Communication resource determination method and communication device

Abstract

A communication resource determination method and a communication apparatus are provided, so that resources for communicating a physical downlink control channel between an access network device and a terminal device are fully adaptable to a cell load when the cell load changes. The method in the present application may include: the access network device determines first indication information based on cell load information, and sends the first indication information to the terminal device; the terminal device determines a first resource used by the terminal device to detect the physical downlink control channel based on the first indication information and the first information; the first information includes a plurality of resource information, the first indication information corresponds to first resource information in the plurality of resource information, and the first resource information indicates the first resource.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to a communication resource determination method and a communication device. [Background technology]

[0003] In a new radio (NR) system, an access network device may encapsulate information such as the frequency band occupied by a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in the frequency domain and the number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols occupied in the time domain into a control resource set (CORESET), encapsulate information such as the starting symbol number of the physical downlink control channel and a monitoring period of the physical downlink control channel into a search space (SS), and send the CORESET and SS to a terminal device via radio resource control (RRC) signaling. The terminal device may determine resources and detect the physical downlink control channel on the determined resources based on the CORESET and SS sent by the access network device.

[0004] If the access network device determines that the cell load has changed, the access network device may change the CORESET and SS according to the change in cell load, and then configure the changed CORESET and changed SS to the terminal device in an RRC signaling-based reconfiguration process, so that the terminal device may determine a changed resource for the physical downlink control channel based on the changed CORESET and changed SS and detect the physical downlink control channel on the resource.

[0005] However, the RRC signaling-based reconfiguration process takes time. For example, after several or tens of transmission time intervals (TTIs), the access network device can successfully configure the changed CORESET and changed SS to the terminal device. In this case, the access network device cannot reconfigure the CORESET and SS to the terminal device in a timely manner based on changes in cell load. As a result, the resources for communicating the physical downlink control channel between the access network device and the terminal device are not sufficiently adaptable to the cell load. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a communication resource determination method and a communication device that are useful for implementing that resources for communicating a physical downlink control channel between an access network device and a terminal device are fully adaptable to the cell load when the cell load changes.

[0007] According to a first aspect, the present application provides a communication resource determination method. The communication resource determination method can be performed by a terminal device or a module (e.g., a chip) within the terminal device. For the purpose of explanation, the following uses an example in which the method is performed by a terminal device.

[0008] In a possible implementation, the communication resource determination method includes: a terminal device receives first indication information from an access network device, the first indication information being associated with load information of a cell to which the terminal device belongs; the terminal device determines a first resource used by the terminal device to detect a physical downlink control channel based on the first indication information and the first information, the first information including a plurality of resource information, the first indication information corresponding to first resource information in the plurality of resource information, and the first resource information indicating the first resource; in a possible implementation, the first information further includes a plurality of indication information, the plurality of indication information corresponding to the plurality of resource information respectively, and the plurality of indication information including the first indication information.

[0009] In the above technical solution, the access network device may determine first indication information based on cell load information and send the first indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device may determine a first resource based on the first indication information and the first information and detect a physical downlink control channel on the first resource. When the cell load information changes, the access network device does not need to reconfigure the configuration information of the physical downlink control channel to the terminal device. This helps to increase the speed at which the access network device indicates resources for communicating the physical downlink control channel to the terminal device. In addition, the resources for communicating the physical downlink control channel determined by the terminal device are fully applicable to the load information of the cell to which the terminal device belongs.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the sizes of the resources used by the terminal device to detect the physical downlink control channel and indicated by the different resource information in the first information are different. In a possible implementation, at least one of the number of symbols and the bandwidth included in the resources used by the terminal device to detect the physical downlink control channel and indicated by the different resource information in the first information are different.

[0011] In the above technical solution, the terminal device can determine resources of different sizes based on different display information from the access network device, and when the load information of the cell to which the terminal device belongs is different, determine a transmission resource of a size (or capacity) corresponding to the load information of the cell.

[0012] In a possible implementation, the display information in the first information is bandwidth portion information, the first display information is first bandwidth portion information, and the first bandwidth portion information further indicates to the terminal device to switch the operating bandwidth to a bandwidth portion corresponding to the first bandwidth portion information.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the access network device configures multiple different bandwidth portions for the terminal device, and resource information corresponding to each bandwidth portion may be configured independently, i.e., each bandwidth portion may correspond to a number of symbols and / or a frequency domain bandwidth. The access network device may indicate the corresponding resource information to the terminal device in a manner that schedules the terminal device to switch its operating bandwidth. When a cell load changes, the access network device may quickly and efficiently indicate to the terminal device first bandwidth portion information corresponding to the changed cell load. This helps to ensure that resources for communicating a physical downlink control channel between the access network device and the terminal device are sufficiently adaptable to the cell load. Furthermore, the first bandwidth portion information may be sent by the access network device to the terminal device via downlink control information (DCI), and the first bandwidth portion information may be for implementing the TTI granularity configuration.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, where the second resource information indicates the second resource, and the second resource includes the first resource. In a possible implementation, a resource other than the first resource in the second resource may be used by the terminal device to receive a physical downlink shared channel, and a position of the physical downlink shared channel may be indicated by rate matching pattern information for the physical downlink control channel in the first resource.

[0015] In the above technical solution, the access network device may set rate matching patterns corresponding to multiple rate matching pattern information to the terminal device, that is, each rate matching pattern may indicate a different position of the physical downlink shared channel. The access network device may indicate the position of the physical downlink shared channel to the terminal device by including the rate matching pattern information in the physical downlink control channel, which is helpful to improve resource utilization.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the communication resource determination method further includes: the terminal device receives first information from the access network device via RRC signaling.

[0017] According to a second aspect, the present application provides a communication resource determination method. The communication resource determination method can be performed by an access network device or a module (e.g., a chip) within the access network device. For the purpose of explanation, the following uses an example in which the method is performed by the access network device.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the communication resource determination method includes: an access network device sends first indication information to a terminal device, the first indication information being associated with load information of a cell of the access network device; the access network device determines a first resource to be used by the access network device to send a physical downlink control channel based on the first indication information and the first information, the first information including a plurality of resource information, the first indication information corresponding to first resource information in the plurality of resource information, and the first resource information indicating the first resource; in a possible implementation, the first information further includes a plurality of indication information, the plurality of indication information corresponding to the plurality of resource information respectively, and the plurality of indication information including the first indication information.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the sizes of the resources used by the access network device to send the physical downlink control channel and indicated by the different resource information in the first information are different. In a possible implementation, at least one of the number of symbols and the bandwidth included in the resources used by the access network device to send the physical downlink control channel and indicated by the different resource information in the first information are different.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the first indication information is first bandwidth portion information, and the first bandwidth portion information is further used by the access network device to schedule the operating bandwidth of the terminal device to be switched to the bandwidth portion corresponding to the first bandwidth portion information.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, where the second resource information indicates a second resource, and the second resource includes the first resource. In a possible implementation, a resource other than the first resource in the second resource is used by the access network device to send a physical downlink shared channel, and a position of the physical downlink shared channel can be indicated by rate matching pattern information for a physical downlink control channel in the first resource.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the access network device determines first indication information based on the cell load information and the first information; in a possible implementation, the access network device determines a size of a first resource for sending a physical downlink control channel based on the cell load information, and determines the first indication information based on the size of the first resource and the first information.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the communication resource determination method further includes: the access network device selects a terminal device from terminal devices served by the cell according to a preset policy. In a possible implementation, the preset policy may be a random selection policy or a selection based on signal strength. When the access network device selects a terminal device from terminal devices served by the cell based on signal strength, the access network device may determine the signal strength of each of a plurality of terminal devices served by the cell and select a terminal device whose signal strength meets a preset condition.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the communication resource determination method further includes: the access network device sends first information to the terminal device through RRC signaling.

[0025] For technical effects that can be achieved in any possible implementation of the second aspect, please refer to the description of the beneficial effects in the first aspect, and the details will not be described again here.

[0026] According to a third aspect, the present application provides a communication resource determination method. The communication resource determination method can be performed by a terminal device or a module (e.g., a chip) within the terminal device. For the purpose of explanation, the following uses an example in which the method is performed by a terminal device.

[0027] In a possible implementation, the communication resource determination method includes: a terminal device determines resources indicated by a plurality of resource information; the terminal device performs detection on the resources indicated by the plurality of resource information; first resource information in the plurality of resource information indicates a first resource, the first resource carries a physical downlink control channel, and the first resource information is associated with load information of a cell to which the terminal device belongs.

[0028] In the above technical solution, the access network device may determine first resource information based on load information of a cell. The first resource indicated by the first resource information may be used by the access network device to send a physical downlink control channel to a terminal device. The terminal device determines resources indicated by the plurality of pieces of resource information, respectively, and detects whether the physical downlink control channel is received on the resources indicated by the plurality of pieces of resource information, respectively, i.e., the terminal device determines whether the physical downlink control channel is received in a full detection manner. In this way, the resource for communicating the physical downlink control channel between the access network device and the terminal device is fully applicable to the load information of the cell to which the terminal device belongs.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the sizes of the resources used by the terminal device to detect the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information are different. In a possible implementation, at least one of the number of symbols and the bandwidths included in the resources used by the terminal device to detect the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information are different.

[0030] In the above technical solution, the access network device may indicate multiple pieces of resource information to the terminal device in advance, and the multiple pieces of resource information may indicate resources of different sizes. In this way, when the load information of the cells to which the terminal device belongs is different, the access network device may determine a transmission resource of a size (or capacity) corresponding to the load information of the cells, and the terminal device may detect a physical downlink control channel communicated on the transmission resource through full detection.

[0031] In a possible implementation, the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, where the second resource information indicates the second resource, and the second resource includes the first resource. In a possible implementation, a resource other than the first resource in the second resource may be used by the terminal device to receive a physical downlink shared channel. The location of the physical downlink shared channel may be indicated by rate matching pattern information for the physical downlink control channel in the first resource. The above technical solution helps to improve resource utilization.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the communication resource determination method further includes: the terminal device receives a plurality of resource information from the access network device through RRC signaling.

[0033] In a possible implementation, the terminal device performing detection on the resources indicated by the plurality of resource information includes: the terminal device performing detection on the resources indicated by each resource information to determine whether a physical downlink control channel from the access network device is received.

[0034] According to a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication resource determination method. The communication resource determination method can be performed by an access network device or a module (e.g., a chip) within the access network device. For the purpose of explanation, the following uses an example in which the method is performed by the access network device.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the communication resource determination method includes: an access network device determines first resource information from a plurality of resource information, the first resource information being associated with load information of a cell of the access network device, and the first resource information in the plurality of resource information indicates a first resource; and the access network device sends a physical downlink control channel to the terminal device on the first resource.

[0036] In a possible implementation, the sizes of the resources used by the access network device to send the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information are different.

[0037] In a possible implementation, at least one of the number of symbols and the bandwidth included in the resources used by the access network device to send the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information is different.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, where the second resource information indicates a second resource, and the second resource includes the first resource.

[0039] In a possible implementation, a resource other than the first resource in the second resource group may be used by the access network device to send a physical downlink shared channel, the location of which may be indicated by rate matching pattern information for the physical downlink control channel in the first resource group.

[0040] In a possible implementation, the communication resource determination method further includes: the access network device sends a plurality of resource information to the terminal device through RRC signaling.

[0041] In a possible implementation, the access network device determining first resource information from the plurality of resource information includes: the access network device determining the first resource information from the plurality of resource information based on cell load information; in a possible implementation, the access network device determining a size of a first resource for sending a physical downlink control channel based on the cell load information; the access network device determining the first resource information from the plurality of resource information based on the size of the first resource.

[0042] For technical effects that can be achieved in any possible implementation of the fourth aspect, please refer to the description of the beneficial effects in the third aspect, and the details will not be described again here.

[0043] According to a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, the communication device having a function of implementing a terminal device in the first aspect or any one of possible implementations of the first aspect, or having a function of implementing a terminal device in the third aspect or any one of possible implementations of the third aspect. The communication device may be the terminal device or a chip included in the terminal device.

[0044] The communication apparatus alternatively has functionality to implement an access network device in the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect, or has functionality to implement an access network device in the fourth aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect. The communication apparatus may be an access network device or may be a chip included in an access network device.

[0045] The functions of the communication device described above may be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software, and the hardware or software may include one or more modules, units, or means corresponding to the functions described above.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the structure of the apparatus includes a processing module and a transceiver module, wherein the processing module is configured to support the apparatus in performing a corresponding function of the terminal device in the first aspect or any one of the implementations of the first aspect, or in performing a corresponding function of the access network device in the second aspect or any one of the implementations of the second aspect, or in performing a corresponding function of the terminal device in the third aspect or any one of the implementations of the third aspect, or in performing a corresponding function of the access network device in the fourth aspect or any one of the implementations of the fourth aspect.

[0047] The transceiver module is configured to support communication between the apparatus and another communication device. For example, if the apparatus is a terminal device, the transceiver module may be configured to communicate a physical downlink control channel with an access network device. The communication apparatus may further include a storage module. The storage module is coupled to the processing module and stores program instructions and data required for the apparatus. In one example, the processing module may be a processor, the transceiver module may be a transceiver, and the storage module may be a memory, which may be integrated into the processor or disposed separately from the processor.

[0048] In another possible implementation, the structure of the apparatus may include a processor and further include a memory. The processor may be coupled to the memory and configured to execute computer program instructions stored in the memory to enable the apparatus to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or the method of the second aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or the method of the third aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or the method of the fourth aspect or any one of its possible implementations.

[0049] Optionally, the device further includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface. If the device is an access network device or a terminal device, the communication interface may be a transceiver or an input / output interface. If the device is a chip included in an access network device or a chip included in a terminal device, the communication interface may be an input / output interface of the chip. Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit, and the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0050] According to a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system including a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory, and the memory is configured to store a program or instruction. When the program or instruction is executed by the processor, the chip system is enabled to implement the method of the first aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or the method of the second aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or the method of the third aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or the method of the fourth aspect or any one of its possible implementations.

[0051] Optionally, the chip system further includes an interface circuit, the interface circuit comprising: a processor and It is configured to exchange code instructions.

[0052] Optionally, one or more processors may be present in the chip system, and the processor may be implemented by hardware or software. If the processor is implemented by hardware, the processor may be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc. If the processor is implemented by software, the processor may be a general-purpose processor and is implemented by reading software code stored in a memory.

[0053] Optionally, the chip system may include one or more memories. The memory may be integrated with the processor or may be disposed separately from the processor. For example, the memory may be a non-transitory processor memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM). The memory and the processor may be integrated on the same chip or may be located on different chips.

[0054] According to a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, enable a computer to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or the method of the second aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or the method of the third aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or the method of the fourth aspect or any one of its possible implementations.

[0055] According to an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which, when read and executed by a computer, enables the computer to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or the method of the second aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or the method of the third aspect or any one of its possible implementations, or the method of the fourth aspect or any one of its possible implementations.

[0056] According to a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system. The communication system includes an access network device and at least one terminal device. The terminal device may have the functionality of the terminal device in the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect, and the access network device may have the functionality of the access network device in the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect. Alternatively, the terminal device may have the functionality of the terminal device in the third aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect, and the access network device may have the functionality of the access network device in the fourth aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect.

[0057] For technical effects that can be achieved in any one of the fifth to ninth aspects, please refer to the description of the beneficial effects in the first or third aspect, and the details will not be described again here. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0058] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to the present application; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of determining PDCCH resources by a UE according to the present application; [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic flow chart of configuring PDCCH resources by an access network device according to the present application; [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication resource determination method according to the present application; [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic diagram of multiple BWPs corresponding to a UE according to the present application; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a first schematic diagram of configuring and scheduling PDCCH resources by an access network device according to the present application; [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a second schematic diagram of configuring and scheduling PDCCH resources by an access network device according to the present application; [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a group of rate matching patterns according to the present application; [Figure 9] 4 is a schematic flowchart of another communication resource determination method according to the present application; [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a third schematic diagram of configuring and scheduling PDCCH resources by an access network device according to the present application; [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a fourth schematic diagram of configuring and scheduling PDCCH resources by an access network device according to the present application; [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to the present application; [Figure 13] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device according to the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0059] The present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0060] 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system to which the present application is applicable. The communication system includes a terminal device and an access network device. The terminal device communicates with the access network device through a wireless interface.

[0061] A terminal device is a device having wireless transceiver capabilities. The terminal device may be an indoor or outdoor device, a handheld device, or a vehicle-mounted device, and may be located on land, on water (e.g., on a steamship), or in the air (e.g., on an airplane, balloon, or satellite). The terminal device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer (pad), a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, or user equipment (UE).

[0062] An access network device is a device that provides wireless communication functions for a terminal device, including, but not limited to, a next-generation base station (gNodeB, gNB), a transmitting and receiving point (TRP), a transmission point (TP), etc.

[0063] To accommodate the requirements of various services, access technologies, bandwidths, standards, etc., the NR system may support flexible configuration of physical downlink control channel resources, but the physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH) is canceled. Specifically, the access network device cannot explicitly indicate to the terminal device the resources for communicating the physical downlink control channel between the access network device and the terminal device.

[0064] In this application, resources for communicating a physical downlink control channel may be referred to as PDCCH resources or downlink control resources, and the PDCCH communicated between an access network device and a terminal device may be referred to as DCI. The PDCCH may be for scheduling a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and the PDSCH communicated between an access network device and a terminal device may be referred to as downlink data. In the embodiments of this application, the physical downlink control channel is referred to as PDCCH, the physical downlink shared channel is referred to as PDSCH, and the terminal device is referred to as UE. It may be understood that PDSCH, PDCCH, and UE are used merely as examples of the physical downlink shared channel, the physical downlink control channel, and the terminal device. In different systems and different scenarios, the physical downlink shared channel, the physical downlink control channel, and the terminal device may all have different names, which is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0065] In an NR system, an access network device may indicate to a UE the resources used by the UE to detect the PDCCH (which may hereinafter be referred to as PDCCH resources) by using CORESET and SS. A UE detecting a PDCCH may be understood as follows: The UE performs detection on the PDCCH resources to determine whether the PDCCH can be detected. If the access network device sends a PDCCH to the UE on the PDCCH resources, the UE may detect the PDCCH on the PDCCH resources. If the access network device does not send a PDCCH to the UE on the PDCCH resources, the UE does not detect the PDCCH on the PDCCH resources.

[0066] Specifically, the access network device encapsulates information such as the frequency band occupied by the PDCCH in the frequency domain and the number of symbols occupied by the PDCCH in the time domain in the CORESET, and encapsulates information such as the starting symbol number of the PDCCH and the monitoring period of the PDCCH in the SS. The symbols in the time domain may be OFDM symbols or discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM symbols. Unless otherwise specified, all symbols in the embodiments of this application are symbols in the time domain.

[0067] When the UE performs random access, the access network device may send configuration information to the UE. The configuration information may include a CORESET and an SS. The UE may determine information required for the UE to detect the PDCCH based on the CORESET and the SS included in the configuration information. The information required for the UE to detect the PDCCH may include the number of symbols corresponding to the detection of the PDCCH, a frequency domain location, a DCI type, an aggregation level, a corresponding detection count, etc.

[0068] In the schematic diagram of an example of determining a PDCCH resource by a UE as shown in FIG. 2, the left part can be understood as configuration information received by the UE from the network. The configuration information includes CORESET and SS. Based on the SS, the UE may determine a slot, DCI type, aggregation level, etc. corresponding to PDCCH detection by the UE. Based on the CORESET, the UE may further determine a pattern. A slot corresponding to PDCCH detection by the UE may be referred to as a detection slot, and a pattern determined by the UE based on the CORESET is referred to as a detection resource pattern. The right part can be understood as follows: The UE determines a detection slot from multiple slots, and the detection slot is slot M. Based on the detection resource pattern, the UE may further determine a time-domain location and a frequency-domain location corresponding to PDCCH detection in slot M (see the shaded portion in slot M shown in FIG. 2, where the vertical coordinate indicates the frequency-domain location corresponding to PDCCH detection by the UE and the horizontal coordinate indicates the time-domain location corresponding to PDCCH detection by the UE).

[0069] FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of an example of configuring PDCCH resources by an access network device according to the present application.

[0070] Step 301: The UE establishes a radio link connection to an access network device.

[0071] Step 302: The access network device generates configuration information based on the load information of the cell.

[0072] In the present application, an access network device may correspond to multiple cells, and each cell may be accessed by multiple UEs, in other words, each cell may serve multiple UEs, in other words, each cell may have multiple UEs. For a UE, the cell accessed by the UE is the UE's serving cell. For each cell, the access network device may determine cell load information based on at least one of factors such as the load status of the cell, for example, the number of UEs accessing the cell, the number of resources requested by UEs in the cell, and the success rate of allocating PDCCH resources to UEs in the cell by the access network device, where the load information indicates the load status of the cell.

[0073] The access network device may determine the size of resources required to transmit a PDCCH to UEs in a cell based on the cell load information. An example is used for explanation, referring to the number of UEs accessing the cell. A larger cell load indicates a larger number of UEs accessing the cell, and the access network device needs to send a PDCCH separately to the multiple UEs accessing the cell. Therefore, the access network device needs more resources to transmit a PDCCH to UEs in the cell, i.e., larger PDCCH resources are required. Similarly, a smaller cell load indicates that fewer resources are required by the access network device to transmit a PDCCH to UEs in the cell, i.e., smaller PDCCH resources are required. For example, the size of resources may be referred to as resource capacity and may be measured by using a time-domain resource size and a frequency-domain resource size. The time-domain resource size may be the number of symbols included in one slot, and the frequency-domain resource size may be the resource bandwidth or the number of resource blocks (RBs) included in the frequency domain.

[0074] Furthermore, the access network device may generate CORESET and SS based on the size of resources required to transmit the PDCCH to the UE in the cell, and the CORESET and SS are used as configuration information.

[0075] Step 303: The access network device sends configuration information to the UE, where the configuration information may be sent by the access network device to the UE via RRC signaling.

[0076] Step 304: The UE determines a PDCCH resource based on the configuration information. In a possible specific implementation, the UE may determine a UE detection slot, a DCI type, an aggregation level, etc. based on the SS included in the configuration information, determine a detection resource pattern in the UE detection slot based on the CORESET included in the configuration information, and determine a resource for detecting the PDCCH (i.e., a PDCCH resource) from the detection slot based on the detection resource pattern.

[0077] Step 305: The UE communicates a PDCCH with the access network device on the PDCCH resource.

[0078] In the case of a UE, the UE may detect for a PDCCH on the PDCCH resource. If the access network device sends a PDCCH to the UE on the PDCCH resource, the UE may detect for a PDCCH on the PDCCH resource. If the access network device does not send a PDCCH to the UE on the PDCCH resource, the UE does not detect for a PDCCH on the PDCCH resource.

[0079] In a possible implementation, the PDCCH is for scheduling the PDSCH, and the UE may further receive the PDSCH from the access network device based on the resource location of the PDSCH indicated in the PDCCH.

[0080] The access network device may further adjust the size of resources required to transmit PDCCH to UEs in the cell based on the cell load information. If it determines that the cell load has increased, the access network device may increase the PDCCH resources. If it determines that the cell load has decreased, the access network device may decrease the PDCCH resources. In this way, the access network device can flexibly schedule PDCCH resources, which helps to improve resource utilization.

[0081] Because the access network device needs to send configuration information to the UE via RRC signaling, and the RRC signaling-based reconfiguration process can be slow and take a long time, the access network device may need to wait, for example, several or tens of TTIs, before resending the configuration information to the UE. Consequently, the size of the resources for communicating the PDCCH between the access network device and the UE is not adaptable in a timely manner to the cell load.

[0082] In consideration of this, the present application provides a communication resource determination method. The method is applicable when a cell load changes, so that the resources for communicating a PDCCH between an access network device and a UE are sufficiently adaptable to the cell load. The method can be performed by a terminal device (i.e., a UE) and an access network device, as shown in FIG. 1 as an example.

[0083] In a possible implementation, the access network device may send first information to the UE in advance, and the first information may include a plurality of display information pieces and resource information corresponding to the plurality of display information pieces, and the resource information corresponding to the display information pieces may indicate a PDCCH resource (or may indicate a location of the PDCCH resource).

[0084] In a specific implementation, the resource information may indicate time-domain and frequency-domain resources for the PDCCH. The time-domain resource may be one or more symbols that can be occupied by the PDCCH within a slot. For example, one slot in an NR system may include 14 symbols, and the PDCCH may occupy one symbol, two symbols, or three symbols within the slot. The frequency-domain resource may be the cell bandwidth. The cell bandwidth may be understood as the bandwidth occupied by the cell in which the UE is located. The cell bandwidth may be, for example, 20 MHz or 60 MHz. For example, the resource information may include a CORESET and an SS.

[0085] In a possible approach, the display information may be bandwidth part (BWP) information. That is, the first information may include a plurality of pieces of BWP information and resource information corresponding to the plurality of pieces of BWP information. Alternatively, the display information may be detection resource pattern information. That is, the first information may include a plurality of pieces of detection resource pattern information and resource information corresponding to the plurality of pieces of detection resource pattern information. For specific implementations, please refer to the descriptions in the following related embodiments in Figures 4 to 8.

[0086] In the present application, the resource sizes of the PDCCH resources indicated by the plurality of pieces of resource information may be the same or different. The resource size of the PDCCH resource may be measured by using the number of symbols occupied by the PDCCH resource in the time domain and the bandwidth occupied by the PDCCH resource in the frequency domain. The number of symbols included in the PDCCH resources indicated by the plurality of pieces of resource information may be the same or different. For example, in the plurality of pieces of resource information, the number of symbols included in the PDCCH resource indicated by one piece of resource information is 1, and the number of symbols included in the PDCCH resource indicated by another piece of resource information is 2. In other words, the numbers of symbols included in the PDCCH resources indicated by the two pieces of resource information are different. The bandwidths included in the PDCCH resources indicated by the plurality of pieces of resource information may be the same or different. For example, in the plurality of pieces of resource information, the bandwidth included in the PDCCH resource indicated by one piece of resource information is 20 MHz, and the bandwidth included in the PDCCH resource indicated by another piece of resource information is 20 MHz. In other words, the bandwidths included in the PDCCH resources indicated by the two pieces of resource information are the same.

[0087] In a possible approach, the access network device may configure the first information about the UE through higher layer signaling, for example, RRC signaling. For example, the access network device may send an RRC reconfiguration message to the UE, where the RRC reconfiguration message includes the first information.

[0088] The following provides an explanation with reference to the schematic flowchart of the communication resource determination method shown in Figure 4. The procedure is as follows:

[0089] Step 401: The access network device determines first display information based on the cell load information and the first information.

[0090] The access network device may monitor the load status of the cell and then determine the load information of the cell based on the load status of the cell. For example, the access network device may monitor the load status of the cell at each TTI and then determine the load information of the cell based on the load status of the cell at multiple TTIs. The load status of the cell may be, for example, the number of UEs in an RRC connected state in the cell or the success rate of allocating PDCCH resources to UEs in the cell by the access network device.

[0091] In a possible approach, the cell load information may be a cell load level, which may include, for example, light load, medium load, and heavy load. For example, if the number of UEs in an RRC connected state in the cell is less than 500, the cell load level is light load, if the number of UEs in an RRC connected state in the cell is more than 500 but less than 1000, the cell load level is medium load, and if the number of UEs in an RRC connected state in the cell is more than 1000, the cell load level is heavy load.

[0092] The first information may include a plurality of pieces of resource information, the first display information may correspond to a first piece of resource information in the plurality of pieces of resource information, and the first resource information may indicate the first resource.

[0093] The first information may further include a plurality of pieces of display information, and the plurality of pieces of display information correspond to the plurality of pieces of resource information. For example, the plurality of pieces of display information may correspond one-to-one to the plurality of pieces of resource information.

[0094] Furthermore, in one example, the first display information is one of a plurality of display information, and the resource information corresponding to the first display information in the first information is the first resource information. For example, the first information includes display information 1, display information 2, and display information 3, and resource information 1, resource information 2, and resource information 3 correspond to display information 1, display information 2, and display information 3, respectively. If the first display information is, for example, display information 1, the first resource information is resource information 1.

[0095] In another example, the first display information corresponds to one of the plurality of display information (it can be understood that the first display information is not included in the plurality of display information, and the display information corresponding to the first display information is included in the plurality of display information), and the display information corresponding to the first display information may correspond to the first resource information in the first information. For example, the first information includes display information 1, display information 2, and display information 3, and resource information 1, resource information 2, and resource information 3 correspond to display information 1, display information 2, and display information 3, respectively. The first display information is, for example, display information A. Display information A corresponds to display information 1, and display information 1 in the first information corresponds to resource information 1. It can also be understood that the first resource information corresponding to display information A is resource information 1.

[0096] For ease of explanation, the following may use an example in which the first display information is one display information in the first information to explain an implementation in which the access network device determines the first display information based on cell load information and the first information.

[0097] The access network device may determine first display information from the plurality of display information based on the cell load information. Resource information corresponding to the first display information is the first resource information. The size of the PDCCH resource indicated by the first resource information may match the cell load information. It can be understood that the access network device may determine, based on the cell load information, from the plurality of display information in the first information, first display information corresponding to the PDCCH resource whose size matches the cell load information.

[0098] The first display information is associated with the load information of the cell, and the association may be considered to correspond or have a corresponding relationship. For example, the load information of the cell is the load level of the cell. If the load level of the cell includes a light load, a medium load, and a heavy load, the light load, the medium load, and the heavy load may respectively correspond to different display information in the first information. Correspondingly, the access network device may determine the first display information associated with the load level of the cell in the first information based on the load level of the cell. The association may be considered as follows: The first display information needs to be determined based on the load information of the cell.

[0099] In a possible approach, the first information may include three pieces of display information and resource information corresponding to the three pieces of display information, where the three pieces of display information correspond to a light load, a medium load, and a heavy load, respectively. Furthermore, the PDCCH resource corresponding to the light load may be smaller than the PDCCH resource corresponding to the medium load, and the PDCCH resource corresponding to the medium load may be smaller than the PDCCH resource corresponding to the heavy load. The number of symbols (having the same resource bandwidth) is used as an example. The first information may include display information 1, display information 2, and display information 3, which correspond to a light load, a medium load, and a heavy load, respectively. Resource information 1 corresponding to display information 1 indicates that the PDCCH resource includes one symbol in the time domain. Resource information 2 corresponding to display information 2 indicates that the PDCCH resource includes two symbols in the time domain. Resource information 3 corresponding to display information 3 indicates that the PDCCH resource includes three symbols in the time domain.

[0100] In one possible implementation, when a UE accesses, the access network device may determine load information of a cell, and then determine the first display information based on the load information of the cell. In another possible implementation, when the load information of a cell changes, the access network device may determine the first display information based on the changed load information of the cell.

[0101] In addition, in an example where the first display information corresponds to one of a plurality of display information, it can be understood that the access network device determines third display information associated with a load level of the cell from the first information based on the cell load information and the first information, and the third display information corresponds to the first display information. For specific implementation, please refer to the above-mentioned technique in which the access network device determines the first display information. Details will not be described again.

[0102] Step 402: The access network device sends first indication information to the UE.

[0103] When the display information is BWP information, the first information may include a plurality of BWP information pieces and resource information corresponding to the plurality of BWP information pieces. The first display information may be the first BWP information piece, and the first resource information may be resource information corresponding to the first BWP information piece in the first information. It should be additionally noted that the first BWP information piece can not only indicate to the UE to determine the first resource information piece, but also indicate to the UE to switch the operating BWP piece based on the first BWP information piece, or can be used by the UE to switch the operating BWP piece based on the first BWP information piece.

[0104] When the display information is detection resource pattern information, the first information may include a plurality of pieces of detection resource pattern information and resource information corresponding to the plurality of pieces of detection resource pattern information. The first display information may be the first detection resource pattern information. The UE may determine, based on the first detection resource pattern information, first resource information corresponding to the first detection resource pattern information from the first information, and then determine the first resource based on the first resource information.

[0105] The access network device may send a DCI to the UE, where the DCI carries the first indication information.

[0106] Step 403: The UE determines a first resource based on the first indication information and the first information.

[0107] The UE may determine first resource information from the first information based on the first indication information, and then determine a first resource based on the first resource information, where the first resource is a resource used by the UE to detect a PDCCH.

[0108] It should be additionally noted that the access network device may indicate to all UEs in the cell to change resources for detecting the PDCCH. Alternatively, the access network device may indicate to a portion of the UEs in the cell to change resources for detecting the PDCCH, which may be referred to as target UEs.

[0109] Possible approach 1: The access network device may send the first indication information to all UEs in the cell, and in response, all UEs in the cell may determine the first resource based on the first indication information.

[0110] In possible approach 1, the sizes of the PDCCH resources indicated by the two pieces of resource information in the first information may be set to be different. For example, the size of the resource indicated by resource information 2 is larger than the size of the resource indicated by resource information 1. All UEs in the cell detect the PDCCH based on the resource indicated by resource information 1. When determining that the cell load has increased, the access network device may send indication information 2 indicating resource information 2 to all UEs in the cell. All UEs in the cell may determine the resource for detecting the PDCCH based on the resource information 2 corresponding to indication information 2.

[0111] Possible Method 2: The access network device may select a target UE from UEs in a cell according to a preset policy, and send first indication information to the target UE. In response, the target UE in the cell may determine a first resource based on the first indication information.

[0112] In possible approach 2, the sizes of the PDCCH resources indicated by the two pieces of resource information in the first information may be set to be the same. For example, the resource indicated by resource information 1 has the same size as the resource indicated by resource information 2. All UEs in the cell detect the PDCCH based on the resource indicated by resource information 1. When determining that the cell load has increased, the access network device may select a target UE from the UEs in the cell and send indication information 2 indicating resource information 2 to the target UE. Correspondingly, after receiving indication information 2, the target UE may determine a resource for detecting the PDCCH based on resource information 2. UEs in the cell that do not receive indication information 2 may still determine a resource for detecting the PDCCH based on resource information 1.

[0113] In possible approach 2, the preset policy may be a random selection policy. For example, if there are 1,000 UEs in a cell, the access network device may randomly select 500 UEs from the 1,000 UEs as target UEs. Alternatively, the preset policy may be that the access network device makes the selection based on signal strength. For example, the access network device may determine the signal strength of each UE in the cell and select UEs whose signal strength meets a preset condition. For example, there are 1,000 UEs in a cell. The access network device may determine the signal strength of the 1,000 UEs and then select UEs from the 1,000 UEs whose signal strength is greater than a preset threshold as target UEs. Alternatively, the access network device may sort the 1,000 UEs in descending order of signal strength and select the first 500 UEs as target UEs based on the order. Alternatively, the preset policy may be another policy. This is not a limitation in the present application.

[0114] Optionally, in step 404, the access network device may send a PDCCH to the UE on the first resource. Correspondingly, the UE may receive the PDCCH on the first resource in a detection manner.

[0115] It should be additionally noted that the first information may further include second indication information. The second indication information in the first information corresponds to second resource information. The second resource indicated by the second resource information may be the maximum PDCCH resource configured by the access network device for communicating the PDCCH with the UE. It may be understood that the access network device may send the PDCCH to the UE on all or part of the resources in the second resources. If the access network device sends the PDCCH to the UE on all resources in the second resources, the second resources are the same as the first resources. If the access network device sends the PDCCH to the UE on part of the resources in the second resources, the second resources include the first resources. In the latter case, the access network device may not only communicate the PDCCH with the UE on the first resources, but also communicate the PDSCH with the UE on resources other than the first resources in the second resources. For example, the PDSCH may be scheduled by using the PDCCH in the first resources.

[0116] The following will describe this embodiment of the present application in detail by using an example in which the display information is BWP information.

[0117] When a UE is in an RRC idle state, the access network device may configure an initial bandwidth portion (initial BWP) for the UE's initial access by using a system message. When the UE enters an RRC connected state, the access network device may configure multiple dedicated bandwidth portions (dedicated BWPs) for the UE, and the access network device may activate the dedicated BWP for the UE by using a dynamic indication. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an example of multiple BWPs corresponding to a UE. The UE accesses the access network device by using the initial BWP. The UE enters an RRC connected state, and then the access network device configures three dedicated BWPs for the UE. The three dedicated BWPs may be represented as BWP 1, BWP 2, and BWP 3, respectively. For example, at time t1, the access network device may activate BWP 1 for the UE, and the UE may communicate with the access network device over BWP 1. At time t2, the access network device may activate BWP 2 for the UE, and the UE may communicate with the access network device over BWP 2. At time t3, the access network device activates BWP 3 for the UE, and the UE can communicate with the access network device over BWP 3. At the same moment, the UE has only one activated dedicated BWP. The dedicated BWP currently activated for the UE may be referred to as an active BWP. It may also be understood that the UE operates on the active BWP and the UE may communicate with the access network device over the active BWP.

[0118] The first information may include a plurality of BWP information and resource information corresponding to the plurality of BWP information, and the BWP indicated by the BWP information may be an initial BWP or a dedicated BWP.

[0119] In one example, the resource information corresponding to the BWP information may be PDCCH resource configuration information. The PDCCH resource configuration information may include CORESET and SS. The UE may determine the PDCCH resource based on the PDCCH resource configuration information. The PDCCH resource configuration information is hereinafter simply referred to as configuration information.

[0120] It may be understood that the first information may include multiple pieces of BWP information and configuration information corresponding to the multiple pieces of BWP information. For example, see Table 1 for the correspondence between the BWP information and the configuration information included in the first information. BWP information 1 corresponds to configuration information 1, BWP information 2 corresponds to configuration information 2, etc. The first information may be sent to the UE by the access network device through one RRC signaling. In this example, after receiving the first BWP information, the UE may obtain configuration information (i.e., first resource information, which may also be referred to as first configuration information) from the first information based on the first BWP information through matching, and then determine the first resource based on the first configuration information.

[0121] [Table 1]

[0122] In another example, the resource information corresponding to the BWP information may alternatively be an identifier, and the identifier may indicate the configuration information. It may be understood that the first information includes second information and third information, the second information includes a plurality of BWP information pieces and identifiers corresponding to the plurality of BWP information pieces, and the third information includes a plurality of identifiers and the configuration information indicated by the plurality of identifiers. For example, see Table 2 for the correspondence between the BWP information pieces included in the second information and identifiers. See Table 3 for the correspondence between the configuration information pieces included in the third information and identifiers. The second information and the third information may be carried in the same RRC signaling or in different RRC signaling.

[0123] In this example, after receiving the first BWP information, the UE may obtain a target identifier (i.e., first resource information) from the second information through matching based on the first BWP information, obtain configuration information (which may also be referred to as first configuration information) from the third information through matching based on the target identifier, and then determine the first resource based on the first configuration information.

[0124] [Table 2]

[0125] [Table 3]

[0126] Alternatively, the first information may include a plurality of pieces of BWP information and other information corresponding to the plurality of pieces of BWP information. The other information may further indicate configuration information. The UE may determine the other information corresponding to the first BWP information and then determine the configuration information corresponding to the other information. That is, the first information is mainly used by the UE to determine the first resource based on the first BWP information. The specific content of the first information is not limited in the present application. For simplicity, the following uses an example in which the first information includes a plurality of pieces of BWP information and configuration information corresponding to the plurality of pieces of BWP information.

[0127] In the first information, the resource sizes indicated by different configuration information may be the same or different. Specifically, the number of symbols in the resources indicated by different configuration information may be the same or different, and the resource bandwidths in the resources indicated by different configuration information may be the same or different. Depending on whether the resource sizes indicated by different configuration information are the same, the following provides descriptions for at least two cases.

[0128] Case 1: The configuration information in the first information may correspond to resources of different sizes.

[0129] For example, the multiple BWP information in Table 4 may include BWP information 1, BWP information 2, and BWP information 3. BWP information 1, BWP information 2, and BWP information 3 are BWP information corresponding to BWP 1, BWP 2, and BWP 3, respectively, and corresponding to setting information 11, setting information 12, and setting information 13, respectively.

[0130] For example, the configuration information 11 may correspond to one symbol and 20 MHz, and the configuration information 11 may indicate that the PDCCH occupies the first symbol in a slot in the time domain and occupies 20 MHz in the frequency domain.

[0131] The configuration information 12 corresponds to two symbols and 20 MHz, and the configuration information 12 may indicate that the PDCCH occupies the first and second symbols in a slot in the time domain and occupies 20 MHz in the frequency domain.

[0132] The configuration information 13 corresponds to three symbols and 20 MHz, and the configuration information 13 may indicate that the PDCCH occupies the first symbol, the second symbol, and the third symbol in the slot in the time domain and occupies 20 MHz in the frequency domain.

[0133] [Table 4]

[0134] It can be understood that the access network device may configure the maximum PDCCH resource (i.e., the second resource) for the UE, and the second resource may be indicated by second resource information corresponding to the second indication information. The second resource information may also be referred to as second configuration information. Referring to the example in Table 4, the second indication information is BWP information 3, the second configuration information is configuration information 13, and the second resource may be indicated by configuration information 13 corresponding to BWP information 3. Specifically, the second resource occupies the first symbol, the second symbol, and the third symbol in the slot in the time domain and occupies 20 MHz in the frequency domain. For example, the second resource may include the resource indicated by configuration information 12 or the resource indicated by configuration information 11.

[0135] If the load information of the cell changes, for example, if the load level of the cell changes from light load to medium load, or as another example, if the load level of the cell changes from heavy load to medium load, the access network device may determine the size of the resource for communicating the PDCCH based on the current load information of the cell, and send indication information (i.e., first BWP information) corresponding to the size of the resource to the UE, and the first BWP information may indicate to the UE to switch the operating BWP.

[0136] For ease of explanation, a first BWP and a second BWP may be distinguished in this application. The UE operates on the second BWP, and then receives first BWP information from the access network device. The UE switches the operating BWP to the first BWP based on the first BWP information. The first BWP is a BWP corresponding to the first BWP information. It may be understood that the operating BWP used before the UE receives the first BWP information is referred to as the second BWP, and the operating BWP used after the UE receives the first BWP information is referred to as the first BWP.

[0137] In a specific implementation, if the cell load increases, the access network device may send first BWP information to the UE. After receiving the first BWP information, the UE switches from the second BWP on which the UE is currently operating to the first BWP. The UE may further determine first configuration information corresponding to the first BWP information in the first information based on the first BWP information and the first information. The UE determines PDCCH resources based on the first configuration information and detects a PDCCH on the PDCCH resources. In the above embodiment, the PDCCH resources corresponding to the first BWP are larger than the PDCCH resources corresponding to the second BWP. This helps the access network device transmit the PDCCH on more resources.

[0138] For example, referring to Table 4, the load level of the cell is lightly loaded. For example, there are 400 UEs in an RRC connected state in the cell, and the access network device may schedule all 400 UEs in the cell to BWP 1. Then, the access network device determines that the load level of the cell has changed from lightly loaded to medium loaded. For example, the number of UEs in an RRC connected state in the cell increases to 700. The access network device may send BWP information 2 to the 700 UEs, and the 700 UEs may switch from BWP 1, on which the 700 UEs are currently operating, to BWP 2. The 700 UEs may determine PDCCH resources based on configuration information 12.

[0139] In another specific implementation, when the cell load decreases, the access network device may send first BWP information to the UE. After receiving the first BWP information, the UE switches from the second BWP in which the UE is currently operating to the first BWP, determines first configuration information corresponding to the first BWP, determines PDCCH resources based on the first configuration information, and detects a PDCCH on the PDCCH resources. In the above embodiment, the PDCCH resources corresponding to the first BWP are smaller than the PDCCH resources corresponding to the second BWP. This helps to save resources.

[0140] For example, still referring to Table 4, the load level of the cell is medium load. For example, there are 700 UEs in the RRC connected state in the cell, and the access network device may schedule all 700 UEs in the cell to BWP 2. Then, some of the UEs in the cell enter an RRC idle state or an RRC dormant state from the RRC connected state, or some of the UEs move to another cell. The access network device determines that the load level of the cell has changed from medium load to light load. For example, the number of UEs in the RRC connected state in the cell decreases to 400. The access network device may send BWP information 1 to the 400 UEs, and the 400 UEs switch from BWP 2, on which they are currently operating, to BWP 1 based on the indication of BWP information 1. Furthermore, the 400 UEs may determine PDCCH resources based on configuration information 11.

[0141] Further explanation is provided with reference to the schematic diagram of an example of configuring and scheduling PDCCH resources by an access network device shown in FIG.

[0142] It should be noted in advance that there are multiple blocks in FIG. 6 (e.g., each bold line represents one block), and the multiple blocks can be understood as resources configured for a UE by an access network device. Specifically, the horizontal coordinate of the block indicates a time domain resource (e.g., one slot), and the vertical coordinate of the block indicates a frequency domain resource (e.g., cell bandwidth). Each block includes a shaded area and a non-shaded area. The shaded area indicates a PDCCH resource configured for a UE by an access network device, and the resources indicated by the non-shaded area may be for communicating a PDSCH between the access network device and the UE. It should be noted that this description is also applicable to other schematic diagrams of configuring and scheduling PDCCH resources by an access network device.

[0143] 6 can be divided into a resource configuration process and a resource switching process. The resource configuration process can be understood as a process in which an access network device sends first information to a UE, and the resource switching process can be understood as a process in which an access network device indicates first indication information to a UE in a cell after determining that a cell load has changed. It should be noted that this description can also be applied to other schematic diagrams of configuring and scheduling PDCCH resources by an access network device.

[0144] In the resource configuration process, the access network device may send first information to the UE via RRC signaling. Correspondingly, the UE receives the first information from the access network device via RRC signaling. The first information may include configuration information 11, configuration information 12, and configuration information 13, which correspond to BWP 1, BWP 2, and BWP 3, respectively. The configuration information 11, configuration information 12, and configuration information 13 may each indicate PDCCH resources configured for the UE by the access network device. Details are as follows:

[0145] For the frequency domain resources included in the PDCCH resources indicated by the configuration information, refer to the proportion of the blocks occupied by the shaded areas on the vertical coordinate. For example, the frequency domain resources indicated by the configuration information 12 occupy all the blocks on the vertical coordinate. Specifically, this indicates that the bandwidth occupied by the frequency domain resources is the same as the bandwidth indicated by the blocks (e.g., the cell bandwidth). As shown in Figure 6, the PDCCH resources indicated by the configuration information 11, the configuration information 12, and the configuration information 13 may include the same bandwidth, and the bandwidth may be the cell bandwidth.

[0146] For the time domain resources included in the PDCCH resource indicated by the configuration information, refer to the number of shaded blocks in the shaded area on the horizontal coordinate. One shaded block may represent one symbol. For example, the time domain resource indicated by configuration information 12 may include two symbols, and the two symbols may occupy the first and second symbols in a slot. Similarly, the time domain resource indicated by configuration information 11 includes the first symbol in a slot, and the time domain resource indicated by configuration information 13 includes the first, second, and third symbols in a slot.

[0147] In the resource switching process, when the load level of the cell is lightly loaded, the access network device schedules the UEs in the cell to operate on BWP 1. Correspondingly, the UEs in the cell determine resources for detecting the PDCCH based on the configuration information 11. When the load level of the cell changes from lightly loaded to medium loaded, the access network device schedules the UEs in the cell from BWP 1 to BWP 2. Correspondingly, the UEs in the cell determine resources (i.e., first resources) for detecting the PDCCH based on the configuration information 12.

[0148] Case 2: The configuration information in the first information may correspond to resources of the same size.

[0149] For example, the multiple BWP information in Table 5 include BWP information 1, BWP information 2, and BWP information 3. BWP information 1, BWP information 2, and BWP information 3 are BWP information corresponding to BWP 1, BWP 2, and BWP 3, respectively, and correspond to setting information 21, setting information 22, and setting information 23, respectively.

[0150] For example, the configuration information 21 may correspond to one symbol and 20 MHz, and the configuration information 21 may indicate that the PDCCH occupies the first symbol in a slot in the time domain and occupies 20 MHz in the frequency domain.

[0151] The configuration information 22 corresponds to one symbol and 20 MHz, and the configuration information 22 may indicate that the PDCCH occupies the second symbol in the slot in the time domain and occupies 20 MHz in the frequency domain.

[0152] The configuration information 23 corresponds to one symbol and 20 MHz, and the configuration information 23 may indicate that the PDCCH occupies the third symbol in the slot in the time domain and occupies 20 MHz in the frequency domain.

[0153] [Table 5]

[0154] It can be understood that the access network device may configure a maximum PDCCH resource (i.e., the second resource) for the UE, and the second resource may be indicated by multiple configuration information. Referring to the example in Table 5, the second resource may be jointly indicated by configuration information 21, configuration information 22, and configuration information 23. The second resource occupies the first symbol, the second symbol, and the third symbol in a slot in the time domain and occupies 20 MHz in the frequency domain. For example, the second resource may include the resource indicated by configuration information 22, or may include the resource indicated by configuration information 21, or may include the resource indicated by configuration information 23.

[0155] If the load information of the cell changes, for example, if the load level of the cell changes from light load to medium load, or as another example, if the load level of the cell changes from heavy load to medium load, the access network device may determine the target UE and the size of the resource for PDCCH communication with the target UE based on the current load information of the cell, and send indication information (i.e., first BWP information) corresponding to the resource size to the target UE, and the first BWP information may indicate to the target UE to switch the operating BWP.

[0156] In a specific implementation, when a cell load increases, an access network device may determine a target UE from UEs in a cell and send first BWP information to the target UE. After receiving the first BWP information, the target UE switches from a second BWP on which the target UE is currently operating to the first BWP. The target UE may further determine first configuration information corresponding to the first BWP information in the first information based on the first BWP information and the first information. The target UE may determine a PDCCH resource based on the first configuration information and detect a PDCCH on the PDCCH resource. In this way, the access network device schedules the target UE in the cell from the second BWP to the first BWP, while another portion of the UEs in the cell still operates on the second BWP. In this way, UEs in a cell may be distributed to different BWPs, and UEs operating on different BWPs may perform detection on different PDCCH resources.

[0157] For example, referring to Table 5, resources corresponding to BWP information 1 may be used for detection by 600 UEs. In a cell, 1000 UEs operate on BWP 1, and the access network device may send BWP information 2 to 400 UEs (i.e., target UEs) among the 1000 UEs. Based on BWP information 2, the 400 UEs switch from BWP 1, on which the 400 UEs are currently operating, to BWP 2. Therefore, the 1000 UEs in the cell may be distributed to different BWPs. Specifically, the 400 UEs scheduled to BWP 2 may determine PDCCH resources based on configuration information 22, and the 600 UEs still operating on BWP 1 may determine PDCCH resources based on configuration information 21.

[0158] In another specific implementation, when the cell load decreases, the access network device may send first BWP information to a target UE in a cell. After receiving the first BWP information, the target UE switches from a second BWP on which the target UE is currently operating to the first BWP, determines first configuration information corresponding to the first BWP, determines PDCCH resources based on the first configuration information, and detects a PDCCH on the PDCCH resources. In this manner, the access network device schedules the target UE in the cell from the second BWP to the first BWP, so that the target UE and the UE originally operating on the first BWP can operate on the same BWP. In this manner, UEs distributed across different BWPs in a cell can be aggregated into the same BWP, and UEs operating on the same BWP can use the same PDCCH resources for detection. This helps improve resource utilization.

[0159] For example, still referring to Table 5, resources corresponding to BWP information 1 may be used for detection by 600 UEs. In a cell, 200 UEs operate on BWP 1 and 300 UEs operate on BWP 2. The access network device may send BWP information 1 to the 300 UEs operating on BWP 2. The 300 UEs may switch from BWP 2, on which the 300 UEs are currently operating, to BWP 1. Thus, 500 UEs operate on BWP 1. The 500 UEs may determine PDCCH resources based on configuration information 21.

[0160] Further explanation is provided with reference to an example schematic diagram of configuring and scheduling PDCCH resources by an access network device, shown in Figure 7. Figure 7 can also be divided into a resource configuration process and a resource switching process.

[0161] In the resource configuration process, the access network device may configure, for the UE, configuration information 21, configuration information 22, and configuration information 23, which correspond to BWP 1, BWP 2, and BWP 3, respectively.

[0162] In the resource configuration process shown in Figure 7, the time domain resource indicated by configuration information 21 corresponding to BWP 1 includes a first symbol, the time domain resource indicated by configuration information 22 corresponding to BWP 2 includes a second symbol, and the time domain resource indicated by configuration information 23 corresponding to BWP 3 includes a third symbol.

[0163] In the resource switching process, when the load level of the cell is lightly loaded, the access network device schedules the UEs in the cell to operate on BWP 1. Correspondingly, the UEs in the cell determine resources for detecting a PDCCH based on the configuration information 21. When the load level of the cell changes from lightly loaded to medium loaded, the access network device schedules some of the UEs in the cell (i.e., target UEs) from BWP 1 to BWP 2. Correspondingly, the UEs operating on BWP 2 in the cell determine resources (i.e., first resources) for detecting a PDCCH based on the configuration information 22. The UEs still operating on BWP 1 in the cell may determine resources for detecting a PDCCH based on the configuration information 21.

[0164] In the above technical solution, the access network device may configure multiple different BWPs for each UE, and each BWP may be independently configured by corresponding PDCCH configuration information. In other words, each BWP may correspond to a number of symbols and a frequency domain bandwidth. The access network device may indicate corresponding PDCCH configuration information to the UE in a manner that schedules the UE to switch the operating BWP. When a cell load changes, the access network device may quickly and efficiently indicate first BWP information corresponding to the changed cell load to the UE. This helps ensure that resources for communicating PDCCHs between the access network device and the UE are adequately adapted to the cell load. Furthermore, the first BWP information may be sent to the UE by using DCI, and the first BWP information may be for implementing a TTI granularity configuration.

[0165] It should be additionally noted that when the first resource is smaller than the second resource, the access network device may further indicate a resource other than the first resource in the second resource, which may be for communicating a PDSCH between the access network device and the UE.

[0166] Referring to the example shown in Table 4, for example, when an access network device schedules a UE to operate on BWP 2, the UE may determine, based on configuration information 12, that a first resource includes two symbols in the time domain (specifically, a first symbol and a second symbol). In this case, the access network device may configure communication of a PDSCH with the UE in the third symbol to help improve resource utilization. The PDSCH may be scheduled by using a PDCCH communicated on the first symbol and the second symbol.

[0167] In a possible approach, the PDCCH carries indication information indicating the location of the PDSCH, which may be rate matching pattern (RM pattern) information, or the indication information may be scheduling start and length indicator values (SLIVs).

[0168] For the sake of explanation, the following uses an example in which the indication information is rate matching pattern information. The access network device sends to the UE in advance a plurality of rate matching pattern information and a rate matching pattern corresponding to the plurality of rate matching pattern information, where the rate matching pattern information may be an identifier, and the rate matching pattern corresponding to the rate matching pattern information may indicate a pattern relationship between the PDCCH and the PDSCH. It may also be understood that the subchannel position of the PDCCH indicated by the rate matching pattern may be used as a puncturing position, and the remaining subchannel positions may be for communicating the PDSCH.

[0169] For example, the access network device may include the plurality of rate matching pattern information and a rate matching pattern corresponding to the plurality of rate matching pattern information in the first information and send the first information to the UE. Alternatively, the access network device may send the plurality of rate matching pattern information and the rate matching pattern corresponding to the plurality of rate matching pattern information to the UE as separate messages. For example, the separate messages may be RRC signaling.

[0170] When a UE obtains rate matching pattern information from a PDCCH, the UE may determine a rate matching pattern corresponding to the rate matching pattern information based on the rate matching pattern information, and then determine a position of a PDSCH based on the rate matching pattern. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an example of multiple rate matching patterns. The schematic diagram includes a rate matching pattern corresponding to rate matching pattern information 1, a rate matching pattern corresponding to rate matching pattern information 2, a rate matching pattern corresponding to rate matching pattern information 3, and a rate matching pattern corresponding to rate matching pattern information 4. For each rate matching pattern shown in Figure 8, the rate matching pattern may include a shaded area and a non-shaded area, where the shaded area may be for communicating a PDCCH and the non-shaded area may be for communicating a PDSCH.

[0171] For example, if the UE obtains rate matching pattern information 1 from the PDCCH, the UE may determine, based on the rate matching pattern corresponding to rate matching pattern information 1, that the starting symbol of the time domain resource corresponding to the PDSCH is the second symbol and that the frequency domain resource corresponding to the PDSCH occupies 20 MHz. As another example, if the UE obtains rate matching pattern information 4 from the PDCCH, the UE may determine, based on the rate matching pattern corresponding to rate matching pattern information 4, that the starting symbol of the time domain resource corresponding to the PDSCH is the first symbol, that the frequency domain resource occupies 10 MHz, and that for the third symbol of the time domain resource and the symbol following the third symbol, the corresponding frequency domain resource occupies 20 MHz.

[0172] When indicating rate matching resource pattern information to a UE, the access network device may determine the rate matching resource pattern information by referring to the PDCCH resources corresponding to the detection of the PDCCH by the UE in the cell. Referring to the example in Table 4, when the access network device indicates BWP information 2 to the UE in the cell, all UEs in the cell operate on BWP 2. Specifically, all UEs in the cell may detect the PDCCH on the first and second symbols in the time domain and on 20 MHz in the frequency domain. The access network device may include rate matching pattern information 2 in the PDCCH or rate matching pattern information 4 in the PDCCH, so that after the UE obtains the PDCCH through parsing, the UE may determine the position of the PDSCH based on the PDCCH and parse the PDSCH.

[0173] It should be noted that in the above-described approach related to Table 5, before indicating rate matching pattern information to the UEs, the access network device may further determine that the UEs in the cell operate on different BWPs. For example, some of the UEs may operate on BWP 1, and specifically, the some of the UEs may detect a PDCCH on the first symbol in the time domain and at 20 MHz in the frequency domain. Another part of the UEs may operate on BWP 2, and specifically, the some of the UEs may detect a PDCCH on the second symbol in the time domain and at 20 MHz in the frequency domain. The access network device may indicate the same PDSCH resource to UEs operating on different BWPs, and specifically, by using the same rate matching pattern information. For example, the access network device may send a PDCCH to UEs operating on BWP 1 in the cell, and the PDCCH may carry rate matching pattern information 2. Similarly, the access network device may send a PDCCH to UEs operating on BWP 2 in the cell, and the PDCCH may carry rate matching pattern information 2. In this way, conflicts between PDSCH resources determined by a UE operating on BWP 1 and PDCCH resources determined by a UE operating on BWP 2 are avoided.

[0174] The above content merely provides an explanation by using an example in which the first indication information is first BWP information. If the first indication information is first detection resource pattern information, the resource information corresponding to the first detection resource pattern information may be a detection resource pattern. In this implementation, the access network device may send configuration information of the second resource to the UE in advance. The configuration information of the second resource may be carried in separate RRC signaling and sent to the UE, or may be carried in the same RRC signaling as the first information and sent to the UE. When receiving the first detection resource pattern information from the access network device, the UE may determine a detection resource pattern corresponding to the first detection resource pattern information, and then determine the first resource based on the detection resource pattern and the configuration information of the second resource. For details, please refer to the description in the previous embodiment.

[0175] Of course, the above implementation is merely an example for explanation. Alternatively, the display information included in the first information and the resource information corresponding to the display information may be in another manner. For example, in the resource information indicated by multiple display information, two pieces of resource information indicate resources of different sizes, and the other two pieces of resource information indicate resources of the same size. The access network device may determine the first display information (i.e., the first BWP information or the first detection resource pattern information) based on the current load information of the cell, and display the first display information to all UEs in the cell or the target UE.

[0176] The present application also provides a communication resource determination method, which is applicable when a cell load changes, so that resources for communicating a PDCCH between an access network device and a terminal device are sufficiently adaptable to the cell load. The method can be performed by a terminal device (i.e., a UE) and an access network device shown in FIG. 1 as an example.

[0177] In this method, the access network device may determine fourth information in advance and then configure the fourth information for the UE. The fourth information may include one or more pieces of resource information, and the resource information may be PDCCH configuration information, and the PDCCH configuration information may include a CORESET and an SS. When the fourth information includes multiple pieces of resource information, the resource sizes of the multiple PDCCH resources respectively indicated by the multiple pieces of resource information may be the same or different. The number of symbols included in the multiple PDCCH resources may be the same or different, and the bandwidths included in the multiple PDCCH resources may be the same or different.

[0178] In a possible approach, the PDCCH resource indicated by one or more pieces of resource information included in the fourth information may correspond to one or more of the first symbol and 20 MHz, the second symbol and 20 MHz, the third symbol and 20 MHz, the first and second symbols and 20 MHz, or the first, second, and third symbols and 20 MHz.

[0179] In Example 1, the three pieces of resource information included in the fourth information may correspond to a first symbol and 20 MHz, a second symbol and 20 MHz, and a third symbol and 20 MHz, respectively.

[0180] In Example 2, the three pieces of resource information included in the fourth information may correspond to the first symbol and 20 MHz, the first and second symbols and 20 MHz, and the first, second, and third symbols and 20 MHz, respectively.

[0181] In a possible approach, the access network device may configure the fourth information to the UE through higher layer signaling, for example, RRC signaling. For example, the access network device may send an RRC reconfiguration message to the UE, where the RRC reconfiguration message includes the fourth information.

[0182] Depending on whether the fourth information includes one resource information or multiple resource information, the following provides explanations in different cases.

[0183] Case a: The fourth information includes information on a plurality of resources.

[0184] Before sending the PDCCH to the UE, the access network device may select one resource information from the plurality of resource information, and then send the PDCCH to the UE on the resource indicated by the selected resource information. Because the UE does not know the specific resource on which the access network device sends the PDCCH, the UE performs detection on the resources respectively indicated by the plurality of resource information using an exhaustive detection method to determine the resource on which the PDCCH can be detected.

[0185] The procedure of another communication resource determination method shown in FIG. 9 is as follows.

[0186] Step 901: The access network device determines, based on cell load information, first resource information from a plurality of resource information, where the first resource information indicates a first resource.

[0187] In a possible implementation, when the access network device determines that the UE accesses a cell, or when the access network device determines that the load information of the cell has changed, the access network device may determine first resource information from the plurality of resource information based on the load information of the cell, and the size of the PDCCH resource indicated by the first resource information may meet the requirement of the cell load information for the size of the PDCCH resource.

[0188] Step 902: The UE determines, based on a plurality of pieces of resource information, a PDCCH resource indicated by each of the plurality of pieces of resource information. For example, each of the plurality of pieces of resource information may include a CORESET and an SS. The UE may determine, based on the CORESET and SS included in each piece of resource information, a PDCCH resource indicated by the resource information. As a result, the UE determines the PDCCH resource indicated by each of the plurality of pieces of resource information.

[0189] Step 903: The access network device sends a PDCCH to the UE on a first resource.

[0190] Step 904: The UE performs detection on PDCCH resources indicated by the plurality of resource information, where a first resource information in the plurality of resource information indicates a first resource, and the first resource carries a PDCCH.

[0191] The sequence of step 902 and step 901 is not limited in this application.

[0192] In the aforementioned steps 902 to 904, the UE determines PDCCH resources corresponding to the plurality of resource information, respectively, based on the plurality of resource information, and detects the PDCCH on each PDCCH resource to determine whether the PDCCH is detected. For example, the plurality of resource information includes resource information 31, resource information 32, and resource information 33. The UE may perform detection for the PDCCH on the resource indicated by resource information 31 to determine whether the PDCCH is detected, perform detection for the PDCCH on the resource indicated by resource information 32 to determine whether the PDCCH is detected, and perform detection for the PDCCH on the resource indicated by resource information 33 to determine whether the PDCCH is detected. For example, the access network device sends the PDCCH to the UE on the resource indicated by resource information 32. In this case, the UE may detect the PDCCH on the resource indicated by resource information 32, but may not detect the PDCCH on the resource indicated by resource information 31 or the resource indicated by resource information 33.

[0193] An explanation will be provided with reference to a schematic diagram of an example of configuring and scheduling PDCCH resources by an access network device shown in Figure 10. The fourth information configured by the access network device for the UE includes multiple pieces of resource information, which may include resource information 31, resource information 32, and resource information 33. Resource information 31 corresponds to a first symbol and 20 MHz, resource information 32 corresponds to a first and second symbol and 20 MHz, and resource information 33 corresponds to a first, second, and third symbol and 20 MHz. The UE may perform detection for the PDCCH on three different PDCCH resources (i.e., the UE performs full detection).

[0194] In the case of a light load, the access network device may send a PDCCH on resources corresponding to resource information 31. Although the UE performs full detection, the UE can only detect the PDCCH on resources corresponding to resource information 31. The detection performed by the UE on resources corresponding to resource information 32 and resources corresponding to resource information 33 is an invalid detection.

[0195] In the case of a medium load, the access network device may send a PDCCH on resources corresponding to resource information 32. The UE performs full detection, but the UE can only detect the PDCCH on resources corresponding to resource information 32. The detection performed by the UE on resources corresponding to resource information 31 and resources corresponding to resource information 33 is an invalid detection.

[0196] In the case of heavy load, the access network device may send a PDCCH on resources corresponding to resource information 33. The UE performs full detection, but the UE can only detect a PDCCH on resources corresponding to resource information 33. Detection performed by the UE on resources corresponding to resource information 32 and resources corresponding to resource information 31 is invalid detection.

[0197] It should be noted that the access network device may alternatively determine a target UE from the cell based on cell load information, determine first resource information corresponding to the target UE, and send a PDCCH to the target UE in the cell on the first resource indicated by the first resource information. For a target UE in the cell, the target UE may perform full detection on resources respectively indicated by the plurality of resource information, and the target UE may detect a PDCCH on the first resource indicated by the first resource information. For UEs other than the target UE in the cell, the access network device may further send a PDCCH to the UE on the original resource. This approach is applicable when the plurality of resource information indicates resources of the same size. For example, the plurality of resource information may include resource information 41, resource information 42, and resource information 43. Resource information 41 corresponds to a first symbol and 20 MHz, resource information 42 corresponds to a second symbol and 20 MHz, and resource information 43 corresponds to a third symbol and 20 MHz. The UE may perform detection for the PDCCH on three different PDCCH resources (ie, the UE performs full detection).

[0198] For example, the load level of a cell is lightly loaded. For example, there are 400 UEs in an RRC connected state in the cell. The access network device may send a PDCCH to the 400 UEs in the cell on resources indicated by the resource information 41. The 400 UEs may detect the PDCCH on the resources indicated by the resource information 41 through full detection. The access network device then determines that the load level of the cell has changed from lightly loaded to medium loaded. For example, if the number of UEs in an RRC connected state in the cell increases to 700, the access network device may determine 200 target UEs from the 700 UEs and then send a PDCCH to the 200 target UEs on the resources indicated by the resource information 42. In this case, the 200 target UEs may detect the PDCCH on the resources indicated by the resource information 42 through full detection. However, the remaining 500 UEs may still detect the PDCCH on the resources indicated by the resource information 41 through full detection.

[0199] It may be further understood that the fourth information may further indicate a maximum PDCCH resource (i.e., a second resource), and the second resource may include resources indicated by other resource information. Referring to the example shown in FIG. 10 , the multiple resource information indicated by the fourth information includes resource information 31, resource information 32, and resource information 33. Resource information 33 is second resource information. The resources indicated by resource information 33 may include the resources indicated by resource information 32 or may include the resources indicated by resource information 31.

[0200] If the first resource is smaller than the second resource, the access network device may further indicate a resource other than the first resource in the second resource, where the resource may be for communicating a PDSCH between the access network device and the UE. In a possible approach, the PDCCH carries indication information indicating the position of the PDSCH. The indication information may be rate matching resource pattern information, or the indication information may be scheduling start and length indicator values. For details of this implementation, please refer to the related description in the embodiment of Figure 4.

[0201] In the above technical solution, the access network device may set multiple different resource information for the UE. When determining that the cell load information has changed, the access network device determines resource information corresponding to the cell load information, and then sends a PDCCH to the UE on the resource indicated by the resource information. The UE performs detection for the PDCCH on the resource indicated by each of the multiple different resource information to determine whether the PDCCH is detected on the resource. In this way, the access network device does not need to indicate to the UE to change the PDCCH resource. This helps to implement more flexible communication of the PDCCH between the access network device and the UE.

[0202] Case b: The fourth information includes one piece of resource information.

[0203] The resource information may be understood as second resource information, and the second resource information may indicate the maximum PDCCH resource (i.e., the second resource). For example, the second resource information may indicate one of the first symbol and 20 MHz, the first and second symbols and 20 MHz, and the first, second, and third symbols and 20 MHz.

[0204] The access network device determines first resource information based on cell load information, where the first resource information indicates a first resource, and the first resource is included in a second resource. The UE may perform full detection on the second resource and then detect a PDCCH on the first resource. The PDCCH may include indication information indicating a position of a PDSCH. The indication information may be rate-matching resource pattern information, or the indication information may be scheduling start and length indicator values. The UE performs detection for the PDSCH on the resource indicated by the indication information based on the indication information.

[0205] For example, referring to Figure 11, the second resource indicated by the second resource information corresponds to the first, second, and third symbols and 20 MHz, and the access network device sends a PDCCH to the UE on the first, second, and third symbols and 10 MHz. The PDCCH may include rate matching pattern information, and the rate matching pattern information may indicate the rate matching pattern shown in Figure 11. The UE performs full detection on the PDCCH on the first, second, and third symbols and 20 MHz, and then detects the PDCCH, and the PDCCH may include the rate matching pattern information. The UE determines the position of the PDSCH based on the rate matching pattern indicated by the rate matching pattern information and the second resource, and parses the PDSCH at that position. See the block to the right of the arrow shown in Figure 11. The shaded area indicates the PDCCH resource, and the unshaded area indicates the PDSCH resource, and the UE may receive the PDSCH on the PDSCH resource indicated by the unshaded area.

[0206] In the above technical solution, the access network device may set the maximum PDCCH resource (i.e., the second resource) for the UE. When determining that the cell load information has changed, the access network device determines the first resource corresponding to the cell load information and then sends the PDCCH to the UE on the first resource. The UE detects the PDCCH on the second resource, and the access network device does not need to indicate to the UE to change the PDCCH resource. This helps to implement more flexible PDCCH communication between the access network device and the UE. Furthermore, the access network device includes indication information indicating the PDCCH resource in the PDCCH. This helps to improve resource utilization.

[0207] Based on the above content and the same concept, Figures 12 and 13 are schematic diagrams of possible communication device structures according to the present application. These communication devices can be configured to implement the functions of the terminal device or the access network device in the above method embodiments. Therefore, the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments can also be achieved.

[0208] In this application, a communication device may be a terminal device as shown in FIG. 1, or an access network device as shown in FIG. 1, or a module (e.g., a chip) used within a terminal device or an access network device.

[0209] As shown in FIG. 12, the communication device 1200 includes a transceiver module 1201 and a processing module 1202 .

[0210] In a possible implementation, the communication device 1200 is configured to implement the functions of a terminal device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 4, or is set to implement the functions of an access network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

[0211] When the communication device 1200 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the transceiver module 1201 is configured to receive first indication information from an access network device, the first indication information being associated with load information of a cell to which the device 1200 belongs; and the processing module 1202 detects a physical downlink control channel based on the first indication information and the first information. put out The display device is configured to determine a first resource for displaying the first information, the first information including a plurality of resource information, and the first display information corresponding to the first resource information in the plurality of resource information, the first resource information indicating the first resource.

[0212] In a possible implementation, the first information further includes a plurality of pieces of display information, each of which corresponds to a plurality of pieces of resource information, and the plurality of pieces of display information includes the first display information.

[0213] In a possible implementation, at least one of the number of symbols and the bandwidth included in the resources used by the device 1200 to detect the physical downlink control channel indicated by the different resource information in the first information is different.

[0214] In a possible implementation, the display information in the first information is bandwidth portion information, the first display information is first bandwidth portion information, and the first bandwidth portion information further indicates to the device 1200 to switch the operating bandwidth to a bandwidth portion corresponding to the first bandwidth portion information.

[0215] In a possible implementation, the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, where the second resource information indicates a second resource, and the second resource includes the first resource.

[0216] In a possible implementation, resources other than the first resource in the second resource are used to receive a physical downlink shared channel by the apparatus 1200. In a possible implementation, the location of the physical downlink shared channel is indicated by rate matching pattern information on a physical downlink control channel.

[0217] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 1201 is further configured to receive the first information from the access network device via RRC signaling.

[0218] When the communications device 1200 is configured to implement the functionality of the access network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the transceiver module 1201 is configured to send first indication information to the terminal device, the first indication information being associated with load information of the cell of the device 1200, and the processing module 1202 is configured to determine a first resource to be used by the device 1200 to send a physical downlink control channel based on the first indication information and the first information, the first information including a plurality of resource information, the first indication information corresponding to first resource information in the plurality of resource information, and the first resource information indicating the first resource.

[0219] In a possible implementation, the first information further includes a plurality of pieces of display information, each of which corresponds to a plurality of pieces of resource information, and the plurality of pieces of display information includes the first display information.

[0220] In a possible implementation, at least one of the number of symbols and the bandwidth included in the resources used by the device 1200 to send the physical downlink control channel indicated by the different resource information in the first information is different.

[0221] In a possible implementation, the first display information is first bandwidth portion information, and the first bandwidth portion information is further used by the apparatus 1200 to schedule the operating bandwidth of the terminal device to be switched to the bandwidth portion corresponding to the first bandwidth portion information.

[0222] In a possible implementation, the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, where the second resource information indicates a second resource, and the second resource includes the first resource.

[0223] In a possible implementation, resources other than the first resource in the second resource group are used to send a physical downlink shared channel by the apparatus 1200. In a possible implementation, the location of the physical downlink shared channel is indicated by rate matching pattern information on a physical downlink control channel.

[0224] In a possible implementation, the processing module 1202 is further configured to determine the first display information based on the cell load information and the first information.

[0225] In a possible implementation, the processing module 1202 is further configured to select a terminal device from terminal devices served by the cell according to a preset policy. In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 1201 is further configured to send the first information to the terminal device via RRC signaling.

[0226] In a possible implementation, the communication device 1200 is configured to implement the functions of a terminal device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 9, or is configured to implement the functions of an access network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

[0227] When the communications apparatus 1200 is configured to implement the functionality of a terminal device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the processing module 1202 is configured to determine resources indicated by the plurality of resource information, the transceiver module 1201 is configured to perform detection on the resources indicated by the plurality of resource information, and a first resource information in the plurality of resource information indicates a first resource, the first resource carries a physical downlink control channel, and the first resource information is associated with load information of a cell to which the apparatus 1200 belongs.

[0228] In a possible implementation, the sizes of the resources used by the apparatus 1200 to detect the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information are different, and at least one of the number of symbols and the bandwidth included in the resources used by the transceiver module 1201 to detect the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information is different.

[0229] In a possible implementation, the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, where the second resource information indicates a second resource, and the second resource includes the first resource. In a possible implementation, resources other than the first resource in the second resources are used by the transceiver module 1201 to receive a physical downlink shared channel. In a possible implementation, a position of the physical downlink shared channel is indicated by rate matching pattern information on a physical downlink control channel.

[0230] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 1201 is further configured to receive a plurality of resource information from the access network device via RRC signaling.

[0231] In a possible implementation, when detecting on resources indicated by multiple resource information, the transceiver module 1201 is specifically configured to detect on the resources indicated by each resource information and determine whether a physical downlink control channel from the access network device is received.

[0232] When the communications device 1200 is configured to implement the functionality of the access network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG. 9 , the processing module 1202 is configured to determine first resource information from the plurality of resource information, the first resource information being associated with load information of a cell of the device 1200, the first resource information in the plurality of resource information indicating a first resource, and the transceiver module 1201 is configured to send a physical downlink control channel to the terminal device on the first resource.

[0233] In a possible implementation, the sizes of the resources used by the apparatus 1200 to send the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information are different.

[0234] In a possible implementation, at least one of the number of symbols and the bandwidth included in the resources used by the apparatus 1200 to send the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information is different.

[0235] In a possible implementation, the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, where the second resource information indicates a second resource, and the second resource includes the first resource. In a possible implementation, resources other than the first resource in the second resources are used by the apparatus 1200 to send a physical downlink shared channel. In a possible implementation, a position of the physical downlink shared channel is indicated by rate matching pattern information on a physical downlink control channel.

[0236] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 1201 is further configured to send the plurality of resource information to the terminal device via RRC signaling.

[0237] In a possible implementation, when determining the first resource information from the plurality of resource information, the processing module 1202 is specifically configured to determine the first resource information from the plurality of resource information based on cell load information.

[0238] Figure 13 shows an apparatus 1300 according to an embodiment of the present application. The apparatus shown in Figure 13 may be a hardware circuit implementation of the apparatus shown in Figure 12. The apparatus is applicable to the above-mentioned flowcharts and performs the functions of the terminal device or the access network device in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0239] For simplicity of explanation, FIG. 13 shows only the main components of the device.

[0240] 13 includes a communication interface 1310, a processor 1320, and a memory 1330. The memory 1330 is configured to store program instructions and / or data. The processor 1320 may cooperate with the memory 1330. The processor 1320 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 1330. When the instructions or programs stored in the memory 1330 are executed, the processor 1320 is configured to perform the operations performed by the processing module 1202 in the aforementioned embodiments, and the communication interface 1310 is configured to perform the operations performed by the transceiver module 1201 in the aforementioned embodiments.

[0241] The memory 1330 is coupled to the processor 1320. A coupling in this embodiment of the present application refers to an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules in an electrical, mechanical, or other form, used for exchanging information between the devices, units, or modules. At least one memory 1330 may be included in the processor 1320.

[0242] In this embodiment of the present application, the communication interface may be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module, or another type of communication interface. In this embodiment of the present application, when the communication interface is a transceiver, the transceiver may include a separate receiver and a separate transmitter, or may be a transceiver integrated into the transceiver function or communication interface.

[0243] The device 1300 may further include a communication line 1340. The communication interface 1310, the processor 1320, and the memory 1330 may be connected to each other through the communication line 1340. The communication line 1340 may be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. The communication line 1340 may be categorized into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of explanation, the buses in FIG. 13 are represented by using only one thick line. However, this does not represent that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0244] Based on the above and the same concept, one embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction, and when the computer program or instruction is executed, enables the computer to perform the method in the above method embodiment.

[0245] Based on the above and the same concept, one embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which, when read and executed by a computer, enables the computer to perform the method in the above method embodiment.

[0246] Based on the above content and the same concept, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes an access network device and at least one terminal device, wherein the terminal device can have the function of the terminal device in the above method embodiment, and the access network device can have the function of the access network device in the above method embodiment.

[0247] It can be understood that various numbers in the embodiments of the present application are only used for distinction to simplify the description, and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The sequence numbers of the above processes do not mean the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of the processes should be determined based on the functions and internal logic of the processes.

[0248] It is obvious that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the scope of this application. This application is intended to cover these modifications and variations of this application as long as they fall within the scope of protection defined by the following claims and their equivalent technologies.

Claims

1. A communication resource determination method executed by a terminal device, comprising: receiving first indication information from an access network device, the first indication information being associated with load information of a cell to which the terminal device belongs; determining a first resource for detecting a physical downlink control channel based on the first indication information and first information, the first information including a plurality of resource information, the first indication information corresponding to first resource information in the plurality of resource information, and the first resource information indicating the first resource; Including, the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, the second resource information indicating second resources, the second resources including the first resources, resources in the second resources other than the first resources are used by the terminal device to receive a physical downlink shared channel, and a position of the physical downlink shared channel is indicated by rate matching pattern information on the physical downlink control channel.

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of a number of symbols and a bandwidth included in resources used to detect the physical downlink control channel indicated by different resource information in the first information is different.

3. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first display information is first bandwidth portion information, and the first bandwidth portion information further indicates to the terminal device to switch an operating bandwidth to a bandwidth portion corresponding to the first bandwidth portion information.

4. receiving the first information from the access network device via radio resource control signaling; The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

5. A method for determining communications resources performed by an access network device, comprising: sending first indication information to a terminal device, the first indication information being associated with load information of a cell of the access network device; determining a first resource to be used for sending a physical downlink control channel based on the first indication information and first information, the first information including a plurality of resource information, the first indication information corresponding to first resource information in the plurality of resource information, and the first resource information indicating the first resource; Including, the plurality of pieces of resource information further includes second resource information, the second resource information indicating a second resource, the second resource including the first resource; A communication resource determination method, wherein resources other than the first resource in the second resource group are used by the access network device to send a physical downlink shared channel, and a position of the physical downlink shared channel is indicated by rate matching pattern information on the physical downlink control channel.

6. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of a number of symbols and a bandwidth included in resources used to send the physical downlink control channel indicated by different resource information in the first information is different.

7. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first display information is first bandwidth portion information, and the first bandwidth portion information is further used to schedule the operating bandwidth of the terminal device to be switched to a bandwidth portion corresponding to the first bandwidth portion information.

8. determining the first display information based on the load information of the cell and the first information; The method of claim 5 further comprising:

9. selecting said terminal device from terminal devices served by said cell according to a pre-configured policy; The method of claim 5 further comprising:

10. sending the first information to the terminal device via radio resource control signaling. The method of any one of claims 5 to 9, further comprising:

11. A communication resource determination method executed by a terminal device, comprising: determining resources indicated by the plurality of resource information; performing detection on the resources indicated by the plurality of resource information; Including, First resource information in the plurality of resource information indicates a first resource, the first resource carrying a physical downlink control channel, and the first resource information is associated with load information of a cell to which the terminal device belongs; The step of performing detection on the resources indicated by the plurality of resource information includes: A communication resource determination method, comprising: performing detection on resources indicated by each resource information item to determine whether the physical downlink control channel from an access network device is received.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sizes of resources used to detect the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information are different.

13. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of a number of symbols and a bandwidth included in resources used to detect the physical downlink control channel indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information is different.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, the second resource information indicating a second resource, the second resource including the first resource.

15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein resources other than the first resource in the second resource group are used to receive a physical downlink shared channel, and a location of the physical downlink shared channel is indicated by rate-matching pattern information on the physical downlink control channel in the first resource group.

16. receiving the plurality of resource information from an access network device via radio resource control (RRC) signaling; The method of claim 11 further comprising:

17. A communication resource determination method performed by an access network device, comprising: determining first resource information from a plurality of resource information, the first resource information being associated with load information of a cell of the access network device, and the first resource information in the plurality of resource information indicating a first resource; sending a physical downlink control channel to a terminal device on the first resource; Including, The step of determining, by the access network device, first resource information from a plurality of resource information includes: determining a size of the first resource for sending the physical downlink control channel based on the load information of the cell; determining the first resource information from the plurality of resource information based on the size of the first resource; A communication resource determination method, comprising:

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the sizes of resources used to send the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information are different.

19. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of a number of symbols and a bandwidth included in resources used to transmit the physical downlink control channel indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information is different.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, the second resource information indicating a second resource, the second resource including the first resource.

21. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein resources other than the first resource in the second resource group are used to send a physical downlink shared channel, and a location of the physical downlink shared channel is indicated by rate matching pattern information on the physical downlink control channel in the first resource group.

22. sending the plurality of resource information to the terminal device via radio resource control (RRC) signaling; 20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

23. A communication device mounted on a terminal device, a transceiver module configured to receive first indication information from an access network device, the first indication information being associated with load information of a cell to which the device belongs; a processing module configured to determine a first resource for detecting a physical downlink control channel based on the first indication information and first information, the first information including a plurality of resource information, the first indication information corresponding to first resource information in the plurality of resource information, and the first resource information indicating the first resource; Equipped with the plurality of pieces of resource information further includes second resource information, the second resource information indicating a second resource, the second resource including the first resource; a communication device, wherein resources other than the first resource among the second resource groups are used by the device to receive a physical downlink shared channel, and a position of the physical downlink shared channel is indicated by rate matching pattern information on the physical downlink control channel.

24. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least one of a number of symbols and a bandwidth included in resources used by the apparatus to detect the physical downlink control channel indicated by different resource information in the first information is different.

25. 24. The device of claim 23, wherein the first indication information is first bandwidth portion information, and the first bandwidth portion information further indicates to the device to switch an operating bandwidth to a bandwidth portion corresponding to the first bandwidth portion information.

26. The transceiver module includes: receiving the first information from the access network device via radio resource control signaling; 26. The apparatus of any one of claims 23 to 25, further configured to:

27. A communication device mounted on an access network device, comprising: a transceiver module configured to send first indication information to a terminal device, the first indication information being associated with load information of a cell to which the device belongs; a processing module configured to determine a first resource to be used by the device to send a physical downlink control channel based on the first indication information and first information, the first information including a plurality of resource information, the first indication information corresponding to first resource information in the plurality of resource information, and the first resource information indicating the first resource; Equipped with the plurality of pieces of resource information further includes second resource information, the second resource information indicating a second resource, the second resource including the first resource; a communication device, wherein resources other than the first resource among the second resource groups are used by the device to send a physical downlink shared channel, and a position of the physical downlink shared channel is indicated by rate matching pattern information on the physical downlink control channel.

28. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least one of a number of symbols and a bandwidth included in resources used by the apparatus to send the physical downlink control channel indicated by different resource information in the first information is different.

29. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first display information is first bandwidth portion information, and the first bandwidth portion information is further used by the apparatus to schedule the operating bandwidth of the terminal device to be switched to a bandwidth portion corresponding to the first bandwidth portion information.

30. The processing module includes: determining the first display information based on the load information of the cell and the first information; 28. The apparatus of claim 27, further configured to:

31. The processing module includes: Selecting the terminal device from terminal devices served by the cell according to a preset policy.

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

32. The transceiver module includes: Sending the first information to the terminal device via radio resource control signaling.

32. The apparatus of any one of claims 27 to 31, further configured to:

33. A communication device mounted on a terminal device, a processing module configured to determine resources indicated by the plurality of resource information; a transceiver module configured to perform detection on the resources indicated by the plurality of resource information; Equipped with First resource information in the plurality of resource information indicates a first resource, the first resource carrying a physical downlink control channel, and the first resource information is associated with load information of a cell to which the terminal device belongs; When performing the detection on the resources indicated by the plurality of resource information, the transceiver module: Performing detection on the resources indicated by each resource information, and determining whether the physical downlink control channel from the access network device is received. A communication device configured to:

34. 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein resources used by the transceiver module to detect the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information have different sizes.

35. 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein at least one of a number of symbols and a bandwidth included in resources used by the transceiver module to detect the physical downlink control channel indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information is different.

36. 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, the second resource information indicating a second resource, the second resource including the first resource.

37. 37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein resources other than the first resource in the second resource group are used by the transceiver module to receive a physical downlink shared channel, the location of which is indicated by rate matching pattern information on the physical downlink control channel in the first resource group.

38. 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the transceiver module is further configured to receive the plurality of resource information from an access network device via radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

39. A communication device mounted on an access network device, comprising: a processing module configured to determine first resource information from a plurality of resource information, the first resource information being associated with load information of a cell of the access network device, and the first resource information in the plurality of resource information indicating a first resource; a transceiver module configured to send a physical downlink control channel to a terminal device on the first resource; Equipped with When determining the first resource information from the plurality of pieces of resource information, the processing module: determining a size of the first resource for sending the physical downlink control channel based on the load information of the cell; determining the first resource information from the plurality of resource information based on the size of the first resource; A communication device configured to:

40. 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein resources used by the transceiver module to send the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information have different sizes.

41. 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein at least one of a number of symbols and a bandwidth included in resources used by the transceiver module to send the physical downlink control channel and indicated by different resource information in the plurality of resource information is different.

42. 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the plurality of resource information further includes second resource information, the second resource information indicating a second resource, the second resource including the first resource.

43. 43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein resources other than the first resources in the second resource group are used by the transceiver module to send a physical downlink shared channel, the location of which is indicated by rate matching pattern information on the physical downlink control channel in the first resource group.

44. The transceiver module includes: Sending the plurality of resource information to the terminal device via radio resource control (RRC) signaling 40. The apparatus of claim 39, further configured to:

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