Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus are provided, the method including: a terminal determines a frequency hopping cycle index of the terminal based on a first time unit; the terminal determines a first frequency hopping parameter based on a frequency hopping cycle index and a frequency hopping pattern of the terminal, the first frequency hopping parameter being k hopping The terminal transmits a sounding reference signal SRS to a network device based on the first frequency hopping parameter. According to the method, the frequency hopping period index can be associated with an absolute time. For terminals multiplexed within the same configured bandwidth of SRS, this ensures that different terminals perform SRS transmission within different subbands in the same time domain range, provided that the corresponding kF is configured differently, and can effectively reduce the interference between SRS transmissions while effectively reducing the scheduling overhead, and improve the channel estimation accuracy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - Reference to Related Applications] This application claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 202111162862.0, titled "COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS", filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on September 30, 2021, and incorporates its entire content by reference.

[0002] [Technical Field] This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and particularly to communication methods and apparatuses.

Background Art

[0003] In order to further improve multiple - input multiple - output (MIMO) in a new radio (NR) system, partial frequency - domain sounding technology may be used to improve the coverage and capacity of sounding reference signals (SRS), and start resource block (RB) position frequency hopping may be performed to ensure channel estimation accuracy even at different frequency - domain positions, thereby effectively improving channel estimation accuracy.

[0004] In the start RB position frequency - hopping scenario, the change rule of the start RB position having a time domain is determined based on the frequency - hopping pattern. When different terminals have different understandings of the frequency - hopping pattern, different terminals may perform SRS transmission based on the same frequency - domain position. This increases the interference among users in SRS transmission and reduces channel estimation accuracy. Therefore, how to improve channel estimation accuracy in the start RB position frequency - hopping scenario becomes an urgent problem to be solved.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method and apparatus for effectively improving channel estimation accuracy in a starting RB position frequency hopping scenario.

[0006] According to a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be executed by a terminal, or may be executed by a component (processor, chip or other component) configured in the terminal, or may be executed by a software module or the like. The method includes: determining a frequency hopping period index of a terminal based on a first time unit, where the first time unit is associated with a time unit corresponding to a sounding reference signal (SRS); determining a first frequency hopping parameter based on the frequency hopping period index and a frequency hopping pattern of the terminal, where the first frequency hopping parameter indicates a sub-band level offset of the SRS within a configured bandwidth range of the SRS, and the frequency hopping pattern is associated with the first frequency hopping parameter; and transmitting the SRS to a network device based on the first frequency hopping parameter.

[0007] According to the method, the terminal can determine the first frequency hopping parameter based on the time unit corresponding to the SRS. Based on using the current frequency hopping mechanism as much as possible, the method can further implement SRS transmission with different terminals within the same time domain range based on different frequency domain ranges. This effectively reduces interference during SRS transmission and improves channel estimation accuracy.

[0008] In a certain design, the step of determining the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the first time unit includes: determining the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on an SRS counter and a frequency hopping period, where the SRS counter is associated with the first time unit.

[0009] According to this method, the frequency hopping period index of the terminal is determined based on the SRS counter. For a specific SRS time domain configuration, the SRS counter is associated with absolute time units. The absolute time unit may be the corresponding absolute time domain position within the terminal. When the frame timing and slot structure are the same, the absolute time is consistent or the same for all terminals. The absolute time unit may be measured by using a specific OFDM symbol within a specific slot within a specific frame. Therefore, the frequency hopping period indexes determined by different terminals based on the SRS counter are consistent in absolute time, and the first frequency hopping parameter determined by two terminals based on the frequency hopping period index, that is, k hopping is consistent.

[0010] In a certain design, determining the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the SRS counter and the frequency hopping period is

Number

Number

[0011] In a certain design, the frequency hopping period is the period for sounding the SRS frequency hopping bandwidth, and the frequency hopping period satisfies

Number

Number

Number

[0012] According to the method, for a specific SRS time domain configuration, the SRS counter is associated with an absolute time unit. The frequency hopping period is measured by the number of SRS counters included or the SRS hop count. According to the method, the frequency hopping period index can be associated with an absolute time unit, thereby enabling the first frequency hopping parameter to be associated with an absolute time unit.

[0013] In one design, the step of determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the terminal's frequency hopping period index and frequency hopping pattern is the step of determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the modulo operation result between the frequency hopping period index and the period of the frequency hopping pattern, and the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to the number of elements included in the frequency hopping pattern, including the step.

[0014] For example, the modulo operation may be performed on the frequency hopping period index and the period of the frequency hopping pattern, and the first frequency hopping parameter is determined based on the modulo operation result in the frequency hopping pattern. For example, the first frequency hopping parameter is equal to the value corresponding to the nth element in the frequency hopping pattern, and n is equal to the modulo operation result.

[0015] In one design, determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the terminal's frequency hopping period index and frequency hopping pattern is

Number

[0016] According to the method, the first frequency hopping parameter can be determined in a predetermined manner. The predetermined manner reflects the relationship between the first frequency hopping parameter, the frequency hopping period index, and the partial frequency sounding coefficient. This reduces the signaling overhead while reducing the complexity of the base station scheduling, enables different terminals to correspond to different SRS start frequency region positions, reduces the interference in SRS transmission, and improves the channel estimation performance.

[0017] In a certain design, the step of transmitting the SRS to the network device based on the first frequency hopping parameter includes the step of determining the candidate subband index of the SRS based on the first frequency hopping parameter, the step of determining the start RB position of the SRS based on the candidate subband index and the first subband index, where the first subband corresponds to the frequency region range where the terminal is not supported to perform SRS transmission, and the step of transmitting the SRS to the network device based on the start RB position of the SRS.

[0018] The method can avoid collisions between sub-bands where a specific terminal transmits SRS and a first sub-band where the terminal is not supported to perform SRS transmission. The first sub-band may correspond to a terminal that does not support starting RB position frequency hopping, or the transmission interference in the frequency region range corresponding to the first sub-band is severe. To improve channel estimation accuracy, the first sub-band does not support a specific terminal when performing SRS transmission within the corresponding frequency region range. According to the method, a sub-band capable of performing SRS transmission is determined for the terminal. This reduces interference in SRS transmission and improves channel estimation performance.

[0019] In the above design, in a possible implementation manner, when the candidate sub-band index and the first sub-band index correspond to the same frequency region range, the SRS start RB position index is

Number

Number

[0020] In the above design, in a possible implementation manner, when the candidate sub-band index and the first sub-band index correspond to different frequency region ranges, the SRS start RB position index is

Number

[0021] In a certain design, the method further includes receiving first indication information from a network device and determining a frequency hopping pattern indicated by the first indication information in at least one preconfigured or predefined frequency hopping pattern.

[0022] According to the method, a plurality of candidate frequency hopping patterns can be preconfigured or predefined. The network device can instruct the terminal to use one of the candidate frequency hopping patterns to determine the first frequency hopping parameter. The indication method is flexible. The network device can flexibly configure different frequency hopping patterns based on the channel states corresponding to different terminals. Furthermore, the network device can further configure different frequency hopping patterns for different terminals, so that the start frequency region positions for SRS transmission corresponding to different terminals are different. This reduces interference in SRS transmission. Furthermore, in the method of predefining a plurality of candidate frequency hopping patterns, the network device only needs to indicate the index corresponding to the frequency hopping pattern to indicate a specific frequency hopping pattern of the terminal. This effectively reduces signaling overhead.

[0023] In a certain design, the method further includes receiving indication information regarding a second frequency hopping pattern from a network device and determining a first frequency hopping parameter based on the second frequency hopping pattern, or alternatively, if the indication information is not received, determining a first frequency hopping parameter based on the first frequency hopping pattern.

[0024] In a certain design, the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to an integer multiple of the sub - frequency sounding coefficient corresponding to the terminal, or the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to the maximum value among a plurality of candidate sub - frequency sounding coefficients, or the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to the least common multiple of a plurality of candidate sub - frequency sounding coefficients.

[0025] According to this method, different sub - frequency sounding coefficients can correspond to a unified period of the frequency hopping pattern. This effectively reduces the computational complexity and improves the system efficiency.

[0026] According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is executed by the network device in the first aspect. For beneficial effects, refer to the first aspect. The method may be executed by the network device, or may be executed by a component (processor, chip or other component) configured within the network device, or may be executed by a software module or the like. It is a step of determining the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on a first time unit, where the first time unit is associated with the time unit corresponding to the sounding reference channel SRS, a step of determining a first frequency hopping parameter based on the frequency hopping period index and the frequency hopping pattern of the terminal, where the first frequency hopping parameter indicates the sub - band level offset of the SRS within the configured bandwidth range of the SRS, and the frequency hopping pattern is associated with the first frequency hopping parameter, and a step of receiving the SRS corresponding to the terminal based on the first frequency hopping parameter.

[0027] In a certain design, the step of determining the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the first time unit includes the step of determining the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the SRS counter and the frequency hopping period, where the SRS counter is associated with the first time unit.

[0028] In a certain design, determining the frequency hopping period index of a terminal based on the SRS counter and the frequency hopping period means that [Number] satisfies, where n RB_hop represents the frequency hopping period index of the terminal, n SRS represents the SRS counter, and T RB_hop represents the frequency hopping period, [Number] represents the floor function.

[0029] In a certain design, the frequency hopping period is a period for sounding the SRS frequency hopping bandwidth, and the frequency hopping period [Number] satisfies, where T RB_hop represents the frequency hopping period, [Number] represents the SRS frequency hopping bandwidth, [Number] represents the configured bandwidth of the SRS.

[0030] In a certain design, the step of determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the frequency hopping period index and the frequency hopping pattern of the terminal is the step of determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the modulo operation result between the frequency hopping period index and the period of the frequency hopping pattern, and the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to the number of elements included in the frequency hopping pattern, and the step includes.

[0031] For example, the modulo operation may be performed on the frequency hopping period index and the period of the frequency hopping pattern, and the first frequency hopping parameter is determined based on the modulo operation result in the frequency hopping pattern. For example, the first frequency hopping parameter is equal to the value corresponding to the nth element in the frequency hopping pattern, and n is equal to the modulo operation result.

[0032] In a certain design, determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the frequency hopping period index and the frequency hopping pattern of the terminal

Number

Number

[0033] In a certain design, based on the first frequency hopping parameter, the step of receiving SRS from the terminal includes determining the candidate sub-band index of SRS based on the first frequency hopping parameter, and determining the starting RB position of SRS based on the candidate sub-band index and the first sub-band index. The first sub-band corresponds to the frequency region range where the terminal is not supported to perform SRS transmission. The step includes determining the starting RB position of SRS based on the starting RB position of SRS and receiving SRS from the terminal.

[0034] In the above design, in a possible implementation manner, when the candidate sub-band index and the first sub-band index correspond to the same frequency region range, the starting RB position index of SRS is [Number] satisfies N offset represents the starting RB position index of SRS, and k F represents the starting sub-band index, and k hopping represents the first frequency hopping parameter, and P F represents the partial frequency sounding coefficient, [Number] represents the configured bandwidth of SRS.

[0035] In the above design, in a possible implementation manner, when the candidate sub-band index and the first sub-band index correspond to different frequency region ranges, the starting RB position index of SRS is [Number] satisfies N offset represents the starting RB position index of SRS, and k F represents the sub-band index, and k hopping represents the first frequency hopping parameter, and P F represents the partial frequency sounding coefficient, [Number] represents the configured bandwidth of SRS.

[0036] In a certain design, the method further includes the step of sending first indication information to the terminal, where the first indication information indicates the frequency hopping pattern to be currently used by the terminal in at least one pre-configured or pre-defined frequency hopping pattern.

[0037] In a certain design, the step of receiving the SRS corresponding to the terminal based on the first frequency hopping parameter includes: determining the candidate sub-band index of the SRS based on the first frequency hopping pattern; determining the first frequency hopping pattern or the second frequency hopping pattern based on the candidate sub-band index and the first sub-band index, where the first sub-band corresponds to a frequency range where the terminal is not supported to perform SRS transmission; determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the first frequency hopping pattern or the second frequency hopping pattern; determining the starting RB position of the SRS based on the first frequency hopping parameter; and transmitting the SRS to the network device based on the starting RB position of the SRS.

[0038] Optionally, when the candidate sub-band index and the first sub-band index correspond to the same frequency range, the first frequency hopping parameter is determined based on the second frequency hopping pattern, or when the candidate sub-band index and the first sub-band index correspond to different frequency ranges, the first frequency hopping parameter is determined based on the first frequency hopping pattern. The first frequency hopping parameter in the second frequency hopping pattern is twice the first frequency hopping parameter in the first frequency hopping pattern.

[0039] Optionally, the method further includes transmitting, to the terminal, indication information regarding the second frequency hopping pattern.

[0040] In a certain design, the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to an integer multiple of the partial frequency sounding coefficient currently to be used by the terminal, or the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to the maximum value among a plurality of candidate partial frequency sounding coefficients, or the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to the least common multiple of a plurality of candidate partial frequency sounding coefficients.

[0041] According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be executed by a terminal, or may be executed by a component (processor, chip, or other component) configured in the terminal, or may be executed by a software module or the like. It includes a step of determining a symbol index of a terminal based on a first time unit, where the first time unit is associated with a time unit corresponding to a sounding reference signal (SRS); a step of determining a first frequency hopping parameter based on the symbol index and a frequency hopping pattern, where the first frequency hopping parameter indicates a sub-band level offset of the SRS within a configured bandwidth range of the SRS, and the frequency hopping pattern is associated with the first frequency hopping parameter; and a step of transmitting the SRS to a network device based on the first frequency hopping parameter.

[0042] In a certain design, corresponding to the start RB position frequency hopping in a frequency hopping period or the start RB position frequency hopping scenario based on an OFDM symbol, the step of determining the symbol index of the terminal based on the first time unit includes a step of determining the symbol index of the terminal based on an SRS counter and a frequency hopping period, where the SRS counter is associated with the first time unit.

[0043] According to this method, the symbol index of the terminal is determined based on the SRS counter. For a specific SRS time region configuration, the SRS counter is associated with an absolute time unit. The absolute time unit may be the corresponding absolute time region position within the terminal. When the frame timing and slot structure are the same, the absolute time is consistent or the same for all terminals. The absolute time unit may be measured by using a specific OFDM symbol within a specific slot within a specific frame. Therefore, the symbol indexes determined by different terminals based on the SRS counter are consistent in absolute time, and the first frequency hopping parameter, i.e., k hopping is consistent.

[0044] In one design, determining the symbol index of the terminal based on the SRS counter and the frequency hopping period

Number

Number

[0045] In one design, determining the symbol index of the terminal based on the SRS counter and the frequency hopping period

Number

Number

[0046] According to this method, for a specific SRS time domain configuration, the SRS counter is associated with an absolute time unit. The frequency hopping period is measured by the number of SRS counters included or the SRS hop count. According to this method, the frequency hopping period index can be associated with an absolute time unit, so that the first frequency hopping parameter can be associated with an absolute time unit.

[0047] In a certain design, the step of determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the symbol index of the terminal and the frequency hopping pattern is the step of determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the modulo operation result between the symbol index and the period of the frequency hopping pattern, and the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to the number of elements included in the frequency hopping pattern, and the step is included.

[0048] For example, the modulo operation may be performed on the symbol index and the period of the frequency hopping pattern, and the first frequency hopping parameter is determined based on the modulo operation result in the frequency hopping pattern. For example, the first frequency hopping parameter is equal to the value corresponding to the nth element in the frequency hopping pattern, and n is equal to the modulo operation result.

[0049] In a certain design, determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the symbol index of the terminal and the frequency hopping pattern is

Number

Number

Number

Number

[0050] According to this method, the first frequency hopping parameter can be determined in a predetermined manner. The predetermined manner reflects the relationship between the first frequency hopping parameter, the symbol index, and the sub - frequency sounding coefficient. This reduces the signaling overhead while reducing the complexity of the base station scheduling, enables different terminals to correspond to different SRS start frequency region positions, reduces the interference in SRS transmission, and improves the channel estimation performance.

[0051] Optionally, in addition to the periodic or semi - persistent SRS frequency hopping scenario, this application is also applicable to the aperiodic SRS frequency hopping scenario, or is also applicable to the non - frequency hopping scenario.

[0052] According to a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is executed by the network device in the first aspect. For the beneficial effects, refer to the third aspect. The method may be executed by the network device, or may be executed by a component (processor, chip or other component) configured in the network device, or may be executed by a software module or the like. It is a step of determining the symbol index of the terminal based on a first time unit, where the first time unit is associated with the time unit corresponding to the sounding reference signal SRS, a step of determining a first frequency hopping parameter based on the symbol index and the frequency hopping pattern, where the first frequency hopping parameter indicates the sub-band level offset of the SRS within the configured bandwidth range of the SRS, and the frequency hopping pattern is associated with the first frequency hopping parameter, and a step of receiving the SRS corresponding to the terminal based on the first frequency hopping parameter.

[0053] In a certain design, corresponding to the start RB position frequency hopping in the frequency hopping period or the start RB position frequency hopping scenario based on the OFDM symbol base, the step of determining the symbol index of the terminal based on the first time unit is a step of determining the symbol index of the terminal based on the SRS counter and the frequency hopping period, where the SRS counter is associated with the first time unit.

[0054] In a certain design, determining the symbol index of the terminal based on the SRS counter and the frequency hopping period is

Number

Number

[0055] In a certain design, determining the symbol index of the terminal based on the SRS counter and the frequency hopping period is

Number

Number

[0056] In a certain design, the step of determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the symbol index of the terminal and the frequency hopping pattern is the step of determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the modulo operation result between the symbol index and the period of the frequency hopping pattern, and the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to the number of elements included in the frequency hopping pattern, including the step.

[0057] For example, the modulo operation may be performed on the symbol index and the period of the frequency hopping pattern, and the first frequency hopping parameter is determined based on the modulo operation result in the frequency hopping pattern. For example, the first frequency hopping parameter is equal to the value corresponding to the nth element in the frequency hopping pattern, and n is equal to the modulo operation result.

[0058] In a certain design, determining the first frequency hopping parameter based on the symbol index of the terminal and the frequency hopping pattern is

Number

[0059] Optionally, in addition to the periodic or semi - persistent SRS frequency hopping scenario, this application is also applicable to the aperiodic SRS frequency hopping scenario or to the non - frequency hopping scenario.

[0060] According to a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes units or modules corresponding one - to - one to the methods / operations / steps / actions described according to the first aspect or the third aspect. The units or modules may be hardware circuits, or may be software, or may be realized by a hardware circuit in combination with software.

[0061] According to a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store a computer program or instructions, and the processor is coupled to the memory. When the processor executes the computer program or instructions, the device is capable of executing the method according to the first aspect or the third aspect.

[0062] According to a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes units or modules that correspond one-to-one to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the second or fourth aspect. The units or modules may be hardware circuits, or may be software, or may be implemented by a hardware circuit in combination with software.

[0063] According to an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store a computer program or instructions, and the processor is coupled to the memory. When the processor executes the computer program or instructions, the device is capable of executing the method according to the second or fourth aspect.

[0064] According to a ninth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a device, the device is capable of executing the method according to the first or third aspect.

[0065] According to a tenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a device, the device is capable of executing the method according to the second or fourth aspect.

[0066] According to an eleventh aspect, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a device, the device is capable of executing the method according to the first or third aspect.

[0067] According to the 12th aspect, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a device, the device becomes capable of executing the method according to the 2nd aspect or the 4th aspect.

[0068] According to the 13th aspect, a system is provided that includes the device according to the 5th aspect or the 6th aspect and the device according to the 7th aspect or the 8th aspect.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0069]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5a

Figure 5b

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11a

Figure 11b

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Figure 18

Figure 19

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0070] The technical solution of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0071] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system 1000 to which the embodiments of this application are applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system includes a radio access network 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may further include the Internet 300. The radio access network 100 may include at least one radio access network device (e.g., 110a and 110b in FIG. 1), and may further include at least one terminal (e.g., 120a to 120j in FIG. 1). The terminal is connected to the radio access network device in a wireless manner, and the radio access network device is connected to the core network in a wireless or wired manner. The core network device and the radio access network device may be independent different physical devices, or the functions of the core network device and the logical functions of the radio access network device may be integrated into the same physical device, or some functions of the core network device and some functions of the radio access network device may be integrated into one physical device. A wired or wireless manner may be used for the connections between terminals and between radio access network devices. FIG. 1 is merely a schematic diagram. The communication system may further include other network devices, for example, a wireless relay device and a wireless backhaul device not shown in FIG. 1 may be further included.

[0072] The wireless access network device may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system, a next generation base station in a 6th generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, an access node in a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, etc., or a module or unit that completes some functions of the base station, for example, a central unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). The CU completes the functions of the radio resource control (RRC) protocol and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the base station, and may further complete the function of the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP). The DU completes the functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer and the medium access control (MAC) layer of the base station, and may further complete the functions of some physical (PHY) layers or all physical layers. For specific descriptions of the above protocol layers, refer to the relevant technical specifications of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP). The wireless access network device may be a macro base station (such as 110a in FIG. 1), or a micro base station or an indoor base station (such as 110b in FIG. 1), or a relay node or a donor node. The specific technology and specific device form used by the wireless access network device are not limited in the embodiments of this application.To facilitate the description, an example in which the wireless access network device is a base station is used to provide the description below.

[0073] The terminal may also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. The terminal may be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D) scenarios, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication scenarios, machine-type communication (MTC) scenarios, internet of things (IOT) scenarios, virtual reality scenarios, augmented reality scenarios, industrial control scenarios, autonomous driving scenarios, telemedicine scenarios, smart grid scenarios, smart home scenarios, smart office scenarios, smart wearable scenarios, smart transportation scenarios, and smart city scenarios. The terminal may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with a wireless transceiver function, a wearable device, a vehicle, a drone, a helicopter, an airplane, a ship, a robot, a robotic arm, a smart home device, etc. The specific technology and specific device form used by the terminal are not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0074] The base station and the terminal may be fixed or movable. The base station and the terminal may be arranged on the ground, including indoor devices, outdoor devices, handheld devices, or in-vehicle devices, may be arranged on water, or may be arranged on airplanes, balloons, and artificial satellites in the air. The applicable scenarios of the base station and the terminal are not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0075] The roles of the base station and the terminal may be relative. For example, the helicopter or unmanned aircraft 120i in FIG. 1 may be configured as a mobile base station. For the terminal 120j that accesses the radio access network 100 by using 120i, 120i is a base station. However, for the base station 110a, 120i is a terminal, that is, 110a and 120i communicate with each other via a radio air interface protocol. Obviously, 110a and 120i may also communicate with each other via an interface protocol between base stations. In this case, for 110a, 120i is also a base station. Therefore, both the base station and the terminal may be collectively referred to as communication devices. 110a and 110b in FIG. 1 may be called communication devices having base station functions, and 120a to 120j in FIG. 1 may be called communication devices having terminal functions.

[0076] Communication may be performed between the base station and the terminal, between base stations, and between terminals through a licensed spectrum, through an unlicensed spectrum, or through both the licensed spectrum and the unlicensed spectrum. Communication may be performed through a spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), through a spectrum above 6 GHz, or through both the spectrum below 6 GHz and the spectrum above 6 GHz. The spectrum resources for wireless communication are not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0077] In the embodiments of this application, the functions of the base station may be performed by modules (such as chips) within the base station, or may be performed by a control subsystem including the functions of the base station. The control subsystem including the functions of the base station here may also be a control center in the above application scenarios such as smart grid, industrial control, smart transportation, and smart city. The functions of the terminal may alternatively be performed by modules (such as chips or modems) within the terminal, or may be performed by a device including the functions of the terminal.

[0078] In this application, the base station transmits a downlink signal or downlink information to the terminal, the downlink information is carried on a downlink channel, the terminal transmits an uplink signal or uplink information to the base station, and the uplink information is carried on an uplink channel. To communicate with the base station, the terminal needs to establish a radio connection to a cell controlled by the base station. The cell that establishes the radio connection to the terminal is called the serving cell of the terminal. When communicating with the serving cell, the terminal is further interfered with by signals from adjacent cells.

[0079] In an embodiment of this application, the time-domain symbol may be an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, a discrete Fourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbol, or the like.

[0080] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application are applicable to various communication systems, such as the 5th generation (5G) system or New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, and LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD). The technical solutions provided in this application are also applicable to future communication systems, such as the 6th generation mobile communication system. The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT) communication systems, or other communication systems.

[0081] In this application, a conventional terminal that supports the current protocol mechanism is a legacy UE or a legacy terminal. Correspondingly, the mechanism supported by the current protocol mechanism is called a legacy mechanism. For example, legacy frequency hopping refers to the frequency hopping mechanism described in the current protocol (e.g., 38.211 in R16), and the legacy frequency hopping period refers to the frequency hopping period corresponding to the frequency hopping mechanism described in the current protocol (e.g., 38.211 in R16).

[0082] Legacy SRS Frequency Hopping

[0083] A 5G NR communication system is used as an example. The sounding reference signal (SRS) is used as an uplink reference signal for estimating the channel quality of different frequency bands. To improve the measurement accuracy, the terminal may transmit the SRS by using frequency hopping technology. In one frequency hopping cycle, the terminal transmits the SRS on different time domain symbols by occupying different frequency domain positions. For example, Configuration C SRS = 24, b hop = 0, B SRS = 2 and R = 1 are used as an example. As shown in FIG. 2, in the legacy frequency hopping mechanism, one frequency hopping bandwidth includes 96 resource blocks (RBs), and the 96 RBs are divided into 4 sub-bands, and each sub-band set includes 24 RBs. In other words, the number of RBs occupied by the configured bandwidth of the SRS is equal to 24 RBs. For example, in the increasing direction of the frequency domain, the 4 sub-bands are respectively called sub-band 0 to sub-band 3. When the repetition factor R = 1, each frequency hopping cycle includes 4 time domain symbols. The terminal occupies sub-band 0 and transmits the SRS on the first time domain symbol corresponding to the SRS, occupies sub-band 2 and transmits the SRS on the second time domain symbol corresponding to the SRS. On the third and fourth time domain symbols, sub-band 1 and sub-band 3 are respectively occupied to transmit the SRS. In the SRS frequency hopping mechanism, based on different OFDM symbols, the SRS sounding bandwidth (for example, the number of occupied RBs is 96) is divided into 4 sub-bands, and different sub-bands are separately sounded on 4 time domain symbols. Under the condition of fixed uplink power, this can increase the power corresponding to each frequency domain resource unit and improve the measurement performance.

[0084] RB-level partial frequency sounding

[0085] SRS is widely applied to various scenarios to improve coverage, and the capacity of SRS is considered to be one of the main purposes. This purpose may be achieved by increasing SRS repetition and partial frequency sounding. Regarding the partial frequency sounding technology, the terminal no longer transmits SRS at all frequency domain positions within the configured bandwidth of SRS, but transmits SRS at some frequency domain positions within the configured bandwidth of SRS. For example, in an implementation manner, the configured bandwidth of SRS may be divided into a plurality of sub-bands, and SRS is transmitted on some sub-bands within the configured bandwidth of SRS. For example, as shown in Figure 3, in the SRS partial frequency sounding scenario, the SRS partial frequency sounding coefficient P F =2, the configured bandwidth of SRS includes 24 RBs, the configured bandwidth of SRS is divided into two sub-bands, and each sub-band includes 12 RBs. In the frequency hopping period, SRS transmission is executed on sub-band 1 within the configured bandwidth of SRS, but SRS transmission is no longer executed on the corresponding sub-band 0. For the meaning of the frequency hopping period, refer to the following description.

[0086] For example, the configured bandwidth of SRS

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

[0087] k F ∈ {0,..., P F -1} and P F and k F may be configured based on RRC, MAC control element (CE) or downlink control information (DCI),

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

[0088] Start RB position frequency hopping

[0089] In FIG. 4, P F = 4 is used as an example for calculating the correlation between the actual channels within different SRS configuration bandwidth ranges

Number

Number

Number

[0090] In order to improve the channel estimation accuracy and ensure the channel estimation accuracy even in different frequency bands, a starting RB position frequency hopping mechanism based on different SRS frequency hopping periods has been proposed in the 3GPP TSG RAN meeting. The process of starting RB position frequency hopping can be understood as follows. Within the configured bandwidth of SRS, the starting RB position corresponding to SRS transmission changes with different frequency hopping periods. For example, in FIG. 5a, the basic principle of starting RB position frequency hopping is described using an example where Configuration C SRS =24, b hop =0, B SRS =2, R = 1, the configured bandwidth of SRS [Number] and the partial frequency sounding coefficient P F =4. Based on this configuration, the corresponding configured bandwidth of SRS is divided into four sub-bands, and the four sub-bands may respectively correspond to sub-band 0 to sub-band 3 in the increasing direction of the frequency domain. In the first frequency hopping period, the terminal transmits SRS on sub-band 0 within the configured bandwidth of SRS. In the second frequency hopping period, the terminal transmits SRS on sub-band 2 within the configured bandwidth of SRS. In the third frequency hopping period, the terminal transmits SRS on sub-band 1 within the configured bandwidth of SRS. In the starting RB position frequency hopping mechanism shown in FIG. 5a, it should be noted that within the same frequency hopping period, the configured bandwidths of SRS corresponding to different OFDM symbols correspond to different frequency domain positions, but for the same configured bandwidth of SRS, the index of the sub-band for SRS transmission is the same within the same frequency hopping period.

[0091] According to the conclusion of 3GPP RAN1 #106, it has been determined to support periodic or semi - persistent SRS in order to perform start RB position frequency hopping at different SRS frequency hopping periods. In each frequency hopping period, the index of the start RB position is sounded and

Number

[0092] k F represents the sub - band index, and k hopping represents the sub - band level offset, and the sub - band level offset is the offset of the sub - band index corresponding to the current SRS transmission with respect to the initial sub - band index k F . In subsequent embodiments, in this application, the first frequency hopping parameter is represented as the parameter k hopping . In the following description, it may be understood that the first frequency hopping parameter may also be represented as k hopping , or, since k hopping varies in different frequency hopping periods, the first frequency hopping parameter k RB_hop corresponding to the n hopping th frequency hopping period may also be represented as k hopping (n RB_hop ), where n RB_hop represents the frequency hopping period index of the terminal. In the following description, the description of k hopping (n RB_hop ) and the first frequency hopping parameter k RB_hop corresponding to the n hopping th frequency hopping period is not distinguished and may be replaced with each other.

[0093] For example, when k F = 1 and k hopping = 2, the terminal performs SRS transmission in the frequency domain range corresponding to sub - band 3. P F represents the partial frequency sounding coefficient, and P Fmay be equal to the ratio of the total number of RBs included in the configured bandwidth of the SRS to the number of RBs for SRS transmission within the configured bandwidth of the SRS. P F Alternatively, it may be equal to the number of sub-bands for actual SRS transmission within the configured bandwidth of the SRS. For example, in FIG. 3, the configured bandwidth of the SRS

Number

Number

[0094] In formula (1-2), the parameter S F is

Number

[0095] The parameter represents the index of the sub-band corresponding to SRS transmission in the current frequency hopping period. The sub-band index is divided by the number of sub-bands included in the entire configured bandwidth of the SRS (i.e., P F ), and then the quotient is multiplied by the number of RBs included in the configured bandwidth of the SRS (i.e.,

Number

[0096] This equation corresponds to the starting RB index of sub - band 1 shown in FIG. 6.

[0097] In the starting RB position frequency hopping mechanism, k hopping varies in different frequency hopping cycles, and k hopping is determined based on the frequency hopping pattern. For example, the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k hopping is equal to {0, 2, 1, 3}, and k hopping is 0 in the first frequency hopping cycle of the terminal. k hoppingIn the second frequency hopping period, the third frequency hopping period, and the fourth frequency hopping period, they are 2, 1, and 3 respectively. Currently, the index of the frequency hopping period is counted from the perspective of the terminal by using the frequency hopping period corresponding to the actual SRS transmission. For different terminals multiplexed in the configured bandwidth of SRS, there may be a collision between the frequency domain resource used by different terminals for SRS transmission. If the signaling active times of different terminals (for example, UE1 and UE2) are different, that is, if the start times for the actual SRS transmission are different, UE1 and UE2 may perform SRS transmission in the same frequency domain range. When the cyclic shift (CS) resources and the comb resources are limited, serious interference may occur and the channel estimation accuracy is reduced.

[0098] For example, in FIG. 7, the interference to be solved in the embodiments of this application is described by using an example where the frequency hopping pattern is equal to {0, 2, 1, 3}, the configuration of UE1 is k F = 0, and the configuration of UE2 is k F = 1. The signaling active times of UE1 and UE2 are different. The signaling active time is understood as the time when the terminal actually performs SRS transmission after receiving signaling (for example, RRC signaling). k hopping In the first frequency hopping period, the second frequency hopping period, the third frequency hopping period, the fourth frequency hopping period, and the fifth frequency hopping period of UE1 and UE2, they are 0, 2, 1, 3, and 0 respectively. When UE1 is in the configuration of k F = 0, the indexes of the subbands corresponding to the SRS transmission are 0, 2, 1, 3, and 0 respectively in the first frequency hopping period to the fifth frequency hopping period of UE1. When UE2 is k FWhen the configuration of UE1=1, the indexes of the subbands corresponding to SRS transmission are 1, 3, 2, 0 and 1 in the first to fifth frequency hopping periods of UE2, respectively. The signaling effective time of UE2 is one frequency hopping period after the signaling effective time of UE1, and the fifth frequency hopping period of UE1 is the same as the absolute time corresponding to the fourth frequency hopping period of UE2. It can be seen that in the absolute time, the indexes of the subbands in which UE1 and UE2 perform SRS transmission are both 0. For periodic SRS and semi-persistent SRS, in subsequent SRS transmission, UE1 and UE2 occupy the same OFDM symbol to perform SRS transmission within the frequency domain range corresponding to subband 0. When CS resources and comb resources are limited, non-orthogonal multiplexing of UE1 and UE2 may occur. As a result, serious interference occurs and the channel estimation accuracy is reduced.

[0099] Through research into the causes of frequency domain collisions, it has been found that the key cause of frequency domain collisions is that different terminals have different k in absolute time units. hopping For example, in the above example, the absolute time unit corresponds to the fifth frequency hopping period of UE1 and the fourth frequency hopping period of UE2, and k hopping is 0, and k corresponding to UE2 in the fourth frequency hopping period is hopping In this case, the initial subband index k corresponding to UE1 and UE2 is 3. F Even if , the frequency domain ranges corresponding to the subbands for actual SRS transmission are still the same.

[0100] In order to solve the above problems, this application provides a communication method, including: hopping is associated with an absolute time unit based on the frequency hopping pattern. This means that different terminals can use the same k based on the same frequency hopping pattern even if the signaling effective times corresponding to the terminals are different within the same time domain range. hoppingEnsure correspondence. For terminals multiplexed within the same configured bandwidth of the SRS, the communication method in this application ensures that different terminals perform SRS transmission within different sub-bands within the same time domain range, on the condition that the corresponding k F is configured differently, reducing interference during SRS transmission while effectively reducing the scheduling overhead and improving the channel estimation accuracy.

[0101] In the above description, an example where different terminals use the same frequency hopping pattern is used for illustration, and it should be noted that this is not intended to limit this application. In a scenario where the base station uses signaling to configure different frequency hopping patterns for different terminals, k hopping To associate with absolute time units, the method provided in this application may still be used. In the communication method, the base station does not need to consider the signaling active time of different terminals. This effectively reduces the scheduling overhead of the base station.

[0102] The following continues to explain and describe the nouns or terms of communication in this application, and the explanations and descriptions are also used as part of the content of this application.

[0103] 1. Key Parameter Description

Table 1

[0104] 2. Reference Signal (RS)

[0105] The reference signal may also be referred to as a pilot signal, a reference sequence, etc. In this application, the reference signal may be a reference signal for channel measurement. For example, the reference signal may be an SRS for uplink channel measurement. For example, the reference signal may be a pilot for uplink channel measurement. Alternatively, the reference signal may be an SRS for positioning measurement. It should be understood that the above reference signals are merely examples and should not constitute any limitation to this application. This application does not exclude the possibility that other reference signals may be defined in future protocols to achieve the same or similar functions, and does not exclude the possibility that other reference signals may be defined in future protocols to achieve different functions.

[0106] For ease of explanation, the following uses an example in which the reference signal is an SRS for explanation. In a 5G NR communication system, the SRS is used to estimate the channel quality of different frequency bands.

[0107] 3. Frequency hopping period

[0108] Legacy SRS frequency hopping period is based on the configured bandwidth of the SRS.

number

[0109] The legacy SRS frequency hopping period is measured by the SRS hop count, or, if included in n SRS the legacy SRS frequency hopping period T RB_hop is

Number

[0110] b hop and B SRS are configured by the upper layer parameter freqHopping. Refer to Table 6.4.1.4.3-1 in Protocol 38.211 for N b’ When b’ = b hop is the case,

Number

Number

[0111] b hop < B SRS is the case, alternatively,

Number

[0112]

Number

Number

Number

Number

[0113] R is the number of repetitions. In FIG. 5b, a schematic description of the legacy SRS frequency hopping period is provided, with the number of repetitions R = 1. In this scenario, S RB_hop = T RB_hop is.

[0114] 2. Transmission Slots for Periodic SRS and Semi-Persistent SRS

[0115] Slots for periodic SRS or semi-persistent SRS transmission are

Number

[0116] For the corresponding parameters, refer to Table 1-1. In FIG. 8, the symbol positions for periodic SRS transmission or semi-persistent SRS transmission are described by using an example where the length of one radio frame is 10 ms, one radio frame contains 40 slots, the length of each slot is 0.25 ms, and the offset T offset is equal to 3 and the period T SRS is equal to 35 slots.

[0117] The terminal receives RRC configuration information in slot 37 within radio frame 0. The RRC configuration information is used to configure the terminal to perform SRS transmission, and the validity period of the RRC configuration information is in radio frame 1. Since the offset is equal to 3, slot 3 within radio frame 1 is used as the first slot for SRS transmission after the configuration becomes valid. Each slot contains 14 symbols, and the terminal may specifically perform SRS transmission on symbols 3 and 4 within slot 3. The SRS period is equal to 35 slots, and slot 38 within radio frame 1 may be used as the second slot for SRS transmission after the configuration becomes valid.

[0118] 3. SRS counter n SRS

[0119] For periodic or semi-persistent SRS, the SRS counter

Number

[0120] The corresponding time domain position

Number

[0121] For aperiodic SRS, the transmission of SRS within the same resource set is performed in the same slot, and the SRS counter to be calculated is the frequency hopping index corresponding to the SRS transmission within the SRS resource, that is,

Number

[0122] 4. Time unit

[0123] The unit of the time unit may be a radio frame, a sub-frame, a slot, a sub-slot, a symbol, etc. One radio frame includes one or more sub-frames, and one sub-frame includes one or more slots. Different slot lengths may exist for different sub-carrier intervals. For example, when the sub-carrier interval is 15 kHz, one slot may be 1 millisecond, or when the sub-carrier interval is 30 kHz, one slot may be 0.5 millisecond, etc. One slot may include one or more symbols. For example, a slot with a normal cyclic prefix (CP) may include 14 time-domain symbols, and a slot with an extended CP may include 12 time-domain symbols. The time-domain symbol may also be abbreviated and called a symbol. A sub-slot may also be called a minislot, a mini-slot, etc., and may be a unit smaller than a slot. One sub-slot may include one or more symbols. For example, one sub-slot may include 2 symbols, 4 symbols, 7 symbols, etc. One slot may include one or more sub-slots.

[0124] It should be noted that the absolute time unit may also be the corresponding absolute time domain position in the terminal. When the frame timing and the slot structure are the same, the absolute time is consistent or the same for all terminals. The absolute time unit may be measured by using a specific OFDM symbol in a specific slot within a specific frame. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the absolute time unit may be the third OFDM symbol in slot 3 within radio frame 1.

[0125] Embodiment 1 As shown in FIG. 9, this application provides a procedure for a communication method. The procedure includes at least the following steps.

[0126] Optional step 900: The terminal reports to the base station whether the terminal has the ability to support start RB position frequency hopping.

[0127] Optional step 901: The base station transmits indication information to the terminal, and the indication information may indicate to the terminal to enable start RB position frequency hopping, disable start RB position frequency hopping, etc.

[0128] In this application, the terminal reports to the base station whether the terminal has the ability to support start RB position frequency hopping, and the base station determines whether to enable the start RB position frequency hopping of the terminal based on the ability reported by the terminal. For example, if the terminal reports that it does not support start RB position frequency hopping, the base station may instruct the terminal to disable start RB position frequency hopping. If the terminal reports that it supports start RB position frequency hopping, the base station may comprehensively consider whether to permit the terminal to perform SRS transmission through start RB position frequency hopping. If permitted, the base station instructs the terminal to enable start RB position frequency hopping, and if not, the base station instructs the terminal to disable start RB position frequency hopping.

[0129] The base station may explicitly instruct or configure to enable or disable start RB position frequency hopping by using RRC signaling, or may implicitly instruct or configure to enable or disable start RB position frequency hopping, etc. For example, the base station may implicitly instruct to enable or disable the start RB position by using the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping For example, the base station may implicitly instruct to enable or disable the start RB position by using the frequency hopping pattern of k hoppingThe frequency hopping pattern is configured by using RRC signaling. If there is no field indicating the frequency hopping pattern, this indicates that the starting RB position frequency hopping is disabled. Or, if there is a field indicating the frequency hopping pattern, this indicates that the starting RB position frequency hopping is enabled. Alternatively, if the field indicating the frequency hopping pattern is always equal to 0 or equal to a parameter less than 0, this indicates that the starting RB position is disabled; otherwise, this indicates that the starting RB position is enabled. The explicit indication method for enabling or disabling the starting RB position frequency hopping is flexible, but the signaling overhead increases. The implicit indication method can effectively reduce the signaling overhead.

[0130] For example, if the indication information in step 901 indicates enabling the starting RB position frequency hopping, the procedure shown in FIG. 9 may further include the following steps.

[0131] Step 902: The terminal determines the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the first time unit, and the first time unit is associated with the time unit corresponding to the SRS.

[0132] In this application, the first time unit is the candidate time unit for the terminal to transmit the SRS. Specifically, the time unit for the terminal to transmit the SRS is a subset of the candidate time units. For the description of the time unit, refer to the description in the fourth part of the communication terms. For example, for periodic and semi-persistent SRS, the candidate time units may correspond to a set of slots that satisfy the condition

Number

Number

[0133] The terminal determines the current time unit and the candidate time unit corresponding to the current time unit based on the position of the current time unit, for example, a frame, a slot, and an OFDM symbol. For periodic and semi-persistent SRS, the candidate time unit is associated with an SRS counter. In a frequency hopping scenario, the SRS counter is related to the number of frequency hops. In a frequency hopping scenario, the frequency domain range corresponding to the configured bandwidth of SRS for the terminal changes with the SRS counter. The frequency hopping period index may be associated with the SRS counter, so that the frequency hopping period index is associated with the absolute time in a specific SRS configuration.

[0134] It should be noted that the frequency hopping period index in step 900 is different from the frequency hopping period index for the terminal to actually perform SRS transmission. In this application, in a specific SRS configuration, the frequency hopping period index of the terminal is basically associated with the absolute time of the terminal. When the candidate time units of SRS configured for different terminals are the same, different terminals correspond to the same frequency hopping period index in the current time unit. When the frequency hopping patterns of k hopping for different terminals are the same, the corresponding k hopping is the same in the same time unit. This can effectively solve the interference in SRS transmission, effectively improve the channel estimation accuracy, and reduce the scheduling overhead of the base station.

[0135] For example, Equation (1-9) is a condition that needs to be satisfied by the time-domain position for SRS transmission in periodic SRS or semi-persistent SRS. Each time-domain position that satisfies Equation (1-9) may be a candidate time unit for transmitting SRS. The terminal determines the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the time-domain positions corresponding to the current time unit and the candidate time unit, whereby, k hopping is determined based on the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping .

[0136] For example, the terminal determines the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the SRS counter and the frequency hopping period, and the SRS counter is associated with the first time unit. For example, the first time unit is a candidate time unit for transmitting SRS, and each candidate time unit may be a candidate frequency hopping position corresponding to the terminal.

[0137] In a certain design, for the terminal to determine the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the SRS counter and the frequency hopping period,

Number

[0138] n RB_hop represents the frequency hopping period index of the terminal, n SRS represents the SRS counter, and T RB_hop represents the number of frequency hops included in the frequency hopping period. For example, the count value of the SRS counter is 20, which indicates that the number of candidate frequency hops corresponding to the terminal at the current absolute time is 20 hops. If one frequency hopping period includes 4 hops, the frequency hopping period index of the terminal is equal to 5 at the current absolute time.

[0139] In another design, for the terminal to determine the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the SRS counter and the frequency hopping period,

Number

[0140] n RB_hop represents the frequency hopping period index of the terminal, and n SRS represents the SRS counter, and T RB_hop represents the number of frequency hops included in the frequency hopping period, and P F represents the partial frequency sounding coefficient.

[0141] In other designs, the terminal determines the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the time domain symbol corresponding to the SRS and the frequency hopping period, and the time domain symbol corresponding to the SRS is associated with the first time unit. For example, the first time unit is a candidate time unit for transmitting the SRS, and each candidate time unit may correspond to the candidate time domain symbol position of the terminal, and the time domain symbol may be an OFDM symbol.

[0142] In a certain design, for periodic and semi-persistent SRS, the fact that the terminal determines the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the time domain symbol corresponding to the SRS and the frequency hopping period is

Number

[0143] n RB_hop represents the frequency hopping period index of the terminal, and N slot frame,μ represents the number of slots included in each frame under the condition that the subcarrier spacing is μ, and n f represents the frame number, and n s,f u is μ under the condition that the subcarrier spacing is s,f μ the n s,f μ slot in the frame, and n slot frame,μ ∈ {0, …, N slot frame,μ -1}, and Toffset represents the slot offset, N symb SRS represents the number of consecutive time domain symbols occupied by the SRS resource, l’ represents the index of the time domain symbol within the SRS resource, and l’ = 0, 1, 2, ..., N symb SRS is - 1, and S RB_hop represents the number of time domain symbols occupied for SRS transmission in the frequency hopping period.

[0144] In a certain design, for the aperiodic SRS, for the terminal to determine the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the time domain symbol corresponding to the SRS and the frequency hopping period,

Number

[0145] n RB_hop , l’ and S RB_hop have the same meaning as in Equation (2 - 3).

[0146] For example, in Equation (2 - 3) and Equation (2 - 4), S RB_hop is

Number

[0147] R represents the repetition coefficient, and T RB_hop represents the number of frequency hops included in the frequency hopping period.

[0148] For example, the terminal determines the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the candidate SRS counter and the frequency hopping period, and the candidate SRS counter is associated with the first time unit. For example, the first time unit is a candidate time unit for transmitting the SRS, and each candidate time unit may be a candidate frequency hopping position corresponding to the terminal.

[0149] In a certain design, for the aperiodic SRS, the determination of the terminal's frequency hopping period index by the terminal based on the candidate SRS counter and the frequency hopping period satisfies

Number

[0150] The candidate SRS counter satisfies

Number

[0151] l ap_SRS corresponds to the candidate OFDM symbol index and satisfies

Number

[0152] N symb ap is equal to the number of candidate OFDM symbols corresponding to the SRS resource for the terminal, and N symb ap OFDM symbols are continuously distributed in the time domain, and N symb ap is

Number

[0153] N symb ap is equal to the number of OFDM symbols corresponding to the SRS resource, l0 is equal to the start position of the time domain symbol corresponding to the SRS resource, and

Number

[0154] N symb slot is equal to the number of OFDM symbols corresponding to one slot, and l offset∈{0,1,...,13} is composed of the upper layer parameter startPosition, and the candidate OFDM symbol is in a specific slot and uses the OFDM symbol corresponding to the time domain start position (l0 mod T RB_hop ) for N symb ap consecutive OFDM symbols.

[0155] In this application, the frequency hopping period is the period for sounding the SRS frequency hopping bandwidth. Optionally, the frequency hopping period may satisfy at least one of the following characteristics. There exists a frequency band that is repeated at the frequency domain position occupied by the reference signal in different frequency hopping periods, and the frequency domain positions occupied by the reference signal are the same in different frequency hopping periods.

[0156] In a certain design, the frequency hopping period is

Number

[0157] T RB_hop represents the frequency hopping period,

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

[0158] In a certain design, when the frequency hopping period is measured by the number of SRS hops or the number of n SRS included, the frequency hopping period T RB_hop is

Number

[0159] As described in Table 1-1, N b’ is determined based on Table 6.4.1.4.3-1 in Protocol 38.211. In particular, when b’ = b hop is the case,

Number

Number

[0160] In a certain design, when b hop <B SRS is the case, this indicates that frequency hopping is enabled, and the frequency hopping period T RB_hop is

Number

[0161] After determining the frequency hopping period index, the terminal is configured to determine a first frequency hopping parameter. The procedure of the method shown in FIG. 9 further includes the following steps.

[0162] Step 903: The terminal determines a first frequency hopping parameter based on the frequency hopping period index and the frequency hopping pattern of the terminal, and the first frequency hopping parameter indicates the sub-band level offset of the SRS within the configured bandwidth range of the SRS. For example, the first frequency hopping parameter is equal to k hopping and, for example, the first frequency hopping parameter may correspond to a sub-band offset index.

[0163] The frequency hopping pattern in this application has a different meaning from the frequency hopping pattern in legacy SRS frequency hopping. For example, in legacy SRS frequency hopping, the frequency hopping pattern is a pattern of sub-bands corresponding to the frequency domain positions where the SRS is transmitted within the frequency hopping bandwidth in each frequency hopping period. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, in legacy SRS frequency hopping, the corresponding sub-band index is determined based on the frequency domain position index n b . The sub-band index belongs to {0, 2, 1, 3}, and the corresponding {0, 2, 1, 3} may be considered as the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to legacy SRS frequency hopping in the configuration shown in FIG. 2. In each frequency hopping period, the terminal performs SRS transmission on sub-band 0 in the 0th hop. Similarly, the terminal performs SRS transmission on sub-band 2, sub-band 1, or sub-band 3 in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd hop. The correspondence between the hop and the time domain symbol is related to the repetition factor R. For example, the time domain range of the hop corresponds to R time domain symbols.

[0164] The frequency hopping pattern in this application is a pattern corresponding to the offset of the index of the subband for the starting RB position frequency hopping in the configured bandwidth of the SRS, i.e., k hopping k hopping The frequency hopping pattern of k hopping reflects the correspondence between k and different time units. A frequency hopping pattern {0,2,1,3} is used as an example. When the starting RB position frequency hopping is performed in units of a frequency hopping period, k hopping varies in a pattern of {0,2,1,3} based on different frequency hopping cycle indexes. For example, k hopping is equal to 0 in the 0th frequency hopping period, and k hopping is equal to 2, 1, and 3 in the first frequency hopping period, the second frequency hopping period, and the third frequency hopping period, respectively.

[0165] 1. Frequency hopping pattern

[0166] In this application, the frequency hopping pattern is P F It may also be related to P F may be configured by using RRC signaling, or may be configured for the terminal by using MAC CE or DCI, or may be determined in a predefined manner. The frequency hopping pattern may be designed in the following manner. For example, the frequency hopping pattern may be associated with a subband frequency hopping pattern corresponding to SRS frequency hopping (e.g., legacy SRS frequency hopping) to ensure that the interval between the subband frequency domain range corresponding to the SRS in the current time unit and the subband frequency domain range corresponding to the previous time unit is as large as possible, thereby improving the channel diversity gain. For example, P F = 4. The frequency hopping pattern may be equal to {0, 2, 1, 3} or may be equal to {0, 2, 1, 3, 0, 2, 1, 3}. For example, PF = 2. The frequency hopping pattern may be equal to {0, 1}, or may be equal to {0, 1, 0, 1}. For example, P F = 8. The frequency hopping pattern may be equal to {0, 4, 2, 6, 1, 5, 3, 7}. For example, P F = 3. The frequency hopping pattern may be equal to {0, 2, 1}, or may be equal to {0, 1, 2}.

[0167] For example, in order to make the interval between the sub - band frequency region range corresponding to the SRS in the current time unit and the sub - band frequency region range corresponding to the previous time unit as large as possible, thereby ensuring to improve the channel diversity gain, the frequency hopping pattern may also be designed as follows. For example, P F = 4. The frequency hopping pattern may be equal to {0, 2, 3, 1}, or may be equal to {0, 2, 3, 1, 0, 2, 3, 1}. For example, P F = 8. The frequency hopping pattern may be equal to {0, 4, 1, 5, 2, 6, 3, 7}, or may be equal to {0, 4, 3, 7, 1, 5, 2, 6}.

[0168] For example, in order to simplify the sub - band index calculation process, the sub - band frequency region range corresponding to the SRS in the current time unit may be obtained by delaying the sub - band based on the sub - band frequency region range corresponding to the previous time unit, that is, the frequency hopping pattern is equal to {0, 1,..P F - 1}. For example, P F = 4. The frequency hopping pattern may be equal to {0, 1, 2, 3}. For example, P F = 2. The frequency hopping pattern may be equal to {0, 1}. For example, P F = 8. The frequency hopping pattern may be equal to {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}. For example, P F = 3. The frequency hopping pattern may be equal to {0, 1, 2}.

[0169] The time unit may be equal to the time domain range corresponding to one frequency hopping period, or may be equal to the time domain range corresponding to one OFDM time domain symbol, or may be equal to the time domain range corresponding to one hop, or may be equal to the time domain range corresponding to a specific n SRS It should be noted that it may be equal to the time domain range corresponding to a specific n. The frequency hopping pattern is merely an example for illustration and should be shown not to be intended to limit this application. The solution of this application is also applicable to other frequency hopping patterns and the like in addition to the above frequency hopping pattern.

[0170] 2. Period of the frequency hopping pattern

[0171] In this application, the period of the frequency hopping pattern may be equal to the number of elements included in the frequency hopping pattern, or may be equal to the number of different elements included in the frequency hopping pattern. The frequency hopping pattern {0, 2, 1, 3, 0, 2, 1, 3} is used as an example. The period of the frequency hopping pattern may be equal to the 8 elements included in the frequency hopping pattern, or the period of the frequency hopping pattern may be equal to the 4 different elements included in the frequency hopping pattern. For example, the period of the frequency hopping pattern may be associated with P F For example, the period of the frequency hopping pattern may be equal to an integer multiple of P currently to be used by the terminal. F When the integer multiple is equal to 1, the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to P currently to be used by the terminal. F For example, candidate P F ∈ {2, 3, 4}, and when P currently to be used by the terminal F is 3, the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to an integer multiple of 3, for example, 3 or 12, or the period of the frequency hopping pattern may be equal to the maximum value among all candidate Ps F For example, candidate P FWhen it is ∈ {2, 4}, the period of the frequency hopping pattern may be equal to the maximum value 4 of candidate P F or the period of the frequency hopping pattern may be equal to the least common multiple of all candidate Ps F For example, when candidate P F ∈ {2, 4, 8}, the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to 8, or when candidate P F ∈ {2, 3, 4}, the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to 12, or when candidate P F ∈ {2, 4}, the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to 4, or the period of the frequency hopping pattern may be equal to the common multiple of all candidate Ps F

[0172] 3. Determination of Frequency Hopping Pattern

[0173] In this application, the frequency hopping pattern may be pre-defined, pre-configured, or indicated by using signaling. The activation / inactivation of the start RB position frequency hopping is configured by using RRC signaling. The following solutions will explain the specific solutions of this application from two aspects. The frequency hopping pattern is pre-configured or pre-defined, and the frequency hopping pattern is indicated by using signaling

[0174] 3.1. The frequency hopping pattern is pre-configured or pre-defined

[0175] When the frequency hopping pattern is pre-configured or pre-defined, the activation / inactivation of the start RB position frequency hopping is explicitly configured by using RRC signaling

[0176] When the frequency hopping pattern is pre-configured, the frequency hopping pattern may be directly defined based on different Ps F For example, the pre-defined frequency hopping pattern is {0, 1,..., P F ​equal to -1}. For example, P F = 4, and the corresponding frequency hopping pattern is equal to {0, 2, 1, 3}, or, P F = 2, and the corresponding frequency hopping pattern is equal to {0, 1}. For the k RB_hop corresponding to the n hopping -th frequency hopping period, refer to Table 2-1 or Table 2-2. Tables 2-1 and 2-2 correspond to different frequency hopping patterns. For example, as shown in Table 2-1 or Table 2-2, when P F = 2, when the operation results of the modulo mod of the terminal's frequency hopping period index n RB_hopo and 4 are 0, 1, 2, and 3 respectively, n RB_hop is respectively equal to 0, 1, 0, and 1.

Table 2

Table 3

[0177] In other designs, p F in different value ranges is considered to correspond to k RB_hop in the n hopping -th frequency hopping period. For the corresponding values, refer to Table 2-3 or Table 2-4. For example, in Table 2-3, p F ∈ {2, 4, 8}, and the candidate p F includes 2, 4, or 8. When the p F used by the terminal is 2, in the n RB_hop -th frequency hopping period, when the operation results of the modulo (mod) of n RB_hop and 8 are respectively equal to 0~7, the corresponding k hopping are respectively 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, and 1.

Table 4

Table 5

[0178] n RB_hop corresponds to the frequency hopping period index. For specific definitions, refer to Equations (2-1) to (2-10).

[0179] In other aspects, the frequency hopping pattern may alternatively be implemented in a predefined manner. For example, the starting RB position frequency hopping may be determined based on a legacy frequency hopping pattern. The specific operation steps are as follows.

[0180] The terminal receives, for example, parameters related to the configured bandwidth of the SRS, such as n RRC , B SRS , C SRS and b hop and determines the partial frequency sounding coefficient P F . P F may be configured by using RRC signaling, or may be configured by using DCI or MAC CE signaling. The starting RB position frequency hopping parameter b hop PF satisfies

Number

[0181]

Number

Number

[0182] b hop PF <B SRS if it is, the parameter n b PF is

Number

[0183] The parameter N b is obtained from Table 6.4.1.4.3-1 in Protocol 38.211,

Number

[0184] N b’ For, refer to Table 6.4.1.4.3-1 in Protocol 38.21. b' = b hop if it is,

Number

[0185] The frequency hopping pattern of the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping is related to the pattern of the parameter n b PF For example, when C SRS = 24, B SRS = 2, P F = 4 and n RRC = 0, the parameter b hop PF = 0 is determined based on Equation (2-14). The parameter n0 PF n1 PF and n2 PFThe corresponding pattern is equal to {000,010,001,011}, and n b PF is associated with the frequency domain subband index to determine the legacy frequency hopping pattern. In a possible association method, the corresponding legacy frequency hopping pattern is equal to {0,2,1,3}, whereby the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping is determined to be equal to {0,2,1,3}.

[0186] For example, C SRS =24, B SRS =2, P F =2 and n RRC =13, the parameter b hop PF =1 is determined based on Equation (2-14). The patterns of the parameters n0 PF , n1 PF and n2 PF are equal to {010,011}, and the corresponding legacy frequency hopping pattern is equal to {2,3}. When P F =2, the corresponding frequency hopping pattern of k hopping is equal to {0,1}.

[0187] For example, to reduce the computational complexity, the base station

Number

[0188] For example, for parameter k hopping the corresponding frequency hopping pattern may be obtained by converting the values (e.g., binary values) including parameters n0 PF , n1 PF and n2 PF to decimal and performing a modulo (mod) operation on the decimal and P F . For example, the pattern {000, 010, 001, 011} of the above parameters n0 PF , n1 PF and n2 PF is converted to decimal, and a modulo operation is performed on the decimal and P F to obtain a result equal to {0, 2, 1, 3}. For example, the pattern {010, 011} of the above parameters n0 PF , n1 PF and n2 PF is converted to decimal, and a modulo operation is performed on the decimal and P F to obtain a result equal to {0, 1}.

[0189] The frequency hopping pattern of k hopping is determined in a pre-configured or pre-defined manner. This can effectively reduce the scheduling overhead of the base station, reduce interference in SRS transmission, and effectively improve the SRS measurement accuracy while ensuring that the channel estimation results of the frequency domain ranges corresponding to different sub-bands are balanced.

[0190] 3.2. The frequency hopping pattern is indicated by using signaling.

[0191] In this application, the terminal may determine the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping based on the signaling indicated by the base station. For example, the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping may be determined in the following manner.

[0192] 1. khopping The frequency hopping pattern of is directly indicated by using signaling (e.g., RRC signaling). For example, the frequency hopping pattern is indicated in the following manner. [Number]

[0193] The parameter maxNrofk_Hoppingg indicates the period of the hopping pattern of k hopping , and k_Hoppingvalue indicates the elements included in the hopping pattern of k hopping .

[0194] For example, the base station may indicate the start value and offset value of the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping by using signaling. Optionally, the period of the frequency hopping pattern may be associated with P F . For example, if P F = 4, the start value of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to 0, and the offset value is equal to 1, the corresponding frequency hopping pattern may be equal to {0, 1, 2, 3}. Alternatively, the base station may indicate the offset value of the frequency hopping pattern by using signaling. The start value of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to 0 by default or equal to a specific value. The value may be determined in a predefined manner or the like.

[0195] It should be noted that in the above scenario, the base station may implicitly indicate to disable the start RB position frequency hopping by indicating that there is no field for the start value and offset value of the frequency hopping pattern, or by indicating that there is no field for the offset value of the frequency hopping pattern when the start value is predefined. Alternatively, the base station may implicitly indicate to disable the start RB position by indicating that the start value or offset value of the frequency hopping pattern is outside the candidate range, or that the offset value is always 0.

[0196] 2.k hopping At least one candidate frequency hopping pattern of k is predefined. hopping The actual frequency hopping pattern of k is indicated by using signaling. For example, hopping if five candidate frequency hopping patterns of k are predefined, the base station may send indication information to the terminal to indicate the index of the frequency hopping pattern. The terminal determines that the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to the index is the actual frequency hopping pattern of k hopping based on the index of the frequency hopping pattern.

[0197] It should be noted that in the above scenario, the base station may further implicitly instruct the terminal to disable the start RB position frequency hopping by instructing an index outside the index range of the predefined frequency hopping pattern. For example, when the index of the predefined frequency hopping pattern is 0 to 3, the base station may instruct an index other than 0 to 3 to implicitly instruct the terminal to disable the start RB position frequency hopping.

[0198] In a certain design, the base station sends indication information to the terminal, and the indication information indicates hop id The terminal determines k id corresponding to the frequency hopping period of the nth RB_hop based on hop hopping For example, as shown in Table 2-5, the terminal may determine k id in different frequency hopping periods based on hop hopping When hop id indicated by the base station is 1, when the modulo operation results between the frequency hopping period index of the terminal and 4 are equal to 0, 1, 2, and 3 respectively, k hopping is determined to be equal to 0, 2, 1, and 3 respectively.

Table 6

[0199] In this application, the signaling indication method can effectively improve the flexibility of scheduling. By considering different terminal channel conditions and user multiplexing states, the base station can flexibly configure different frequency hopping patterns for the terminals.

[0200] 3.3.k hopping and k hopping The correspondence between the frequency hopping pattern and the frequency hopping period index

[0201] In a certain design, the terminal determines the first frequency hopping parameter k RB_hop based on the frequency hopping period index n F and the partial frequency sounding coefficient P hopping satisfies RB_hop the k corresponding to the nth hopping frequency hopping period.

Number

[0202] k hopping (n RB_hop ) represents the k corresponding to the nth RB_hop frequency hopping period, and the k corresponding to the nth hopping can also be directly determined based on the parameter k RB_hop corresponding to the nth hopping and the k corresponding to different frequency hopping periods hopping may be different. Details will not be elaborated here again. hopping

[0203] Alternatively, the k corresponding to the nth RB_hop frequency hopping period satisfies hopping the following:

Number

[0204] ​ The k corresponding to Formula (2-18) and Formula (2-19) hopping The frequency hopping pattern of satisfies the following relationship. P F When = 2, the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k hopping is equal to {0, 1}, and when P F = 4, the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k hopping is equal to {0, 2, 1, 3}, or when P F = 8, the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k hopping is equal to {0, 4, 1, 5, 2, 6, 3, 7}.

[0205] In a certain design, the terminal determines the first frequency hopping parameter k based on the frequency hopping period index n RB_hop and the partial frequency sounding coefficient P F and the k corresponding to the nth hopping frequency hopping period satisfies RB_hop hopping

Number

Number

[0206] Formula (2-20) corresponds to the rule of the value of k when P F may be odd. When P hopping is even, the different frequency hopping patterns corresponding to P F are the same in Formula (2-18) or Formula (2-19). When P F is even, for example, when P F = 3, the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k F is equal to {0, 2, 1}. hopping

[0207] ​​​According to this method, the first frequency hopping parameter can be determined in a predefined manner. In the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to the first frequency hopping parameter, the interval of the frequency region between adjacent sub-bands is large. This effectively improves the frequency domain diversity gain of the channel, reduces the signaling overhead, reduces the complexity of base station scheduling while enabling different terminals to correspond to different SRS start frequency region positions, reduces the interference in SRS transmission, and improves the channel estimation performance.

[0208] In a certain design, the terminal performs a modulo operation on the frequency hopping period index n RB_hop and the period T of the frequency hopping pattern cycle_hop (n RB_hop mod T cycle_hop to determine k based on this. For example, k hopping is equal to the value corresponding to the i-th element in the frequency hopping pattern, and g satisfies g = (n hopping mod T RB_hop ). cycle_hop

[0209] For example, the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping is equal to {0, 2, 1, 3}, and the period of the frequency hopping pattern is equal to 4. When the frequency hopping period index corresponding to the current time unit of the terminal is equal to 20, k hopping is equal to the value corresponding to the 0th element in the frequency hopping pattern, and k hopping = 0. Alternatively, when the frequency hopping period index n RB_hop = 21, k hopping is equal to the value corresponding to the 1st element in the frequency hopping pattern, that is, k_ hopping = 2.

[0210] In a certain design, k hopping satisfies k hopping = F RS (n RB_hop ). n RB_hoprepresents the frequency hopping period index, and F RS represents the mapping function, and the frequency hopping period index n RB_hop and k hopping The mapping function is not limited in this application.

[0211] For example, the mapping function F RS (n RB_hop ) is F RS (n RB_hop )=F RS (n RB_hop mod T cycle_hop ) is satisfied. T cycle_hop k hopping represents the period of the frequency hopping pattern of RS (n RB_hop ) mod T cycle_hop ) corresponds to the gth element of the frequency hopping pattern hopping where g is defined above.

[0212] For example, k hopping The frequency hopping pattern of is equal to {0,2,1,3}. cycle_hop =4, F RS (0)=0, F RS (1)=2, F RS (2)=1 and F RS (3)=3. Alternatively, for example, k hopping The frequency hopping pattern of is {0,1,...,P F -1}. The corresponding T cycle_hop =P F , F RS (0)=0, F RS (1)=1, ... and F RS (p F -1)=P F -1. Alternatively, for example, k hopping The frequency hopping pattern of is equal to {0,1,2,3}. cycle_hop =4, F RS (0)=0, F RS (1)=1, F RS (2)=2 and F RS (3)=3.

[0213] In a certain design, when the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping is equal to {0, 1, ..., P F - 1}, the mapping function F RS (n RB_hop ) satisfies [Number] .

[0214] For example, when the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping is equal to {x, x + 1, ..., P F - 1, 0, 1, ..., x - 1}, the mapping function F RS (n RB_hop ) may further satisfy [Number] .

[0215] x is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0216] In a certain design, the mapping relationship between the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping and the frequency hopping period index may be realized based on signaling. For example, the RRC signaling indicates the index i, and k hopping corresponding to the first frequency hopping period is equal to the value corresponding to the i-th element of the frequency hopping pattern, and the frequency hopping period corresponds to the frequency hopping period when the terminal actually performs SRS transmission. In a possible implementation, i ∈ {0, 1, ..., T cycle_hop - 1}. For example, P F = 4, and the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping is equal to {0, 2, 1, 3}. When the starting value index i = 1 of k hopping indicated by using signaling, in the first frequency hopping period when the terminal performs SRS transmission, the corresponding k hopping = 2.

[0217] As shown in FIG. 11a, the frequency hopping pattern is equal to {0, 2, 1, 3}, the configuration of UE1 is k F = 0, the starting value index i = 0, and the configuration of UE2 is k F = 1. The first frequency hopping period corresponds to the value corresponding to the i = 1 element in the frequency hopping pattern. Based on the above formula for calculating the subband index for SRS transmission, in different frequency hopping periods, the subband index for SRS transmission in UE1 changes according to the rule of {0, 2, 1, 3}, and the subband index for SRS transmission in UE2 changes according to the rule of {3, 2, 0, 1, 3, 2, 0, 1}. For example, in the first frequency hopping period of UE1, one frequency hopping period (the corresponding frequency hopping period index is 0) corresponds to the value corresponding to the i = 0 element in the frequency hopping pattern, and k hopping is 0, and the subband index for SRS transmission is (k F + k hopping ) mod 4 = (0 + 0) mod 4 = 0. In the first frequency hopping period of UE2, one frequency hopping period (the corresponding frequency hopping period index is 0) corresponds to the value corresponding to the i = 1 element in the frequency hopping pattern, and k hopping is equal to 2, and the subband index for SRS transmission is (k F + k hopping ) mod 4 = (1 + 2) mod 4 = 3.

[0218] In the description of this embodiment of the present invention, the frequency hopping period index corresponding to the first frequency hopping period is 0, the frequency hopping period index corresponding to the second frequency hopping period is 1, and so on. Details will not be described again here.

[0219] In a certain design, the mapping relationship between the frequency hopping pattern and the frequency hopping period index may be shown based on a pre - defined table. For example, for the n RB_hop th frequency hopping period, the k hopping used may be determined based on Table (2 - 3) or Table (2 - 4). Details will not be elaborated here again.

[0220] Optionally, after determining the first frequency hopping parameter, the terminal may determine the starting frequency region position corresponding to the SRS and transmit the SRS to the base station at the corresponding frequency region position. The method shown in FIG. 9 may further include the following steps.

[0221] Step 904: The terminal transmits the SRS to the base station based on the first frequency hopping parameter.

[0222] In this application, the terminal may determine the starting RB position index based on the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping . The terminal determines the frequency region position for transmitting the SRS based on the starting RB position index, and the terminal transmits the SRS to the base station at the corresponding frequency region position. For example, the terminal determines the starting RB position index, determines the starting position of the resource element (RE) for SRS transmission, and transmits the SRS to the base station based on the starting position of the RE for SRS transmission and the bandwidth occupied by the SRS.

[0223] For example, the process by which the terminal determines the starting RB position index based on the first frequency hopping parameter includes the following content.

[0224] The terminal determines the index of the sub - band for SRS transmission within the configured bandwidth of the SRS based on the first frequency hopping parameter. Within the configured bandwidth of the SRS, the index of the sub - band corresponding to SRS transmission is

Number

[0225] The index of the subband for SRS transmission is associated with the starting RB position index. For example, if the number of RBs occupied by the partial frequency sounding bandwidth is

Number

Number

[0226] Optionally, if the number of RBs occupied by the partial frequency sounding bandwidth needs to be quantized to an integer multiple of 4, the corresponding starting RB position index is

Number

[0227] f i (n) is a function corresponding to n. For example, f i (n) represents an integer having the maximum value among the integers not greater than n and is an integer multiple of 4, or f i (n) represents an integer having the minimum value among the integers not less than n and is an integer multiple of 4, or f i (n) represents an integer having the minimum absolute difference corresponding to n, and the integer is equal to an integer multiple of 4, or f i (n) is equal to 0, and the corresponding number of candidate subbands for the terminal to perform SRS transmission is less than P F . For details regarding the index of the subband for SRS transmission and the starting RB position index, refer to Embodiment 4. The details will not be described again here.

[0228] Optionally, the partial frequency sounding bandwidth needs to be quantized to an integer multiple of 4. When different sub-bands correspond to the same frequency region size (or the same number of RBs), the corresponding starting RB position index satisfies [Number] .

[0229] f(n) = f i (n), for all i.

[0230] For example, the process by which a terminal determines the starting position of the RE for SRS transmission based on the starting RB position index includes the following.

[0231] In a certain design, the terminal determines the lowest frequency position offset for SRS transmission within the bandwidth part (BWP) range based on the starting RB position index N [Number] , [Number] which may be the lowest SRS frequency region position corresponding to all hops, [Number] where [Number] .

[0232] n shift represents the lowest starting position of the corresponding wideband SRS sounding, i.e., the first subcarrier available for SRS transmission on the frequency band, and N offset represents the partial frequency region sounding starting RB index. When the terminal does not support the partial frequency region sounding mechanism, the corresponding N offsetis equal to 0, or the parameter N in the above formula offset does not exist.

[0233] The terminal

Number

Number

Number

Number

[0234] N sc RB represents the number of subcarriers included in one RB, and K TC represents the number of combs of the current SRS, and m SRS,b is the parameter C SRS and B SRS is related to. For details regarding the mapping relationship, refer to Table 6.4.1.4.3-1 in Protocol 38.211. The parameter C SRS and B SRS may be configured by the upper layer parameter freqHopping.

[0235] In other designs, the terminal, based on the starting RB position index N offset Based on, the index of the starting RE for SRS transmission

Number

Number

Number

[0236]

Number

[0237] In this application, k hopping is associated with the absolute time by using an SRS counter, or k hopping corresponding to different frequency hopping periods is determined by using a signaling indication. For terminals multiplexed in the same time unit based on different frequency domain positions, the base station can configure different start sub-band indexes, frequency hopping patterns, etc. This prevents different terminals from sounding channels at the same frequency domain position, avoids interference, improves channel estimation accuracy, and effectively reduces the complexity of base station scheduling. As shown in FIG. 10, the frequency hopping patterns configured by the base station for UE1 and UE2 are the same, and the frequency hopping pattern is {0, 2, 1, 3}. In the configuration of UE1, k F = 0, and in the configuration of UE2, k FIt is equal to 1. In the current solution, since the signaling active time of UE2 is one frequency hopping period after that of UE1, the fifth frequency hopping period of UE1 is the same as the absolute time corresponding to the fourth frequency hopping period of UE2. However, in terms of absolute time, the subband indices corresponding to UE1 and UE2 for SRS transmission are the same. As a result, the frequency domain resources for SRS transmission of UE1 and UE2 collide with each other. However, in the solution of this application, as shown in FIG. 10, the signaling active time of UE2 is only one frequency hopping period later than that of UE1. For periodic SRS and semi-persistent SRS, since the frequency hopping period in this application is calculated by using the SRS counter as a reference, it can be ensured that the frequency hopping period indices calculated by UE1 and UE2 are consistent. For example, at the absolute time corresponding to an SRS counter equal to 25, each frequency hopping period includes 4 hops, and the frequency hopping period calculated by using Equation (2-1) is equal to 6. In the sixth frequency hopping period, k corresponding to both UE1 and UE2 hopping is 1. According to the above formula for calculating the candidate subband index, the index of the subband for UE1 to perform SRS transmission is equal to (0 + 1) mod 4 = 1, and the index of the subband for UE2 to perform SRS transmission is equal to (1 + 1) mod 4 = 2. The subbands for UE1 and UE2 to perform SRS transmission do not collide.

[0238] In this application, values corresponding to different SRS transmission positions are determined for the start RB position frequency hopping pattern. Absolute symbols are associated. This reduces the complexity of the realization of the determination by the terminal and the base station, effectively reduces the complexity of the base station scheduling, avoids the case where different terminals transmit SRS at the same frequency domain position, reduces the mutual interference between different terminals, and can improve the channel estimation accuracy.

[0239] It should be noted that the above focuses on the process in which the terminal determines the start frequency region position corresponding to SRS and transmits SRS. The process of receiving SRS by the base station is the same as the above process of transmitting SRS by the terminal, and cross-reference may be made to the process. For example, the base station determines the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on the first time unit, and the base station determines the first frequency hopping parameter based on the frequency hopping period index and the frequency hopping pattern of the terminal. The base station receives SRS or the like from the terminal based on the first frequency hopping parameter.

[0240] Embodiment 2 In Embodiment 1, in the start RB position frequency hopping scenario, the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping is determined based on the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping and the legacy frequency hopping period index, and the subband index ((k F +k hopping ) mod P F ) ∈ {0, 1,..., P F -1} corresponding to SRS transmission is determined accordingly, where k F represents the start subband index, and P Fis described as representing a partial frequency sounding coefficient. However, in an actual scenario, for a specific terminal (e.g., UE1), there may exist a scenario where some sub-bands are unavailable. For example, another terminal (e.g., UE2) performs SRS transmission on the above-mentioned sub-bands, and UE2 does not have the ability of start RB position frequency hopping. Alternatively, UE2 is a conventional terminal that supports the current protocol mechanism and does not support start RB position frequency hopping. If UE1 performs start RB position frequency hopping to traverse the sub-band position corresponding to UE2, the SRS transmissions corresponding to UE1 and UE2 are performed in a non-orthogonal multiplexing manner. This causes severe interference and reduces the channel estimation accuracy. Alternatively, when the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio of the propagation channel corresponding to the sub-band position is low, if UE1 performs start RB position frequency hopping to traverse the sub-band position, the channel estimation accuracy is also reduced. As shown in FIG. 11b, the above problem is that P F =4, and an example is described by using a frequency hopping pattern of k hopping corresponding to start RB position frequency hopping being equal to {0, 2, 1, 3}. At the transmission time corresponding to k hopping =2, UE3 performs SRS transmission at the frequency domain position corresponding to sub-band 0 at the start RB position. UE1 is a UE that supports partial frequency sounding but does not support start RB position frequency hopping, or UE1 is a conventional UE that does not support partial frequency sounding. Therefore, UE1 fixedly performs SRS transmission at the frequency domain position corresponding to sub-band 0. At a specific time domain position, UE1 and UE3 perform SRS transmission at the same frequency domain position, and the SRSs of different UEs interfere with each other. As a result, the SRS measurement accuracy is affected.

[0241] Regarding the above problem, this embodiment of this application provides a solution including the following. The terminal determines a sub-band index S corresponding to SRS based on a first frequency hopping parameter, i.e., k hopping ​F may be determined, and the sub-band index may be referred to as a candidate sub-band index. The first frequency hopping parameter is based on the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping and is determined based on the frequency hopping pattern, and the frequency hopping pattern is determined in a pre-defined manner or a signaling indication manner. In some cases, the frequency hopping pattern is determined in a pre-defined manner. If the candidate sub-band index determined by the terminal is the same as the candidate sub-band index of the first sub-band that does not support the terminal to perform SRS transmission, for example, when the first sub-band is determined based on signaling indication or in a pre-defined manner, the terminal may need to re-determine the sub-band for actual SRS transmission. In other cases, the frequency hopping pattern is determined in a signaling indication manner, and the terminal may perform SRS transmission on all candidate sub-bands. In the SRS transmission process, there is a specific terminal, and the specific terminal cannot perform start RB position frequency hopping. As a result, if the candidate sub-band index determined by the terminal is the same as the candidate sub-band index of the first sub-band that does not support the terminal to perform SRS transmission, for example, when the first sub-band is determined based on signaling indication or in a pre-defined manner, the terminal may need to re-determine the sub-band for actual SRS transmission. The specific steps are as follows.

[0242] The terminal determines the candidate sub-band index of the SRS based on the first frequency hopping parameter, determines the starting RB position of the SRS based on the candidate sub-band index and the first sub-band index, where the first sub-band corresponds to a frequency region range where the terminal is not supported to perform SRS transmission, and transmits the SRS to the base station based on the starting RB position of the SRS. The solution of Embodiment 2 may be used independently or in combination with Embodiment 1. When this embodiment is used in combination with Embodiment 1, the solution in Embodiment 2 may be used as a possible implementation manner of Embodiment 1 to determine the frequency region range corresponding to the actual SRS transmission based on the first frequency hopping parameter.

[0243] As shown in FIG. 12, a procedure of a communication method is provided. The procedure includes at least the following steps.

[0244] Optional step 1200: The terminal reports to the base station whether the terminal has the ability to support starting RB position frequency hopping.

[0245] Step 1201: The base station transmits indication information to the terminal, and the indication information indicates the index of the sub-band in which the terminal can perform starting RB position frequency hopping. Optionally, if the indication information does not exist, the terminal may perform SRS transmission on all candidate sub-bands by default, that is, S F ∈{0, 1,..., P F -1}. In a certain design, in the background where the terminal supports RB starting position frequency hopping, the base station transmits indication signaling to the terminal to indicate the sub-band in which the terminal can perform SRS transmission. For example, the indication signaling may be RRC signaling, or MAC CE or DCI signaling, and the signaling may be in the form of a bitmap. For example, the configured bandwidth of the SRS includes P F sub-bands. The signaling length of the bitmap is P Fmay be equal to, and each bit indicates whether one of the sub-bands supports / does not support the terminal to perform SRS transmission. For example, when the bit value corresponding to the bit is equal to 1, this indicates that the sub-band corresponding to the bit supports the terminal to perform SRS transmission, and otherwise, this indicates that the sub-band corresponding to the bit does not support the terminal to perform SRS transmission. Alternatively, the meaning of the bit being equal to 1 may be the opposite of the meaning of the bit being equal to 0. For example, the partial frequency sounding coefficient P F = 4, and the corresponding configured bandwidth of SRS is divided into 4 sub-bands. When the bitmap indicated by the above signaling is specifically 0, 1, 1, and 1, this indicates that the sub-bands that can be used by the terminal to perform SRS transmission include sub-band 1, sub-band 2, and sub-band 3.

[0246] In a certain design, the base station may directly instruct the terminal to send signaling to indicate the index of the sub-band that supports the terminal to perform SRS transmission. The signaling may be RRC signaling, or may be MAC CE or DCI signaling. For example, when the base station instructs the terminal with 1, 2, and 3 by using RRC signaling, this indicates that the terminal may perform SRS transmission on sub-band 1 to sub-band 3. Alternatively, the base station may instruct the terminal with the index of the sub-band that does not support the terminal to perform SRS transmission by using RRC signaling. For example, when the base station instructs the terminal with 0 by using RRC signaling, this indicates that the terminal cannot perform SRS transmission at the frequency domain position corresponding to sub-band 0.

[0247] Step 1202: The terminal determines the starting RB position for SRS transmission and transmits SRS to the base station at the corresponding frequency domain position.

[0248] In a certain design, the base station instructs the terminal to use the first sub-band s, and the first sub-band s either does not support the terminal to perform SRS transmission within the corresponding frequency range, or SRS transmission is disabled for the terminal within the frequency range corresponding to the first sub-band s. The first frequency hopping parameter k hopping defines a candidate sub-band w determined by the terminal based on

Number

[0249] If the frequency range corresponding to the candidate sub-band w for the terminal is the same as the frequency range corresponding to the sub-band s, for example, when w = s, the terminal determines the index of the sub-band for the actual SRS transmission within the configured bandwidth of the SRS, which

Number

[0250] S F indicates the index of the sub-band where the terminal actually performs SRS transmission, k F represents the starting sub-band index, P F represents the partial frequency sounding coefficient, k hopping represents the first frequency hopping parameter, k hopping is, k hopping is determined based on the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping and the legacy frequency hopping period, and the frequency hopping pattern of k

[0251] If the frequency range corresponding to the candidate sub-band w is different from the frequency range corresponding to the sub-band s, for example, when w ≠ s, the terminal determines the index of the sub-band for the SRS transmission within the configured bandwidth of the SRS, which

Number

[0252] In other designs, the base station instructs the terminal to a plurality of sub-bands in which SRS transmission is disabled. The terminal is based on the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping and the indexes of a plurality of sub-bands in which SRS transmission is disabled, and based on the following solution, determines the index of the sub-band for actual SRS transmission. For example, the number of sub-bands (sub-band s1 and sub-band s2) in which the terminal disables SRS transmission is 2. The frequency region range (Equation (2-33)) corresponding to the candidate sub-band w is the same as the frequency region range corresponding to sub-band s1. For example, when w = s1, the terminal determines a second candidate sub-band w2, which is

Number

[0253] The frequency region range corresponding to the second candidate sub-band w2 is the same as the frequency region range corresponding to sub-band s2. For example, when w2 = s2, the terminal determines the index of the sub-band for actual SRS transmission, which is

Number

[0254] The frequency region range (Equation (2-33)) corresponding to the candidate sub-band w is the same as the frequency region range corresponding to sub-band s1. For example, when w = s1, and the frequency region range corresponding to the second candidate sub-band w2 is different from the frequency region range corresponding to sub-band s2. For example, when w2 ≠ s2, the terminal determines the index of the sub-band for actual SRS transmission, which is

Number

[0255] In other designs, if the terminal does not receive signaling to disable the subband for SRS transmission, or if the frequency range corresponding to the candidate subband w (Equation (2-33)) is different from the frequency range corresponding to the subband s1, for example, w≠s1, and the frequency range corresponding to the second candidate subband w2 is different from the frequency range corresponding to the subband s2, for example, w2≠s2, the terminal determines the index of the subband for actual SRS transmission within the configured bandwidth of the SRS, which [Number] is satisfied.

[0256] The subband index is related to the starting RB position corresponding to the SRS. For example, if the number of RBs occupied by the partial frequency sounding bandwidth is [Number] equal to, the corresponding starting RB index is [Number] is satisfied.

[0257] Optionally, if the number of RBs occupied by the partial frequency sounding bandwidth needs to be quantized to an integer multiple of 4, the corresponding starting RB position index is [Number] is satisfied.

[0258] f i (n) is a function corresponding to n. For example, f i (n) represents the integer with the maximum value among the integers not greater than n and is an integer multiple of 4, or f i (n) represents the integer with the minimum value among the integers not less than n and is an integer multiple of 4, or f i(n) represents an integer having the minimum absolute difference corresponding to n, and the integer is equal to an integer multiple of 4, or f i (n) is equal to 0, and the corresponding number of candidate sub-bands for which the terminal performs SRS transmission is P F is smaller than. For details regarding the sub-band index and start RB position index for SRS transmission, refer to Embodiment 4. The details will not be described again here.

[0259] Optionally, the number of RBs occupied by the partial frequency sounding bandwidth needs to be quantized to an integer multiple of 4. When different sub-bands correspond to the same frequency region range (or the same number of RBs), the corresponding start RB position index is [Number] satisfies.

[0260] f(n) = f i (n), for all i.

[0261] In Embodiment 2, after the terminal determines the start RB position index in the following manner, the terminal may determine the start RE position index based on the start RB position index, and transmit the SRS to the base station based on the start RE position index and the SRS transmission bandwidth. For the process by which the terminal determines the start RE position index based on the start RB position index, refer to the record of step 904 in Embodiment 1.

[0262] In the procedure shown in FIG. 12, the frequency hopping pattern may be pre-configured, or the frequency hopping pattern may be indicated by using signaling. It should be noted that the terminal may perform SRS transmission on all candidate sub-bands. Optionally, for some reason, some sub-bands within the candidate sub-bands may not be able to perform SRS transmission. In this case, the terminal may re-determine k_hopping corresponding to different frequency hopping periods by using the solution shown in FIG. 12 } may be re-determined.

[0263] In a certain design, k hopping 's frequency hopping pattern is determined by a signaling indication method. That is, the base station uses signaling to indicate to the terminal the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping . If a first sub-band exists and the first sub-band is disabled for a specific terminal, the base station may configure the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping by using signaling. This prevents the terminal from performing SRS transmission at the frequency domain position corresponding to the first sub-band. As shown in FIG. 13, a procedure of the communication method is provided. A solution for determining the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping is specifically described and includes at least the following steps.

[0264] Optional step 1300: The terminal reports to the base station whether the terminal has the ability to support start RB position frequency hopping.

[0265] Step 1301: The base station transmits indication information to the terminal, and the indication information indicates a frequency hopping pattern that changes with the time domain when the terminal executes the start RB frequency hopping parameter. The frequency hopping pattern indicates the frequency hopping parameter corresponding to the terminal at a specific SRS transmission time point.

[0266] In a certain design, at a specific SRS transmission time point of the terminal, the candidate frequency hopping pattern is determined based on the condition of "supporting the terminal to perform SRS transmission in all sub-bands". That the candidate frequency hopping parameter corresponding to the current time unit of the terminal is equal to k hopping ' may be determined based on the candidate frequency hopping pattern. The first frequency hopping parameter k hopping corresponding to the SRS transmission actually performed by the terminal is the candidate frequency hopping parameter k hoppingIt is determined based on one or more sub-bands invalidated for the ’ and the terminal. The detailed content is described below.

[0267] For example, the first sub-band s is determined, and the first sub-band s does not support the terminal to perform SRS transmission within the corresponding frequency domain range, or SRS transmission for the terminal is invalidated within the frequency domain range corresponding to the first sub-band s. Candidate frequency hopping parameter k hopping The candidate sub-band determined by the terminal based on the ’ is defined to be equal to sub-band w, and sub-band w

Number

[0268] If the frequency domain range corresponding to the candidate sub-band w of the terminal is the same as the frequency domain range corresponding to sub-band s, for example, when w = s, the base station uses the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping is

Number

[0269] If the frequency domain range corresponding to the candidate sub-band w of the terminal is different from the frequency domain range corresponding to sub-band s, for example, when w ≠ s, the base station uses the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping is

Number

[0270] For example, when there are a plurality of sub-bands that do not support the terminal to perform SRS transmission within the corresponding frequency domain range, or when SRS transmission for the terminal is disabled within the frequency domain range corresponding to a plurality of sub-bands. For example, the number of sub-bands for which the terminal disables SRS transmission is 2, and the sub-bands are represented as sub-band s1 and sub-band s2, respectively. For the terminal, the base station determines sub-band s1 and sub-band s2. When the frequency domain range corresponding to candidate sub-band w is the same as the frequency domain range corresponding to sub-band s1, for example, when w = s1, the base station determines that the second candidate sub-band w2

Number

[0271] When the frequency domain range corresponding to the second candidate sub-band w2 is the same as the frequency domain range corresponding to sub-band s2, for example, when w2 = s2, the base station determines that the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping is

Number

[0272] When the frequency domain range (Equation (2-33)) corresponding to candidate sub-band w is the same as the frequency domain range corresponding to sub-band s1, for example, when w = s1, and the frequency domain range corresponding to the second candidate sub-band w2 is different from the frequency domain range corresponding to sub-band s2, for example, when w2 ≠ s2, the base station determines that the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping is

Number

[0273] If all candidate sub - bands support the terminal to perform SRS transmission within the corresponding frequency - range, or if the frequency - range corresponding to candidate sub - band w (Equation (2 - 33)) is different from the frequency - range corresponding to sub - band s1, for example, w≠s, and the frequency - range corresponding to the second candidate sub - band w2 is different from the frequency - range corresponding to sub - band s2, for example, w2≠s2, the base station determines that the first frequency - hopping parameter k hopping is

Number

[0274] As shown in Figure 14, when P F = 4, the configured bandwidth of SRS is divided into four sub - bands, and the candidate frequency - hopping parameter is k hopping ’∈{0,2,1,3}, and on the condition that k F = 0 is configured for UE1, the indices of the candidate sub - bands for SRS transmission are 0, 2, 1, and 3 respectively in the first to the fourth frequency - hopping periods. If UE1 does not support SRS transmission within the frequency - range corresponding to sub - band 0, based on Equation (2 - 44), k hopping corresponding to the third frequency - hopping period may be re - determined to be 2.

[0275] Step 1302: The terminal determines the starting RB position for SRS transmission based on the first frequency - hopping parameter k hopping and transmits SRS to the base station within the corresponding frequency - range.

[0276] In this application, the terminal determines that the index of the sub - band for actual SRS transmission satisfies hopping based on the first frequency - hopping parameter k

Number

[0277] Sub - band index S F and the starting RB position index N corresponding to the SRS offset For the relationship between them, refer to Equation (2 - 39), Equation (2 - 40), Equation (2 - 41) or Equation (2 - 42). Details are not described again here.

[0278] In Embodiment 2, it should be noted that the frequency - domain ranges corresponding to two sub - bands are the same. For example, when the candidate sub - band w and sub - band s of the terminal correspond to the same frequency - domain range, this may mean that the starting frequency - domain positions corresponding to the two sub - bands are the same, or that the starting frequency - domain positions and the frequency - domain widths corresponding to the two sub - bands are the same, or that part or all of the frequency - domain ranges corresponding to the two sub - bands have intersections.

[0279] In Embodiment 2, there are other scenarios. In the operation process of the terminal, for some reason, the sub - band that originally supports SRS transmission for the terminal suddenly becomes a sub - band that does not support SRS transmission. In this case, the base station may re - configure the frequency - hopping pattern for the terminal, and the value of the element in the newly configured frequency - hopping pattern is twice the value of the corresponding element in the original frequency - hopping pattern.

[0280] In Embodiment 2, the first frequency - hopping parameter k hopping is determined according to the design rule when there are several sub - bands and a sub - band is disabled for a specific terminal, so that the terminal does not perform SRS transmission on the sub - band in the starting RB position frequency - hopping scenario. In this way, different terminals perform SRS transmission based on different frequency - domain starting positions, thereby reducing interference between users and improving channel estimation accuracy.

[0281] Embodiment 3 In 3GPP RAN1#106, based on the conclusions of the meeting, it was decided to support the starting RB position frequency hopping for periodic SRS and semi-persistent SRS in the partial frequency sounding scenario, and the starting RB position frequency hopping is determined based on the legacy frequency hopping period. For the starting RB position frequency hopping mechanism and / or frequency hopping period in the aperiodic SRS, the corresponding mechanism can be further studied. The starting RB position frequency hopping solution in the frequency hopping period includes the following. The starting RB position frequency hopping is performed for different OFDM symbols corresponding to the same frequency region range in the frequency hopping period. This can achieve the co-channel estimation within different frequency region ranges and improve the channel estimation accuracy.

[0282] Currently, for the starting RB position frequency hopping in the legacy frequency hopping period, the candidate solutions are as follows. The starting RB index corresponding to the SRS transmission is

Number

[0283] l offset ’ ∈ {0,..., N symb hop -1}, and the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping = l offset ’ and N symb hop represents the number of OFDM symbols corresponding to one frequency hop. For example, N symb hop = R, where R is the repetition factor. The specific mechanism is shown in Figure 15.

[0284] In other aspects, for the starting RB position frequency hopping in the legacy frequency hopping period, other candidate solutions are as follows. The first frequency hopping parameter is determined in a predefined manner based on the size of the repetition factor R. The specific implementation method is shown in Table 2-6.

Table 7

[0285] In the candidate solution, the corresponding first frequency hopping parameter k hopping is mainly defined based on the frequency hopping coefficient R. Other solutions are designed in Embodiment 3, and the parameter k hopping is defined based on the time domain symbol corresponding to the SRS counter n SRS . For periodic SRS and semi-persistent SRS, for a specific time domain configuration, n SRS is associated with the absolute time domain position. Compared with the current candidate solution, the solution corresponding to Embodiment 3 has good inheritance with the starting RB position frequency hopping mechanism (for example, the solution described in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2) during the frequency hopping period. Furthermore, based on reducing the interference between users, the influence of the standard is effectively reduced.

[0286] The design solution in Embodiment 3 may be independently implemented, or may be implemented in combination with the design solutions of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2. This is not limited in this application. As shown in FIG. 16, a procedure of the communication method is provided. The procedure includes at least the following steps.

[0287] Optional step 1600: The terminal reports to the base station whether the terminal has the ability to support start RB position frequency hopping. Alternatively, the terminal reports to the base station whether it supports one or more of the following capabilities, namely, start RB position frequency hopping during the legacy frequency hopping period, start RB position frequency hopping within the frequency hopping period, and start RB position frequency hopping between OFDM symbols, and reports that start RB position frequency hopping is not supported, etc.

[0288] Step 1601: The base station instructs the terminal with relevant parameters, and the relevant parameters are used to determine whether to execute the start RB position frequency hopping type or whether start RB position frequency hopping is not supported. For example, the type is start RB position frequency hopping during the legacy frequency hopping period and / or start RB position frequency hopping within the frequency hopping period. For example, the above process may be executed based on the following process.

[0289] The RRC parameter InterOrIntraPeriodHopping is defined.

[0290] When InterOrIntraPeriodHopping is equal to "neither", this indicates that start RB position frequency hopping is not supported, or When InterOrIntraPeriodHopping is equal to "InterPeriodHopping", this indicates that only start RB position frequency hopping during the legacy hopping period is supported, or When InterOrIntraPeriodHopping is equal to "IntraPeriodHopping", this indicates that only start RB position frequency hopping within the legacy hopping period is supported (or the legacy hopping is disabled, e.g., b hop ≧B SRS is the case, parameter b hop and parameter BSRS (For the meaning of, refer to Table 1-1), or When InterOrIntraPeriodHopping is equal to "InterAndIntraPeriodHopping", this indicates that both the start RB position frequency hopping between legacy hopping periods and the start RB position frequency hopping within a legacy hopping period are supported, or When InterOrIntraPeriodHopping is equal to "InterAndIntraPeriodHopping", this indicates that the start RB position frequency hopping between OFDM symbols is supported, or When InterOrIntraPeriodHopping is equal to "NoPeriodHopping", the start RB position frequency hopping in the non-hopping scenario is supported.

[0291] It should be noted that in the above solution, RRC signaling is used as an example to explain the solution corresponding to this application. The corresponding function may also be realized by using MAC CE signaling or DCI signaling. This is not limited in this application.

[0292] Step 1602: The terminal determines the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping and further determines the start RB position for SRS transmission, and transmits SRS to the base station within the corresponding frequency domain range.

[0293] In a certain design, the terminal determines the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping based on the frequency hopping pattern to determine the start RB frequency domain position for SRS transmission. In the configured bandwidth of SRS, the index of the sub-band corresponding to SRS transmission

Number

[0294] The sub-band index is related to the starting RB index corresponding to the SRS. For the sub-band index and the starting RB position index corresponding to the SRS, refer to Equation (2-39), Equation (2-40), Equation (2-41) or Equation (2-42). Details will not be described again here.

[0295] Below, a solution for determining the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping will be described in detail.

[0296] In a certain design, when signaling indicates that the starting RB position frequency hopping type is the starting RB position frequency hopping within the frequency hopping period, the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k hopping remains unchanged during the frequency hopping period. During the frequency hopping period, k hopping varies with different OFDM symbols corresponding to the sub-band. For periodic SRS and semi-persistent SRS, in the nth f frame, in the nth s,f μ slot, k corresponding to the l'th OFDM symbol corresponding to the SRS resource, or k corresponding to the lth hopping SRS symbol counter SRS is associated with the i'th element in the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping , and the frequency hopping pattern element index i satisfies hopping :

Number

[0297] , refer to the definition in Embodiment 1. RB_hop For periodic and semi-persistent SRS, the SRS counter satisfies

[0298] :

Number

[0299] T cycle_hop represents the period of the frequency hopping pattern. For aperiodic SRS, l SRS = l'.

[0300] The following is an exemplary scenario of the above solution. The partial frequency sounding coefficient P F ∈ {2, 4}. The frequency hopping pattern corresponding to the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping is determined in a predefined manner. For the n f th frame, the k s,f μ corresponding to the l' th OFDM symbol of the SRS resource in the n hopping th slot, or the k SRS corresponding to the l hopping th SRS symbol counter is determined based on Table 2-7.

Table 8

[0301] For the starting RB position frequency hopping within the frequency hopping period, the symbol index

Number

Number

[0302] For the starting RB position frequency hopping between frequency hopping periods,

Number

Number

Number

[0303] n RB_hop represents the number of frequency hops included in the frequency hopping period. For a specific explanation, refer to Embodiment 1.

[0304] The following are other exemplary scenarios of the above solution. P F ∈{2, 4}, and a candidate frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k hopping is predefined, and the actual frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k hopping is determined based on the indication signaling. In the n f th frame, for the n s,f μ th slot, k corresponding to the l'-th OFDM symbol corresponding to the SRS resource, or k corresponding to the SRS symbol counter of the l hopping th SRS is determined based on Table 2-8, and hop hopping is indicated by using RRC signaling, or hop id may be indicated by using DCI or MAC CE signaling. id

Table 9

[0305] Regarding the starting RB position frequency hopping within the frequency hopping period, for the symbol

Number

Number

[0306] Regarding the starting RB position frequency hopping between frequency hopping periods,

Number

[0307] n RB_hop represents the number of frequency hops included in the frequency hopping period. For a specific description, refer to Embodiment 1.

[0308] In a certain design, when signaling indicates that the start RB position frequency hopping type is the start RB position frequency hopping within the frequency hopping period, k hopping The corresponding frequency hopping pattern remains unchanged during the frequency hopping period, and k hopping changes with different OFDM symbols corresponding to subbands during the frequency hopping period. k hopping is [Number] satisfies.

[0309] Function P RS (l SRS ) is [Number] satisfies.

[0310] Function P RS (l SRS )'s initial value, for l SRS ∈{0,...,T cycle_hop -1}, is associated with the frequency hopping pattern. For example, P F =4, and the corresponding frequency hopping pattern is {0,2,1,3}, and the initial value of the function P RS (l SRS ) is [Number] is satisfied.

[0311] For example, P F = 2, the corresponding frequency hopping pattern is {0, 1}, and the initial value of the function P RS (l SRS ) is [Number] is satisfied.

[0312] In a certain design, when signaling indicates that the starting RB position frequency hopping type is the starting RB position frequency hopping within the frequency hopping period, the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k hopping remains unchanged during the frequency hopping period, and k hopping changes with different OFDM symbols corresponding to subbands during the frequency hopping period. The first frequency hopping parameter k hopping is determined based on the following solution.

[0313] For periodic SRS and non-persistent SRS, in the n f th frame, in the n s,f μ th slot, k corresponding to the l'th OFDM symbol corresponding to the SRS resource, or k corresponding to the l hopping th SRS symbol counter SRS is associated with the i'th element in the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping , and the frequency hopping pattern element index i is hopping associated with the i'th element in the frequency hopping pattern of k, and the frequency hopping pattern element index i is [Number] is satisfied.

[0314] q represents that the OFDM symbol is the q'th symbol corresponding to the SRS counter n SRS , for example, q ∈ {0, 1,..., R - 1}, and T cycle_hopis the period of the frequency hopping pattern. For periodic SRS and semi-persistent SRS, the SRS counter satisfies [Number] .

[0315] For aperiodic SRS, k corresponding to the l'-th OFDM symbol of the SRS resource hopping is associated with the i-th element in the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping , and the frequency hopping pattern element index i satisfies the definition of Equation (2-63). q represents that the OFDM symbol is the q-th symbol corresponding to the SRS counter n SRS , and the SRS counter satisfies [Number] .

[0316] For example, the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping may also be determined based on Table 2-7 or Table 2-8, corresponding to the starting RB position frequency hopping within the frequency hopping period, and the symbol index [Number] . For details regarding the parameter q, refer to the description in Equation (2-63).

[0317] In a certain design, the terminal determines the first frequency hopping parameter k [Number] and the partial frequency sounding coefficient P F , and k corresponding to the hopping -th symbol [Number] is hopping ​

Mathematics

[0318] parameter

Mathematics

[0319] In a certain design, the terminal determines the first frequency hopping parameter k

Mathematics

Mathematics

Mathematics

[0320]

Mathematics

[0321] Equation (2-66) is for k F when P hoppingcorresponds to the rule of the value of P F When P F is even, the different frequency hopping patterns corresponding to P F are the same as the frequency hopping pattern in Equation (2-65). When P F is even, for example, when P hopping = 3, the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k

[0322] According to the method, the first frequency hopping parameter can be determined in a predefined manner. In the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to the first frequency hopping parameter, the interval of the frequency domain between adjacent sub-bands is large. This effectively improves the frequency domain diversity gain of the channel, reduces the signaling overhead while reducing the complexity of the base station scheduling, enables different terminals to correspond to different SRS start frequency domain positions, reduces the interference in SRS transmission, and improves the channel estimation performance.

[0323] The design solution may be applied to other scenarios in addition to the start RB position frequency hopping within the frequency hopping period. That is, it should be noted that the terminal does not perform legacy SRS frequency hopping, and for different time domain symbol positions, the terminal performs SRS transmission within the frequency domain range corresponding to the same sub-band. Details will not be described again here.

[0324] In a certain design, when the signaling indicates that the start RB position frequency hopping is the start RB position frequency hopping at the OFDM symbol level, or when the signaling indicates that the start RB position frequency hopping supports the start RB position frequency hopping within and between the frequency hopping periods, the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping varies with different OFDM symbols corresponding to the same frequency domain range or the same sub-band.

[0325] The starting RB position frequency hopping at the OFDM symbol level further includes a scenario where the terminal does not perform legacy SRS frequency hopping. For different time-domain symbol positions, the terminal performs SRS transmission within the frequency-domain range corresponding to the same sub-band.

[0326] The first frequency hopping parameter k hopping is determined based on the following solution. For periodic SRS and semi-persistent SRS, in the nth f slot of the nth s,f μ frame, k corresponding to the l'th OFDM symbol corresponding to the SRS resource, hopping or k corresponding to the l SRS th SRS symbol counter hopping is associated with the i'th element in the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping , and the frequency hopping pattern element index i satisfies

Number

[0327] q represents that the OFDM symbol is the qth symbol corresponding to the SRS counter n SRS , for example, q ∈ {0, 1,..., R - 1}, and T cycle_hop is the period of the frequency hopping pattern. For periodic SRS and semi-persistent SRS, the SRS counter n SRS satisfies the definition of Equation (2 - 64).

[0328] For aperiodic SRS, k corresponding to the l'th OFDM symbol of the SRS resource hopping is associated with the i'th element in the frequency hopping pattern of k hopping , and the frequency hopping pattern element index i satisfies the definition of Equation (2 - 63). q represents that the OFDM symbol is the qth symbol corresponding to the SRS counter n SRS , and the SRS counter is

Number

[0329] The following is an exemplary scenario of the above solution. The partial frequency sounding coefficient P F ∈ {2, 4}, and the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to the first frequency hopping parameter k hopping is determined in a predefined manner. For the n f th frame, the k s,f μ corresponding to the l'-th OFDM symbol of the SRS resource in the n hopping th slot is determined based on Table 2-7. For the common start RB position frequency hopping within the frequency hopping period and between frequency hopping periods, or the start RB position frequency hopping at the OFDM symbol level, the symbol index

Number

Number

[0330] The following is another exemplary scenario of the above solution. P F ∈ {2, 4}, the candidate frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k hopping is predefined, and the actual frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k hopping is determined based on the indication signaling. For the n f th frame, the k s,f μ corresponding to the l'-th OFDM symbol corresponding to the SRS resource in the n hopping th slot is determined based on Table 2-8, and hop id is indicated by using RRC signaling, or hop idmay be indicated by using DCI or MAC CE signaling. For the common starting RB position frequency hopping within and between frequency hopping periods, or the starting RB position frequency hopping at the OFDM symbol level, the symbol index

Number

Number

[0331] In a certain design, the terminal uses the symbol index

Number

Number

Number

[0332] Parameter

Number

[0333] In a certain design, the terminal is the symbol index

Number

Number

Number

[0334]

Number

[0335] Equation (2-69) corresponds to the rule of the value of k F when P hopping can also be odd. When P F is even, the different frequency hopping patterns corresponding to P F are the same as the frequency hopping pattern in Equation (2-68). When P F is even, for example, when P F = 3, the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to k hopping is equal to {0, 2, 1}.

[0336] According to this method, the first frequency hopping parameter can be determined in a predefined manner. In the frequency hopping pattern corresponding to the first frequency hopping parameter, the frequency domain interval between adjacent sub-bands is large. This effectively improves the frequency domain diversity gain of the channel, reduces the signaling overhead, reduces the complexity of base station scheduling while reducing the signaling overhead, enables different terminals to correspond to different SRS start frequency domain positions, reduces the interference in SRS transmission, and improves the channel estimation performance.

[0337] In the solution of this application, the RB start position frequency hopping in the legacy frequency hopping period and the RB start position frequency hopping at the OFDM symbol level are further considered. The design mechanism is used to determine k hopping corresponding to different SRS transmission positions. k hopping is associated with the SRS counter. This can simplify the implementation complexity of determining k hopping by the UE and the base station, effectively reduce the complexity of base station scheduling, prevent different UEs from sounding the channel state at the same frequency domain position, reduce the interference between users, and improve the channel estimation accuracy.

[0338] Embodiment 4 In 3GPP RAN1 #106, the corresponding start RB position index in the start RB position frequency hopping scenario is

Equation

Equation

Equation

[0339] For example, when the start RB position frequency hopping is disabled, correspondingly, k hopping = 0 is always true.

[0340] Currently, there is no conclusion about the partial frequency sounding bandwidth. When the partial frequency sounding bandwidth is

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

[0341] When partial frequency sounding needs to be restricted to an integer multiple of 4 by using function operations, the above-defined starting RB position index may be used to reduce channel estimation accuracy, or there may be a problem of repeated sounding at the same frequency domain position. The following is the configured bandwidth of the SRS

Number

[0342] In a possible implementation method, the corresponding partial frequency sounding bandwidth

Number

Number

[0343] When the terminal determines the starting RB index corresponding to the SRS based on Equation (2-71) and transmits the SRS based on the partial frequency sounding bandwidth

Number

[0344] In a possible implementation method, the corresponding partial frequency sounding bandwidth

Number

Number

[0345] To solve the above problem, in Embodiment 4, in a scenario where the partial frequency sounding bandwidth is limited to an integer multiple of 4, the correspondence between the sub-band index and the start RB position index corresponding to SRS is designed. The specific solution is described as follows.

[0346] Step 1: The terminal determines the start resource block RB position corresponding to SRS based on the first condition. The ratio of the first bandwidth corresponding to SRS to 4 is non-integer.

[0347] For example, the start RB position is within the configured bandwidth of SRS

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

[0348] For example, the first condition may be configured in the terminal and the base station in a protocol pre - defined manner, or the first condition may be determined in a negotiation manner, or the first condition may be pre - configured in the terminal and the base station by other devices, or the first condition may be determined by the transmitting device and then notified to the receiving device by using signaling. One of the terminal and the base station is the transmitting device and the other is the receiving device.

[0349] Below, the configured bandwidth of the SRS

Number

[0350] Implementation method 1

[0351] For the partial frequency sounding starting RB position frequency hopping scenario, the index of the starting RB corresponding to the SRS satisfies the first condition, and the first condition is

Number

[0352] N offset represents the starting RB position index, and k F ∈ {0,..., PF is - 1}, and P F represents the partial - frequency sounding coefficient,

Number

Number

[0353] For example, the partial - frequency sounding bandwidth corresponding to SRS may correspond to the number of RBs, or may correspond to the frequency bandwidth, for example, Hz or MHz, or may be the number of sub - carriers. This is not limited in this application.

[0354] f(n) is a function. For example, f(n)=m, where m belongs to the set of integers that satisfy the condition of being no greater than n and equal to an integer multiple of 4, and m is equal to the element with the largest value in the set, or f(n)=m, where m belongs to the set of integers that satisfy the condition of being no less than n and equal to an integer multiple of 4, and m is equal to the element with the smallest value in the set, or f(n)=m, where m belongs to the set of integers that satisfy the condition of being equal to an integer multiple of 4, and m is equal to the element in the set that has the smallest absolute difference from n.

[0355] Implementation method 2

[0356] Regarding the starting RB position of the partial - frequency sounding bandwidth, the starting RB index of the starting RB position satisfies the first condition, and the first condition is

Number

[0357] m offset is the configured bandwidth of SRS

Number

[0358] S F corresponds to the SRS sub-band index and satisfies the relationship shown in Equation (2-73).

[0359] Implementation method 3

[0360] Regarding the start RB position of the partial frequency sounding bandwidth, the start RB index of the start RB position satisfies the first condition, and the first condition is

Number

[0361] The corresponding partial frequency sounding bandwidth

Number

Number

[0362] f(n)=m, where m belongs to the set of integers that are not greater than n and are equal to an integer multiple of 4, and m is equal to the element with the maximum value in the set, and S F corresponds to the SRS sub-band index and satisfies the relationship shown in Equation (2-44).

[0363] Implementation method 4

[0364] Regarding the starting RB position of the partial frequency sounding bandwidth, the starting RB index of the starting RB position satisfies the first condition, and the first condition is that

Number

[0365] The corresponding partial frequency sounding bandwidth on the i-th sub-band

Number

Number

[0366]

Number

Number

Number

Number

[0367] In another possible implementation, the partial frequency sounding bandwidth corresponding to the i-th sub-band

Number

Number

Number

[0368] S F corresponds to the SRS sub - band index and satisfies the relationship shown in Equation (2 - 73).

[0369] f i (n) is a function. For example, f(n)=m, where m does not exceed n and belongs to the set of integers that satisfy the condition of being equal to an integer multiple of 4, and m is equal to the element with the largest value in the set, or f(n)=m, where m is not less than n and belongs to the set of integers that satisfy the condition of being equal to an integer multiple of 4, and m is equal to the element with the smallest value in the set, or f(n)=m, where m belongs to the set of integers that satisfy the condition of being equal to an integer multiple of 4, and m is equal to the element in the set that has the smallest absolute difference from n.

[0370] In this embodiment, the first condition is introduced. When the SRS partial - frequency sounding bandwidth is equal to an integer multiple of 4, the correspondence relationship between the first frequency - hopping parameter k hopping and the starting RB position is defined. This avoids the situation where the terminal and the base station have different understandings of the starting frequency - region position corresponding to the SRS, avoids the situation where the SRS within the frequency - region range corresponding to the same RB is repeatedly sounded, or the SRS within the frequency - region ranges corresponding to several RBs cannot be sounded, ensures that the SRS is properly transmitted on the terminal side and received on the network side, and can effectively improve the SRS measurement accuracy and system performance.

[0371] To implement the functions in the above method, it can be understood that the base station and the terminal include corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for executing the functions. Those skilled in the art should easily recognize that this application can be implemented by hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software by referring to the units and method steps in the examples described in this application. Whether the function is executed through hardware or through hardware driven by computer software depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0372] FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 are respectively schematic diagrams of possible structures of a communication device according to this application. These communication devices may be configured to implement the functions of the terminal or the base station in the above method, and thus, the beneficial effects of the above method can also be realized. In this application, the communication device may be one of the terminals 120a to 120j shown in FIG. 1, or may be the base station 110a or 110b shown in FIG. 1, or may be a module (for example, a chip) used in the terminal or the base station.

[0373] As shown in FIG. 18, the communication device 1800 includes a processing unit 1810 and a transceiver unit 1820. The communication device 1800 is configured to implement the functions of the terminal or the base station in the method shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 11a, FIG. 12, or FIG. 13.

[0374] When the communication device 1800 is configured to implement the functions of a terminal in the method shown in FIGS. 9, 11a, 12, or 13, the processing unit 1810 is configured to determine a frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on a first time unit, the first time unit is associated with the time unit corresponding to the sounding reference signal SRS, and is configured to determine a first frequency hopping parameter based on the frequency hopping period index and the frequency hopping pattern of the terminal, the first frequency hopping parameter indicates the sub-band level offset of the SRS within the configured bandwidth range of the SRS, the frequency hopping pattern is associated with the first frequency hopping parameter, and the transceiver unit 1820 is configured to transmit the SRS to the base station based on the first frequency hopping parameter.

[0375] When the communication device 1800 is configured to implement the functions of a base station in the method shown in FIGS. 9, 11a, 12, or 13, the processing unit 1810 is configured to determine a frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on a first time unit, the first time unit is associated with the time unit corresponding to the sounding reference channel SRS, and is configured to determine a first frequency hopping parameter based on the frequency hopping period index and the frequency hopping pattern of the terminal, the first frequency hopping parameter indicates the sub-band level offset of the SRS within the configured bandwidth range of the SRS, the frequency hopping pattern is associated with the first frequency hopping parameter, and the transceiver unit 1820 is configured to receive the SRS corresponding to the terminal based on the first frequency hopping parameter.

[0376] For a more detailed description of the processing unit 1810 and the transceiver unit 1820, directly refer to the relevant descriptions in the method shown in FIGS. 9, 11a, 12, or 13. Details are not described again here.

[0377] As shown in FIG. 19, the communication device 1900 includes a processor 1910 and an interface circuit 1920. The processor 1910 and the interface circuit 1920 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the interface circuit 1920 may be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1900 may further include a memory 1930 configured to store instructions executed by the processor 1910, or to store input data required by the processor 1910 to execute the instructions, or to store data generated after the processor 1910 executes the instructions.

[0378] When the communication device 1900 is configured to implement the above method, the processor 1910 is configured to implement the functions of the processing unit 1810, and the interface circuit 1920 is configured to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 1820.

[0379] When the communication device is a chip used in a terminal, the chip in the terminal implements the functions of the terminal in the above method. The chip in the terminal receives information from other modules in the terminal (for example, a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is transmitted to the terminal by a base station, or the chip in the terminal transmits the information to other modules in the terminal (for example, a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is transmitted to the base station by the terminal.

[0380] When the communication device is a module used in a base station, the module in the base station realizes the functions of the base station in the above method. The module in the base station receives information from other modules in the base station (for example, a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is transmitted to the base station by a terminal, or the module in the base station transmits the information to other modules in the base station (for example, a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is transmitted to the terminal by the base station. The module in the base station here may be a baseband chip in the base station, or a DU or other module. The DU here may also be a DU in an open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture.

[0381] The processor in this application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs) or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. It can be understood that the general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any ordinary processor, etc.

[0382] The memory in this application may be a random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, register, hard disk, removable hard disk, CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium well-known in the art.

[0383] For example, the memory medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from the memory medium and write information to the memory medium. The memory medium may alternatively be a component of the processor. The processor and the memory medium may be disposed in an ASIC. Further, the ASIC may be located in a base station or a terminal. Clearly, the processor and the memory medium may exist in a base station or a terminal as discrete components.

[0384] All or part of the method in this application may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used to implement an embodiment, all or part of the embodiment may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs and instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the procedures or functions according to this application are completely or partially generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, a core network device, an OAM, or other programmable devices. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or may be transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer program or instructions may be transmitted in a wired or wireless manner from a website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center. The computer-readable storage medium may be any usable medium accessible by a computer, or a data storage device such as a server or data center integrating one or more usable media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape, or an optical medium, such as a digital video disk, or a semiconductor medium, such as a solid state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or may include two types of storage media, namely, a volatile storage medium and a non-volatile storage medium.

[0385] In this application, unless otherwise specified or there is no logical contradiction, the terms and / or descriptions in different embodiments are consistent and may be cross-referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments may be combined based on their internal logical relationships to form a new embodiment.

[0386] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. The term "and / or" describes the association relationship between related objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent the following cases, namely, only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists, and A and B may be singular or plural. In the description of the text of this application, the character " / " indicates the "or" relationship between related objects. In the formulas in this application, the character " / " indicates the "division" relationship between related objects. "Including at least one of A, B, or C" may indicate including A, including B, including C, including A and B, including A and C, including B and C, and including A, B, and C.

[0387] It can be understood that the various numbers used in this application are merely distinguished for ease of explanation and are not used to limit the scope of this application. The sequence numbers of the above processes do not mean the execution order. The execution order of the process should be determined based on the function and internal logic of the process.

Claims

1. A communication method, comprising: determining a frequency hopping period index of a terminal based on a first time unit, wherein the first time unit is a candidate time unit available for SRS transmission; determining a first frequency hopping parameter based on the frequency hopping period index and a frequency hopping pattern of the terminal, wherein the first frequency hopping parameter indicates a sub-band level offset of the SRS within a configured bandwidth range of the SRS; transmitting the SRS to a network device based on the first frequency hopping parameter. A method comprising the above steps. The method according to claim 1, wherein the frequency hopping period index is used to identify a frequency hopping period, and the frequency hopping period includes a plurality of frequency hops.

3. The step of determining a frequency hopping period index of a terminal based on a first time unit includes: determining the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on an SRS counter and a frequency hopping period, wherein the SRS counter is associated with the first time unit. The method according to claim 1 includes this step.

4. the hopping period index n RB_hop is 【Number 1】 satisfies, and n SRS represents the SRS counter, and T RB_hop represents the frequency hopping period, and P F represents the partial frequency sounding coefficient, the method according to claim 3.

5. The frequency hopping period is a period for sounding an SRS frequency hopping bandwidth, and the frequency hopping period is 【Number 2】 satisfies, and b hop and B SRS is configured by the upper layer parameter freqHopping, and N b’ is specified in the protocol, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The candidate time unit corresponds to a slot set that satisfies the condition 【Number 3】 where Nslot frame,μ represents the number of slots included in each frame under the condition that the subcarrier spacing is μ, nf represents the frame number, ns,fμ represents the ns,fμ-th slot in the frame under the condition that the subcarrier spacing is μ, ns,fμ ∈ {0, …, Nslot frame,μ - 1}, Toffset represents the slot offset, and TSRS represents the period of SRS transmission. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A communication method, comprising: determining a frequency hopping period index of a terminal based on a first time unit, wherein the first time unit is a candidate time unit available for SRS transmission; Determining a first frequency hopping parameter based on the frequency hopping period index and the frequency hopping pattern of the terminal, wherein the first frequency hopping parameter indicates a sub-band level offset of the SRS within the configured bandwidth range of the SRS; Receiving the SRS corresponding to the terminal based on the first frequency hopping parameter; A method comprising the steps of. **Claim 8**: The method according to claim 7, wherein the frequency hopping period index is used to identify a frequency hopping period, and the frequency hopping period includes a plurality of frequency hops. **Claim 9** The step of determining a frequency hopping period index of a terminal based on a first time unit includes: Determining the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on an SRS counter and a frequency hopping period, wherein the SRS counter is associated with the first time unit. The method according to claim 7 includes the step of. **Claim 10** The hopping period index n RB_hop is 【Number 4】 satisfies, and n SRS represents the SRS counter, T RB_hop represents the frequency hopping period, P F represents the partial frequency sounding coefficient, the method according to claim 9. **Claim 11** The frequency hopping period is a period for sounding the SRS frequency hopping bandwidth, and the frequency hopping period is 【Number 5】 satisfies, and b hop and B SRS is configured by the upper layer parameter freqHopping, and N b’ is specified in the protocol, the method according to any one of claims 7 to 10. **Claim 12**: The candidate time unit satisfies the condition 【Number 6】 Corresponding to a set of slots that satisfy the condition, where \(N_{\text{slot}}^{\text{frame},\mu}\) represents the number of slots included in each frame under the condition that the subcarrier spacing is \(\mu\), \(n_f\) represents the frame number, \(n_s^{f,\mu}\) represents the \(n_s^{f,\mu}\)-th slot within the frame under the condition that the subcarrier spacing is \(\mu\), \(n_s^{f,\mu}\in\{0,\ldots,N_{\text{slot}}^{\text{frame},\mu}-1\}\), \(T_{\text{offset}}\) represents the slot offset, and \(T_{\text{SRS}}\) represents the period of SRS transmission. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10. **Claim 13** A communication device, A processor configured to determine a frequency hopping period index of a terminal based on a first time unit, wherein the first time unit is a candidate time unit available for SRS transmission; The processor is further configured to determine a first frequency hopping parameter based on the frequency hopping period index and the frequency hopping pattern of the terminal, and the first frequency hopping parameter indicates a sub-band level offset of the SRS within a configured bandwidth range of the SRS, a processor, a transmitter configured to transmit the SRS to a network device based on the first frequency hopping parameter A communication device comprising.

14. The communication device according to claim 13, wherein the frequency hopping period index is used to identify a frequency hopping period, and the frequency hopping period includes a plurality of frequency hops.

15. The communication device according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on an SRS counter and a frequency hopping period, and the SRS counter is associated with the first time unit.

16. the hopping period index n RB_hop is 【Number 7】 satisfies n SRS represents the SRS counter, T RB_hop represents the frequency hopping period, P F represents the partial frequency sounding coefficient, The communication device according to claim 15.

17. The frequency hopping period is a period for sounding an SRS frequency hopping bandwidth, and the frequency hopping period is 【Number 8】 satisfies, b hop and B SRS is configured by the upper layer parameter freqHopping, and N b’ is specified in the protocol. The communication device according to any one of claims 13 to 16.

18. The candidate time unit is a condition 【Number 9】 corresponding to a set of slots that satisfy, where N slot frame,μ represents the number of slots included in each frame on the condition that the subcarrier spacing is μ, n f represents a frame number, and n s,f u represents the n s,f μ -th slot in the frame on the condition that the subcarrier spacing is μ, where n s,f μ ∈ {0, …, N slot frame,μ - 1}, T offset represents a slot offset, and T SRS represents a period of SRS transmission. The communication device according to any one of claims 13 to 16.

19. A communication device, a processor configured to determine a frequency hopping period index of a terminal based on a first time unit, the first time unit being a candidate time unit available for transmission of an SRS, The processor is further configured to determine a first frequency hopping parameter based on the frequency hopping period index and the frequency hopping pattern of the terminal, and the first frequency hopping parameter indicates a sub-band level offset of the SRS within the configured bandwidth range of the SRS, a processor, a receiver configured to receive the SRS corresponding to the terminal based on the first frequency hopping parameter A communication device including.

20. The communication device according to claim 19, wherein the frequency hopping period index is used to identify a frequency hopping period, and the frequency hopping period includes a plurality of frequency hops.

21. The communication device according to claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the frequency hopping period index of the terminal based on an SRS counter and a frequency hopping period, and the SRS counter is associated with the first time unit.

22. the hopping period index n RB_hop is 【Number 10】 satisfies n SRS represents the SRS counter, and T RB_hop represents the frequency hopping period, and P F represents the partial frequency sounding coefficient. The communication device according to claim 21.

23. The frequency hopping period is a period for sounding an SRS frequency hopping bandwidth, and the frequency hopping period is 【Number 8】 satisfies, and b hop and B SRS is configured by the upper layer parameter freqHopping, and N b’ is specified in the protocol, the communication device according to any one of claims 19 to 22.

24. The candidate time unit is a condition 【Number 9】 corresponding to a set of slots that satisfy, where N slot frame,μ represents the number of slots included in each frame under the condition that the subcarrier spacing is μ, n f represents the frame number, n s,f u represents the n s,f μ -th slot in the frame under the condition that the subcarrier spacing is μ, n s,f μ ∈{0,…,N slot frame,μ -1}, T offset represents the slot offset, and T SRS represents the period of SRS transmission. The communication device according to any one of claims 19 to 22.

25. A communication device, A communication device including at least one processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

26. A communication device, A communication device including at least one processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations as described in any one of claims 7 to 10.

Images