Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a resource block configuration method and a communication device. The method includes the steps of receiving first configuration information, where the first configuration information is used to configure a first uplink BWP and a second uplink BWP, where the first uplink BWP does not have a first uplink control channel resource, the second uplink BWP has a first uplink control channel resource, and the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP are on the same uplink carrier; determining the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP based on the first configuration information; determining that the first uplink BWP is an active BWP; and switching from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP and sending uplink control information. According to the resource block configuration method in the embodiment of the present application, the overhead of the uplink control channel resource can be reduced, the transmission efficiency of the terminal device can be improved, and the problem of resource fragmentation is avoided.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202110276559.7, entitled “Communication Method and Apparatus,” filed with the China State Intellectual Property Office on March 15, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to communication methods and apparatus. [Background technology]

[0003] In the prior art, uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources are configured in the uplink BWP for transmission. In addition, PUCCH resources need to be configured in each BWP. With the emergence of machine-type terminals, the requirements for cost and power consumption are higher, and the initial access bandwidth of machine-type terminals is smaller. Therefore, the initial uplink BWP bandwidth used in the initial access phase is small. In particular, in a time division duplex system, both the initial uplink BWP and the initial downlink BWP are restricted to be close to a synchronous broadcast block (SS / PUCH block, SSB). In this case, if PUCCH resources are configured in each BWP, the PUCCH resource overhead will be large, the uplink resources will be fragmented, and the flexibility of resource allocation will be limited. As a result, the resource utilization of the network and the transmission efficiency of the terminal will be affected. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus for reducing the overhead of uplink control channel resources, avoiding uplink resource fragmentation, and improving the transmission efficiency of a terminal device.

[0005] According to a first aspect, a communication method is provided, comprising: receiving first configuration information from a network device, the first configuration information being used to configure a first uplink BWP and a second uplink BWP, where the first uplink BWP does not have a first uplink control channel resource, the second uplink BWP has a first uplink control channel resource, and the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP are on the same uplink carrier; and determining the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP based on the first configuration information.

[0006] According to the communication method provided in the present application, a first uplink BWP without a first uplink control channel resource and a second uplink BWP with a first uplink control channel resource are configured on the same uplink carrier, so that the problem of excessively high overhead of uplink control channel resources caused by the configuration of uplink control channel resources in all BWPs of the same uplink carrier can be avoided, the overhead of uplink control channel resources can be reduced, and uplink resource fragmentation caused by uplink control channel resources can be avoided, thereby providing more transmission resources for the terminal device and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0007] Optionally, the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP means that the first uplink control channel resource is absent in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP.

[0008] Optionally, the absence of a first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP means that the first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is in an inactive state.

[0009] Optionally, the first uplink control channel resource being in the second uplink BWP means that the first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP.

[0010] Optionally, the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP means that the first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP, and an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is in an active state.

[0011] Optionally, the network device configures an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource using signaling, and dynamically configures the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, so that the uplink control channel resource is configured more flexibly, thereby reducing the overhead of the uplink control channel resource and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0012] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation forms of the first aspect, a terminal device determines that a first uplink BWP is an active BWP, and the terminal device switches from the first uplink BWP to a second uplink BWP and transmits uplink control information on a first uplink control channel resource of the second uplink BWP.

[0013] Optionally, the terminal device decides to switch from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP according to a first rule or based on first instruction information, the first rule or the first instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP when it determines that uplink control information needs to be transmitted, the first rule being predefined and the first instruction information being from the network device.

[0014] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation forms of the first aspect, the terminal device determines that transmission of uplink control information is completed and switches from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP.

[0015] Optionally, the terminal device determines to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP according to a second rule or based on the second indication information, and the second rule or the second indication information instructs the terminal device to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when the terminal device determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed; The second rule is predefined, and the second indication information is from the network device.

[0016] Optionally, the first instruction information and the second instruction information are the same message.

[0017] Referring to the first aspect, in some implementation forms of the first aspect, the second uplink BWP is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier. In other words, the first uplink control channel resource is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier, so that the problem of resource fragmentation caused when the uplink control channel resource is located in the center of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier is avoided.

[0018] According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided, comprising: receiving second configuration information from a network device, the second configuration information being used to configure a first uplink frequency resource block and a second uplink frequency resource block, wherein the first uplink frequency resource block has no second uplink control channel resource, the second uplink frequency resource block has a second uplink control channel resource, a BWP index of the first uplink frequency resource block is the same as a BWP index of the second uplink frequency resource block, and the first uplink frequency resource block and the second uplink frequency resource block are on a same uplink carrier; and determining the first uplink frequency resource block and the second uplink frequency resource block based on the second configuration information.

[0019] According to the communication method provided in the present application, the first uplink frequency resource block without the second uplink control channel resource and the second uplink frequency resource block with the second uplink control channel resource are configured on the same uplink carrier, so that the problem of excessively high overhead of the uplink control channel resource caused by the configuration of the uplink control channel resource in all frequency resource blocks of the same uplink carrier is avoided, the overhead of the uplink control channel resource is reduced, and the uplink resource fragmentation caused by the uplink control channel resource can be avoided, thereby providing more transmission resources for the terminal device and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device. In addition, the BWP index of the first uplink frequency resource block is the same as the BWP index of the second uplink frequency resource block. The first uplink frequency resource block and the second uplink frequency resource block belong to the same BWP, and the RRC parameters configured on the two can be regarded as being completely the same or partially the same. In this way, the transmission efficiency of the terminal device is reduced and the problems caused by the high complexity and long time consumption of BWP switching are avoided.

[0020] Optionally, the absence of the second uplink control channel resource in the first uplink frequency resource block is the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the first uplink frequency resource block.

[0021] Optionally, the absence of the second uplink control channel resource in the first uplink frequency resource block is that the first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the first uplink frequency resource block, and an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is in an inactive state.

[0022] Optionally, the second uplink control channel resource being in the second uplink frequency resource block is the first uplink control channel resource being in a frequency range of the second uplink frequency resource block.

[0023] Optionally, the presence of the second uplink control channel resource in the second uplink frequency resource block means that the first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink frequency resource block, and an activation status of the second uplink control channel resource is in an active state.

[0024] Optionally, the network device uses signaling to configure an activation status of the second uplink control channel resource and dynamically configures the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, so that the uplink control channel resource is configured more flexibly, thereby reducing the overhead of the uplink control channel resource and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0025] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation forms of the second aspect, the terminal device determines that a first uplink frequency resource block is an active frequency resource block, and the terminal device switches from the first uplink frequency resource block to a second uplink frequency resource block and transmits uplink control information on a second uplink control channel resource of the second uplink frequency resource block.

[0026] Optionally, the terminal device decides to switch from the first uplink frequency resource block to the second uplink frequency resource block according to a third rule or based on third instruction information, where the third rule or the third instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the first uplink frequency resource block to the second uplink frequency resource block when the terminal device determines that uplink control information needs to be transmitted, where the third rule is predefined, and the third instruction information is from the network device.

[0027] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementation forms of the second aspect, the terminal device determines that transmission of uplink control information is completed and switches from the second uplink frequency resource block to the first uplink frequency resource block.

[0028] Optionally, the terminal device determines to switch from the second uplink frequency resource block to the first uplink frequency resource block according to a fourth rule or fourth instruction information, and the fourth rule or the fourth instruction information indicates to switch from the second uplink frequency resource block to the first uplink frequency resource block when the terminal device determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed; The fourth rule is predefined, and the fourth indication information is from the network device.

[0029] Optionally, the third instruction information and the fourth instruction information are the same message.

[0030] Referring to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the second uplink frequency resource block is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier. In other words, the second uplink control channel resource is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier, so that the problem of resource fragmentation caused when the uplink control channel resource is located in the center of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier is avoided.

[0031] According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided, comprising: receiving third configuration information from a network device, where the third configuration information is used to configure a third uplink BWP, where the third uplink BWP has no fourth uplink control channel resource, where the configuration information of the third uplink BWP includes configuration information of at least one uplink control channel resource, where a frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource may be outside a frequency range of the third uplink BWP, and where the third uplink BWP and the third uplink control channel resource are on a same uplink carrier; and determining the third uplink BWP and the at least one uplink control channel resource based on the third configuration information.

[0032] According to the communication method provided in the present application, a third uplink BWP without a fourth uplink control channel resource and a third control channel resource associated with the third uplink BWP and outside the frequency range of the third uplink BWP are configured on the same uplink carrier, so that the problem of excessively high overhead of uplink control channel resources caused by the configuration of uplink control channel resources within the frequency range of all BWPs of the same uplink carrier is avoided, the overhead of uplink control channel resources can be reduced, and the uplink resource fragmentation caused by uplink control channel resources can be avoided, thereby providing more transmission resources for the terminal device and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0033] Optionally, the absence of a fourth uplink control channel resource in the third uplink BWP means that there is no fourth uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the third uplink BWP.

[0034] Optionally, the absence of a fourth uplink control channel resource in the third uplink BWP is that there is a fourth uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the third uplink BWP, and the activation status of the fourth uplink control channel resource is in an inactive state.

[0035] Optionally, an activation status of the third uplink control channel resource is in an active state.

[0036] Optionally, the network device configures an activation status of the third uplink control channel resource and an activation status of the fourth uplink control channel resource using signaling, and dynamically configures the activation status of the uplink control channel resources, so that the uplink control channel resources are configured more flexibly, thereby reducing the overhead of the uplink control channel resources and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0037] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation forms of the third aspect, the terminal device determines that the third uplink BWP is an active BWP, and the terminal device switches from the third uplink BWP to a frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource and transmits uplink control information on the third uplink control channel resource.

[0038] Optionally, the terminal device decides to switch from the third uplink BWP to the frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource according to a fifth rule or based on fifth instruction information, where the fifth rule or the fifth instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the first uplink BWP to the frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource when the terminal device determines that uplink control information needs to be transmitted, where the fifth rule is predefined, and the fifth instruction information is from the network device.

[0039] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementation forms of the third aspect, the terminal device determines that transmission of uplink control information is completed and switches from the frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource to the third uplink BWP.

[0040] Optionally, the terminal device determines according to a sixth rule or based on the sixth indication information to switch from the frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource to the third uplink BWP, and the sixth rule or the sixth indication information indicates to switch from the frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource to the third uplink BWP when the terminal device determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed; The sixth rule is predefined, and the sixth indication information is from the network device.

[0041] Optionally, the fifth instruction information and the sixth instruction information are the same message.

[0042] Referring to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the third control channel resource is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier, thereby avoiding a resource fragmentation problem caused when the uplink control channel resource is located in the center of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier.

[0043] According to a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, comprising the steps of determining first configuration information and transmitting the first configuration information to a terminal device, wherein the first configuration information is used to configure a first uplink BWP and a second uplink BWP, wherein the first uplink BWP does not have a first uplink control channel resource, the second uplink BWP has a first uplink control channel resource, and the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP are on the same uplink carrier.

[0044] According to the communication method provided in the present application, a first uplink BWP without a first uplink control channel resource and a second uplink BWP with a first uplink control channel resource are configured on the same uplink carrier, so that the problem of excessively high overhead of uplink control channel resources caused by the configuration of uplink control channel resources in all BWPs of the same uplink carrier can be avoided, the overhead of uplink control channel resources can be reduced, and uplink resource fragmentation caused by uplink control channel resources can be avoided, thereby providing more transmission resources for the terminal device and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0045] Optionally, the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP means that the first uplink control channel resource is absent in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP.

[0046] Optionally, the absence of a first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP means that the first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is in an inactive state.

[0047] Optionally, the first uplink control channel resource being in the second uplink BWP means that the first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP.

[0048] Optionally, the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP means that the first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP, and an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is in an active state.

[0049] Optionally, the network device configures an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource using signaling, and dynamically configures the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, so that the uplink control channel resource is configured more flexibly, thereby reducing the overhead of the uplink control channel resource and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0050] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation forms of the fourth aspect, the network device transmits first instruction information to the terminal device, where the first instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP when the terminal device determines that uplink control information needs to be transmitted.

[0051] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation forms of the fourth aspect, the network device transmits first instruction information to the terminal device, where the first instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP when the terminal device determines that uplink control information needs to be transmitted.

[0052] Optionally, the first instruction information and the second instruction information are the same message.

[0053] Referring to the fourth aspect, in some implementation forms of the fourth aspect, the second uplink BWP is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier. In other words, the first uplink control channel resource is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier, so that the problem of resource fragmentation caused when the uplink control channel resource is located in the center of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier is avoided.

[0054] According to a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided, comprising: determining second configuration information; and transmitting, by a terminal device, the second configuration information, wherein the second configuration information is used to configure a first uplink frequency resource block and a second uplink frequency resource block, wherein the first uplink frequency resource block has no second uplink control channel resource and the second uplink frequency resource block has the second uplink control channel resource, a BWP index of the first uplink frequency resource block is the same as a BWP index of the second uplink frequency resource block, and the first uplink frequency resource block and the second uplink frequency resource block are on the same uplink carrier.

[0055] According to the communication method provided in the present application, the first uplink frequency resource block without the second uplink control channel resource and the second uplink frequency resource block with the second uplink control channel resource are configured on the same uplink carrier, so that the problem of excessively high overhead of the uplink control channel resource caused by the configuration of the uplink control channel resource in all frequency resource blocks of the same uplink carrier is avoided, the overhead of the uplink control channel resource is reduced, and the uplink resource fragmentation caused by the uplink control channel resource can be avoided, thereby providing more transmission resources for the terminal device and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device. In addition, the BWP index of the first uplink frequency resource block is the same as the BWP index of the second uplink frequency resource block. The first uplink frequency resource block and the second uplink frequency resource block belong to the same BWP, and the RRC parameters configured on the two can be regarded as being completely the same or partially the same. In this way, the transmission efficiency of the terminal device is reduced and the problems caused by the high complexity and long time consumption of BWP switching are avoided.

[0056] Optionally, the absence of the second uplink control channel resource in the first uplink frequency resource block is the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the first uplink frequency resource block.

[0057] Optionally, the absence of the second uplink control channel resource in the first uplink frequency resource block is that the first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the first uplink frequency resource block, and an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is in an inactive state.

[0058] Optionally, the second uplink control channel resource being in the second uplink frequency resource block is the first uplink control channel resource being in a frequency range of the second uplink frequency resource block.

[0059] Optionally, the presence of the second uplink control channel resource in the second uplink frequency resource block means that the first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink frequency resource block, and an activation status of the second uplink control channel resource is in an active state.

[0060] Optionally, the network device uses signaling to configure an activation status of the second uplink control channel resource and dynamically configures the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, so that the uplink control channel resource is configured more flexibly, thereby reducing the overhead of the uplink control channel resource and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0061] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementation forms of the fifth aspect, the network device transmits third instruction information to the terminal device, where the third instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the first uplink frequency resource block to the second uplink frequency resource block when it determines that uplink control information needs to be transmitted.

[0062] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementation forms of the fifth aspect, the network device transmits fourth instruction information to the terminal device, where the fourth instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the second uplink frequency resource block to the first uplink frequency resource block when it determines that transmission of the uplink control information is completed.

[0063] Optionally, the third instruction information and the fourth instruction information are the same message.

[0064] Referring to the fifth aspect, in some implementations of the fifth aspect, the second uplink frequency resource block is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier. In other words, the second uplink control channel resource is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier, so that the problem of resource fragmentation caused when the uplink control channel resource is located in the center of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier is avoided.

[0065] According to a sixth aspect, a communication method is provided, comprising: determining third configuration information; and transmitting the third configuration information, wherein the third configuration information is used to configure a third uplink BWP, wherein the third uplink BWP does not have a fourth uplink control channel resource, wherein the configuration information of the third uplink BWP includes configuration information of at least one uplink control channel resource, and wherein a frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource is outside a frequency range of the third uplink BWP.

[0066] According to the communication method provided in the present application, a third uplink BWP without a fourth uplink control channel resource and a third control channel resource associated with the third uplink BWP and outside the frequency range of the third uplink BWP are configured on the same uplink carrier, so that the problem of excessively high overhead of uplink control channel resources caused by the configuration of uplink control channel resources in all BWPs of the same uplink carrier is avoided, the overhead of uplink control channel resources can be reduced, and the uplink resource fragmentation caused by uplink control channel resources can be avoided, thereby providing more transmission resources for the terminal device and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0067] Optionally, the absence of a fourth uplink control channel resource in the third uplink BWP means that there is no fourth uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the third uplink BWP.

[0068] Optionally, the absence of a fourth uplink control channel resource in the third uplink BWP is that there is a fourth uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the third uplink BWP, and the activation status of the fourth uplink control channel resource is in an inactive state.

[0069] Optionally, an activation status of the third uplink control channel resource is in an active state.

[0070] Optionally, the network device configures an activation status of the third uplink control channel resource and an activation status of the fourth uplink control channel resource using signaling, and dynamically configures the activation status of the uplink control channel resources, so that the uplink control channel resources are configured more flexibly, thereby reducing the overhead of the uplink control channel resources and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0071] Referring to the sixth aspect, in a possible implementation form of the sixth aspect, the network device sends fifth instruction information to the terminal device, where the fifth instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the third uplink BWP to a frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource when it determines that uplink control information needs to be transmitted.

[0072] Referring to the sixth aspect, in a possible implementation form of the sixth aspect, sixth instruction information is transmitted to a terminal device, and the sixth instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource to the third uplink BWP when the terminal device determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed.

[0073] Optionally, the fifth instruction information and the sixth instruction information are the same message.

[0074] Referring to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, the third control channel resource is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier, thereby avoiding the resource fragmentation problem caused when the uplink control channel resource is located in the center of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier.

[0075] According to a seventh aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus, comprising a unit configured to perform the steps of the communication method according to the first aspect to the third aspect or any one of the embodiments of the first aspect to the third aspect.

[0076] In one design, the communications device is a communications chip. The communications chip may include an input circuit or interface configured to transmit information or data, and an output circuit or interface configured to receive information or data.

[0077] In another design, the communication apparatus is a communication device (e.g., a terminal device). The communication chip may include a transmitter configured to transmit information or data and a receiver configured to receive information or data.

[0078] According to an eighth aspect there is provided a communication apparatus, comprising a unit configured to perform the steps of the communication method according to the fourth aspect to the sixth aspect or any one of the embodiments of the fourth aspect to the sixth aspect.

[0079] In one design, the communications device is a communications chip. The communications chip may include an input circuit or interface configured to transmit information or data, and an output circuit or interface configured to receive information or data.

[0080] In another design, the communications apparatus is a communications device (e.g., a network device). The communications chip may include a transmitter configured to transmit information or data and a receiver configured to receive information or data.

[0081] According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a communication device, including a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store a computer program. The processor is configured to call the computer program from the memory and execute the computer program so as to cause the communication device to perform a communication method according to the first aspect to the sixth aspect or an implementation of the first aspect or the sixth aspect.

[0082] Optionally, there are one or more processors and one or more memories.

[0083] Optionally, the memory may be integrated with the processor, or the memory and the processor may be separately located.

[0084] Optionally, the communication device further includes a transmitter (transmitting device) and a receiver (receiving device).

[0085] According to a tenth aspect, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes a computer program (sometimes called code or instructions). When the computer program is executed, the computer is enabled to perform a communication method according to any one of the first to sixth aspects or implementations of the first to sixth aspects.

[0086] According to an eleventh aspect, a computer readable medium is provided. The computer readable medium stores a computer program (also called code or instructions). When the computer program is executed on a computer, the computer is enabled to execute a communication method according to any one of the first to sixth aspects or the implementation forms of the first to sixth aspects.

[0087] According to a twelfth aspect, there is provided a communication system, the system including at least one of an apparatus according to any design of the seventh aspect and an apparatus according to any design of the eighth aspect.

[0088] According to a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a chip system, including a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor is configured to call the computer program from the memory and execute the computer program, so that a communication device having the chip system installed therein executes a communication method according to any one of the first to sixth aspects or implementations of the first to sixth aspects.

[0089] The chip system may include an input circuit or interface configured to transmit information or data, and an output circuit or interface configured to receive information or data. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0090] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a mobile communication system used according to an embodiment of the present application; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic interaction diagram of an example of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of BWP switching according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic interaction diagram of another example of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of frequency resource block switching according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic interaction diagram of yet another example of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of switching from BWP to control channel resources according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 8]1 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 9] 2 is a schematic diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 11] 2 is a schematic diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0091] The technical solutions of the present application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0092] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application may be applied to various communication systems, such as a Global System of Mobile communication (GSM) system, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) system, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, an LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, an LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, and a 5th Generation (5G) system or a New Radio (NR) system.

[0093] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may be a device having a wireless transceiver function. The terminal device may be deployed on land, for example, the terminal device may be an indoor device, an outdoor device, a handheld device, or an in-vehicle device, or the terminal device may be deployed on water (for example, on a ship), or the terminal device may be deployed in the air (for example, on an airplane, a balloon, or a satellite). The terminal device may be, for example, user equipment (UE). The UE includes a handheld device, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, or a computing device having a wireless communication function. For example, the UE may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a computer having a wireless transceiver function. Alternatively, the terminal device may be a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in autonomous driving, etc. In an embodiment of the present application, an apparatus configured to perform the function of the terminal device may be an apparatus, for example, a chip system, that can support the terminal device in performing the function. This apparatus may be installed in the terminal. A chip system may include the chip, or may include the chip and other separate devices.

[0094] The terminal device of the present application may be a first type terminal device or a second type terminal device. The first type terminal device and the second type terminal device may have at least one of the following distinguishing features:

[0095] 1. The bandwidth capabilities are different, for example, the bandwidth supported by a first type of terminal device is smaller than the bandwidth supported by a second type of terminal device.

[0096] 2. The number of transceiver antennas is different, for example, the number of transceiver antennas supported by a first type of terminal device is less than the number of transceiver antennas supported by a second type of terminal device.

[0097] 3. The maximum uplink transmission power is different, for example, the maximum uplink transmission power supported by the first type of terminal device is smaller than the maximum uplink transmission power supported by the second type of terminal device.

[0098] 4. Different protocol releases. For example, the first type of terminal device may be a terminal device of NR release 17 (release-17, Rel-17) or a release subsequent to NR Rel-17. The second type of terminal device may be, for example, a terminal device of NR release 15 (release-15, Rel-15) or NR release 16 (release-16, Rel-16). The second type of terminal device may also be referred to as an NR legacy terminal device.

[0099] 5. Different data processing capabilities, for example, the minimum delay between receiving downlink data and sending feedback on the downlink data by a terminal device of the first type is greater than the minimum delay between receiving downlink data and sending feedback on the downlink data by a terminal device of the second type, and / or the minimum delay between sending uplink data and sending feedback on the uplink data by a terminal device of the first type is greater than the minimum delay between sending uplink data and sending feedback on the uplink data by a terminal device of the second type.

[0100] In a possible implementation, the first type of terminal device may be a reduced capability (REDCAP) terminal device, or the first type of terminal device may be a low capability terminal device, a reduced capability terminal device, a REDCAP UE, a Reduced Capacity UE, a narrow-band NR (NB-NR) UE, an energy saving UE, etc. The second type of terminal device may be a terminal device with legacy capability, normal capability, or high capability, and may be referred to as a legacy terminal device or a normal terminal device. The second type of terminal device and the first type of terminal device have the distinguishing characteristics described above, but are not limited thereto.

[0101] The network device in the embodiment of the present application may be a device configured to communicate with a terminal device. The network device may be a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in a Global System of Mobile communication (GSM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Node B (Node B, NB) in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, an Evolutional Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, or a radio controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN) scenario. Alternatively, the network device may be a relay station, an access point, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a network device in a 5G network, a network device in an evolved PLMN network, etc. This is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0102] The following provides a brief explanation of prior art terms used in this application.

[0103] 1. Bandwidth Part BWP A BWP (Bandwidth Part) is a subset of the total bandwidth of a cell and is a segment of continuous frequency resources.

[0104] In the embodiment of the present application, the BWP is used as an example for explanation. The BWP is defined as a continuous frequency resource that is less than or equal to the bandwidth capability of the terminal device and is in a frequency range, and the BWP includes continuous RBs. In general, the BWP may be expressed using another resource block and is not limited to the name of the BWP. When the BWP is described using another term, the term and the frequency resource corresponding to the BWP should have the same characteristics, specifically, should include continuous RBs (Resource Blocks). However, whether the frequency range is less than the bandwidth capability of the terminal device is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0105] 2. Determination of different BWPs In the prior art, two BWPs are considered to be different and two different BWPs have two different BWP IDs if the configuration parameters corresponding to the two BWPs differ in at least one of the following:

[0106] (1) The center frequency positions corresponding to the two BWPs are different.

[0107] (2) The BWP bandwidths corresponding to the two BWPs are different.

[0108] (3) The subcarrier spacing (SCS) used for data transmission corresponding to the two BWPs is different.

[0109] (4) The number of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) data transmission layers or antennas corresponding to the two BWPs is different.

[0110] (5) The physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) configuration, PDSCH configuration, physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) configuration, or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) configuration corresponding to the two BWPs are different.

[0111] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application may be applied to a communication system 100. The communication system 100 includes a network device 110 and at least one terminal device (for example, the terminal device 101, the terminal device 102, and the terminal device 103 in FIG. 1). The terminal device may be located at a fixed location or may be mobile. FIG. 1 is merely a schematic diagram. The communication system may further include another network device, for example, a wireless relay device and a wireless backhaul device not shown in FIG. 1. The number of network devices and terminal devices included in the mobile communication system is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The present application may be applied to an existing cellular communication system, or any other wireless communication system having a similar structure and function.

[0112] 2 is a schematic interaction diagram of a communication method 200 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 2, the method 200 includes the following steps:

[0113] S210: The network device determines first configuration information.

[0114] The first configuration information includes at least one first uplink BWP and at least one second uplink BWP. The first uplink BWP does not have a first uplink control channel resource. The second uplink BWP has a first uplink control channel resource. The first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP are on the same uplink carrier.

[0115] It should be noted that a first uplink BWP and a second uplink BWP are shown in FIG. 3. Specifically, each BWP in the at least one first uplink BWP and the at least one second uplink BWP has a different BWP ID. In other words, both the at least one first uplink BWP and the at least one second uplink BWP satisfy the conditions defined in the prior art for distinguishing different BWPs. In a preferred method, the frequency range of the at least one first uplink BWP is different from the frequency range of the at least one second uplink BWP, and the different frequency ranges include different center frequency positions and / or bandwidth sizes of the BWPs.

[0116] It should be noted that in a preferred implementation, the second uplink BWP may be configured on either side of the uplink carrier, in other words, the first uplink control channel resource is located on either side of the uplink carrier, thereby solving the resource fragmentation problem that occurs when the first uplink control channel resource is not located on either side of the carrier frequency resource but is distributed in the center, thereby improving the flexibility of resource allocation and network resource utilization, and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0117] It should be noted that the uplink BWP includes an initial uplink BWP and a user-dedicated uplink BWP. The uplink control channel resource includes a common uplink control channel resource and a user-dedicated uplink control channel resource. In one implementation, if the uplink BWP is an initial uplink BWP, the uplink control channel resource is a common uplink control channel resource. If the uplink BWP is a user-dedicated uplink BWP, the uplink control channel resource is a user-dedicated uplink control channel resource.

[0118] In a possible implementation, the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP specifically represents the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP specifically represents the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP.

[0119] In another possible implementation, the network device further configures an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, where the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP specifically represents that the first uplink control channel resource is not present in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, or that the first uplink control channel resource is present in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP and the first uplink control channel resource is in an inactive state, and the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP specifically represents that the first uplink control channel resource is present in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP and the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is in an active state.

[0120] Specifically, the network device configures an activation status of a first uplink control channel resource in an initial configuration phase, and the activation status is active or inactive.

[0121] Specifically, in the operation process of the terminal device, the network device may dynamically change the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, and the change to the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource may be dynamically configured using one network signaling.

[0122] It should be noted that there is a first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP and the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is inactive, which is equivalent to there being no first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the time-frequency resource of the inactive first uplink control channel resource may be used for transmissions other than uplink control information transmission, such as data transmission. The active state or the inactive state may also be called valid or invalid, etc. Correspondingly, they all indicate that the first uplink control channel resource can be used to transmit uplink control information or cannot be used to transmit uplink control information.

[0123] Since the network device may pre-configure the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource in multiple BWPs and dynamically change the activation status of at least one first uplink control channel resource in multiple BWPs using signaling, the first uplink control channel resource is configured more flexibly, thereby reducing resource overhead.

[0124] S220: The network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device, and in response, the terminal device receives the first configuration information from the network device, and the terminal device further determines at least one first uplink BWP and at least one second uplink BWP based on the first configuration information.

[0125] In a possible implementation, the first configuration information includes configuration information of at least one first uplink BWP and configuration information of at least one second uplink BWP, the configuration information of the at least one first uplink BWP includes at least a BWP ID, a frequency location, and bandwidth size information, and the configuration information of the at least one second uplink BWP includes at least a BWP ID, a frequency location, bandwidth size information, and configuration information of a first uplink control channel resource.

[0126] In a possible implementation, the configuration information includes configuration information of at least one first uplink BWP and configuration information of at least one second uplink BWP, the configuration information of the at least one first uplink BWP includes at least a BWP ID, a frequency location, bandwidth size information, configuration information of a first uplink control channel resource, and activation status information, and the configuration information of the at least one second uplink BWP includes at least a BWP ID, a frequency location, bandwidth size information, configuration information of a first uplink control channel resource, and activation status information.

[0127] As mentioned above, further in the operation process of the terminal device, the network device may dynamically change the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource in at least one BWP in at least one first uplink BWP and at least one second uplink BWP by using network signaling, and the activation status changes to active or inactive. For example, the network device uses network signaling to indicate at least one BWP and indicates that the first uplink control channel resource in the at least one BWP switches from an active state to an inactive state or from an inactive state to an active state. It should be noted that in this implementation, the terminal device uses the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource at the current time. The network signaling may be, for example, SIB1 signaling, RRC signaling, MAC CE, or DCI.

[0128] S230: The terminal device determines that the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP.

[0129] Specifically, before the terminal device determines that the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP, the terminal device needs to determine that uplink control information needs to be transmitted. In this case, the terminal device determines whether the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP or the second uplink BWP. If the terminal device determines that the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP, the following step S240 is executed. If the terminal device determines that the currently operating active BWP is the second uplink BWP, when uplink control information needs to be transmitted, the terminal device may transmit uplink control information on the first uplink control channel resource in the currently operating active BWP.

[0130] It should be noted that if the terminal device does not need to transmit uplink control information, the terminal device does not perform this step and the following steps.

[0131] It should be noted that the network device may configure multiple BWPs for the terminal device. As described above, in this embodiment of the present application, the multiple BWPs include at least one first uplink BWP and at least one second uplink BWP. The network device uses signaling to indicate that one of the BWPs is the currently operating active BWP of the terminal device. The terminal can only transmit and receive data or control information in the active BWP. In other words, the terminal device can only operate in one BWP at the same time, and the BWP is the active BWP of the terminal device at that time. It should be noted that the meaning represented by "active" in the active BWP is different from the meaning represented by "active" in the above-mentioned "the first uplink control channel resource in the BWP is in an active state". In other words, the active state of the BWP is independent of the active state of the first uplink control resource in the BWP.

[0132] S240: The terminal device switches from a first uplink BWP to a second uplink BWP, and sends uplink control information on a first uplink control channel resource of the second uplink BWP.

[0133] In a possible implementation, the switching may be autonomously initiated by the terminal device according to a first rule, which is predefined in the protocol. The first rule is specifically that when the terminal device needs to transmit uplink control information, the terminal device switches from a first uplink BWP currently operating to a second uplink BWP, and further transmits the uplink control information on a first uplink control channel resource of the second uplink BWP.

[0134] It should be noted that in the above description, the terminal device autonomously initiates switching according to the first rule. When the network device configures multiple second uplink BWPs, the network device uses signaling to pre-configure that the first uplink BWP is associated with one of the multiple second uplink BWPs. The signaling may include SIB1 signaling, RRC signaling, MAC CE, DCI, etc. When performing BWP switching according to the first rule, the terminal device switches to the associated second uplink BWP based on the pre-configuration information.

[0135] In a possible implementation form, the network device may send first instruction information to the terminal device to instruct the terminal device to perform switching. The first instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the currently operating first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP when the terminal device needs to transmit uplink control information, and further transmit uplink control information on the first uplink control channel resource of the second uplink BWP.

[0136] For the above two possible implementations, when the network device configures multiple second uplink BWPs, it should be noted that the above two possible implementations each have two specific implementations. Implementation 1: The network device pre-configures the first uplink BWP to be associated with one of the multiple second uplink BWPs by using signaling. The signaling may include SIB1 signaling, RRC signaling, MAC CE signaling, DCI, etc. The first indication information is only used to trigger the terminal device to switch from the first uplink BWP to the pre-configured associated second uplink BWP. Implementation 2: The network device does not pre-configure the first uplink BWP to be associated with one of the multiple second uplink BWPs by using signaling. When triggering the terminal device to perform BWP switching, the first indication information further indicates the ID of the BWP where the first uplink control channel resource for the terminal device to perform transmission is located.

[0137] It should be noted that the terminal device may alternatively transmit data information on another resource other than the first uplink control channel resource, for example in the second uplink BWP.

[0138] Specifically, the switching may be a switching performed by the terminal device based on the BWP ID in the first configuration information.

[0139] It should be noted that the terminal device switches from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP, which means that the active BWP of the terminal device changes from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP, that is, BWP switching is performed. This process may also be called BWP frequency hopping, BWP sliding, BWP retuning, radio frequency retuning, etc. The aforementioned names are equivalent. This is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0140] S250: The terminal device switches from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP.

[0141] Specifically, after determining that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed, the terminal device switches from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP.

[0142] It should be noted that after determining that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed, the terminal device may alternatively not switch on another resource other than the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP, and may, for example, directly transmit data information.

[0143] In a possible implementation, the switching may be autonomously initiated by the terminal device according to a second rule, which is predefined in the protocol. The second rule is specifically that the terminal device switches from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when it determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed.

[0144] In a possible implementation form, the network device may send second instruction information to the terminal device to instruct the terminal device to perform switching. The second instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when the terminal device determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed.

[0145] The specific implementation forms of the above two possible implementation forms are basically the same as the implementation form of step S240, please refer to the relevant description of S240.

[0146] In another possible implementation, the switch may be a switch triggered by a timer. The timer is started after the switch is completed in step S240. After the timer time reaches a predetermined duration, the terminal device switches from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP based on the triggering of the timer. The predetermined duration of the timer may be a default duration for completing the transmission of uplink control information, or may be configured by the network device using signaling.

[0147] Specifically, the switching may be a switching performed by the terminal device based on the BWP ID in the first configuration information.

[0148] Please note that the first uplink BWP in the switching in step S250 may be the original active BWP to which the terminal device switches in S240, or may be any first uplink BWP configured by the network device.

[0149] Note that, as explained in step S240, a transition may have multiple names, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0150] Optionally, when the terminal device determines that uplink control information needs to be transmitted and the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP, the terminal device may further determine whether there is an uplink physical shared channel transmission on the currently operating active first uplink BWP at the moment when the uplink control needs to be transmitted. If there is an uplink physical shared channel transmission on the currently operating active first uplink BWP, the terminal device may transmit the uplink control information through the uplink physical shared channel transmission. If there is no uplink physical shared channel transmission, a BWP switch is performed.

[0151] It should be noted that the method 200 is applicable to the initial access phase of the terminal device, and also to the process after the initial access of the terminal device. If the terminal device operates in the initial uplink BWP in the initial access phase, the first uplink control channel resource is a common uplink control channel resource. If the terminal device operates in the uplink BWP configured with user-dedicated parameters in the process after the initial access, the first uplink control channel resource is a user-dedicated uplink control channel resource.

[0152] In this embodiment of the present application, in the same uplink carrier, some included BWPs are configured with uplink control channel resources, and some included BWPs are configured without uplink control channel resources. When the terminal device needs to transmit uplink control information, the terminal device switches to the BWP configured with uplink control channel resources to perform transmission. According to this configuration method, the overhead of the uplink control channel resources is reduced, and the transmission efficiency of the terminal device is improved. In addition, the BWP configured with uplink control channel resources is located on either side of the uplink carrier, so that the problem of uplink resource fragmentation is avoided.

[0153] 4 is a schematic interaction diagram of a communication method 400 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 4, the method 400 includes the following steps:

[0154] S410: The network device determines second configuration information, the second configuration information including at least one first uplink frequency resource block and at least one second uplink frequency resource block, where the first uplink frequency resource block has no second uplink control channel resource, the second uplink frequency resource block has a second uplink control channel resource, a BWP index of the first uplink frequency resource block is the same as a BWP index of the second uplink frequency resource block, and the first uplink frequency resource block and the second uplink frequency resource block are on the same uplink carrier.

[0155] It should be noted that at least one first uplink frequency resource block and at least one second uplink frequency resource block are shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a first uplink resource block and a second uplink resource block. As shown in the figure, at least one first uplink frequency resource block and at least one second uplink frequency resource block have the same BWP ID. In the logic of this embodiment of the present invention, at least one first uplink frequency resource block and at least one second uplink frequency resource block are considered as the same uplink BWP. In order to distinguish from the definition in the prior art, in this embodiment of the present invention, at least one first uplink frequency resource block and at least one second uplink frequency resource block are referred to as uplink frequency resource blocks. In a preferred method, at least one first uplink frequency resource block and at least one second uplink frequency resource block have the same BWP ID and different frequency locations, specifically, at least one first uplink frequency resource block and at least one second uplink frequency resource block use the same BWP ID, different center frequency locations, and the same bandwidth. For example, as shown in the figure, switching the center frequency location from frequency location 1 to frequency location 2 is switching between the first uplink frequency resource block and the second uplink frequency resource block. However, the first uplink frequency resource block is still considered to be BWP1, and the second uplink frequency resource block is also BWP1. It is particularly noted that although neither the first nor the second uplink frequency resource block is part of the BWP1 frequency resource, they may each be considered as BWP1, and their BWP ID is the same as BWP1, and their bandwidth is the bandwidth of BWP1, so that both of their bandwidths are the bandwidth of BWP1.

[0156] In addition to the above description, the meaning of the location, activation status, etc. of the first uplink frequency resource block and the second uplink frequency resource are the same as those described in method 200, and only the uplink BWP needs to be replaced with the uplink frequency resource block. For details, please refer to the related description of step S210 of method 200.

[0157] S420: The network device sends second configuration information to the terminal device, and in response, the terminal device receives the second configuration information from the network device, and further, the terminal device determines at least one first uplink frequency resource block and at least one second uplink frequency resource block based on the second configuration information.

[0158] For the relevant content of this step, please refer to the relevant description of step S220 of method 200.

[0159] S430: The terminal device determines that a currently operating active frequency resource block is a first uplink frequency resource block.

[0160] Since the same BWP is specifically defined in this embodiment of the present application, in order to distinguish from the prior art, it should be noted that the same BWP with the same BWP ID but different frequency location in this embodiment of the present application is replaced with the name of the frequency resource block. In this case, the terminal device continues to operate on the active uplink BWP. For the sake of distinction, it refers to the terminal device operating on the active uplink frequency resource block.

[0161] For other related contents of this step, please refer to the related description of step S230 of method 200.

[0162] S440: The terminal device switches from the first uplink frequency resource block to a second uplink frequency resource block, and further transmits uplink control information on a second uplink control channel resource of the second uplink frequency resource block.

[0163] It should be noted that the switching in the method 400 is a frequency location switching performed by the terminal device based on the second configuration information. Compared with the BWP ID switching, the directly performed frequency location switching has lower complexity and shorter time consumption, so that the transmission efficiency of the terminal device is improved.

[0164] For other related contents of this step, please refer to the related description of step S240 of method 200.

[0165] S450: The terminal device switches from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP.

[0166] It is the same as step S440 that the switching may be a frequency location switching performed by the terminal device based on the second configuration information.

[0167] For other related contents of this step, please refer to the related description of step S250 of method 200.

[0168] In this embodiment of the present application, in the same uplink carrier, some included uplink frequency resource blocks are configured with uplink control channel resources, and some included uplink frequency resource blocks are configured without uplink control channel resources. When the terminal device needs to transmit uplink control information, the terminal device switches to the uplink frequency resource block configured with uplink control channel resources to perform transmission. According to this configuration method, the overhead of the uplink control channel resource is reduced, and the transmission efficiency of the terminal device is improved. In addition, the BWP configured with the uplink control channel resource is located on either side of the uplink carrier, so that the problem of uplink resource fragmentation is avoided. In addition, setting the BWP ID and the BWP frequency position shortens the switching time, reduces the switching complexity, and further improves the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0169] 6 is a schematic interaction diagram of a communication method 600 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 6, the method 600 includes the following steps:

[0170] S610: The network device determines third configuration information, the third configuration information includes at least one third uplink BWP, the third uplink BWP does not have a fourth uplink control channel resource, the configuration information of the third uplink BWP includes configuration information of at least one third uplink control channel resource, and the frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource is outside the frequency range of the third uplink BWP.

[0171] It should be noted that at least one third uplink BWP and at least one third uplink control channel resource are shown in Figure 7. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the third uplink BWP and the third uplink control channel resource. Figure 7 shows the relationship between the third uplink BWP and the third uplink control channel resource, and the third uplink control channel resource is outside the frequency range of the third uplink BWP.

[0172] It should be understood that the configuration information of the third uplink BWP includes the configuration information of at least one third uplink control channel resource, which may be understood as a binding relationship between the third uplink BWP and at least one third uplink control channel resource outside the frequency range of the third uplink BWP. The third uplink control channel resource may belong to another BWP, or may only be an independent resource segment on the frequency resource. This is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0173] Specifically, the configuration information of the third uplink control channel resource may be, for example, its frequency location. The frequency resource location may be configured with reference to the location of the common resource block, independent of the configuration of the third uplink BWP. For example, if the frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource has offset x with respect to the frequency location of the common resource block CRB 0, the frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource is the frequency location of CRB 0 + offset x. Alternatively, the frequency resource location may be configured with reference to the third uplink BWP. For example, if the third uplink control channel resource is configured to have offset Y with respect to the lowest frequency location of the third uplink BWP, the actual location of the third uplink control channel resource is the lowest frequency location of the third uplink BWP + offset Y.

[0174] For the meaning of the absence of a fourth uplink control channel resource in the third uplink BWP, the meaning of the activation status, etc., please refer to the relevant description of the method 200.

[0175] Optionally, the activation status of the third uplink control channel resource may be dynamically configured using the signaling of the network device. In this embodiment of the present application, the activation status of the third uplink control channel resource is considered to be in an active state. If there is another third uplink control channel resource in an inactive state, when the network device dynamically configures the activation status of the another third uplink control channel resource to change from an inactive state to an active state using signaling, the another third uplink control channel resource is also classified as a third uplink control channel resource in this embodiment.

[0176] Optionally, there may be inactive uplink control channel resources in the frequency range of the third uplink BWP, and this case will not be described in detail in this embodiment of the present application.

[0177] S620: The network device sends third configuration information to the terminal device, and in response, the terminal device receives third configuration information from the network device, and the terminal device further determines at least one third uplink BWP and at least one third uplink control channel resource based on the third configuration information.

[0178] For the relevant content of this step, please refer to the relevant description of step S220 of method 200.

[0179] S630: The terminal device determines that the currently operating active BWP is the third uplink BWP.

[0180] S640: The terminal device switches from the third uplink BWP to a frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource, and further sends uplink control information on the third uplink control channel.

[0181] The third uplink control channel resource includes a frequency resource and a time domain resource, and the switching from the third uplink BWP to the frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource is the switching to the frequency resource of the third uplink control channel. It should be noted that the frequency resource can also be understood as a frequency domain location.

[0182] It should be noted that the switching in this step is a direct switching by the terminal device from the third uplink BWP to the frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource, no longer a switching between two BWPs or a switching between two frequency resource blocks, but a direct switching from the BWP to the uplink control channel resource.

[0183] It should be noted in particular that the terminal device can only transmit uplink control information on the uplink control channel resource, since the terminal device directly switches to the uplink control channel resource. The difference from the method 200 and the method 400 is as follows: in the method 200 and the method 400, a switch to a BWP or a frequency resource block is performed, on which, in addition to the uplink control channel resource, there is another resource used to transmit, for example, data information, and therefore, when the terminal device switches to the BWP or the frequency resource block, the terminal device may transmit information other than the uplink control information, such as data information. However, in this embodiment of the method 600, the terminal device can only transmit uplink control information on the third uplink control channel resource, and when it needs to transmit other information, the terminal device can only switch to the third uplink BWP.

[0184] For other related contents of this step, please refer to the related description of step S240 of method 200.

[0185] S650: The terminal device switches from a third uplink control channel resource to a third uplink BWP.

[0186] Similar to step S640, the switching may be, by the terminal device, switching from the frequency location of the third uplink control channel resource to the BWP ID of the third uplink BWP based on the third configuration information.

[0187] For other related contents of this step, please refer to the related description of step S250 of method 200.

[0188] In this embodiment of the present application, no uplink control channel resource is configured in the frequency range of the BWP included in the uplink carrier, and the uplink control channel resource associated with the BWP is configured outside the frequency range of the BWP. When the terminal device needs to transmit uplink control information, the terminal device switches from the BWP to the frequency range of the uplink control channel resource to perform transmission. According to this configuration method, the overhead of the uplink control channel resource is reduced, and the transmission efficiency of the terminal device is improved. In addition, the uplink control channel resource is located on either side of the uplink carrier, so that the problem of uplink resource fragmentation is avoided.

[0189] FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 800 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 800 is configured to execute the aforementioned methods or steps corresponding to a terminal device. Optionally, each unit of the communication device 800 may be implemented using software. The corresponding terminal device in the method 200 is used as an example for explanation. The steps performed by the terminal device in the method 400 and the method 600 are similar to the steps performed by the terminal device in the method 200, and the details are not repeated here. As shown in FIG. 8, the communication device 800 includes: a transceiver unit 820 configured to receive first configuration information; and A processing unit 810 configured to determine first configuration information, the first configuration information including at least one first uplink BWP and at least one second uplink BWP, the first uplink BWP having no first uplink control channel resource, the second uplink BWP having the first uplink control channel resource, and the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP being on the same uplink carrier. Includes.

[0190] It should be noted that a first uplink BWP and a second uplink BWP are shown in FIG. 3. Specifically, each BWP in the at least one first uplink BWP and the at least one second uplink BWP has a different BWP ID. In other words, both the at least one first uplink BWP and the at least one second uplink BWP satisfy the conditions defined in the prior art for distinguishing different BWPs. In a preferred method, the frequency range of the at least one first uplink BWP is different from the frequency range of the at least one second uplink BWP, and the different frequency ranges include different center frequency positions and / or bandwidth sizes of the BWPs.

[0191] It should be noted that in a preferred implementation, the network device may configure a second uplink BWP on either side of the uplink carrier, in other words, the first uplink control channel resource is located on either side of the uplink carrier, thereby solving the resource fragmentation problem that occurs when the first uplink control channel resource is not located on either side of the carrier frequency resource but is distributed in the center, thereby improving the flexibility of resource allocation and network resource utilization, and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0192] It should be noted that the uplink BWP includes an initial uplink BWP and a user-dedicated uplink BWP. The uplink control channel resource includes a common uplink control channel resource and a user-dedicated uplink control channel resource. In one implementation, if the uplink BWP is an initial uplink BWP, the uplink control channel resource is a common uplink control channel resource. If the uplink BWP is a user-dedicated uplink BWP, the uplink control channel resource is a user-dedicated uplink control channel resource.

[0193] In a possible implementation, the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP specifically represents the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP specifically represents the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP.

[0194] In another possible implementation, the network device further configures an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, where the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP specifically represents that the first uplink control channel resource is not present in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, or that the first uplink control channel resource is present in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP and the first uplink control channel resource is in an inactive state, and the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP specifically represents that the first uplink control channel resource is present in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP and the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is in an active state.

[0195] Specifically, the processing unit 810 is further configured to: configure an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource in an initial configuration phase, and determine that the activation status is active or inactive.

[0196] Specifically, in the operation process of the terminal device, the network device may dynamically change the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, and the change to the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource may be dynamically configured using one network signaling. The transceiver unit 820 is further configured to receive the network signaling.

[0197] The processing unit 810 is further configured to determine an active BWP that is currently operating.

[0198] Specifically, before the processing unit 810 determines that the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP, the processing unit 810 needs to determine whether the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP or the second uplink BWP. If the processing unit 810 determines that the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP, the next step S240 of the method 200 is executed. If the processing unit 810 determines that the currently operating active BWP is the second uplink BWP, the processing unit 810 determines that when uplink control information needs to be transmitted, the uplink control information can be transmitted on the first uplink control channel resource in the currently operating active BWP. The uplink control information is transmitted by the transceiver unit 820.

[0199] It should be noted that a network device may configure multiple BWPs. As described above, in this embodiment of the present application, the multiple BWPs include at least one first uplink BWP and at least one second uplink BWP. The network device uses signaling to indicate that one of the BWPs is the currently operating active BWP of the terminal device. The terminal can only transmit and receive data or control information in the active BWP. In other words, the terminal device can only operate in one BWP at the same time, and the BWP is the active BWP of the terminal device at that time. It should be noted that the meaning represented by "active" in the active BWP is different from the meaning represented by "active" in the above-mentioned "the first uplink control channel resource in the BWP is in an active state". In other words, the active state of the BWP is independent of the active state of the first uplink control resource in the BWP.

[0200] The processing unit 810 is further configured to perform, by the terminal device, a switch from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP.

[0201] The transceiver unit 820 is further configured to transmit uplink control information.

[0202] Specifically, before the switch, the processing unit 810 determines that uplink control information needs to be transmitted.

[0203] In a possible implementation, the switching may be autonomously initiated by the processing unit 810 according to a first rule. The first rule is predefined in the protocol. The first rule is specifically that when the terminal device needs to transmit uplink control information, the terminal device switches from the first uplink BWP in which the terminal device is currently operating to the second uplink BWP, and further transmits the uplink control information on the first uplink control channel resource of the second uplink BWP.

[0204] It should be noted that in the above description, the processing unit 810 autonomously initiates switching according to the first rule. When the network device configures multiple second uplink BWPs, the network device uses signaling to pre-configure that the first uplink BWP is associated with one of the multiple second uplink BWPs. The signaling may include SIB1 signaling, RRC signaling, MAC CE, DCI, etc. The transceiver unit 810 is further configured to receive network signaling, and when performing BWP switching according to the first rule, the processing unit 810 switches to the associated second uplink BWP based on the pre-configuration information.

[0205] In a possible implementation, the network device may send first indication information to the terminal device to instruct the terminal device to perform switching. The transceiver unit 810 is further configured to receive the indication information. The first indication information instructs the terminal device to switch from the currently operating first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP when the terminal device needs to transmit uplink control information, and further transmit uplink control information on the first uplink control channel resource of the second uplink BWP.

[0206] For the above two possible implementations, when the network device configures multiple second uplink BWPs, it should be noted that the above two possible implementations each have two specific implementations. Implementation 1: The network device pre-configures the first uplink BWP to be associated with one of the multiple second uplink BWPs by using signaling. The signaling may include SIB1 signaling, RRC signaling, MAC CE signaling, DCI, etc. The first indication information is only used to trigger the terminal device to switch from the first uplink BWP to the pre-configured associated second uplink BWP. Implementation 2: The network device does not pre-configure the first uplink BWP to be associated with one of the multiple second uplink BWPs by using signaling. When triggering the terminal device to perform BWP switching, the first indication information further indicates the ID of the BWP where the first uplink control channel resource for the terminal device to perform transmission is located.

[0207] It should be noted that the transceiver unit 820 may alternatively transmit data information on another resource other than the first uplink control channel resource, for example in the second uplink BWP.

[0208] Specifically, the switching may be performed by the processing unit 820 based on the BWP ID in the first configuration information.

[0209] It should be noted that the processing unit 820 switches from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP, which represents that the active BWP of the terminal device changes from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP, that is, BWP switching is performed. This process may also be called BWP frequency hopping, BWP sliding, BWP retuning, radio frequency retuning, etc. The aforementioned names are equivalent. This is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0210] The processing unit 810 is further configured to perform a switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP.

[0211] Specifically, after determining that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed, the processing unit 810 switches from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP.

[0212] It should be noted that after determining that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed, the processing unit 810 may alternatively not switch on another resource other than the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP, and may, for example, directly transmit data information.

[0213] In a possible implementation, the switching may be autonomously initiated by the processing unit 810 according to a second rule, which is predefined in the protocol. The second rule is specifically that the terminal device switches from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when it determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed.

[0214] In a possible implementation form, the network device may send second instruction information to the terminal device to instruct the terminal device to perform switching. The second instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when the terminal device determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed.

[0215] In another possible implementation, the switch may be a switch triggered by a timer. The timer is started after the switch is completed in step S240. After the timer time reaches a predetermined duration, the processing unit 810 switches from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP based on the trigger of the timer. The predetermined duration of the timer may be a default duration for completing the transmission of uplink control information, or may be configured by the network device using signaling.

[0216] Specifically, the switching may be performed by the processing unit 810 based on the BWP ID in the first configuration information.

[0217] Please note that the first uplink BWP in the switching in step S250 may be the original active BWP to which the terminal device switches in S240, or may be any first uplink BWP configured by the network device.

[0218] Note that, as explained in step S240, a transition may have multiple names, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0219] Optionally, when the processing unit 810 determines that uplink control information needs to be transmitted and the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP, the processing unit 810 may further determine whether there is an uplink physical shared channel transmission on the currently operating active first uplink BWP at the moment when the uplink control needs to be transmitted. If there is an uplink physical shared channel transmission on the currently operating active first uplink BWP, the terminal device may transmit the uplink control information through the uplink physical shared channel transmission. If there is no uplink physical shared channel transmission, a BWP switch is performed.

[0220] It should be noted that there is a first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP and the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is inactive, which is equivalent to there being no first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the time-frequency resource of the inactive first uplink control channel resource may be used for transmissions other than uplink control information transmission, such as data transmission. The active state or the inactive state may also be called valid or invalid, etc. Correspondingly, they all indicate that the first uplink control channel resource can be used to transmit uplink control information or cannot be used to transmit uplink control information.

[0221] FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 900 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 900 is configured to execute the aforementioned method or steps corresponding to the network device. Optionally, each unit of the communication device 900 may be implemented using software. The corresponding network device in the method 200 is used as an example for explanation. The steps performed by the network device in the method 300 and the method 400 are similar to the steps performed by the network device in the method 200, and the details are not repeated here. As shown in FIG. 9, the communication device 900 includes: a transceiver unit 920 configured to transmit the first configuration information and further configured to transmit the first indication information and various dynamic signaling; and A processing unit 910 configured to determine first configuration information, the first configuration information including at least one first uplink BWP and at least one second uplink BWP, the first uplink BWP having no first uplink control channel resource, the second uplink BWP having the first uplink control channel resource, and the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP being on the same uplink carrier. Includes.

[0222] It should be noted that the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP are shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP. Specifically, each BWP in the at least one first uplink BWP and the at least one second uplink BWP has a different BWP ID. In other words, both the at least one first uplink BWP and the at least one second uplink BWP satisfy the conditions defined in the prior art for distinguishing different BWPs. In a preferred method, the frequency range of the at least one first uplink BWP is different from the frequency range of the at least one second uplink BWP, and the different frequency ranges include different center frequency positions and / or bandwidth sizes of the BWPs.

[0223] It should be noted that in a preferred implementation, the second uplink BWP may be configured on either side of the uplink carrier, in other words, the first uplink control channel resource is located on either side of the uplink carrier, thereby solving the resource fragmentation problem that occurs when the first uplink control channel resource is not located on either side of the carrier frequency resource but is distributed in the center, thereby improving the flexibility of resource allocation and network resource utilization, and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0224] It should be noted that the uplink BWP includes an initial uplink BWP and a user-dedicated uplink BWP. The uplink control channel resource includes a common uplink control channel resource and a user-dedicated uplink control channel resource. In one implementation, if the uplink BWP is an initial uplink BWP, the uplink control channel resource is a common uplink control channel resource. If the uplink BWP is a user-dedicated uplink BWP, the uplink control channel resource is a user-dedicated uplink control channel resource.

[0225] In a possible implementation, the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP specifically represents the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP specifically represents the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP.

[0226] In another possible implementation, the processing unit 910 further configures an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, where the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP specifically represents that the first uplink control channel resource is not present in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, or that the first uplink control channel resource is present in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP and the first uplink control channel resource is in an inactive state, and the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP specifically represents that the first uplink control channel resource is present in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP and the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is in an active state.

[0227] Specifically, the processing unit 910 configures the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource in an initial configuration phase, and the activation status is active or inactive.

[0228] Specifically, in the operation process of the terminal device, the transceiver unit 920 may dynamically change the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, and the change to the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource may be dynamically configured using one network signaling.

[0229] It should be noted that there is a first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP and the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is inactive, which is equivalent to there being no first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the time-frequency resource of the inactive first uplink control channel resource may be used for transmissions other than uplink control information transmission, such as data transmission. The active state or the inactive state may also be called valid or invalid, etc. Correspondingly, they all indicate that the first uplink control channel resource can be used to transmit uplink control information or cannot be used to transmit uplink control information.

[0230] The processing unit 910 may pre-configure the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource in multiple BWPs and dynamically change the activation status of at least one first uplink control channel resource in multiple BWPs using signaling, so that the first uplink control channel resource is configured more flexibly, thereby reducing resource overhead.

[0231] The transceiver unit 910 is further configured to transmit the first instruction information and the second instruction information.

[0232] The first instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the currently operating first uplink BWP to a second uplink BWP when the terminal device needs to transmit uplink control information, and to further transmit uplink control information on a first uplink control channel resource of the second uplink BWP.

[0233] The second indication information instructs the terminal device to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when the terminal device determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed.

[0234] FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1000 is configured to execute the aforementioned methods or steps corresponding to a terminal device. Optionally, each unit of the communication device 1000 may be implemented using software. The corresponding terminal device in the method 200 is used as an example for explanation. The steps performed by the terminal device in the method 400 and the method 600 are similar to the steps performed by the terminal device in the method 200, and the details are not repeated here. As shown in FIG. 10, the communication device 1000 includes: a transceiver 1020 configured to receive first configuration information; and A processor 1010 configured to determine first configuration information, the first configuration information including at least one first uplink BWP and at least one second uplink BWP, the first uplink BWP having no first uplink control channel resource, the second uplink BWP having the first uplink control channel resource, and the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP being on the same uplink carrier. Includes.

[0235] Optionally, the communication device 1000 further includes a memory. It should be noted that a first uplink BWP and a second uplink BWP are shown in FIG. 3. Specifically, each BWP in the at least one first uplink BWP and the at least one second uplink BWP has a different BWP ID. In other words, both the at least one first uplink BWP and the at least one second uplink BWP satisfy the conditions defined in the prior art for distinguishing different BWPs. In a preferred method, the frequency range of the at least one first uplink BWP is different from the frequency range of the at least one second uplink BWP, and the different frequency ranges include different center frequency positions and / or different bandwidth sizes of the BWPs.

[0236] It should be noted that in a preferred implementation, the network device may configure a second uplink BWP on either side of the uplink carrier, in other words, the first uplink control channel resource is located on either side of the uplink carrier, thereby solving the resource fragmentation problem that occurs when the first uplink control channel resource is not located on either side of the carrier frequency resource but is distributed in the center, thereby improving the flexibility of resource allocation and network resource utilization, and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0237] It should be noted that the uplink BWP includes an initial uplink BWP and a user-dedicated uplink BWP. The uplink control channel resource includes a common uplink control channel resource and a user-dedicated uplink control channel resource. In one implementation, if the uplink BWP is an initial uplink BWP, the uplink control channel resource is a common uplink control channel resource. If the uplink BWP is a user-dedicated uplink BWP, the uplink control channel resource is a user-dedicated uplink control channel resource.

[0238] In a possible implementation, the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP specifically represents the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP specifically represents the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP.

[0239] In another possible implementation, the network device further configures an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, where the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP specifically represents that the first uplink control channel resource is not present in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, or that the first uplink control channel resource is present in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP and the first uplink control channel resource is in an inactive state, and the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP specifically represents that the first uplink control channel resource is present in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP and the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is in an active state.

[0240] Specifically, the processor 1010 is further configured to cause the network device to configure an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource in an initial configuration phase and to determine that the activation status is active or inactive.

[0241] Specifically, in the operation process of the terminal device, the network device may dynamically change the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, and the change to the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource may be dynamically configured using one network signaling. The transceiver 1020 is further configured to receive the network signaling.

[0242] The processor 1010 is further configured to determine an active BWP that is currently running.

[0243] Specifically, before the processor 1010 determines that the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP, the processor 1010 needs to determine whether the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP or the second uplink BWP. If the processor 1010 determines that the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP, the next step S240 of the method 200 is executed. If the processor 1010 determines that the currently operating active BWP is the second uplink BWP, the processor 1010 determines that when uplink control information needs to be transmitted, the uplink control information can be transmitted on the first uplink control channel resource in the currently operating active BWP. The uplink control information is transmitted by the transceiver 1020.

[0244] It should be noted that a network device may configure multiple BWPs. As described above, in this embodiment of the present application, the multiple BWPs include at least one first uplink BWP and at least one second uplink BWP. The network device uses signaling to indicate that one of the BWPs is the currently operating active BWP of the terminal device. The terminal can only transmit and receive data or control information in the active BWP. In other words, the terminal device can only operate in one BWP at the same time, and the BWP is the active BWP of the terminal device at that time. It should be noted that the meaning represented by "active" in the active BWP is different from the meaning represented by "active" in the above-mentioned "the first uplink control channel resource in the BWP is in an active state". In other words, the active state of the BWP is independent of the active state of the first uplink control resource in the BWP.

[0245] The processor 1010 is further configured to perform a switch, by the terminal device, from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP.

[0246] The transceiver 1020 is further configured to transmit uplink control information.

[0247] Specifically, before switching, processor 1010 determines that uplink control information needs to be transmitted.

[0248] In a possible implementation form, the switching may be autonomously initiated by the processor 1010 according to a first rule. The first rule is predefined in the protocol. The first rule is specifically that when the terminal device needs to transmit uplink control information, the terminal device switches from the first uplink BWP in which the terminal device is currently operating to the second uplink BWP, and further transmits the uplink control information on the first uplink control channel resource of the second uplink BWP.

[0249] It should be noted that in the above description, the processor 1010 autonomously initiates switching according to the first rule. When the network device configures multiple second uplink BWPs, the network device uses signaling to pre-configure that the first uplink BWP is associated with one of the multiple second uplink BWPs. The signaling may include SIB1 signaling, RRC signaling, MAC CE, DCI, etc. The transceiver unit 810 is further configured to receive the network signaling, and when performing BWP switching according to the first rule, the processor 1010 switches to the associated second uplink BWP based on the pre-configuration information.

[0250] In a possible implementation, the network device may send first indication information to the terminal device to instruct the terminal device to perform switching. The transceiver unit 810 is further configured to receive the indication information. The first indication information instructs the terminal device to switch from the currently operating first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP when the terminal device needs to transmit uplink control information, and further transmit uplink control information on the first uplink control channel resource of the second uplink BWP.

[0251] For the above two possible implementations, when the network device configures multiple second uplink BWPs, it should be noted that the above two possible implementations each have two specific implementations. Implementation 1: The network device pre-configures the first uplink BWP to be associated with one of the multiple second uplink BWPs by using signaling. The signaling may include SIB1 signaling, RRC signaling, MAC CE signaling, DCI, etc. The first indication information is only used to trigger the terminal device to switch from the first uplink BWP to the pre-configured associated second uplink BWP. Implementation 2: The network device does not pre-configure the first uplink BWP to be associated with one of the multiple second uplink BWPs by using signaling. When triggering the terminal device to perform BWP switching, the first indication information further indicates the ID of the BWP where the first uplink control channel resource for the terminal device to perform transmission is located.

[0252] It should be noted that the transceiver 1020 may alternatively transmit data information on another resource other than the first uplink control channel resource, for example in the second uplink BWP.

[0253] Specifically, the switching may be performed by the processing unit 820 based on the BWP ID in the first configuration information.

[0254] It should be noted that the processing unit 820 switches from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP, which represents that the active BWP of the terminal device changes from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP, that is, BWP switching is performed. This process may also be called BWP frequency hopping, BWP sliding, BWP retuning, radio frequency retuning, etc. The aforementioned names are equivalent. This is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0255] The processor 1010 is further configured to perform a switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP.

[0256] Specifically, after determining that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed, the processor 1010 switches from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP.

[0257] It should be noted that after determining that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed, the processor 1010 may alternatively not switch on another resource other than the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP and, for example, directly transmit data information.

[0258] In a possible implementation, the switching may be autonomously initiated by the processor 1010 according to a second rule, which is predefined in the protocol. The second rule is specifically that the terminal device switches from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when it determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed.

[0259] In a possible implementation form, the network device may send second instruction information to the terminal device to instruct the terminal device to perform switching. The second instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when the terminal device determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed.

[0260] In another possible implementation, the switch may be a switch triggered by a timer. The timer is started after the switch is completed in step S240. After the timer time reaches a predetermined duration, the processor 1010 switches from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP based on the trigger of the timer. The predetermined duration of the timer may be a default duration for completing the transmission of uplink control information, or may be configured by the network device using signaling.

[0261] Specifically, the switching may be performed by the processor 1010 based on the BWP ID in the first configuration information.

[0262] Please note that the first uplink BWP in the switching in step S250 may be the original active BWP to which the terminal device switches in S240, or may be any first uplink BWP configured by the network device.

[0263] Note that, as explained in step S240, a transition may have multiple names, and the details will not be repeated here.

[0264] Optionally, when the processor 1010 determines that uplink control information needs to be transmitted and the currently operating active BWP is the first uplink BWP, the processor 1010 may further determine whether there is an uplink physical shared channel transmission on the currently operating active first uplink BWP at the moment when the uplink control needs to be transmitted. If there is an uplink physical shared channel transmission on the currently operating active first uplink BWP, the terminal device may transmit the uplink control information through the uplink physical shared channel transmission. If there is no uplink physical shared channel transmission, a BWP switch is performed.

[0265] It should be noted that there is a first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP and the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is inactive, which is equivalent to there being no first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the time-frequency resource of the inactive first uplink control channel resource may be used for transmissions other than uplink control information transmission, such as data transmission. The active state or the inactive state may also be called valid or invalid, etc. Correspondingly, they all indicate that the first uplink control channel resource can be used to transmit uplink control information or cannot be used to transmit uplink control information.

[0266] FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1100 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 900 is configured to execute the aforementioned method or steps corresponding to the network device. Optionally, each unit of the communication device 1100 may be implemented using software. The corresponding network device in the method 200 is used as an example for explanation. The steps performed by the network device in the method 300 and the method 400 are similar to the steps performed by the network device in the method 200, and the details are not repeated here. As shown in FIG. 11, the communication device 1100 includes: a transceiver 1120 configured to transmit the first configuration information and further configured to transmit the first indication information and various dynamic signaling; and a processor 1110 configured to determine first configuration information, the first configuration information including at least one first uplink BWP and at least one second uplink BWP, the first uplink BWP having no first uplink control channel resource, the second uplink BWP having the first uplink control channel resource, and the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP being on the same uplink carrier; Includes.

[0267] Optionally, the communication device 1100 further includes a memory. Note that the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP are shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP. Specifically, each BWP in the at least one first uplink BWP and the at least one second uplink BWP has a different BWP ID. In other words, both the at least one first uplink BWP and the at least one second uplink BWP satisfy the conditions defined in the prior art for distinguishing different BWPs. In a preferred method, the frequency range of the at least one first uplink BWP is different from the frequency range of the at least one second uplink BWP, and the different frequency range includes different center frequency positions and / or bandwidth sizes of the BWPs.

[0268] It should be noted that in a preferred implementation, the second uplink BWP may be configured on either side of the uplink carrier, in other words, the first uplink control channel resource is located on either side of the uplink carrier, thereby solving the resource fragmentation problem that occurs when the first uplink control channel resource is not located on either side of the carrier frequency resource but is distributed in the center, thereby improving the flexibility of resource allocation and network resource utilization, and improving the transmission efficiency of the terminal device.

[0269] It should be noted that the uplink BWP includes an initial uplink BWP and a user-dedicated uplink BWP. The uplink control channel resource includes a common uplink control channel resource and a user-dedicated uplink control channel resource. In one implementation, if the uplink BWP is an initial uplink BWP, the uplink control channel resource is a common uplink control channel resource. If the uplink BWP is a user-dedicated uplink BWP, the uplink control channel resource is a user-dedicated uplink control channel resource.

[0270] In a possible implementation, the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP specifically represents the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP specifically represents the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP.

[0271] In another possible implementation, the processor 1110 further configures an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, where the absence of the first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP specifically represents that the first uplink control channel resource is not present in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, or that the first uplink control channel resource is present in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP and the first uplink control channel resource is in an inactive state, and the presence of the first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP specifically represents that the first uplink control channel resource is present in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP and the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is in an active state.

[0272] Specifically, the processor 1110 configures an activation status of a first uplink control channel resource in an initial configuration phase, where the activation status is active or inactive.

[0273] Specifically, in the operation process of the terminal device, the transceiver 1120 may dynamically change the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource, and the change to the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource may be dynamically configured using one network signaling.

[0274] It should be noted that there is a first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP and the activation status of the first uplink control channel resource is inactive, which is equivalent to there being no first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the time-frequency resource of the inactive first uplink control channel resource may be used for transmissions other than uplink control information transmission, such as data transmission. The active state or the inactive state may also be called valid or invalid, etc. Correspondingly, they all indicate that the first uplink control channel resource can be used to transmit uplink control information or cannot be used to transmit uplink control information.

[0275] The processor 1110 may pre-configure an activation status of the first uplink control channel resource in multiple BWPs and dynamically change the activation status of at least one first uplink control channel resource in multiple BWPs using signaling, so that the first uplink control channel resource is configured more flexibly, thereby reducing resource overhead.

[0276] The transceiver unit is further configured to transmit the first instruction information and the second instruction information.

[0277] The first instruction information instructs the terminal device to switch from the currently operating first uplink BWP to a second uplink BWP when the terminal device needs to transmit uplink control information, and to further transmit uplink control information on a first uplink control channel resource of the second uplink BWP.

[0278] The second indication information instructs the terminal device to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when the terminal device determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed.

[0279] For the sake of convenience and concise description, the detailed operation processes of the above-mentioned systems, devices and units may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to refer to the corresponding processes in the above-mentioned method embodiments, and the details will not be described again in this specification.

[0280] In some embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device, and method can also be implemented in other ways. For example, the described device embodiment is merely an example. For example, the division into units is merely a logical division of functions, and may be other divisions in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not performed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented using some interfaces. Indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be implemented in electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0281] The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separated, and the parts presented as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one location or may be distributed among 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.

[0282] In addition, the functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, each of the units may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0283] 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 all or part of the technical solution may be implemented in the form of a software product. 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, or a network device) to perform 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, and an optical disk.

[0284] The above description is merely a specific implementation of the present application, and is not intended to 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 this application shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application shall be subject to the scope of protection of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0285] 100 Communication Systems 101 Terminal Device 102 Terminal Devices 103 Terminal Devices 110 Network Devices 200 Communication Method 400 Communication Method 600 Communication Methods 800 Communication Equipment 810 Processing Unit 820 Transceiver Unit 900 Communication Equipment 910 Processing Unit 920 Transceiver Unit 1000 Communication Equipment 1010 Processor 1020 Transceiver 1100 Communication equipment 1110 Processor 1120 Transceiver

Claims

1. receiving first configuration information from a network device, the first configuration information being used to configure a first uplink bandwidth portion (BWP) and a second uplink BWP, the first uplink BWP having no first uplink control channel resource, the second uplink BWP having a first uplink control channel resource, and the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP being on the same uplink carrier; determining the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP based on the first configuration information; Including, A communication method, wherein the second uplink BWP is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier.

2. The method comprises: determining that the first uplink BWP is an active BWP; switching from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP and transmitting uplink control information on the first uplink control channel resource of the second uplink BWP; The method of claim 1, further comprising:

3. The method comprises: switching from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

4. The method comprises: determining, according to a first rule or based on first indication information, to switch from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP, wherein the first rule or the first indication information indicates to switch from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP when it is determined that the uplink control information needs to be transmitted; the first rule is predefined, and the first indication information is from the network device; determining to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP according to a second rule or based on second instruction information, the second rule or the second instruction information instructing to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when it is determined that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed; the second rule is predefined, and the second instruction information is from the network device; 4. The method of claim 2 or 3, further comprising:

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first instruction information and the second instruction information are the same message.

6. The absence of a first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP There is no first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP; or The first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the first uplink control channel resource is not activated. Including, The presence of a first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP The first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP; or The first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP, and the first uplink control channel resource is already activated. Including, 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. determining first configuration information; sending the first configuration information to a terminal device, the first configuration information being used to configure a first uplink bandwidth portion (BWP) and a second uplink BWP, the first uplink BWP having no first uplink control channel resource, the second uplink BWP having a first uplink control channel resource, and the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP being on the same uplink carrier; Including, A communication method, wherein the second uplink BWP is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier.

8. The method comprises: sending first indication information to the terminal device, the first indication information instructing the terminal device to switch from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP when determining that uplink control information needs to be transmitted; 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

9. The method comprises: sending second indication information to the terminal device, the second indication information instructing the terminal device to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when the terminal device determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed; 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first instruction information and the second instruction information are the same message.

11. The absence of a first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP There is no first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP; or The first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the first uplink control channel resource is not activated. Including, The presence of a first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP The first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP; or The first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP, and the first uplink control channel resource is already activated. Including, 11. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10.

12. A method for configuring a network device comprising: receiving first configuration information from a network device; and a processing unit configured to determine a first uplink bandwidth portion (BWP) and a second uplink BWP based on the first configuration information, wherein the first uplink BWP does not have a first uplink control channel resource, the second uplink BWP has a first uplink control channel resource, and the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP are on a same uplink carrier; Equipped with A communications device, wherein the second uplink BWP determined by the processing unit is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier.

13. The processing unit includes: determining that the first uplink BWP is an active BWP; switching from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP and transmitting uplink control information on the first uplink control channel resource of the second uplink BWP; The apparatus of claim 12 , further configured to:

14. The processing unit includes: Switching from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP The apparatus of claim 13, further configured to:

15. The processing unit includes: Determine to switch from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP according to a first rule or based on first indication information, the first rule or the first indication information instructing to switch from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP when it is determined that the uplink control information needs to be transmitted; The first rule is predefined, and the first indication information is from the network device; and Determine to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP according to a second rule or based on second instruction information, the second rule or the second instruction information instructing to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when it is determined that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed; the second rule is predefined, and the second instruction information is from the network device; The method further comprises: the transceiver unit is further configured to receive the first instruction information and the second instruction information.

14. The apparatus of claim 13.

16. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first instruction information and the second instruction information received by the transceiver unit are the same message.

17. The absence of a first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP determined by the processing unit is There is no first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP; or The first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the first uplink control channel resource is not activated. Including, The presence of a first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP determined by the processing unit includes: The first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP; or The first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP, and the first uplink control channel resource is already activated.

16. The apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15, comprising:

18. a processing unit configured to determine first configuration information, the first configuration information being used to configure a first uplink bandwidth portion (BWP) and a second uplink BWP, the first uplink BWP having no first uplink control channel resource, the second uplink BWP having a first uplink control channel resource, and the first uplink BWP and the second uplink BWP being on the same uplink carrier; a transceiver unit configured to transmit the first configuration information to a terminal device; Equipped with A communications device, wherein the second uplink BWP determined by the processing unit is located on either side of the bandwidth of the uplink carrier.

19. The transceiver unit includes: Sending first indication information to the terminal device, the first indication information instructing the terminal device to switch from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP when determining that uplink control information needs to be sent; 20. The apparatus of claim 18, further configured to:

20. The transceiver unit includes: Sending second instruction information to the terminal device, the second instruction information instructing the terminal device to switch from the second uplink BWP to the first uplink BWP when the terminal device determines that the transmission of the uplink control information is completed; 20. The apparatus of claim 19, further configured to:

21. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first instruction information and the second instruction information transmitted by the transceiver unit are the same message.

22. The absence of a first uplink control channel resource in the first uplink BWP determined by the processing unit is There is no first uplink control channel resource in the frequency range of the first uplink BWP; or The first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the first uplink BWP, and the first uplink control channel resource is not activated. Including, The presence of a first uplink control channel resource in the second uplink BWP determined by the processing unit includes: The first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP; or The first uplink control channel resource is in a frequency range of the second uplink BWP, and the first uplink control channel resource is already activated.

22. The apparatus of any one of claims 18 to 21, comprising:

23. 12. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer instructions which, when executed by a computer, enable the computer to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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