enter an active state to measure the CSI-RS.

[0015] Optionally, after completing RRM measurements on the CSI-RS in the first period, the terminal device may enter an inactive state to reduce energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0016] In the present application, the first period is set within the first DRX cycle. Even if the terminal device is instructed to enter a sleep state within the first DRX cycle, the network device still transmits the CSI-RS in the first period, and the terminal device also regards the CSI-RS as being present within the first period and can perform RRM measurements on the CSI-RS within the first period. This can ensure sufficient RRM measurement opportunities for the terminal device, ensure the accuracy of the RRM measurements, and prevent the introduction of the concept of a "power saving signal" from affecting the mobility RRM measurements performed by the terminal.

[0017] With reference to the first or second aspect, in some implementations, the first period includes a portion or a front portion of the on-duration within the first DRX cycle.

[0018] With reference to the first or second aspect, in some implementations, the first period includes some or all of the DRX opportunities within the first DRX cycle.

[0019] Optionally, the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in the first period of time according to a transmission cycle configured by the network device.

[0020] Optionally, the first DRX cycle may be any one of one or more DRX cycles indicated by the first power saving signal, for example, the first or last DRX cycle, which is not limited in this application.

[0021] Optionally, the first period may be any period within the first DRX cycle, and the length of the first period may be less than or equal to the length of the first DRX cycle and greater than or equal to any length of the period occupied by at least one CSI-RS.

[0022] For example, the first period may be an on duration within a first DRX cycle.

[0023] As another example, the length of the first period may be equal to the length of the on duration in the first DRX cycle.

[0024] As another example, the length of the first period may be equal to the length of the first DRX cycle.

[0025] As another example, when an active state is available within the first DRX cycle, the length of the first period may be equal to the length of the active time.

[0026] According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be performed by a terminal device, or may be performed by a chip or circuit configured in the terminal device. This is not limited in the present application.

[0027] Specifically, the method includes determining a first period based on a reception scene of a first power saving signal, and performing RRM measurements on a CSI-RS transmitted by the network device during the first period.

[0028] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a communication method, the method may be performed by a network device, or may be performed by a chip or circuit configured in the network device, which is not a limitation of the present application.

[0029] Specifically, the method includes a step of determining a first period based on a transmission scene of a first power saving signal, and a step of transmitting a CSI-RS to a terminal device during the first period, wherein the CSI-RS is used by the terminal device for RRM measurements.

[0030] In this embodiment, the network device may pre-configure a period #A for transmitting a first power saving signal (period #A may also be referred to as a period occupied by the first power saving signal). The terminal device may determine whether to detect a PDCCH within at least one DRX cycle after period #A based on the reception status of the first power saving signal in period #A.

[0031] In this embodiment, the network device and the terminal device may each determine a first period based on a transmission scene of the first power saving signal. The network device may transmit a CSI-RS in the first period, and the terminal device may perform RRM measurements on the CSI-RS in the first period.

[0032] In this embodiment, the associated first period is determined based on the transmission occasion of the first power saving signal. The network device can transmit the CSI-RS in the first period, and the terminal device can perform RRM measurement on the CSI-RS in the first period. This can ensure sufficient RRM measurement opportunities for the terminal device, ensure the accuracy of the RRM measurement, and prevent the introduction of the concept of "power saving signal" from affecting the mobility RRM measurement performed by the terminal.

[0033] With reference to the third or fourth aspect, in some implementations, an offset value between the period occupied by the CSI-RS and the period occupied by the first power saving signal is less than or equal to a first duration threshold, and the period occupied by the CSI-RS is within the first period.

[0034] Specifically, in order to detect the first power saving signal, the terminal device may need to be woken up from a sleep state in period #A, and the period occupied by the CSI-RS needs to be as close as possible to period #A. In this way, the terminal device can perform the RRM measurement immediately after completing the detection of the first power saving signal, and does not need to be woken up from a sleep state just for the RRM measurement. In addition, the period occupied by the CSI-RS is set to be as close as possible to period #A. This can also shorten the period during which the terminal device remains awake, reducing the energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0035] Optionally, the offset value between the period occupied by CSI-RS and period #A may be an offset value between the first character of the period occupied by CSI-RS and the first or last character of period #A, or may be an offset value between the last character of the period occupied by CSI-RS and the first or last character of period #A, which is not limited in this application.

[0036] With reference to the third or fourth aspects, in some implementations, the duration of the first period may be less than or equal to the second duration threshold. The period during which the terminal device remains active to perform RRM measurements may be limited to reduce power consumption of the terminal device.

[0037] Optionally, the duration of the first period may be the length of a DRX on duration within a DRX cycle.

[0038] According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a communication method, comprising: a terminal device receiving indication information transmitted by a network device, the indication information including first indication information and / or second indication information, the first indication information being used for indicating a possibility that the network device will transmit CSI-RS in a first DRX cycle, and the second indication information being used for indicating a possibility that the network device will transmit CSI-RS in a second DRX cycle, the second DRX cycle being a DRX cycle subsequent to the first DRX cycle; and the terminal device determining whether to perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle based on the indication information.

[0039] In this embodiment, whether to perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle may be determined based on the indication information. In this way, the terminal device can measure the CSI-RS more flexibly. The terminal device can determine whether to perform RRM measurements in the current first DRX cycle based on the indication information, for example, can determine not to perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle based on the indication information. This helps to reduce the energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0040] Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate that the network device will possibly or reliably transmit the CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle.

[0041] Optionally, the second indication information is used to indicate that the network device may possibly or reliably transmit the CSI-RS within the second DRX cycle.

[0042] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementations, when the instruction information includes first instruction information, the terminal device determining whether to perform RRM measurements within a first DRX cycle based on the instruction information includes the terminal device performing RRM measurements within the first DRX cycle if the first instruction information indicates that the network device will definitely transmit CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle.

[0043] Specifically, the first indication information indicates that the CSI-RS will be reliably transmitted in the first DRX cycle. Because the terminal device cannot determine whether the CSI-RS is reliably available in the next DRX cycle, the terminal device may perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle. If the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device may or may not perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle.

[0044] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementations, when the instruction information includes second instruction information, determining whether or not the terminal device performs RRM measurements within the first DRX cycle based on the instruction information includes: if the second instruction information indicates that the network device will definitely transmit CSI-RS within the second DRX cycle, the terminal device not performing RRM measurements within the first DRX cycle; or if the second instruction information indicates that the network device may transmit CSI-RS within the second DRX cycle, the terminal device performing RRM measurements within the first DRX cycle.

[0045] Specifically, if the second indication information indicates that the network device transmits the CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle, the RRM measurement may be necessarily performed in the second DRX cycle. In this case, the terminal device may not perform the RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle to reduce power consumption. If the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle, the terminal device cannot determine whether the RRM measurement may be performed in the second DRX cycle. In this case, in order to ensure sufficient measurement samples, the terminal device performs the RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle.

[0046] Referring to a fifth aspect, in some implementations, the method further includes the terminal device determining whether to detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle based on a reception status of the power saving signal, and determining whether to perform an RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle based on the instruction information includes the terminal device determining whether to perform an RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle based on the instruction information and whether to detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle.

[0047] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementations, when the indication information includes first indication information, determining whether or not the terminal device performs RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle based on the indication information and whether or not the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle includes: if the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle and the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device performs RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle; or The first indication information includes that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle, and if the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not perform RRM measurements within the first DRX cycle.

[0048] Specifically, when the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device necessarily needs to enter an active state. In this case, the possibility that the network device transmits a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle indicated by the first indication information is changed to the network device determining to transmit a CSI-RS. It can be understood that when the terminal device determines to detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the network device determines to transmit a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle. In this case, the indication of the first indication information may be ignored. Therefore, the terminal device may instead perform an RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle.

[0049] However, when the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not start the drx on duration timer and possibly enters an inactive state. In this case, the network device may transmit CSI-RS only in the first DRX cycle. For example, the first indication information is represented using one bit. When the bit is 0, this indicates that CSI-RS may be transmitted. In this case, the network device may not transmit CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, and therefore the terminal device does not perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle. In addition, when the bit is 1, this indicates that the network device definitely transmits CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle. In this case, even if the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device may also perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle. Indeed, the terminal device may not perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle instead.

[0050] It may be understood that if the network device determines that the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle or if the first indication information indicates that the network device will definitely transmit a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, the network device determines to transmit a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle. If the network device determines that the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle and the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, the network device may not transmit a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle.

[0051] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementations, when the indication information includes second indication information, determining whether or not the terminal device performs RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle based on the indication information and whether or not the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle may include: if the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle and the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device performs RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle; or The second instruction information includes that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle and, if the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle.

[0052] Referring to a fifth aspect, in some implementations, when the indication information includes first indication information and second indication information, determining whether to perform RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle based on the indication information and whether to detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle by the terminal device includes: If the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in a first DRX cycle and the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in a second DRX cycle, and the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device determines that the network device will not transmit the CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, and therefore the terminal device does not perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle; If the first indication information determines that the network device will transmit the CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, and the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle, and the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device determines that the network device will not transmit the CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, and therefore the terminal device does not perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle; If the first indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit a CSI-RS in a first DRX cycle, and the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS in a second DRX cycle, and the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device may also perform an RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle; When the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit CSI-RS within a first DRX cycle, and the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit CSI-RS within a second DRX cycle, and it is determined based on the reception status of the power saving signal that the terminal device will be woken up within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device determines that the network device will transmit CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle, and therefore the terminal device may perform RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle; When the first indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit the CSI-RS within a first DRX cycle, and the second indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit the CSI-RS within a second DRX cycle, and it is determined based on the reception status of the power saving signal that the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device may not perform RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle; When the first indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit the CSI-RS within a first DRX cycle, the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS within a second DRX cycle, and it is determined that the terminal device detects a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle based on the reception status of the power saving signal, the terminal device determines that the network device will transmit the CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle, and therefore the terminal device does not need to perform RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle; When the first indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit a CSI-RS in a first DRX cycle, and the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS in a second DRX cycle, and it is determined based on the reception status of the power saving signal that the terminal device will detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device may perform an RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle; or When the first indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit the CSI-RS in a first DRX cycle, the second indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit the CSI-RS in a second DRX cycle, and the terminal device has determined to detect the PDCCH in the first DRX cycle based on a reception status of the power saving signal, the terminal device may not perform RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle. This includes:

[0053] Optionally, the first indication information and the second indication information may be transmitted to the terminal device together or separately.

[0054] For example, the first instruction information, the second instruction information, and the power saving signal are transmitted to the terminal device together.

[0055] In another example, the second indication information and the power saving signal are transmitted together to the terminal device.

[0056] Referring to a fifth aspect, in some implementations, when the instruction information includes first instruction information, determining whether or not the terminal device performs RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle based on the instruction information and whether or not it detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle includes: determining a likelihood that the network device will transmit a CSI-RS in a second DRX cycle based on the first instruction information and whether or not it detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle; and determining whether or not the terminal device will perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle based on the likelihood that the network device will transmit a CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle.

[0057] Referring to a fifth aspect, in some implementations, the terminal device determining, based on the first indication information and whether it detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, that the network device is likely to transmit a CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle, includes: if the first indication information indicates that the network device is likely to transmit a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, and the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device determines that the network device is likely to transmit a CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle; If the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle and the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device determines that the network device will definitely transmit the CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle; or If the first indication information indicates that the network device definitely transmits the CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device determines that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS within the second DRX cycle. This includes:

[0058] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementations, the terminal device determining whether to perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle based on the likelihood that the network device will transmit CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle includes: if it is determined that the network device will transmit CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle and the terminal device will detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device performing RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle, or if it is determined that the network device will transmit CSI-CS in the first DRX cycle and the terminal device will not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device not performing RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle.

[0059] According to a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device may be a terminal device or a chip in the terminal device. The device may include a processing unit and a transceiver unit. When the device is a terminal device, the processing unit may be a processor and the transceiver unit may be a transceiver. The terminal device may further include a storage unit, and the storage unit may be a memory. The storage unit is configured to store instructions. The processing unit executes the instructions stored in the storage unit to enable the terminal device to perform the method of the first aspect, the third aspect, or the fifth aspect. When the device is a chip in the terminal device, the processing unit may be a processor and the transceiver unit may be an input / output interface, pins, circuitry, etc. The processing unit executes the instructions stored in the storage unit to enable the terminal device to perform the method of the first aspect, the third aspect, or the fifth aspect. The storage unit may be a storage unit in the chip (e.g., a register or cache) or may be a storage unit external to the chip in the terminal device (e.g., a read-only memory or a random access memory).

[0060] According to a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided. The device may be a network device or a chip in the network device. The device may include a processing unit and a transceiver unit. When the device is a network device, the processing unit may be a processor and the transceiver unit may be a transceiver. The network device may further include a storage unit, and the storage unit may be a memory. The storage unit is configured to store instructions. The processing unit executes the instructions stored in the storage unit to enable the network device to perform the method of the second aspect or the fourth aspect. When the device is a chip in the network device, the processing unit may be a processor and the transceiver unit may be an input / output interface, pins, circuitry, etc. The processing unit executes the instructions stored in the storage unit to enable the network device to perform the method of the second aspect or the fourth aspect. The storage unit may be a storage unit in the chip (e.g., a register or cache) or may be a storage unit external to the chip in the network device (e.g., a read-only memory or a random access memory).

[0061] According to an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising computer program code which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to carry out the method in the previous aspect.

[0062] It should be noted that all or part of the above computer program code may be stored in a first storage medium. The first storage medium may be encapsulated together with the processor or may be encapsulated separately from the processor. This is not particularly limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0063] According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium stores program code. When the computer program code is executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform the method in the above aspect. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0064] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a DRX cycle. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a terminal in DRX state due to a wake-up signal. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic flow chart of an example of a communication method according to the present application. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an example of a method for setting a first period. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of another example of a method for setting the first period. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of yet another example of a method for setting the first period. [Figure 8] 4 is a schematic flow chart of another example of a communication method according to the present application. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of yet another example of a method for setting the first period. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of yet another example of a method for setting the first period. [Figure 11] 4 is a schematic flow chart of yet another example of a communication method according to the present application. [Figure 12] 4 is a schematic flow chart of yet another example of a communication method according to the present application. [Figure 13] 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application. [Figure 16]FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0065] The technical solutions of the present application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0066] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application may be applied to various communication systems, such as global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) systems, general packet radio service (GPRS), long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, 5th generation (5G) communication systems, or future new radio access technologies.

[0067] In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, a communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application will first be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 100 may include at least one network device, for example, the network device 110 shown in FIG. 1. The communication system 100 may further include at least one terminal device, for example, the terminal device 120 shown in FIG. 1. The network device 110 and the terminal device 120 may communicate with each other via a wireless link. Multiple antennas may be configured for each communication device, such as the network device 110 or the terminal device 120. The multiple antennas may include at least one transmitting antenna configured to transmit a signal and at least one receiving antenna configured to receive a signal. In addition, each communication device may additionally include a transmitter chain and a receiver chain. Those skilled in the art will understand that the transmitter chain and the receiver chain may each include multiple components (e.g., a processor, a modulator, a multiplexer, a demodulator, a demultiplexer, an antenna) related to the transmission and reception of a signal. Thus, the network device 110 and the terminal device 120 can communicate with each other using multi-antenna technology.

[0068] It should be understood that the network device in the wireless communication system can be any device having a wireless transceiver function, including, but not limited to, evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB), radio network controller (RNC), Node B (NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home Node B (e.g., home evolved NodeB or home Node B (HNB)), base band unit (BBU), access point (AP) of wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, wireless relay node, wireless backhaul node transmission point (TP), transmission and reception point (TRP), etc. Alternatively, the device may be a gNB or a transmission point of a 5G system such as an NR system, may be one antenna panel or a group of antenna panels (including multiple antenna panels) of a base station of the 5G system, or may be a network node such as a baseband unit (BBU) or a distributed unit (DU) that constitutes a gNB or a transmission point.

[0069] In some arrangements, the gNB may include a centralized unit (CU) and a DU. The gNB may further include a radio unit (RU). The CU implements some functions of the gNB, and the DU implements some functions of the gNB. For example, the CU implements functions of a radio resource control (RRC) layer and a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and the DU implements functions of a radio link control (RLC) layer, a media access control (MAC) layer, and a physical (PHY) layer. Information of the RRC layer is eventually converted to or from information of the PHY layer. Therefore, in this architecture, higher layer signaling, such as RRC layer signaling, may also be considered to be transmitted by the DU and transmitted by the DU and CU. It may be understood that the network device may be a CU node, a DU node, or a device including a CU node and a DU node. In addition, the CU may be a network device in an access network (radio access network, RAN) or a network device in a core network (core network, CN), which is not limited in this application.

[0070] It should be further understood that a terminal device in a wireless communication system may also be called a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile console, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a device, a user agent, or a user equipment. The terminal device in the embodiment of the present application may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with a wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal of industrial control, a wireless terminal of self driving, a wireless terminal of remote medical, a wireless terminal of smart grid, a wireless terminal of transportation safety, a wireless terminal of smart city, a wireless terminal of smart home, etc. In the embodiment of the present application, the application scenario is not limited.

[0071] In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the related technical contents in the present application are first briefly described.

[0072] 1. Radio Resource Management Measurements Radio resource management (RRM) measurements are communication quality measurements performed by a terminal on a periodic signal. For example, the measured contents may include at least one of reference signal receiving power (RSRP), reference signal receiving quality (RSRQ), or signal to interference plus noise (SINR).

[0073] RRM measurements are performed to enable terminals in radio resource control idle (RRC_idle) mode and terminals in radio resource control inactive (RRC_inactive) mode to perform cell selection / reselection, and terminals in RRC connected mode to perform cell handover. RRM measurements are performed to meet the requirements of the communication system for terminal mobility, to enable terminals to perform cell selection / reselection / handover in time when entering a new cell. Therefore, RRM measurements are performed periodically.

[0074] Currently, there are mainly two types of reference signals used for RRM measurements: synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SSB), specifically the secondary synchronization signal of SSB, and channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS). SSB is a cell level signal and can be used by terminals in RRC idle / inactive / connected mode. However, currently, CSI-RS can only be used by terminals in RRC connected mode. When a terminal is in RRC connected mode, the base station configures a specific CSI-RS resource for mobility RRM measurements by using RRC signaling. In RRC connected mode, the specific signal used for RRM measurements (which can be based on two signals at the same time) is configured by using RRC signaling. The embodiments of this application are mainly for RRC connected mode and mainly for RRM measurements based on CSI-RS.

[0075] 2. Intermittent reception In general, packet-based data streams are usually bursty. There is data to be transmitted for a certain period of time, but no data to be transmitted for the next relatively long period of time. Therefore, in NR, a discontinuous reception (DRX) procedure may be configured for a terminal device. When there is no data to be transmitted, the terminal device may stop detecting the PDCCH and stop receiving the corresponding transmission data in order to reduce power consumption and extend battery life.

[0076] A network device can configure a DRX cycle for a terminal device in RRC connected mode. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a DRX cycle. A DRX cycle includes an "On duration" period. Within the On duration, the terminal device can detect a PDCCH. The On duration is followed by an "opportunity for DRX." The On duration and the DRX opportunity together constitute a complete DRX cycle.

[0077] The terminal device starts a timer at the time start position (i.e., the start position of the on-duration) of each DRX cycle. The time length of the timer is the time length of the on-duration. The timer may be called a drx-on duration timer. The terminal device can detect a PDCCH within the time range of the timer. If a PDCCH is not detected by the terminal device within the time range of the drx-on duration timer, the terminal device enters a sleep state after the timer expires. In other words, the terminal device may stop detecting a PDCCH for the remaining period in the DRX cycle. In this way, the receiver circuit may be disabled to reduce the power consumption of the terminal. If the terminal device detects that a PDCCH indicates a new data transmission within the time range of the drx-on duration timer, the terminal device starts a drx-inactivity timer in the DRX mechanism. If the terminal device also detects that a PDCCH indicates a new data transmission within the execution time of the drx inactivity timer, the terminal device restarts the drx inactivity timer to resume counting. If the drx inactivity timer is running, even if the originally configured drx on duration timer expires (in other words, the on duration has ended), the terminal device still needs to continue detecting the PDCCH until the drx inactivity timer expires.

[0078] The DRX mechanism has some other timers, such as the DRX downlink retransmission timer (drx-retransmission timer DL) and the DRX uplink retransmission timer (drx-retransmission timer UL). The two timers are not described in detail in the technical solution of this application.

[0079] When DRX is configured, a DRX active state and a DRX non-active state may be configured for the terminal. The period during which the UE is in the DRX active state is called the active time. If any one of the aforementioned timers (including drx on duration timer, drx inactivity timer, downlink / uplink retransmission timer, etc.) is running, the terminal device is in the active time (in other words, the terminal is in the active state). In the DRX mechanism, when the terminal device is in the active time, the terminal device needs to detect the PDCCH. It should be understood that the terminal device may also be in the active time under some other conditions. However, these conditions are rarely used in the embodiments of the present application and therefore are not described herein.

[0080] 3. Power saving signal In NR, a new concept, "power saving signal", is expected to be introduced to further reduce the energy consumption of the terminal. A network device can configure a power saving signal for a terminal in DRX state. Usually, the power saving signal is transmitted before a DRX cycle and is considered to be used to indicate whether the terminal needs to be woken up to monitor the PDCCH in the next one or more DRX cycles. The power saving signal can be based on the PDCCH channel. Based on different functions, the power saving signal can be classified into a wake-up signal (WUS) and / or a go to sleep signal (GTS). The following describes three ways of configuring the power saving signal.

[0081] (1) The power saving signal is a wake-up signal. In this case, the terminal can determine whether to wake up to enter the on duration of the DRX cycle to detect the PDCCH based on whether the wake-up signal is detected. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a terminal in a DRX state by a wake-up signal.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 3, if a wake-up signal is detected by the terminal before the first DRX cycle, the terminal may start the drx on duration timer to enter the on duration for detecting the PDCCH. Furthermore, if the terminal detects that the PDCCH indicates a new data transmission, the terminal may start the drx inactivity timer. However, if a wake-up signal is not detected in the first DRX cycle and at a preset time domain position before the second DRX cycle, the terminal does not need to detect the PDCCH in the second DRX cycle. In this way, the terminal device can enter a sleep state without starting the drx on duration timer to reduce the power consumption of the terminal.

[0083] (2) The power saving signal is a sleep transition signal. In this case, the terminal can determine whether to wake up to enter the on duration of the DRX cycle to detect the PDCCH based on whether the sleep transition signal is detected. Specifically, if the sleep transition signal is detected by the terminal device, the terminal device enters a sleep state without starting the drx on duration timer, or if the sleep transition signal is not detected by the terminal device, the terminal device starts the drx on duration timer and enters the on duration to detect the PDCCH.

[0084] (3) The power saving signal is both a wake-up signal and a sleep transition signal. For example, one bit of downlink control information (DCI) can be used to indicate a terminal that should wake up to enter an on-duration for detecting a PDCCH, or to indicate a terminal that should not be woken up and should enter a sleep state.

[0085] It should be understood that the above radio resource management measurement, discontinuous reception, power saving signal, etc. are described for facilitating understanding of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute any limitation to the present application. Based on the above description, the following describes a mechanism of RRM measurement between a terminal and a base station in the prior art when discontinuous reception is configured for the terminal.

[0086] In the prior art, when DRX is configured for a terminal and the DRX cycle in use is longer than 80 ms, the terminal expects to receive the CSI-RS used for mobility RRM measurements only during the active time in the DRX cycle. This means that during the active time in the DRX cycle, the base station needs to transmit the CSI-RS used for RRM measurements. However, during the sleep time in the DRX cycle, the terminal does not expect the CSI-RS (the terminal is not woken up to receive the CSI-RS), and therefore the base station can choose whether to transmit the CSI-RS used for RRM measurements or not.

[0087] If the DRX cycle is equal to or less than 80 ms, the base station needs to transmit the CSI-RS used for RRM measurement regardless of whether the terminal is in the DRX active time or the DRX sleep time, and the terminal also considers that the CSI-RS is always present. Therefore, the terminal can perform RRM measurement based on the CSI-RS.

[0088] With the introduction of the concept of "power saving signal", if the power saving signal indicates that a sleep state is available (or does not detect PDCCH) within a DRX cycle, the terminal does not start the drx on duration timer and does not enter the active time within this cycle. As a result, the active time of the terminal is shortened (before the power saving signal is introduced, the active time includes at least the on duration within each cycle). According to the existing RRM measurement mechanism, since the active time of the terminal is shortened, the RRM measurement opportunity is reduced, and even the terminal cannot perform the measurement in the entire RRM measurement cycle. As a result, the Layer 1 filtering used by the terminal to perform RRM measurements is reduced, and the accuracy of the RRM measurements is reduced. This has a serious impact on mobility.

[0089] Based on the above analysis, a new RRM measurement mechanism needs to be provided urgently, assuming that the concept of "power saving signal" is introduced.

[0090] The present application provides a communication method 200 for ensuring sufficient RRM measurement opportunities for a terminal and preventing the introduction of the concept of a "power saving signal" from affecting mobility RRM measurements performed by the terminal. The following description will be given with reference to FIG. 4.

[0091] 4 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method 200 according to an embodiment of the present application. The method 200 shown in FIG.

[0092] Step 210: The network device determines whether the terminal device detects a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle.

[0093] Step 220: The terminal device determines whether to detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle based on the reception status of the first power saving signal.

[0094] Step 230: The network device transmits a CSI-RS to the terminal device during a first period within the first DRX cycle, where the CSI-RS is used by the terminal device to perform RRM measurements.

[0095] Accordingly, in step 230, the terminal device performs RRM measurements on the CSI-RS transmitted by the network device during a first period within the first DRX cycle.

[0096] Specifically, the network device can first determine whether the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, in other words, the network device can first determine whether the terminal device enters an active state or an inactive state in the first DRX cycle, and can instruct the terminal device accordingly based on the transmission status of the first power saving signal. The terminal device can determine whether to detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle based on the reception status of the first power saving signal.

[0097] For example, a period #A (e.g., at least one symbol or at least one slot) before the first DRX cycle may be preconfigured to transmit a first power saving signal. The terminal device can determine whether to detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle based on the reception status of the first power saving signal in the period #A.

[0098] Based on the above description regarding the power saving signal, the terminal device's determination of whether to detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle based on the reception status of the first power saving signal may include the following three cases:

[0099] Case a: the first power saving signal is a wake-up signal WUS. The wake-up signal WUS may be detected in period #A, and whether the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle is determined based on whether the wake-up signal WUS is detected. For example, if the wake-up signal WUS is detected by the terminal device in period #A, the terminal device may start a drx on duration timer in the first DRX cycle to enter an on duration for detecting a PDCCH. As another example, if the wake-up signal WUS is not detected by the terminal device in period #A, the terminal device may not start a drx on duration timer and does not detect a PDCCH. In this case, the terminal device enters an inactive state in the first DRX cycle.

[0100] Case b: The first power saving signal is a sleep transition signal GTS. The sleep transition signal GTS may be detected in period #A, and whether the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle is determined based on whether the sleep transition signal GTS is detected. For example, if the sleep transition signal GTS is not detected by the terminal device in period #A, the terminal device may start a drx on duration timer in the first DRX cycle to enter an on duration for detecting a PDCCH. As another example, if the sleep transition signal GTS is detected by the terminal device in period #A, the terminal device may not start a drx on duration timer and does not detect a PDCCH. In this case, the terminal device enters an inactive state in the first DRX cycle.

[0101] Case c: The first power saving signal is both a wake-up signal WUS and a sleep transition signal GTS. The terminal device receives the first power saving signal within period #A, reads the content of the first power saving signal, and determines whether to detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle based on the content.

[0102] For example, the following may be specified by a system or protocol, or may be agreed upon by a network device or a terminal device. One bit "0" may be used to indicate that the terminal device has not detected a PDCCH, and one bit "1" may be used to indicate that the terminal device has detected a PDCCH. When the content of the first power saving signal is bit "0", the terminal device may determine that it does not detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle. When the content of the first power saving signal is bit "1", the terminal device may determine that it detects a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle.

[0103] In this embodiment, the first DRX cycle includes a first period. In the first period, the network device can transmit at least one CSI-RS used for RRM measurement to the terminal device. The terminal device can measure the CSI-RS in the first period.

[0104] The first period may be specified by a system or protocol, or may be agreed upon between the network device and the terminal device. For example, the network device may configure the terminal device by using static signaling or dynamic signaling. The semi-static signaling may be, for example, RRC signaling. The dynamic signaling may be, for example, a MAC control element (MAC CE) or DCI.

[0105] It should be noted that in this embodiment of the present application, the "protocol" may be a standard protocol in the communication field, for example, may include LTE protocol, NR protocol, and related protocols applied to future communication systems, which is not limited in the present application.

[0106] It may be understood that if the terminal device is in an inactive state before the first period of time, the terminal device may wake up to enter an active state to measure the CSI-RS.

[0107] Optionally, after completing RRM measurements on the CSI-RS in the first period, the terminal device may enter an inactive state to reduce energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0108] Optionally, the network device may transmit the CSI-RS at a time other than the first period within the first DRX cycle.

[0109] Optionally, the network device does not transmit the CSI-RS at times other than the first period within the first DRX cycle to reduce energy consumption of the network device.

[0110] Optionally, the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in the first period of time according to a transmission cycle configured by the network device.

[0111] Optionally, the first DRX cycle may be any one of one or more DRX cycles indicated by the first power saving signal, for example, the first or last DRX cycle, which is not limited in this application.

[0112] In this embodiment, the first period is within the first DRX cycle, and the length of the first period may be less than or equal to the length of the first DRX cycle, and the length of the first period may be greater than or equal to the period occupied by at least one CSI-RS.

[0113] For example, the first period includes some or all of the on duration in the first DRX cycle.

[0114] As another example, the first period includes some or all of the DRX opportunities within the first DRX cycle.

[0115] As another example, the first period may be an on duration within a first DRX cycle.

[0116] As another example, the length of the first period may be equal to the length of the on duration in the first DRX cycle.

[0117] As another example, the length of the first period may be equal to the length of the first DRX cycle.

[0118] As another example, when an active state is available within the first DRX cycle, the length of the first period may be equal to the length of the active time.

[0119] Hereinafter, a possible setting method of the first period in an embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0120] Method 1 FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an example of a method for setting the first period. In FIG. 5, the network device may transmit a first power saving signal to the terminal device in period #A. The first power saving signal may be used to instruct the terminal device to not detect the PDCCH in the first DRX cycle (left diagram) or to detect the PDCCH (right diagram). In method 1, the first period is the on duration in the first DRX cycle, regardless of whether the terminal device is determined to not detect the PDCCH in the first DRX cycle or to detect the PDCCH based on the transmission status and reception status of the first power saving signal. In other words, the start position and end position of the first period are the same as those of the on duration, in other words, the first period completely overlaps with the on duration.

[0121] Method 2 6 is a schematic diagram of another example of a method for setting the first period. In FIG. 6, when it is determined that the terminal device does not detect the PDCCH in the first DRX cycle (left figure) based on the transmission status and reception status of the first power saving signal, the first period is the on duration in the DRX cycle.

[0122] If it is determined that the terminal device detects the PDCCH in the first DRX cycle (right figure) based on the transmission status and reception status of the first power saving signal, the first period is the active time in the DRX cycle. When the terminal device enters the active state in the first DRX cycle, it is easy to understand that the active time in the first DRX cycle includes at least the on duration. If it is detected that the PDCCH indicates new data transmission in the on duration, the active time should further include the running time of the drx inactivity timer.

[0123] Method 3 Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of yet another example of a method for setting a first period. In Figure 7, when the length of the first DRX cycle is less than the duration threshold, regardless of whether the terminal device determines that it has not detected a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle (left diagram) or has detected a PDCCH (right diagram) based on the transmission status and reception status of the first power saving signal, the first period is the entire first DRX cycle. In other words, the start position and end position of the first period are the same as those of one DRX cycle, in other words, the first period completely overlaps with the DRX cycle.

[0124] The duration threshold may be specified by a system or protocol, or may be agreed upon between the network device and the terminal device. For example, the duration threshold is 80 milliseconds (ms).

[0125] Step 240: The terminal device sends the RRM measurement result to the network device.

[0126] Accordingly, in step 240, the network device receives the RRM measurement result sent by the terminal device.

[0127] Specifically, after completing the measurement of the CSI-RS, the terminal device can report the RRM measurement result to the network device in time, so that the network device can perform operations such as cell selection / reselection / handover for the terminal device based on the measurement result.

[0128] In this embodiment of the present application, the first period is set within the first DRX cycle. Even if the terminal device is instructed to enter a sleep state within the first DRX cycle, the network device still transmits CSI-RS in the first period, and the terminal device also regards the CSI-RS as being present within the first period and can perform RRM measurements on the CSI-RS within the first period. This can ensure sufficient RRM measurement opportunities for the terminal device, ensure the accuracy of the RRM measurements, and prevent the introduction of the concept of "power saving signals" from affecting the mobility RRM measurements performed by the terminal.

[0129] The present application further provides a communication method 300 for ensuring sufficient RRM measurement opportunities for a terminal and preventing the introduction of the concept of "power saving signal" from affecting mobility RRM measurements performed by the terminal. The following description will be given with reference to FIG. 8.

[0130] 8 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method 300 according to an embodiment of the present application. The method 300 shown in FIG.

[0131] Step 310: The network device determines a first period based on a transmission occasion of the first power save signal.

[0132] Step 320: The terminal device determines a first period based on a receiving scene of the first power saving signal.

[0133] Step 330: The network device transmits a CSI-RS to the terminal device during a first period of time, where the CSI-RS is used by the terminal device to perform RRM measurements.

[0134] Accordingly, in step 330, the terminal device performs RRM measurements on the CSI-RS transmitted by the network device during the first period.

[0135] Please refer to the above related description. The network device can pre-configure the period #A to transmit the first power saving signal (the period #A can also be referred to as the period occupied by the first power saving signal). The terminal device can determine whether to detect the PDCCH within at least one DRX cycle after the period #A based on the reception status of the first power saving signal in the period #A.

[0136] This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment in that the network device and the terminal device may each determine the first period based on a transmission occasion of the first power saving signal. The network device may transmit the CSI-RS in the first period, and the terminal device may perform RRM measurements on the CSI-RS in the first period.

[0137] In this embodiment, the first period may be determined based on the transmission occasion of the first power saving signal in the following two ways.

[0138] Method A When a first power saving signal is configured, a CSI-RS associated with the first power saving signal may be configured.

[0139] Specifically, when the time domain position (i.e., period #A) for transmitting the first power saving signal is configured, the time domain position (i.e., the period occupied by the CSI-RS) for transmitting the CSI-RS may also be reconfigured, and the first period is determined based on the period occupied by the CSI-RS. It is easily understood that the first period needs to include the period occupied by the CSI-RS.

[0140] Optionally, the length of the first period may be longer than the length of the period occupied by the CSI-RS.

[0141] Optionally, the length of the first period may instead be equal to the length of the period occupied by CSI-RS, in which case the first period is the period occupied by CSI-RS.

[0142] In each cycle, the relative position of Period #A and the period occupied by CSI-RS is fixed. The terminal device and the network device can determine the specific position of the first period based on the related configuration information and the time domain position of Period #A. In addition, CSI-RS is transmitted / measured within the first period. For example, a way for the network to determine the period occupied by CSI-RS is to configure an offset value between the period occupied by CSI-RS and Period #A.

[0143] Typically, the period #A occupied by the first power saving signal is configured periodically. Therefore, the configured CSI-RS is also periodic. The network device can periodically transmit the CSI-RS in the first period, and the terminal device can periodically perform RRM measurements in the first period.

[0144] 9 is a schematic diagram of yet another example of a method for setting the first period. As shown in FIG. 9, an offset value between the period occupied by the CSI-RS and period #A is offset 1. Optionally, the protocol may specify that offset 1 is less than or equal to the first duration threshold.

[0145] Specifically, in order to detect the first power saving signal, the terminal device may need to be woken up from a sleep state in period #A, and the period occupied by the CSI-RS needs to be as close as possible to period #A. In this way, the terminal device can perform the RRM measurement immediately after completing the detection of the first power saving signal, and does not need to be woken up from a sleep state just for the RRM measurement. In addition, the period occupied by the CSI-RS is set to be as close as possible to period #A. This can also shorten the period during which the terminal device remains awake, reducing the energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0146] Optionally, the protocol may specify that offset 1 is less than or equal to the first duration threshold. When the protocol specifies the first duration threshold, the base station must ensure that the offset value offset 1 between period #A and the period occupied by CSI-RS and configured by associating it with period #A is less than or equal to the first duration threshold. If the protocol does not specify that offset 1 is less than or equal to the first duration threshold, the period occupied by CSI-RS is configured to be as close as possible to period #A, depending on the base station implementation.

[0147] Optionally, the offset value offset 1 between the period occupied by CSI-RS and period #A may be an offset value between the first character of the period occupied by CSI-RS and the first or last character of period #A, or may be an offset value between the last character of the period occupied by CSI-RS and the first or last character of period #A, which is not limited in the present application.

[0148] Optionally, in FIG. 9, the difference from the previous embodiment is that the first period may be within the on duration in the first DRX cycle or may exceed the first DRX cycle.

[0149] Method B When the first power save signal is configured, a first time period associated with the first power save signal may be configured directly.

[0150] The first period is associated with a period #A occupied by a first power saving signal. The network device and the terminal device may each determine the first period based on a transmission scene of the first power saving signal. The network device may transmit a CSI-RS in the first period, and the terminal device may perform an RRM measurement on the CSI-RS in the first period.

[0151] Specifically, it may be specified by a protocol or system or configured by a network device that the first period and the period #A occupied by the first power saving signal may be associated with each other in this embodiment. The terminal device and the network device may determine the time-domain location of the first period based on the time-domain location of the period #A. Then, the CSI-RS is transmitted / measured within the first period.

[0152] The first period may be configured by the network using signaling or may be specified by a protocol or system. The unit of the first period may be any one of a symbol, a slot, a subframe, a frame, a microsecond, a millisecond (ms), or a second.

[0153] For example, the first period may be configured by the network using RRC signaling or MAC CE signaling. For example, the network device configures the length of the first period to be 10 ms when configuring the first power save signal.

[0154] As another example, the first period may be specified by the system by default. For example, if the DRX cycle is longer than 80 ms, the length of the first period is equal to 10 ms. If the DRX cycle is equal to or less than 80 ms, the length of the first period is equal to 15 ms.

[0155] Optionally, the duration of the first period may be less than or equal to the second duration threshold. The period during which the terminal device remains active to perform measurements may be limited to reduce power consumption of the terminal device.

[0156] Optionally, the duration of the first period may be the length of an on duration within a DRX cycle.

[0157] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of yet another example of a method for setting the first period.

[0158] In FIG. 10, the length of the first period may be equal to the length of the on duration in the first DRX cycle.

[0159] Based on a similar understanding, the first period may be set to be close to period #A to enable the terminal device to perform RRM measurements immediately after completing detection of the first power saving signal and to shorten the period during which the terminal device remains awake.

[0160] For example, in FIG. 10, the first period may start from the first or last symbol of period #A.

[0161] The CSI-RS configuration method in Method B is different from the CSI-RS configuration method in Method A. Specifically, the base station may not take into account how the first power saving signal is configured, but may configure the periodic CSI-RS separately if the CSI-RS is available within the first period for the terminal device to perform RRM measurements.

[0162] Step 340: The terminal device sends the RRM measurement result to the network device.

[0163] Accordingly, in step 340, the network device receives the RRM measurement result sent by the terminal device.

[0164] Specifically, after completing the measurement of the CSI-RS, the terminal device can report the RRM measurement result to the network device in time, so that the network device can perform operations such as cell selection / reselection / handover for the terminal device based on the measurement result.

[0165] In this embodiment of the present application, the associated first period is determined based on the transmission occasion of the first power saving signal. The network device transmits the CSI-RS in the first period, and the terminal device may perform RRM measurement on the CSI-RS in the first period. This can ensure sufficient RRM measurement opportunities for the terminal device, ensure the accuracy of the RRM measurement, and prevent the introduction of the concept of "power saving signal" from affecting the mobility RRM measurement performed by the terminal.

[0166] The present application further provides a communication method 400 to provide the possibility for the network device and the terminal device not to transmit / measure CSI-RS within a DRX cycle to help reduce power consumption of the network device and the terminal device.

[0167] 11 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method 400 according to an embodiment of the present application. The method 400 shown in FIG.

[0168] Step 410: The terminal device receives indication information sent by the network device. The indication information includes first indication information and / or second indication information. The first indication information is used to indicate a possibility that the network device will transmit CSI-RS in a first DRX cycle. The second indication information is used to indicate a possibility that the network device will transmit CSI-RS in a second DRX cycle, where the second DRX cycle is a DRX cycle after the first DRX cycle.

[0169] Step 420: The terminal device determines, according to the indication information, whether to perform RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle.

[0170] Specifically, the first indication information may be used to indicate the possibility that the network device will transmit the CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, for example, to indicate that the network device will definitely or possibly transmit the CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle. For example, the fact that the network device will definitely or possibly transmit the CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle may be indicated using one or more bits in a DCI field or using a different demodulation reference signal (DMRS) scrambling code sequence.

[0171] Similarly, the second indication information may be used to indicate the possibility that the network device will transmit the CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle, for example, to indicate that the network device will definitely or possibly transmit the CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle, for example, the fact that the network device will definitely or possibly transmit the CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle may be indicated using one or more bits in the DCI field or using a different DMRS scrambling code sequence.

[0172] The terminal device may determine whether to perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle based on the indication information. In other words, the terminal device may determine whether to perform RRM measurements in the current first DRX cycle based on the possibility of transmitting CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle and / or the possibility of transmitting CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle.

[0173] Optionally, when it is determined that the RRM measurement needs to be performed within the first DRX cycle, please refer to the description of the above embodiment. The RRM measurement may be performed during the first period described in the above embodiment. In this application, details are not described again here.

[0174] In this embodiment of the present application, whether to perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle may be determined based on the indication information. In this way, the terminal device can measure the CSI-RS more flexibly. The terminal device can determine whether to perform RRM measurements in the current first DRX cycle based on the indication information, for example, can determine not to perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle based on the indication information. This helps to reduce the energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0175] The following will separately describe how the terminal device determines whether to perform RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle in step 420 based on different contents included in the indication information.

[0176] Case 1 When the indication information includes first indication information, in step 420, the terminal device determines whether to perform RRM measurement within a first DRX cycle based on the indication information, When the first indication information indicates that the network device definitely transmits the CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device performs an RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle; Specifically, the first indication information indicates that the CSI-RS is definitely transmitted in the first DRX cycle, and the terminal device cannot determine whether the CSI-RS is definitely available in the next DRX cycle, so the terminal device may perform RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle; or If the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device may or may not perform RRM measurements within the first DRX cycle.

[0177] Case 2 When the indication information includes second indication information, in step 420, the terminal device determines whether to perform RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle based on the indication information, If the second indication information indicates that the network device reliably transmits the CSI-RS within the second DRX cycle, the terminal device does not perform RRM measurements within the first DRX cycle; or The method includes, when the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle, the terminal device performing RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle.

[0178] If the second indication information indicates that the network device transmits the CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle, the RRM measurement may be necessarily performed in the second DRX cycle, in which case the terminal device may not perform the RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle to reduce power consumption.

[0179] If the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle, the terminal device cannot determine whether the RRM measurement may be performed in the second DRX cycle, in which case, in order to ensure sufficient measurement samples, the terminal device performs the RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle.

[0180] Optionally, the method 400 further comprises: The method further includes the terminal device determining whether to detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle based on a reception status of the power saving signal.

[0181] In step 420, the terminal device determines whether to perform RRM measurement within a first DRX cycle based on the indication information, The terminal device determines whether to perform RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle based on the indication information and whether to detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle.

[0182] Whether to detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle may be determined based on the reception status of a power saving signal. The terminal device determines whether to perform an RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle based on the indication information and whether to detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, and may be classified into the following several cases based on different contents included in the indication information:

[0183] Case 3 When the indication information includes first indication information, determining whether to perform RRM measurement in a first DRX cycle based on the indication information and whether to detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle by the terminal device is If the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle and the terminal device detects a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device performs an RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle; or The first indication information includes that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle, and if the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not perform RRM measurements within the first DRX cycle.

[0184] Specifically, when the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device necessarily needs to enter an active state. In this case, the possibility that the network device transmits a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle indicated by the first indication information is changed to the network device determining to transmit a CSI-RS. It can be understood that when the terminal device determines to detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the network device determines to transmit a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle. In this case, the indication of the first indication information may be ignored. Therefore, the terminal device may instead perform an RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle.

[0185] However, when the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not start the drx on duration timer and possibly enters an inactive state. In this case, the network device may transmit CSI-RS only in the first DRX cycle. For example, the first indication information is represented by one bit. When the bit is 0, this indicates that CSI-RS may be transmitted. In this case, the network device may not transmit CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, and therefore the terminal device does not perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle. In addition, when the bit is 1, this indicates that the network device definitely transmits CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle. In this case, even if the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device may also perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle. Indeed, the terminal device may not perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle instead.

[0186] It may be understood that if the network device determines that the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle or if the first indication information indicates that the network device will definitely transmit a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, the network device will definitely transmit a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle. If the network device determines that the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle and the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, the network device may not transmit a CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle.

[0187] Case 4 When the indication information includes second indication information, determining whether to perform RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle based on the indication information and whether to detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle by the terminal device is If the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle and the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device performs an RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle; or The second instruction information includes that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle and, if the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle.

[0188] Specifically, if the network device may transmit CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle, it cannot be determined whether the CSI-RS is transmitted in the second DRX cycle. If the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device needs to enter an active state, and the terminal device can perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle. If the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not start the drx on duration timer. The terminal device determines whether the network device transmits CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle based on the last received second indication information. For example, when the second indication information is represented using 1 bit and the bit representing the last received second indication information is 0, the network device may not transmit CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, and therefore the terminal device may not perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle. When the bit representing the last received second indication information is 1, the terminal device determines that the network device transmits a CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle, and therefore, the terminal device can perform RRM measurements within the DRX cycle.

[0189] Case 5 When the indication information includes first indication information and second indication information, determining whether or not the terminal device performs RRM measurement in a first DRX cycle based on the indication information and whether or not the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle includes: If the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in a first DRX cycle and the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in a second DRX cycle, and the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device determines that the network device may not transmit the CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, and therefore the terminal device does not perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle; If the first indication information determines that the network device will transmit the CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, and the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle, and the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device determines that the network device may not transmit the CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle, and therefore the terminal device does not perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle; If the first indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit a CSI-RS in a first DRX cycle, and the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS in a second DRX cycle, and the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device may also perform an RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle; When the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit CSI-RS within a first DRX cycle, and the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit CSI-RS within a second DRX cycle, and it is determined based on the reception status of the power saving signal that the terminal device will be woken up within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device determines that the network device will transmit CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle, and therefore the terminal device may perform RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle; When the first indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit the CSI-RS within a first DRX cycle, and the second indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit the CSI-RS within a second DRX cycle, and it is determined based on the reception status of the power saving signal that the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device may not perform RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle; When the first indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit the CSI-RS within a first DRX cycle, the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit the CSI-RS within a second DRX cycle, and it is determined that the terminal device detects a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle based on the reception status of the power saving signal, the terminal device determines that the network device will transmit the CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle, and therefore the terminal device does not need to perform RRM measurement within the first DRX cycle; When the first indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit a CSI-RS in a first DRX cycle, and the second indication information indicates that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS in a second DRX cycle, and it is determined based on the reception status of the power saving signal that the terminal device will detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device may perform an RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle; or When the first indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit the CSI-RS in a first DRX cycle, the second indication information indicates that the network device has determined to transmit the CSI-RS in a second DRX cycle, and the terminal device has determined to detect the PDCCH in the first DRX cycle based on a reception status of the power saving signal, the terminal device may not perform RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle. This includes:

[0190] Optionally, the first indication information and the second indication information may be transmitted to the terminal device together or separately.

[0191] For example, the first instruction information, the second instruction information, and the power saving signal are transmitted to the terminal device together.

[0192] In another example, the second indication information and the power saving signal are transmitted together to the terminal device.

[0193] Case 6 When the indication information includes first indication information, determining whether to perform RRM measurement in a first DRX cycle based on the indication information and whether to detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle by the terminal device is determining, based on the first indication information and whether the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, a possibility that the network device will transmit a CSI-RS in a second DRX cycle; and The method includes the terminal device determining whether to perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle based on a likelihood that the network device will transmit the CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle.

[0194] Specifically, the likelihood that the network device will transmit CSI-RS within the second DRX cycle may be determined based on the first indication information and whether or not it detects a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle.

[0195] For example, the likelihood that a network device will transmit CSI-RS within the second DRX cycle may be determined according to the following protocol specifications.

[0196] If the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle and the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device necessarily needs to enter an active state to detect a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle. In this case, the network device may transmit CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle indicated by the first indication information is changed to the network device determining that it transmits CSI-RS. Thus, the terminal device determines that the network device may transmit CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle.

[0197] If the first indication information indicates that the network device may transmit CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle and the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not need to detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle, so that the network device may transmit CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle indicated by the first indication information means that the network device does not need to transmit CSI-RS. Thus, the terminal device determines that the network device will definitely transmit CSI-RS within the second DRX cycle.

[0198] If the first indication information indicates that the network device will definitely transmit CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device determines that the network device will likely transmit CSI-RS within the second DRX cycle.

[0199] Further, the terminal device may determine whether to perform RRM measurements in the first DRX cycle based on a likelihood that the network device will transmit a CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle in the following manner: If it is determined that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS in the second DRX cycle and the terminal device detects a PDCCH in the first DRX cycle, the terminal device performs an RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle, or If it is determined that the network device may transmit a CSI-RS within the first DRX cycle and that the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle, the terminal device does not perform RRM measurements within the first DRX cycle.

[0200] In this embodiment of the present application, the indication information is used to indicate whether the network device transmits CSI-RS in the first DRX cycle and / or the second DRX cycle, and whether to perform RRM measurement in the first DRX cycle is determined based on the indication information (in combination with the specific indication of the power saving signal). In this way, the terminal device can measure CSI-RS more flexibly, and the terminal device can determine whether to perform RRM measurement in the current first DRX cycle based on the indication information. This helps to reduce the energy consumption of the terminal device.

[0201] The present application further provides a communication method 500 to provide the possibility for the network device and the terminal device not to transmit / measure CSI-RS within a DRX cycle to help reduce power consumption of the network device and the terminal device.

[0202] 12 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method 500 according to an embodiment of the present application. The method 500 shown in FIG.

[0203] Step 510: The terminal device determines whether to detect a PDCCH within N DRX cycles according to the reception status of the power saving signal, where N is an integer greater than 1.

[0204] Step 520: The terminal device receives the indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate whether the network device transmits the CSI-RS within the N DRX cycles.

[0205] Step 530: The terminal device determines whether to perform RRM measurement according to the receiving status and the indication information of the power saving signal.

[0206] Specifically, based on the reception status of the power saving signal, the terminal device can decide not to detect a PDCCH in each of the N DRX cycles, to detect a PDCCH in each of the N DRX cycles, or to detect a PDCCH in some of the N DRX cycles and not detect a PDCCH in some of the N DRX cycles.

[0207] The indication information is used to indicate whether the network device transmits CSI-RS in the N DRX cycles. For example, the indication information may indicate that CSI-RS is transmitted in each of the N DRX cycles, that CSI-RS is not transmitted in each of the N DRX cycles, or that CSI-RS is transmitted in some of the N DRX cycles and not transmitted in some of the N DRX cycles.

[0208] Optionally, bit "1" may be used to indicate that CSI-RS is transmitted within a DRX cycle, and bit "0" may be used to indicate that CSI-RS is not transmitted within a DRX cycle. Based on this, a bit string including N bits may be used to indicate whether a network device transmits CSI-RS within N DRX cycles.

[0209] For example, the value of N may be 5. In this case, the bit string "10101" indicates that the network device transmits CSI-RS in the first, third, and fifth cycles as indicated, and does not transmit CSI-RS in the second and fourth cycles as not indicated.

[0210] The terminal device may determine whether to perform RRM measurements within the N DRX cycles based on the reception status and the indication information of the power saving signal. For example, in order to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device while ensuring the measurement accuracy, a specific cycle in which the RRM measurements are performed and a specific cycle in which the RRM measurements are not performed may be determined.

[0211] The communication method of the embodiment of the present application is described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 12. Hereinafter, the apparatus of the embodiment of the present application is described in detail with reference to Figures 13 to 16. It should be understood that the apparatus shown in Figures 13 to 16 can implement one or more steps of the method procedures shown in Figures 4, 8, 11, and 12. To avoid repetition, the details will not be described again here.

[0212] For example, the processing unit 1110 of the communication device 1100 shown in Figure 13 can perform step 220 of Figure 4, and the transceiver unit 1120 can perform steps 230 and 240 of Figure 4. The processing unit 1310 of the communication apparatus 1300 shown in Figure 15 can perform step 210 of Figure 4, and the transceiver unit 1320 can perform steps 230 and 240 of Figure 4.

[0213] 13 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1100 shown in FIG.

[0214] The processing unit 1110 is configured to determine, based on the reception status of the first power saving signal, not to detect a PDCCH within the first DRX cycle.

[0215] The transceiver unit 1120 is configured to perform RRM measurements on a CSI-RS transmitted by the network device at a first period within the first DRX cycle.

[0216] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1120 may be further configured to receive a first power saving signal.

[0217] Optionally, in one embodiment, the first period includes some or all of the on duration in the first DRX cycle.

[0218] Optionally, in one embodiment, the first period includes some or all of the DRX opportunities in the first DRX cycle.

[0219] In another embodiment, the processing unit 1110 is configured to determine the first period based on a receiving occasion of the first power saving signal.

[0220] The transceiver unit 1120 is configured to perform RRM measurements on a CSI-RS transmitted by a network device during a first period of time.

[0221] Optionally, in one embodiment, an offset value between the period occupied by the CSI-RS and the period occupied by the first power saving signal is less than or equal to a first duration threshold, and the period occupied by the CSI-RS is within the first period.

[0222] Optionally, in one embodiment, the duration of the first period is less than or equal to a second duration threshold.

[0223] In a possible implementation, the communication device 1100 may be a terminal device 70. The functions of the processing unit may be implemented by a processor 702 of the terminal device, and the functions of the transceiver unit may be implemented using a transceiver 701 (in other words, a control circuit and an antenna) of the terminal device. In the following, the structure of the terminal device of one embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to FIG. 14.

[0224] FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application. The terminal device is applicable to the system shown in FIG. 1 and can perform the functions of the terminal device in the aforementioned method embodiments. For ease of explanation, FIG. 14 only shows the main components of the terminal device. As shown in FIG. 14, the terminal device 70 includes a processor, a memory, a control circuit, an antenna, and an input / output device. The processor is mainly configured to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire terminal device, execute software programs, process data of the software programs, and is configured to support the terminal device to perform the operations described in the aforementioned method embodiments, for example. The memory is mainly configured to store software programs and data. The control circuit is mainly configured to perform conversion between baseband signals and radio frequency signals, and process radio frequency signals. The control circuit and the antenna may also be called a transceiver, and are mainly configured to receive and transmit radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. The input / output device, such as a touch screen, a display screen, or a keyboard, is mainly configured to receive data input by a user and output data toward the user.

[0225] After the terminal device is powered on, the processor can read the software program in the storage unit, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted, and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. After performing radio frequency processing on the baseband signal, the radio frequency circuit transmits the radio frequency signal in the form of electromagnetic waves using an antenna. When data is transmitted to the terminal device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal using an antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor. The processor converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0226] Those skilled in the art will understand that for ease of explanation, FIG. 14 shows only one memory and only one processor. An actual terminal device may have multiple processors and multiple memories. The memory may be referred to as a storage medium, a storage device, etc. This is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0227] In an optional implementation, the processor may include a baseband processor and a central processing unit. The baseband processor is mainly configured to process communication protocols and communication data. The central processing unit is mainly configured to control the entire terminal device, execute software programs, and process data of the software programs. The functions of the baseband processor and the central processing unit may be integrated into the processor in FIG. 14. Those skilled in the art can understand that the baseband processor and the central processing unit may each be an independent processor and are interconnected using a technology such as a bus. Those skilled in the art can understand that the terminal device may include multiple baseband processors to accommodate different network standards, the terminal device may include multiple central processing units to enhance the processing capabilities of the terminal device, and all components of the terminal device may be interconnected through various buses. The baseband processor may also be expressed as a baseband processing circuit or a baseband processing chip. The central processing unit may also be expressed as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip. The function of processing the communication protocol and communication data may be incorporated into the processor or may be stored in the storage unit in the form of a software program, so that the processor executes the software program to perform the baseband processing function.

[0228] 15 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 1300 shown in FIG.

[0229] The processing unit 1310 is configured to determine that the terminal device does not detect a PDCCH within a first DRX cycle.

[0230] The transceiver unit 1320 is configured to transmit a CSI-RS to the terminal device during a first period within a first DRX cycle, the CSI-RS being used by the terminal device to perform RRM measurements.

[0231] Optionally, in one embodiment, the first period includes some or all of the on duration in the first DRX cycle.

[0232] Optionally, in one embodiment, the first period includes some or all of the DRX opportunities in the first DRX cycle.

[0233] In another embodiment, the processing unit 1310 is configured to determine the first period based on a transmission occasion of the first power saving signal.

[0234] The transceiver unit 1310 is configured to transmit a CSI-RS to a terminal device during a first period of time, where the CSI-RS is used by the terminal device to perform RRM measurements.

[0235] Optionally, in one embodiment, an offset value between the period occupied by the CSI-RS and the period occupied by the first power saving signal is less than or equal to a first duration threshold, and the period occupied by the CSI-RS is within the first period.

[0236] Optionally, in one embodiment, the duration of the first period is less than or equal to a second duration threshold.

[0237] In a possible implementation, the communication device 1300 may be a network device, for example a base station 80 described below. The function of the processing unit may be implemented by a processor 8022 of the base station, and the function of the transceiver unit may be implemented using an RRU 801 of the base station 80. The following describes the structure of the network device of one embodiment of the present application with reference to Figure 16.

[0238] FIG. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application, which may be, for example, a schematic structural diagram of a base station. As shown in FIG. 16, the base station may be applied to the system shown in FIG. 1 and can perform the functions of the network device in the aforementioned method embodiment. The base station 80 may include one or more radio frequency units, such as a remote radio unit (RRU) 801, and one or more baseband units (BBU) 802 (which may also be referred to as a digital unit, DU). The RRU 801 may be referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver equipment, transceiver circuit, transceiver, etc., and may include at least one antenna 8011 and a radio frequency unit 8012. The RRU 801 is mainly configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals, and perform conversion between radio frequency signals and baseband signals, for example, configured to transmit signaling messages in the aforementioned embodiment to terminal devices. The BBU 802 is mainly configured to perform baseband processing, control the base station, etc. The RRU 801 and the BBU 802 may be physically co-located or may be physically separated, for example, located in distributed base stations.

[0239] The BBU 802, also called the processing unit, is the control center of the base station and is mainly configured to complete baseband processing, such as channel encoding, multiplexing, modulation, and spectrum spreading. For example, the BBU (processing unit) 802 may be configured to control the base station to perform operation procedures related to the network device of the above-mentioned method embodiment.

[0240] In one example, the BBU802 may include one or more boards. The multiple boards may jointly support a radio access network of a single access standard (such as an LTE network), or may each support a radio access network of a different access plan (such as an LTE network, a 5G network, or another network). The BBU802 further includes a memory 8021 and a processor 8022. The memory 8021 is configured to store necessary instructions and necessary data. For example, the memory 8021 stores the correspondence between the codebook index and the precoding matrix in the above-mentioned embodiment. The processor 8022 is configured to control the base station to perform necessary operations, for example, to control the base station to perform the operation procedure related to the network device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The memory 8021 and the processor 8022 may provide one or more boards. In other words, the memory and the processor may be provided on each board. Alternatively, the multiple boards may share the same memory and the same processor. In addition, necessary circuits may be further provided on each board.

[0241] The present application further provides a communication system, the communication system including one or more network devices and one or more terminal devices as mentioned above.

[0242] It should be understood that the processor of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be another general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor, etc.

[0243] It should be further understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM) and is used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of random access memory (RAM) may be used, such as, for example, static random access memory (static RAM, SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (double data rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM), and direct rambus random access memory (direct rambus RAM, DR RAM).

[0244] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the present application further provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes a computer program code. When the computer program code is executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to execute any one of the methods of the embodiments shown in Figure 4, Figure 8, Figure 11, and Figure 12.

[0245] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the present application further provides a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium stores a program code. When the program code is executed on a computer, the computer can perform any one of the methods of the embodiments shown in Figure 4, Figure 8, Figure 11, and Figure 12.

[0246] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the present application further provides a system, which includes one or more terminal devices and one or more network devices as mentioned above.

[0247] All or part of the above-mentioned embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used to implement the embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer programs are loaded into a computer and executed, the procedures or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or another programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from a website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center in a wired (e.g., infrared, wireless, or microwave) manner. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium accessible by a computer, or a data storage device, such as a server or data center, incorporating one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media (e.g., a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape), optical media (e.g., a DVD), or solid-state media. The solid-state media may be a solid-state drive.

[0248] For ease of understanding, the following describes the terms used in the process of describing the solution of the present application.

[0249] In the embodiment of the present application, the "indication" may include direct indication and indirect indication, or may include explicit indication and implicit indication. Information indicated by one piece of information (configuration information described later) is called referent information. In a specific implementation process, the referent information may be indicated in multiple ways, for example, but not limited to, in a way that directly indicates the referent information. For example, the referent information is indicated using the referent information or using an index of the referent information. Alternatively, the referent information may be indicated indirectly by indicating other information, and there is an association relationship between the other information and the referent information. Alternatively, only a part of the referent information may be indicated, and the other part of the referent information is known or agreed upon in advance. For example, a specific piece of information may be indicated using a predetermined (e.g., protocol-defined) arrangement sequence of various information to reduce indication overhead to some extent.

[0250] In the embodiments of the present application, terms, acronyms, and abbreviations such as discontinuous reception (DRX), downlink control information (DCI), media access control control element (MAC CE) radio resource control (RRC), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), and synchronization signal block (SSB) are all examples provided for ease of explanation and should not constitute any limitation to the present application. The present application does not exclude the possibility of defining other terms that may implement the same or similar functionality in existing or future protocols.

[0251] In the embodiments of the present application, "first", "second", and various numbers are used merely for distinction to facilitate explanation and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application, e.g., used to distinguish different instruction information or different DRX cycles.

[0252] In the embodiment of the present application, the "communication protocol" may be a standard protocol in the communication field, for example, may include an LTE protocol, an NR protocol, and related protocols applied to future communication systems, which is not limited in the present application.

[0253] The term "and / or" in this specification describes only a relational relationship to describe related objects, and indicates that three relations may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent three cases: only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. In addition, the symbol " / " in this specification generally indicates an "or" relationship between related objects.

[0254] The sequence numbers of the above processes do not refer to the execution order in various embodiments of the present application. The execution order of the processes should be determined based on the functions and internal logic of the processes, and should not be construed as a restriction on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0255] 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 implemented by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether a function is implemented by hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use various methods to implement the functions described for each specific application, but the implementation should not be considered to go beyond the scope of this application.

[0256] Those skilled in the art should clearly understand that for the purpose of convenience of description, the detailed operation processes of the above-mentioned systems, apparatuses, and units may be referred to the corresponding processes in the above-mentioned method embodiments, and the details will not be described again here.

[0257] In some embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device, and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the described device embodiment is merely an example. For example, the unit division is merely a logical functional division, and may be other divisions in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, and some functions may be ignored or not performed. In addition, the shown or described mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented through some interfaces. Indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be implemented in electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0258] The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separated, and the parts shown as units may or may not be physical units, and may be located in one location 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.

[0259] In addition, the functional units of the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of these units may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0260] When a function is implemented 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 such understanding, the technical solution of the present application may be essentially implemented in the form of a software product, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or some of the technical solutions. The 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 the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes any medium that can store 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 a compact disk.

[0261] The above description is merely a specific implementation of the present application, and does not limit the scope of protection of the present application. Any variations or replacements that are easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application shall be included in the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be subject to the scope of protection of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0262] 70 Terminal Devices 80 base station 100 Communication Systems 110 Network Devices 120 Terminal Devices 200 Communication Method 300 Communication Method 400 Communication Method 500 Communication Method 701 Transceiver 702 Processor 801 Remote Radio Unit RRU 802 Baseband unit BBU 1100 Communication devices, communication equipment 1110 Processing Unit 1120 Transceiver Unit 1300 Communication Equipment 1310 Processing Unit 1320 Transceiver Unit 8011 Antenna 8012 Radio Frequency Unit 8021 Memory 8022 processor

Claims

1. 1. A communication method comprising: receiving a first power save signal prior to a first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, the first power save signal being carried in a first downlink control information (DCI); determining not to start an on-duration timer and not to detect a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) within the first DRX cycle based on the first power save signal, the first power save signal being a bit in the first DCI; performing measurements on a CSI-RS transmitted by a network device during a first period within the first DRX cycle, the start of the first period being a start of the first DRX cycle and the length of the first period being indicated by radio resource control (RRC) signaling and being the same as a length of the on-duration timer; A communication method comprising: The step of performing measurements on the CSI-RS during a first period in a first DRX cycle comprises: performing radio resource management (RRM) measurements during the first period within the first DRX cycle. The method of claim 1.

3. The step of receiving the first power saving signal, receiving the first power save signal during a preconfigured second period prior to the first DRX cycle.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

4. The first power saving signal is a bit with a value of 0. The method of claim 1.

5. A method for transmitting a power saving signal according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving a second power save signal carried in a second DCI prior to a second DRX cycle; determining, based on the second power saving signal in the second DCI, to detect a PDCCH within the second DRX cycle; performing measurements on CSI-RS transmitted by the network device during a third period within the second DRX cycle; 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the third period is an active time within the second DRX cycle.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the third period is the second DRX cycle when the duration of the second DRX cycle is less than 80 milliseconds.

8. The step of receiving the second power save signal, receiving the second power save signal during a preconfigured fourth period before the second DRX cycle.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, comprising:

9. The second power saving signal is a bit having a value of 1.

9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8.

10. A communication method comprising: determining that the terminal device does not start an on duration timer within a first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle and does not detect a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH); transmitting a first power save signal to the terminal device prior to the first DRX cycle, the first power save signal being a bit carried in a first downlink control information (DCI), the first power save signal indicating to the terminal device not to detect the PDCCH within the first DRX cycle; transmitting a CSI-RS to the terminal device during a first period in the first DRX cycle, the CSI-RS being for measurements of the terminal device, a start position of the first period being a start position of the first DRX cycle, and a length of the first period being indicated by radio resource control (RRC) signaling and being the same as a length of the on-duration timer; A communication method comprising:

11. The CSI-RS is for radio resource management (RRM) measurements of the terminal device. The method of claim 10.

12. The step of transmitting the first power save signal to the terminal device, The method of claim 10, comprising transmitting the first power save signal to the terminal device at a preconfigured second period before the first DRX cycle.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining that the terminal device detects the PDCCH within a second DRX cycle; transmitting a CSI-RS to the terminal device during a third period within the second DRX cycle, the CSI-RS being used by the terminal device to perform measurements; 13. The method of any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising:

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the third period is an active time within the second DRX cycle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the third period is the second DRX cycle when the duration of the second DRX cycle is less than 80 milliseconds.

16. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, further comprising a step of transmitting a second power save signal to the terminal device during a preconfigured fourth period prior to the second DRX cycle, the second power save signal being a bit carried on a second DCI, the second power save signal indicating to the terminal device to detect the PDCCH within the second DRX cycle.

17. A communication device, comprising: a transceiver unit configured to receive a first power save signal prior to a first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle, the first power save signal being carried in a first downlink control information (DCI); a processing unit configured to determine, based on the first power save signal, not to start an on duration timer within the first DRX cycle and not to detect a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), the first power save signal being a bit in the first DCI; Equipped with The transceiver unit is further configured to perform measurements on a CSI-RS transmitted by a network device during a first period in the first DRX cycle, the start of the first period being a start of the first DRX cycle, and the length of the first period being indicated by radio resource control (RRC) signaling and being equal to a length of the on-duration timer. Communications equipment.

18. The transceiver unit is further configured to perform radio resource management (RRM) measurements during the first period within the first DRX cycle.

18. The apparatus of claim 17.

19. The transceiver unit, receiving the first power save signal during a preconfigured second period prior to the first DRX cycle; 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, specifically adapted for:

20. The first power saving signal is a bit having a value of 0.

18. The apparatus of claim 17.

21. The transceiver unit, further configured to receive a second power save signal carried in a second DCI prior to a second DRX cycle; The processing unit is further configured to determine, based on the second power saving signal in the second DCI, to detect the PDCCH within the second DRX cycle; the transceiver unit is further configured to perform measurements on a CSI-RS transmitted by the network device during a third period within the second DRX cycle.

21. Apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 20.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the third period is an active time within the second DRX cycle.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the third period is the second DRX cycle, when the duration of the second DRX cycle is less than 80 milliseconds.

24. The transceiver unit, receiving the second power save signal during a preconfigured fourth period before the second DRX cycle; 24. Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 23, specifically adapted for:

25. The second power saving signal is a bit having a value of 1.

25. Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 24.

26. A communication device, comprising: a processing unit configured to determine that the terminal device does not start an on duration timer within a first discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle and does not detect a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH); configured to transmit a first power save signal to the terminal device before the first DRX cycle, the first power save signal being a bit carried in a first downlink control information (DCI), the first power save signal indicating to the terminal device not to detect the PDCCH within the first DRX cycle; The CSI-RS is configured to transmit a CSI-RS to the terminal device during a first period in the first DRX cycle, the CSI-RS being for measurements of the terminal device, a start position of the first period being a start position of the first DRX cycle, and a time length of the first period being indicated by radio resource control (RRC) signaling and being equal to a time length of the on-duration timer. Transceiver unit and A communication device comprising:

27. The CSI-RS is for radio resource management (RRM) measurements of the terminal device.

27. The apparatus of claim 26.

28. The transceiver unit, Transmitting the first power save signal to the terminal device during a preconfigured second period prior to the first DRX cycle.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further configured to:

29. The method according to claim 29, wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine that the terminal device detects the PDCCH within a second DRX cycle; the transceiver unit is further configured to transmit a CSI-RS to the terminal device during a third period within the second DRX cycle, the CSI-RS being used by the terminal device to perform measurements.

29. Apparatus according to any one of claims 26 to 28.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the third period is an active time within the second DRX cycle.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the third period is the second DRX cycle, when the duration of the second DRX cycle is less than 80 milliseconds.

32. The transceiver unit, and transmitting a second power save signal to the terminal device during a preconfigured fourth period before the second DRX cycle, the second power save signal being a bit carried on a second DCI, the second power save signal indicating to the terminal device that the PDCCH will be detected within the second DRX cycle.

32. The apparatus of any one of claims 29 to 31, further configured to:

33. A computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, the computer instructions enabling a communications device to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

34. A communications device comprising a processor and a storage medium, the storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, enable the processor to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

35. A computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, the computer instructions enabling a communications device to perform a method according to any one of claims 10 to 16.

36. A communications device comprising a processor and a storage medium, the storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, enable the processor to perform a method according to any one of claims 10 to 16.

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