Cell access method, communication device, and computer storage medium

Abstract

The present application provides a cell access method, a communication device, and a computer storage medium. The method includes a network device sending one or more reference signals to a terminal. The terminal sends corresponding first indication information to the network device based on a first reference signal of the received one or more reference signals, and the first indication information indicates the network device to send a downlink common signal, so that the terminal can access a target cell based on the downlink common signal. In this manner, the network device does not need to continuously send the downlink common signal, and therefore the energy consumption of the network device can be reduced.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications technology, and more particularly to cell access methods, communications devices, and computer storage media. [Background technology]

[0003] In wireless communication systems, downlink common signals may be used by terminals to perform procedures such as initial cell access, cell measurements, cell handover, etc. For example, in new radio (NR) systems, downlink common signals include a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), etc.

[0004] However, even if the base station has no need for data transmission, a large amount of time domain resources is still occupied for transmitting downlink common signals, which results in the base station's transmission link being prevented from implementing a larger proportion of time domain shutdown and sleep, causing high energy consumption of the base station. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a cell access method, a communication apparatus, and a computer storage medium, so that energy consumption on the network device side can be reduced.

[0006] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a cell access method, which can be implemented by a terminal or by a device (e.g., a chip) used for the terminal.

[0007] The method includes the steps of receiving M reference signals, where the M reference signals are from C cells, where M and C are positive integers and M is greater than or equal to C; and sending first indication information to a network device based on the first reference signal, where the first indication information indicates to the network device to send a downlink common signal in a target cell, where the downlink common signal is used by a terminal to access the target cell, where the downlink common signal includes system information, and the first reference signal belongs to the M reference signals and is from the target cell.

[0008] Optionally, the terminal receiving M reference signals from one or more network devices may be the terminal attempting to perform blind detection on the M reference signals and successfully receiving some or all of the M reference signals, or the terminal attempting to perform blind detection on N reference signals and ultimately successfully receiving M reference signals, where N≧M.

[0009] The reference signal may be a discovery reference signal (DRS), and the first indication information may be a wake-up signal (WUS).

[0010] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes determining a first reference signal from the M reference signals, for example, determining the first reference signal based on signal reception qualities of the M reference signals, which may also be understood as the terminal determining, as the target cell, a cell corresponding to a reference signal having the best signal reception quality based on the signal reception qualities of the M reference signals.

[0011] Optionally, if the terminal successfully receives some of the M reference signals, the target cell corresponds to one of the reference signals successfully received by the terminal.

[0012] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, sending the first indication information to the network device includes sending the first indication information using a predefined transmission power. Optionally, the predefined transmission power is a predefined absolute value, or the predefined transmission power is a maximum transmission power of the terminal, or the predefined transmission power is a minimum value between the predefined absolute value and the maximum transmission power of the terminal.

[0013] According to a second aspect, the present application provides a cell access method. The method can be implemented by a network device or by an apparatus (e.g., a chip) used for the network device. The network device can be a base station.

[0014] The method includes the steps of: sending R reference signals to a terminal through C1 cells, where R and C1 are positive integers and R is greater than or equal to C1; receiving first indication information from the terminal, where the first indication information corresponds to a first reference signal, the first reference signal being one of the R reference signals and being from a target cell, the first indication information indicating to a network device to send a downlink common signal in the target cell, the downlink common signal being used by the terminal to access the target cell, and the downlink common signal including system information; and sending the downlink common signal in the target cell to the terminal.

[0015] In a possible implementation of the first or second aspect, the system information includes one or more of a master information block, scheduling information of system information block 1, time unit number information in which a downlink common signal is located, or random access channel configuration information. The random access channel configuration information includes time-frequency resource location and sequence information for sending the random access channel by the terminal. The time unit may be a radio frame, a subframe, a slot, a subslot, or a symbol.

[0016] In a possible implementation of the first or second aspect, the first reference signal carries a cell identity, which may be a physical cell identity or a local cell identity. The value of the physical cell identity is V PCI Optionally, the value range of the physical cell identity is 0 to 1007. The value of the local cell identity is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than N-1, where N is a positive integer and N is less than the maximum value of the physical cell identity.

[0017] For example, the value of the local cell identity and the value of the physical cell identity are V=V PCI mod N, where V represents the value of the local cell identity, and V PCI represents the value of the physical cell identity PCI.

[0018] In a possible implementation of the first or second aspect, the reference signals of different cells have different frequency domain locations, and therefore the cell in which the reference signal is located can be implicitly indicated using the frequency domain location.

[0019] The frequency domain location of the reference signal may be determined based on a center frequency or a starting frequency of the cell in which the first reference signal is located and a frequency domain offset.

[0020] In a possible implementation of the first or second aspect, the first indication information carries a cell identity of the target cell. Optionally, the first indication information is a sequence corresponding to the cell identity of the target cell.

[0021] In a possible implementation of the first or second aspect, the first reference signal further carries a time-domain offset, the time-domain offset indicating an offset between a time-domain location of the first reference signal and a time-domain location of the first indication information, the first reference signal being located in a downlink portion of a time division duplex frame structure, and the first indication information being located in an uplink portion of the time division duplex frame structure. In an implementation, the terminal sending the first indication information to the network device includes determining a time-domain location of the first indication information based on the time-domain location of the first reference signal and the offset carried in the first reference signal, and sending the first indication information at the determined time-domain location of the first indication information. Correspondingly, the network device receiving first indication information from the terminal includes receiving R1 pieces of indication information at time domain positions of the R1 pieces of indication information, where the distances between the time domain positions of the R1 pieces of indication information and the time domain positions of the R1 reference signals are equal to the time domain offsets carried in the R1 reference signals respectively, and the first indication information belongs to the R1 pieces of indication information, and R1≦M.

[0022] In a possible implementation of the first or second aspect, a predefined time-domain offset exists between a time-domain location of the first reference signal and a time-domain location of the first indication information, the first reference signal being located in a downlink portion of a time division duplex frame structure, and the first indication information being located in an uplink portion of the time division duplex frame structure. In this implementation, the step of sending the first indication information to the network device includes determining a time-domain location of the first indication information based on the time-domain location of the first reference signal and the predefined offset, and sending the first indication information at the determined time-domain location of the first indication information. Correspondingly, the network device receiving the first indication information from the terminal includes receiving R2 pieces of indication information at time domain positions of the R2 pieces of indication information, where the distances between the time domain positions of the R2 pieces of indication information and the time domain positions of the R2 pieces of reference signals are respectively equal to a predefined time domain offset, and the first indication information belongs to the R2 pieces of indication information, where R2≦M.

[0023] In a possible implementation of the first or second aspect, the spatial domain parameters used by the terminal to receive the first reference signal are the same as the spatial domain parameters used by the terminal to send the first indication information. For example, the spatial domain parameters used by the terminal to receive the first reference signal being the same as the spatial domain parameters for sending the first indication information includes any one or more of the following: the multi-port combining matrix used when the reference signal is received is the same as the multi-port precoding matrix used when the indication information is sent, or the multi-antenna receive beam used when the reference signal is received is the same as the multi-antenna transmit beam used when the indication information is sent, i.e., the signal processing weight vectors on the multiple antennas are the same, or the multi-antenna spatial filter parameters used when the reference signal is received are the same as the multi-antenna spatial filter parameters used when the indication information is sent. Similarly, the spatial domain parameters used by the network device to receive the first indication information are the same as the spatial domain parameters used by the network device to send the first reference signal.

[0024] In a possible implementation of the first or second aspect, the first reference signal occupies two symbols, the two symbols being spaced apart by at least one symbol.

[0025] In a possible implementation of the first or second aspect, two or more reference signals are from one cell and are consecutive in the time domain, or two adjacent reference signals in the time domain are spaced apart by at least one symbol.

[0026] In a possible implementation of the first or second aspect, the first reference signal includes paging indication information, and the paging indication information indicates whether data of one or more terminals belonging to P terminal groups has arrived at the network device, where the terminal belongs to one of the P terminal groups and P is a positive integer.

[0027] Optionally, the paging indication information includes P bits indicating P terminal groups, and the i-th bit among the P bits indicates whether data of one or more terminals in the i-th terminal group has arrived at the network device, where i is a positive integer and i≦P.

[0028] Optionally, the paging indication information includes Q bits, where the Q bits indicate whether data of one or more terminals in one of the P terminal groups has arrived at the network device, and Q is a positive integer. Optionally, Q=ceil[log2(1+P)], where log2 represents the base 2 logarithm function and ceil[x] represents rounding x up.

[0029] According to the cell access method provided in the first or second aspect, a method for transmitting a reference signal and corresponding indication information is designed, so that when the network device is in a cell idle state, the network device can only transmit a reference signal, not a downlink common signal. When the terminal needs to access a cell, the terminal sends indication information corresponding to the reference signal to the network device, indicating the network device to transmit a downlink common signal in the cell corresponding to the reference signal, so that the energy consumption of the network device is reduced when the network device is in a cell idle state.

[0030] According to a third aspect, the present application provides a cell access method, which can be implemented by a terminal or by a device, such as a chip, used for the terminal.

[0031] The method includes the steps of receiving configuration information of N dormant cells from a basic cell, where N is a positive integer; determining a first dormant cell from the N dormant cells; and initiating random access to the first dormant cell, wherein the dormant cell does not send a downlink common signal when the dormant cell is in a cell idle state.

[0032] A cell idle state may mean that there are no connected terminals in the cell. Optionally, an idle cell also does not send downlink common signals when the idle cell is in a state other than the cell idle state.

[0033] The basic cell is managed by a first network device, and the first dormant cell is managed by a second network device, where the first network device and the second network device can be the same network device or different network devices.

[0034] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, the method further includes receiving a first synchronization signal block from the basic cell, and the step of initiating random access to the first dormant cell includes sending a first random access channel corresponding to the first dormant cell to the second network device, the first random access channel having a first association relationship with the first synchronization signal block, and the second network device manages the first dormant cell.

[0035] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, the method further includes receiving a first synchronization signal block of the basic cell, and initiating random access to the first dormant cell includes sending first indication information to a second network device through the first dormant cell, the first indication information indicating to the second network device to send a second synchronization signal block to the terminal in the first dormant cell, the first indication information having a second association relationship with the first synchronization signal block; receiving the second synchronization signal block; and sending a second random access channel corresponding to the second synchronization signal block to the second network device. Optionally, the first dormant cell can be determined by the terminal based on a signal reception quality of the first synchronization signal block.

[0036] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, the method further includes receiving P reference signals from L dormant cells, the P reference signals being reference signals having association relationships with Q physical random access channels, where L, P, and Q are positive integers, L≦P, and L≦N, and determining a first dormant cell from the N dormant cells includes determining the first dormant cell based on signal reception qualities of the P reference signals.

[0037] Optionally, the step of initiating random access to the first dormant cell includes sending a third random access channel corresponding to the first dormant cell to the second network device, the third random access channel having a third association relationship with the first reference signal from the first dormant cell.

[0038] Optionally, the step of initiating random access to the first dormant cell includes the steps of sending second indication information to the second network device through the first dormant cell based on the first reference signal, wherein the second indication information indicates to the second network device to send a third synchronization signal block to the terminal in the first dormant cell; receiving the third synchronization signal block; and sending a fourth random access channel corresponding to the third synchronization signal block to the second network device, wherein the second indication information has a fourth association relationship with the first reference signal, and the first reference signal belongs to the P reference signals and is from the first dormant cell.

[0039] The L dormant cells belong to the N dormant cells and are managed by one or more network devices, i.e., the one or more network devices may send P reference signals to the terminal through the L dormant cells.

[0040] According to a fourth aspect, the present application provides a cell access method. The method can be implemented by a network device or by an apparatus (e.g., a chip) used for the network device. The network device can be a base station.

[0041] The method includes sending configuration information of N dormant cells to a terminal through a basic cell, where N is a positive integer, the configuration information of the N dormant cells is used by the terminal to determine to initiate random access to a first dormant cell, the dormant cell does not send a downlink common signal when the dormant cell is in a cell idle state, and the first dormant cell belongs to the N dormant cells.

[0042] In a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the first network device manages a basic cell and S dormant cells, where S≦N.

[0043] In a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the first dormant cell belongs to the S dormant cells, and the method further includes the first network device sending a first synchronization signal block to the terminal through the basic cell, and the first network device receiving from the terminal a first random access channel corresponding to the first dormant cell, wherein the first random access channel has a first association relationship with the first synchronization signal block.

[0044] Optionally, the first network device receiving from the terminal a first random access channel corresponding to the first dormant cell includes receiving the random access channels in S1 dormant cells respectively, wherein the random access channels of the S1 dormant cells respectively have a first association relationship with the first synchronization signal block, S1≦S, and the first dormant cell belongs to the S1 dormant cells.

[0045] In a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the first dormant cell belongs to S dormant cells, and the method further includes: a first network device sending a first synchronization signal block to a terminal through a basic cell; and receiving first indication information sent by the terminal in the first dormant cell, wherein the first indication information indicates to the first network device to send a second synchronization signal block to the terminal in the first dormant cell, and the first indication information has a second association relationship with the first synchronization signal block; sending the second synchronization signal block; and receiving a second random access channel corresponding to the second synchronization signal block from the terminal.

[0046] Optionally, the first network device receiving the first indication information sent by the terminal in the first dormant cell includes separately receiving the indication information in S2 dormant cells and successfully receiving the first indication information, wherein the indication information of the S2 dormant cells has a second association relationship with the first synchronization signal block, S2≦S, and the first dormant cell belongs to the S2 dormant cells.

[0047] In a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the first dormant cell belongs to S dormant cells, and the method further includes the first network device sending P1 reference signals to the terminal through L1 dormant cells, where the P1 reference signals have association relationships with Q1 physical random access channels, where L1, P1, and Q1 are respectively positive integers, L1≦P1, and L1≦S≦N, the L1 dormant cells are some or all of the L dormant cells that send the P reference signals to the UE, and the P1 reference signals are some or all of the P reference signals received by the terminal.

[0048] Optionally, the method further includes receiving a third random access channel corresponding to the first dormant cell from the terminal, wherein the third random access channel has a third association relationship with a first reference signal from the first dormant cell, and the first dormant cell belongs to the L1 dormant cells.

[0049] Optionally, the first network device receiving from the terminal a third random access channel corresponding to the first dormant cell includes receiving corresponding random access channels in L1 dormant cells, and the random access channels of the L1 dormant cells each have a third association relationship with a reference signal from the L1 dormant cells.

[0050] Optionally, the method further includes receiving second indication information from the terminal, the second indication information indicating to the second network device to send a third synchronization signal block to the terminal in the first dormant cell; sending the third synchronization signal block; and receiving a fourth random access channel corresponding to the third synchronization signal block, wherein the second indication information has a fourth association relationship with a first reference signal, the first reference signal belonging to P1 reference signals and coming from the first dormant cell.

[0051] In a possible implementation of the third or fourth aspect, the resource location of the third random access channel is determined based on the resource location of the first reference signal, and the spatial domain parameters for sending the third random access channel are the same as the spatial domain parameters for receiving the first reference signal, and the meaning of the spatial domain parameters is the same as the meaning of the spatial domain parameters in the first or second aspect.

[0052] In a possible implementation of the third or fourth aspect, the configuration information of the N dormant cells includes configuration information of reference signals respectively corresponding to the N dormant cells, configuration information of indication information of the N dormant cells, random access channel configuration information of the N dormant cells, and at least one of a first association relationship, a second association relationship, a third association relationship, and a fourth association relationship.

[0053] In a possible implementation of the third or fourth aspect, the reference signal occupies a time domain resource of one symbol, or the reference signal is a primary synchronization signal.

[0054] According to the cell access method provided in the third or fourth aspect, in a multi-carrier deployment scenario, the basic cell indicates an association relationship between the system information block of the basic cell or the reference signal of the dormant cell and the wake-up signal of the dormant cell, or indicates an association relationship between the system information block of the basic cell or the reference signal of the dormant cell and the random access channel available to the dormant cell, to assist the terminal in selecting an appropriate resource for sending a wake-up signal to wake up the dormant cell for access, or to assist the terminal in selecting an appropriate random access channel to directly access the dormant cell, thereby reducing the transmission overhead of the wake-up signal or the random access channel, improving the energy saving effect of the network device, and reducing the delay in the terminal's access to the dormant cell.

[0055] According to a fifth aspect, the present application further provides a communication device, the communication device including a unit, module or means configured to perform the steps of the first or third aspect, the communication device may be a terminal or a device used for a terminal.

[0056] According to a sixth aspect, the present application further provides a communication device, the communication device including a unit, module, or means configured to perform the steps of the second or fourth aspect. The communication device may be a network device or a device used for a network device. The network device may be a base station or an access network device having some of the functions of a base station.

[0057] According to a seventh aspect, the present application further provides a communications device, the communications device including a processor and an interface circuit, the processor configured to communicate with another device through the interface circuit and to perform a method according to the first or third aspect, and there may be one or more processors.

[0058] According to an eighth aspect, the present application further provides a communications device, the communications device including a processor and an interface circuit, the processor configured to communicate with another device through the interface circuit and to perform a method according to the second or fourth aspect, and there may be one or more processors.

[0059] According to a ninth aspect, the present application further provides a communications device, the communications device including a processor configured to invoke a program stored in a memory to perform a method according to the first or third aspect. The memory may be located internal or external to the device. In addition, there may be one or more processors.

[0060] According to a tenth aspect, the present application further provides a communications device, the communications device including a processor configured to invoke a program stored in a memory to perform a method according to the second or fourth aspect. The memory may be located internal or external to the device. In addition, there may be one or more processors.

[0061] According to an eleventh aspect, the present application further provides a computer program product, the program, when invoked by a processor, performing a method according to any one of the preceding aspects.

[0062] Additionally, a computer readable storage medium is provided, the computer readable storage medium including the program.

[0063] According to a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, the communication system including a network device and a terminal, the terminal configured to perform the method according to the first aspect, and the network device configured to perform the method according to the second aspect, or the terminal configured to perform the method according to the third aspect, and the network device configured to perform the method according to the fourth aspect. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0064] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a cell access method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the time domain location of a DRS and a WUS according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the time domain location of a DRS and a WUS according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a cell access method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a cell access method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a cell access method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 8] 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 800 according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0065] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 1 , the communication system 100 includes a network device 110 and a terminal 120. The terminal 120 communicates with the network device 110 using electromagnetic waves. When the terminal 120 sends information, a wireless communication module of the terminal 120 may obtain information bits that need to be sent to the network device 110 through a channel. For example, the information bits are generated by a processing module of the terminal, received from another device, or stored in a storage module of the terminal. Specifically, the terminal 120 may be used as an entity that sends uplink data to send an uplink channel to the network device 110. The uplink channel may carry the uplink data. Certainly, the terminal 120 may also receive downlink data that is sent directly by the network device 110 or forwarded by a network node such as a relay device.

[0067] A network device may support one or more component carriers (CCs). A terminal may communicate with the network device using a single carrier scheme or a carrier aggregation scheme. In this application, a component carrier may also be referred to as a cell. As shown in FIG. 1 , cell 1, cell 2, and cell 3 are deployed in the network device 110. A terminal 120 is located within the coverage of cell 1. The terminal may access the network device through cell 1 to obtain communication services. When a carrier aggregation scheme is used, the terminal may communicate with the network device 110 through multiple cells, for example, cell 1 and cell 2.

[0068] 1 illustrates one network device and one terminal as an example. Optionally, the communication system 100 may include multiple network devices, and a different number of terminals may be included within the coverage of each of the network devices. This is not limited to the embodiments of the present application.

[0069] In this application, a terminal may be any type of device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, and may also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. The terminal may be widely applied to various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart clothing, smart transportation, and smart city. The terminal may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, a wearable device, a vehicle, an unmanned aerial vehicle, a helicopter, an airplane, a ship, a robot, a robotic arm, a smart home device, etc. The terminal in this application may also be a relay node. The specific technology and the specific device form used by the terminal are not limited in the embodiments of this application. In the embodiments of the present application, the chips used in the aforementioned devices may also be referred to as terminals.

[0070] In this application, a network device may be an access network device. For example, the network device may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication system, a next-generation base station in a sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, an access node in a Wi-Fi system, etc. Or it may be a module or unit that completes part of the functions of a base station, such as a central unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). The CU in this specification completes the functions of the radio resource control protocol and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the base station and may also complete the functions of the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP). The DU completes the functions of the radio link control layer and medium access control (MAC) layer of the base station, and may also complete some or all of the functions of the physical layer. For a specific description of the protocol layers, please refer to the relevant technical specifications of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP). The access network device may be a macro base station, a micro base station, an indoor station, a relay node, a donor node, etc. The specific technology and specific device form used by the network device are not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0071] In the communication system 100, the network device 110 may send downlink common signals to terminals in the managed cell. The downlink common signals are used by terminals to perform initial access or to implement processes such as cell link quality measurement during cell camping or handover. That is, even if a terminal in a cell is not connected to the network device, the terminal still receives some downlink common signals. In an NR system, downlink common signals include, in addition to the PSS, SSS, and PBCH, a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a common channel carrying system information (SI), a common channel used to carry paging, etc. The SI includes a master information block (MIB), system information block 1 (SIB1), and other system information. The PSS, SSS, and PBCH are collectively referred to as a synchronization signal block (SSB).

[0072] The initial access of a terminal is a process in which an idle terminal accesses a cell after being powered on and changes to a connected state. The initial access generally includes an SSB detection process, an SIB1 reception process, and a random access process. That is, the initial access process of a terminal may use an SSB and an SIB1. The SSB and the SIB1 may be transmitted periodically, and beam scanning may need to be performed to ensure cell coverage.

[0073] In addition, if the terminal does not perform cell access after powering on, the terminal performs cell measurements to select a cell for camping, or also selects a cell for camping when the terminal re-enters the idle state from the connected state. When camped on a specific cell, the terminal continuously monitors the SSB to timely handover to the camped cell and monitors downlink paging sent by the cell in the camped cell to know whether there is data to be sent to the terminal. In another aspect, if the terminal moves, or if the load of the current camped cell changes, or if the load of the cell the terminal currently accesses changes, the terminal may select another cell to camp on or access. The terminal may perform mobility measurements based on the current camped cell and the SSB or CSI-RS of neighboring cells to obtain a neighboring cell with good signal reception quality as a target cell for handover.

[0074] The aforementioned downlink common signal occupies a large proportion in the time domain. For example, in commercial network deployments using 3.5 GHz carrier frequencies, the proportion of downlink common signals is up to 12%. As a result, the transmission link of a network device, such as a base station, is prevented from performing a large proportion of time domain shutdown and sleep, and the energy consumption of the network device is high even when the network device is not under load.

[0075] In order to reduce the energy consumption of sending downlink common signals by a network device, a simplified sending mode is used in this application. In this mode, the network device only sends a simplified reference signal in the cell for proactive cell representation, and introducing a signal sending mode handover triggered by the terminal includes: after the terminal receives the simplified reference signal, the terminal sends indication information to the network device to trigger the network device to handover from the simplified sending mode to the normal sending mode and send a normal downlink common signal in the cell, so that the terminal can complete initial access.

[0076] The simplified reference signal may be a reference signal occupying a small time domain resource, such as a DRS occupying one or more symbols. The simplified reference signal represents at least one of the following functions: cell presence, downlink timing maintenance, and assisting the terminal in performing cell measurements. After detecting the DRS in an idle state, the terminal may send an indication, such as a WUS, to the network device. After receiving the WUS, the network device enters a normal transmission mode, i.e., starts transmitting downlink common signals, such as SSB and SI, in the cell. In this way, periodic common signal transmission is changed to terminal-triggered transmission, which may increase the time domain shutdown ratio of the network device when the network device is not under load and reduce the energy consumption of the network device. The simplified transmission mode may also be used in multi-carrier deployment scenarios.

[0077] In a multi-carrier deployment scenario, multiple data carriers of one or more network devices may provide communication services to a terminal. The network device may configure one of the data carriers as a basic component carrier (BCC), transmit downlink common signals normally, and broadcast system information for another data carrier. Another data carrier may enter a dormant state or a simplified transmission mode when the terminal has no communication request. A data carrier that enters a dormant state or a simplified transmission mode may be referred to as a dormant component carrier (DCC). A basic component carrier may also be referred to as a basic cell, and a dormant component carrier may also be referred to as a dormant cell. The basic cell and the dormant cell may be managed by the same network device or different network devices, and both the basic cell and the dormant cell may be used as a primary cell (Pcell) for a terminal.

[0078] For example, when a terminal has a communication request, the terminal may directly access the DCC based on the system information of the DCC broadcast by the BCC, or may wake up the DCC by sending indication information, such as a WUS, and then access the DCC. For example, the BCC is a low-frequency carrier and the DCC is a high-frequency carrier, and the two carriers use different transceiver channels. In this case, when the DCC enters a dormant or simplified transceiver mode, the energy consumption of the transceiver channel corresponding to the high-frequency carrier can be reduced. That is, the terminal device may directly access the DCC based on the broadcast information of the BCC, and the terminal device does not need to first access the BCC, use the BCC to wake up the DCC, and then hand over to the DCC. The terminal also does not need to first access the BCC and then configure the DCC as a secondary carrier to access the DCC.

[0079] 2 to 7, the cell access method provided in the present application will be described in detail below. The method provided in the present application may be performed by a terminal or a network device, or may be performed by a communication device, for example, a chip, used for the terminal or the network device. The method provided in the present application may be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 1. The following describes the method provided in the present application, using a terminal as a UE and a network device as a base station.

[0080] 2 is a schematic flowchart of a cell access method according to an embodiment of the present application. The embodiment described in FIG. 2 is described from the perspective of a UE.

[0081] S201: A UE receives M reference signals, where the M reference signals are from C cells, where M and C are positive integers, and M≧C.

[0082] Each of the C cells may belong to one or more base stations, each of which manages one or more cells, i.e., the M reference signals received by the UE may be from one or more base stations, and each of the base stations may send one or more of the M reference signals to the UE.

[0083] The reference signal may be the discovery reference signal described above or another signal having a function similar to that of the discovery reference signal. For example, the reference signal may also be a PSS, or a PSS and an SSS.

[0084] The reference signal occupies a time domain resource of one or more symbols. Optionally, one reference signal occupies two symbols, and the two symbols are spaced apart by at least one symbol, thereby improving the accuracy of frequency offset estimation performed by the UE. For example, the two symbols occupied by the reference signal are spaced apart by two or three symbols.

[0085] Optionally, the reference signal and the SSB of the same cell as the reference signal are located at the same time domain position. For example, the reference signal is located in the first symbol in which the SSB is located, or in the first and third symbols of the SSB. In addition, different reference signals of the same cell may be located at different time domain positions of the SSB. In this way, the reference signal transmission / detection period coincides with the SSB detection period, and the beam scanning of the reference signal is completed within the SSB detection period, reducing the reference signal processing time and reducing the delay in the UE's access to the target cell.

[0086] In this embodiment of the present application, the reference signal does not include one or more types of system information. The system information includes one or more of the following: MIB, SIB1 scheduling information, time unit number information in which the downlink common signal is located, or random access channel configuration information. The random access channel configuration information includes time-frequency resource location and sequence information of the random access channel. In this embodiment of the present application, the time unit may be a radio frame, a subframe, a slot, a subslot, or a symbol.

[0087] Optionally, one or more base stations separately send M reference signals to the UE through C cells. Correspondingly, the UE attempts to perform blind detection on the M reference signals and eventually successfully receives M reference signals, where M≦M.

[0088] Optionally, one or more base stations separately send M2 reference signals to the UE through C' cells. Correspondingly, the UE attempts to perform blind detection on the M2 reference signals and eventually successfully receives M reference signals, where M≦M2 and C≦C'. In addition, the M reference signals correspond to C cells.

[0089] It can be understood that the number of reference signals transmitted by one base station may be equal to or greater than the number of cells managed by the base station. That is, the base station may send multiple reference signals to the UE through any cell managed by the base station to increase the success rate of the UE receiving the reference signal of the cell. For example, the UE may receive two or more reference signals from one cell. The two or more reference signals may be consecutive in the time domain, or two adjacent reference signals in the time domain may be spaced apart by at least one symbol.

[0090] Optionally, when multiple reference signals are sent in one cell, the reference signals may be sent periodically or based on a given pattern, for example, at one or more positions within one period. Assuming that the transmission period is 4 milliseconds and the given pattern is "1100," this indicates that a first transmission position and a second transmission position may be used to transmit the reference signal. Optionally, the multiple reference signals in one cell have different spatial domain parameters. For example, the spatial domain parameters correspond to various beam directions.

[0091] Optionally, in the implementation of the present application, any one of the M reference signals, for example, the first reference signal, carries a cell identity. The cell identity may be a physical cell identity (PCI) or a local cell identity. PCI is a physical cell identity defined in 3GPP NR protocol TS38.211. For example, the value of PCI may be 0 to 1007. Compared with PCI, the local cell identity occupies fewer bits, and signaling overhead may be reduced. That is, the reference signal explicitly carries the cell identity.

[0092] Optionally, in the implementation of the present application, the reference signal implicitly indicates cell identity.

[0093] For example, one reference signal is one sequence, different cell identities correspond to different sequences, and different cell identities may correspond to different root sequences or different cyclic shifts of one root sequence. A sequence representing a reference signal is received, and thus the UE may know that the reference signal is from a particular cell.

[0094] In another example, cell identification may be implicitly indicated by using the time-domain or frequency-domain location of a reference signal. Specifically, when a UE receives multiple reference signals, different reference signals have different frequency-domain locations. The different frequency-domain locations correspond to different cells. Therefore, the UE may determine the cell from which a reference signal originates based on the frequency-domain location of the reference signal. Alternatively, when a UE receives multiple reference signals, different reference signals have different time-domain locations. The different time-domain locations correspond to different cells. Therefore, the UE may determine the cell from which a reference signal originates based on the time-domain location of the reference signal.

[0095] It is used as an example that cell identification is implicitly indicated using a frequency domain location. The frequency domain location of one reference signal can be determined based on the center frequency or start frequency of the cell in which the reference signal is located and a frequency domain offset. For example, the frequency domain location of a reference signal is determined based on the center frequency or start frequency of the cell plus one frequency domain offset. The frequency domain offset is Δ DRS ×PCI local where Δ DRS is a preset value, and PCI local is the value of the cell identity.

[0096] Optionally, the cell identity is a local cell identity, the value of which is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to N-1, where N is less than the maximum PCI value.

[0097] For example, the values ​​of the local cell identity and the physical cell identity satisfy the following relationship:

[0098] V=V PCI mod N, where N is a positive integer, V represents the value of the local cell identity, and V PCI represents the PCI value.

[0099] N may be a predefined positive integer. For example, N may be the same as the number of cells managed by the base station, or N may be the same as the number of neighboring cells that the base station expects to distinguish. For example, N may be pre-set to be one of 3, 7, 21, 19, or 57, or one of 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32. N=21 is used as an example. Assume that the PCI values ​​of C cells are 0 to 62. The local cell identities of cells with PCIs of 0 to 20, 21 to 41, and 42 to 62 are all 0 to 20, and there are 21 cells that can be distinguished based on the local cell identities.

[0100] Optionally, in the implementation of the present application, any one of the M reference signals, for example, the first reference signal, includes paging indication information. The paging indication information indicates whether data of a UE belonging to the P terminal groups has arrived at the base station, or whether the base station has sent data to UEs belonging to one or more of the P terminal groups. The UE receiving the reference signal in S201 belongs to one of the P terminal groups, P is a positive integer. Optionally, P>1. The core network first sends data used by one or more UEs for communication to the base station, and then the base station sends the data to the corresponding UE.

[0101] Optionally, the paging indication information includes P bits indicating P terminal groups. The i-th bit among the P bits indicates whether data of one or more UEs in the i-th terminal group has arrived at the base station, where i is a positive integer and i≦P. Specifically, each bit represents one terminal group. When a particular bit has a value of 1, it indicates that data of the UEs in the corresponding terminal group has arrived at the base station, or when the bit has a value of 0, it indicates that data of the UEs in the corresponding terminal group has not arrived at the base station, and vice versa. Details will not be described. For example, if the paging indication information includes "01010", data of the UEs in the second terminal group and the fourth terminal group has arrived at the base station.

[0102] Optionally, the paging indication information includes Q bits. The Q bits indicate that data of one or more UEs in one of the P terminal groups arrives at the base station, where Q is a positive integer. For example, when the number of terminal groups P is 7, the paging indication information includes ceil[log2(1+P)]=3 bits, that is, Q=3, where log2 represents the logarithm function with base 2, and ceil[x] represents rounding up x. When the values ​​of the Q bits are “000”, it indicates that data of the terminals does not arrive at the base station. When the values ​​of the Q bits are “001”, it indicates that data of terminals in group 1 arrive at the base station. When the values ​​of the Q bits are “010”, it indicates that data of terminals in group 2 arrive at the base station. Similarly, when the values ​​of the Q bits are “111”, it indicates that data of terminals in group 7 arrive at the base station.

[0103] S202: The UE sends first indication information to the first base station based on the first reference signal, where the first indication information indicates the first base station to send a downlink common signal in the target cell.

[0104] The downlink common signal is used by the UE to access the target cell, and the downlink common signal includes system information, and the first reference signal belongs to the M reference signals and is from the target cell. For a specific description of the type of system information, please refer to the relevant content in S201. Details will not be described.

[0105] Optionally, in an implementation of the present application, the method further includes: S201-1: the UE determines a first reference signal from the M reference signals.

[0106] Specifically, the UE may select one reference signal from one or more successfully received reference signals from the M reference signals as the first reference signal, and the cell in which the first reference signal is located is the target cell.

[0107] Optionally, the signal reception quality may be used as a criterion for the UE to determine a first reference signal. The UE may select a reference signal with the best signal reception quality as the first reference signal. This may also be understood as the UE determining, as a target cell, a cell corresponding to a reference signal with the best signal reception quality based on the signal reception qualities of the M reference signals. The signal reception quality may be represented by parameters such as reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), etc.

[0108] The first base station is one of one or more base stations that send M reference signals to the UE, and the first base station manages a target cell. The UE determines, based on the determined first reference signal, that the UE can access one cell managed by the first base station. The target cell is a cell that the terminal expects to access, a cell that the terminal expects to camp on, or a target cell to which the terminal expects to be handed over. This is not particularly limited in this application.

[0109] It can be understood that the first indication information corresponds to a first reference signal from the target cell, and the UE can determine a time-domain position of the first indication information to be sent to the first base station based on the time-domain position of the first reference signal.

[0110] In the existing cell access procedure, information such as synchronization signals and system information must be broadcast in the cell. The UE completes timing and measurement based on the synchronization signals, and then acquires basic cell configuration information based on the system information, such as configuration information used by the UE to send random access, so that random access can be initiated to complete cell access. However, according to the cell access method in the present application, the UE does not need to acquire system information before sending the first indication information. In other words, when the cell is idle, the base station only sends a reference signal to the UE, but does not need to send system information. After the UE sends the first indication information based on the first reference signal to wake up the cell managed by the first base station, the first base station sends system information or the complete reference signal and system information through the woken-up cell to reduce signaling overhead and reduce base station energy consumption.

[0111] The first indication information may be the aforementioned wake-up signal or other information having the function of indicating the base station to send a downlink common signal in the target cell. The following will describe the cell access method provided in the present application by using an example in which the first indication information is a wake-up signal.

[0112] Optionally, the wake-up signal carries a cell identity of the target cell, which may be a physical cell identity or a local cell identity.

[0113] Optionally, the wake-up signal implicitly indicates the cell identity of the target cell.

[0114] For example, the wake-up signal is a sequence corresponding to the cell identification of the target cell. For example, if the wake-up signal is a preamble of a physical random access channel (PRACH), the sequence generation parameter (root sequence u) of the preamble may have a one-to-one correspondence with the cell identification, and therefore the corresponding cell identification can be obtained by using the preamble. For example, u=PCI local mod L RA and PCI local represents the local cell identity, and L RA represents the value range of the root sequence, and L RA is a predefined positive integer.

[0115] In another example, the cell identity of the target cell may be implicitly indicated by using the frequency domain location or time domain location of the wake-up signal.

[0116] When the reference signals of different cells are located at different frequency domain positions, one reference signal and the corresponding wake-up signal may have a predetermined frequency domain offset, so that the wake-up signals of different cells are located at different frequency domain positions. The first base station may determine the cell from which the UE expects to wake up by using the frequency domain positions of the wake-up signals. Alternatively, when the reference signals of different cells are located at the same frequency domain position and the reference signals carry cell identification, the wake-up signals of different cells are located at different frequency domain positions because the frequency domain offset between the one reference signal and the corresponding wake-up signal may be related to the cell identification, i.e., different cell identifications correspond to different frequency domain offsets. The first base station may determine the cell from which the UE expects to wake up by using the frequency domain positions of the wake-up signals.

[0117] When the reference signals of different cells are located at different time domain positions, one reference signal and the corresponding wake-up signal may have a predetermined time domain offset, so that the wake-up signals of different cells are located at different time domain positions. The first base station may determine the cell from which the UE expects to wake up by using the time domain positions of the wake-up signals. Alternatively, when the reference signals of different cells are located at the same time domain position and the reference signals carry cell identities, the wake-up signals of different cells are located at different time domain positions because the time domain offset between one reference signal and the corresponding wake-up signal may be related to the cell identities, i.e., different cell identities correspond to different time domain offsets. The first base station may determine the cell from which the UE expects to wake up by using the time domain positions of the wake-up signals.

[0118] The manner in which the wake-up signal carries the cell identity of the target cell may be the same as or different from the manner in which the reference signal carries the cell identity. For example, the reference signal may explicitly carry the cell identity and the wake-up signal may explicitly carry or implicitly indicate the cell identity of the target cell, or the reference signal may implicitly indicate the cell identity and the wake-up signal may explicitly carry or implicitly indicate the cell identity of the target cell, or the reference signal may indicate the cell identity by using a frequency domain location and the wake-up signal may indicate the cell identity by using a frequency domain location or a time domain location, or the reference signal may indicate the cell identity by using a time domain location and the wake-up signal may indicate the cell identity by using a frequency domain location or a time domain location.

[0119] It can be understood that different UEs may send wake-up signals to the base station at the same time-frequency resource locations by using the same sequence.

[0120] Optionally, in the implementation of the present application, the UE sends a wake-up signal to the base station by using a predefined transmission power. Optionally, the predefined transmission power is a predefined absolute value, for example, 23 decibel-milliwatts (dBms), or the predefined transmission power is the maximum transmission power of the UE, or the predefined transmission power is the minimum value between the predefined absolute value and the maximum transmission power of the UE.

[0121] Optionally, the UE sends the wake-up signal by using a fixed transmission power. Power control is implemented on the transmission of the wake-up signal so that the base station can better estimate the transmission path loss based on the power strength of the received wake-up signal to determine the distance from the UE to the base station. The base station can use the estimated distance to help decide whether to wake up a cell. For example, if the wake-up signal does not carry cell identification, the base station determines to wake up a cell that is close to the UE and has good signal reception quality based on the estimated distance and signal reception quality of the wake-up signal.

[0122] Optionally, the UE may send the wake-up signal using maximum transmission power, thus increasing the success rate of reception and detection of the wake-up signal by the base station.

[0123] Optionally, the downlink common signal includes system information but does not include synchronization signals, for example, includes at least scheduling information of MIB or SIB1.

[0124] Optionally, the downlink common signal includes a synchronization signal and system information, for example, an SSB, or, in addition to the SSB, further includes any one or more of signals such as CSI-RS, SIB1, etc. Specifically, when the UE is in a different communication process, the type of the downlink common signal is different. For example, when the UE is in an initial access process, the downlink common signal further includes SIB1. In another example, when the UE needs to be handed over to a dormant cell, the downlink common signal may further include CSI-RS.

[0125] It can be understood that even if the downlink common signal includes multiple types of signals, it only indicates that the first base station sends multiple types of signals to the UE. However, the present application does not limit that multiple types of signals need to be sent simultaneously. The specific manner of sending the downlink common signal is determined based on the communication process in which the UE is located. For example, in the initial access process, the UE first detects the SSB and then receives the SIB1. That is, the first base station first sends the SSB to the UE and then sends the SIB1. Details of the other downlink common signal sending processes are not described.

[0126] After determining the first reference signal, the UE sends a wake-up signal corresponding to the target cell to the base station. The first reference signal and the wake-up signal may be located within the same time division duplex (TDD) frame structure. The first reference signal is located in the downlink portion of the TDD frame structure, and the wake-up signal is located in the uplink portion of the TDD frame structure.

[0127] Optionally, in the implementation of the present application, in order to reduce the delay in successfully detecting some or all of the M reference signals by the UE, one base station may send multiple reference signals of the same cell in the downlink portion of one TDD frame structure, and the multiple reference signals may be located in different beam directions. In this implementation, a time-domain offset between the reference signals and the corresponding wake-up signals may be set, so that the wake-up signals corresponding to each of the reference signals are located in the uplink portion of the TDD frame structure, which may reduce the delay in accessing the target cell by the UE.

[0128] Optionally, any one of the M reference signals, for example, the first reference signal, carries a time-domain offset. The time-domain offset indicates an offset between the time-domain position of the first reference signal and the time-domain position of the wake-up signal. The UE may set the position of the wake-up signal in the uplink portion of the TDD frame structure by obtaining the time-domain offset. It may be understood that different reference signals from the same cell may correspond to different time-domain offsets. The time-domain offset may be determined based on the time-domain positions of the reference signals.

[0129] In this implementation, the UE may determine the time-domain position of the wake-up signal based on the time-domain position of the first reference signal and the time-domain offset carried in the first reference signal, and send the wake-up signal at the determined time-domain position.

[0130] Specifically, the time domain offsets correspond to reference signals. One reference signal has one corresponding time domain offset. As shown in Figure 3, a 7:1:2 TDD frame structure is used. The TDD frame structure uses a 10-slot period. Seven slots are used for transmitting downlink information, one slot is used for handover from uplink to downlink transmission, and two slots are used for transmitting uplink information. Assuming that DRS#0 to DRS#3 are DRSs from the same cell located in different beam directions, are located within the same uplink and downlink period, and are located in the first symbols of SSB#0, SSB#2, SSB#4, and SSB#6, respectively, each reference signal corresponds to one wake-up signal (WUS#0 to WUS#3). The base station includes time domain offsets d0 to d3 in DRS#0 to DRS#3, respectively. d0 to d3 are used so that WUS#0 to WUS#3 can be located in the uplink portion of the time division duplex frame structure.

[0131] Optionally, in the implementation of the present application, there is a predefined time-domain offset between the time-domain position of the first reference signal and the time-domain position of the wake-up signal.

[0132] In this implementation, any reference signal received by the UE does not need to carry a time-domain offset value. The UE configures a wake-up signal in the uplink portion of the TDD frame structure by using a predefined time-domain offset. It can be understood that the same time-domain offset may be used for multiple reference signals from the same cell, and different UEs may also use the same predefined time-domain offset. In this implementation, the base station sending the reference signal may determine the time-domain position of the reference signal based on the predefined time-domain offset. That is, the base station may first adjust the time-domain position of the reference signal, and thus, after receiving the reference signal, the UE may configure a wake-up signal in the uplink portion of the TDD frame structure based on the time-domain position of the reference signal and the predefined time-domain offset.

[0133] In this implementation, the UE may determine a time-domain position of the wake-up signal based on the time-domain position of the first reference signal and a predefined offset, and send the wake-up signal at the determined time-domain position.

[0134] In a particular implementation of the base station, the reference signal may be located in the uplink portion of the TDD frame structure. Thus, in addition to predefining the time domain offset, the implementation may further specify in advance that the time domain location of the reference signal is located in the downlink portion of the TDD frame structure and the time domain location of the wake-up signal is located in the uplink portion of the TDD frame structure.

[0135] Optionally, there may be different transmission schemes for reference signals, such that the wake-up signal is located in the uplink portion of the TDD frame structure with reference to a time-domain offset. The reference signal transmission schemes include the following: Scheme 1: Multiple reference signals from the same cell are distributed within multiple uplink and downlink periods, and only one reference signal is sent during each uplink and downlink period. With respect to the time-domain offsets corresponding to the reference signals, only one reference signal and the corresponding wake-up signal are present within one uplink and downlink period. Scheme 2: Multiple reference signals from the same cell are distributed within one uplink and downlink period, and the base station may adjust the time-domain distance between the reference signals based on a predefined time-domain offset so that the wake-up signal can be located in the uplink portion of the TDD frame structure, i.e., determine that the reference signal is located at an appropriate time-domain position. The uplink and downlink periods may also be referred to as TDD frame structure periods. One uplink and downlink period may be one radio frame, multiple radio frames, half a radio frame, etc. For example, one TDD frame structure period includes 5 slots, 10 slots, or 20 slots. A flexible sending scheme is used so that the transmission of the reference signal can be adapted to different communication scenarios, e.g., different TDD frame structure periods.

[0136] As shown in Figure 4, a 7:1:2 TDD frame structure is used. Assuming that DRS#0 to DRS#3 are from the same cell, located within the same uplink and downlink period, and the preset time domain offset is d, the base station determines that the time domain locations of DRS#0 to DRS#3 are outside the SSB, and the UE obtains WUS#0 to WUS#3 by separately offsetting d based on the time domain locations of DRS#0 to DRS#3. WUS#0 to WUS#3 are all located in the uplink portion of the TDD frame structure.

[0137] Optionally, in the implementation of the present application, the spatial domain parameters used by the UE to receive the reference signal are the same as the spatial domain parameters used by the UE to send the wake-up signal. The spatial domain parameters may be parameters related to multi-antenna signal processing used when the UE receives or sends information over multiple transceiver antennas or digital ports. In the present application, the spatial domain parameters may include one or more of parameters used in port mapping or port combination, precoding or equalization processing, beamforming processing, or receive combining processing. Correspondingly, the spatial domain parameters used by the base station to send the reference signal are the same as the spatial domain parameters used by the base station to receive the corresponding wake-up signal. In addition, if transmission of a downlink common signal is triggered after the base station receives the wake-up signal, the spatial domain parameters used to send the downlink common signal are the same as the spatial domain parameters used to receive the wake-up signal. The spatial domain parameters used by the UE to send a physical random access channel (PRACH) are the same as the spatial domain parameters used by the UE to receive the corresponding SSB. The base station detects whether the UE has sent a PRACH on the PRACH resource. In this case, the base station also detects the PRACH by using the same spatial domain parameters as those used to send SSBs. The base station and the UE use the same spatial domain parameters when transmitting and receiving signals, which can improve signal reception quality.

[0138] For example, the spatial domain parameters used by the UE to receive the reference signal being the same as the spatial domain parameters used by the UE to send the wake-up signal may include one or more of: a multi-port combining matrix used when the UE receives the reference signal being the same as the multi-port precoding matrix used when the UE sends the wake-up signal; or a multi-antenna receive beam used when the UE receives the reference signal being the same as the multi-antenna transmit beam used when the UE sends the wake-up signal, i.e., the weight vectors on the multiple antennas are the same; or a multi-antenna spatial filter parameter used when the UE receives the reference signal being the same as the multi-antenna spatial filter parameter used when the UE sends the wake-up signal.

[0139] 5 is a schematic flowchart of a cell access method according to an embodiment of the present application. The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is described from the perspective of a base station. The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 are cross-referenced. The contents described in the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 will not be described.

[0140] S501: A first base station sends R reference signals to a UE through C1 cells, where R and C1 are positive integers, and R≧C1.

[0141] As described in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, each of the M reference signals is from one or more base stations. The one or more base stations send the M reference signals to the UE, and the first base station is one of the one or more base stations. That is, the first base station sends R reference signals among the M reference signals, where M is greater than or equal to R. C1 cells belong to the aforementioned C cells, and all of the C1 cells are managed by the first base station. In addition, it can be understood that the first base station may manage more than C1 cells.

[0142] S502: The first base station receives first indication information from the UE, the first indication information corresponding to a first reference signal, the first reference signal being one of the R reference signals and being from a target cell.

[0143] The first indication information indicates to the first base station to send a downlink common signal in the target cell.

[0144] The downlink common signal is used by the UE to access the target cell, and the downlink common signal includes system information.

[0145] For the sake of explanation, the following further uses the first indication information as a wake-up signal.

[0146] Specifically, the first base station may attempt to detect a wake-up signal at time-frequency resource positions of R wake-up signals corresponding to the R reference signals, respectively. If the base station detects a corresponding wake-up signal at a wake-up signal position corresponding to the first reference signal, the base station may wake up the target cell and send a downlink common signal in the target cell.

[0147] Optionally, in the implementation, detecting a wake-up signal includes detecting the received power of the wake-up signal. If the received power of one or more wake-up signals is greater than a preset threshold, it indicates that the base station can detect one or more wake-up signals. Furthermore, after detecting one or more wake-up signals, the base station may determine a specific cell to be handed over to a normal downlink common signaling mode based on cell identities separately carried in the detected one or more wake-up signals. That is, the base station may determine a specific cell to be used as a target cell based on the detected one or more wake-up signals, wake up the target cell, and send a downlink common signal in the target cell. Optionally, if the base station detects multiple wake-up signals, the base station may wake up multiple cells corresponding to the wake-up signals, or the base station may determine a cell corresponding to one or more wake-up signals with the best wake-up signal reception quality based on the signal reception quality of the detected wake-up signals.

[0148] Optionally, in the implementation, detecting the wake-up signal may include identifying a cell identification carried in the wake-up signal. For example, under the premise that different wake-up signals carry different cell identifications, it is assumed that the base station receives the wake-up signal, identifies the cell identification carried in the wake-up signal with the maximum received power, and compares the received power of the wake-up signal corresponding to the cell identification with a preset threshold to determine whether the wake-up signal is successfully received. For example, if the received power is greater than the preset threshold, it indicates that the wake-up signal is successfully received and the cell corresponding to the cell identification carried in the wake-up signal is the target cell.

[0149] Optionally, in the implementation, the spatial domain parameters for sending the first reference signal by the first base station are the same as the spatial domain parameters for receiving the wake-up signal by the first base station. For a specific description of the spatial domain parameters, please refer to the relevant content in the embodiment shown in Figure 2. Details will not be described.

[0150] S503: The first base station sends a downlink common signal to the UE in the target cell.

[0151] For descriptions of the types of downlink common signals, application scenarios, etc., please refer to the relevant contents in other parts of this specification, and details will not be described.

[0152] According to the cell access method provided in the embodiments of Figures 2 to 5, a sending scheme of a reference signal and corresponding indication information is designed, so that when the base station is in an idle state, the base station may only send a reference signal but not a downlink common signal. When a UE needs to access a cell, the UE sends indication information corresponding to the reference signal to the base station to indicate to the base station to send a downlink common signal in the cell corresponding to the reference signal, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the base station when the base station is in a cell idle state. First, cell identification is implicitly or explicitly indicated in the reference signal, so that the UE can identify different cells and actively determine a specific cell to be woken up based on the signal reception quality of the reference signals of different cells. Second, the reference signal and corresponding indication information may be located in the downlink and uplink parts of the TDD frame structure, respectively, so that it is clear that the transmission of the reference signal and the indication information does not conflict with the frame structure used by the entire communication system. Third, in order to improve the coverage of the reference signal, beam scanning is performed on the reference signal, and the spatial domain parameters used by the UE to receive the reference signal and send the corresponding indication information are consistent, so that the reception quality of the indication information received by the base station can be improved, and the probability that the base station will successfully receive the indication information is increased.

[0153] Figure 6 is a schematic flowchart of a cell access method according to the present application. The embodiment shown in Figure 6 describes a method for a UE to access a dormant cell in a multi-carrier deployment scenario. The embodiment shown in Figure 6 is described from the perspective of a UE. For the same terms in the embodiment shown in Figure 6, please refer to the previous embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 5. The contents described in the previous embodiments will not be described.

[0154] As shown in FIG. 6, the method includes the following steps:

[0155] S601: The UE receives configuration information of N dormant cells through a basic cell, where N is a positive integer.

[0156] A basic cell may be the aforementioned BCC, and a base station may typically send downlink common signals, such as SSB, to UEs in the basic cell. A dormant cell may be the aforementioned DCC, and a dormant cell does not send downlink common signals when the dormant cell is in a cell idle state. A cell idle state means that there are no connected UEs in the cell, or all UEs in the cell are in an idle state. It may be understood that a dormant cell does not send downlink common signals, but can still receive information sent by UEs. Optionally, a dormant cell does not send downlink common signals when the dormant cell is in a state other than the cell idle state.

[0157] A base station to which a basic cell belongs may broadcast configuration information of the dormant cell. Specifically, the base station may broadcast a dormant cell list of N dormant cells and configuration information of the dormant cells in the list of basic cells. The configuration information of the dormant cell may include one or more of: a downlink timing offset of the dormant cell relative to the basic cell; a frequency offset of the dormant cell relative to the basic cell; and an SIB1 of the dormant cell. The SIB1 of the dormant cell may include one or more of information such as an SSB configuration, a reference signal configuration, a wake-up signal configuration, or a PRACH configuration of the dormant cell.

[0158] For ease of explanation, the base station to which the basic cell belongs will be referred to as the first base station hereinafter. It can be understood that the N dormant cells can be managed by the first base station and / or one or more other base stations. When some or all of the N dormant cells are managed by another base station, the other base station may send configuration information of the dormant cells managed by the other base station to the first base station via a transmission method such as optical fiber, and then the basic cell of the first base station sends the configuration information to the UE.

[0159] Optionally, the configuration information further includes one or more of an association relationship between the SSB of the basic cell and the PRACH of the dormant cell (association relationship #1), an association relationship between the SSB of the basic cell and the wake-up signal of the dormant cell (association relationship #2), an association relationship between the reference signal of the dormant cell and the PRACH of the dormant cell (association relationship #3), and an association relationship between the reference signal of the dormant cell and the wake-up signal of the dormant cell (association relationship #4). Optionally, the configuration information further includes an association relationship between the SSB of the basic cell and the reference signal of the dormant cell (association relationship #5). Optionally, these association relationships are indicated in SIB1 of the dormant cell, and SIB1 of the dormant cell is sent in the basic cell.

[0160] The reference signal configuration of the dormant cell may indicate the time-frequency resource location and the sequence to be used for sending the reference signal by the dormant cell. The wake-up signal configuration of the dormant cell indicates the time-frequency resource location and sending sequence for sending the wake-up signal by the UE in the dormant cell. For example, the time-domain location for sending the wake-up signal may be determined by indicating the relative time-domain offset of the wake-up signal to the SSB of the basic cell or the reference signal of the dormant cell.

[0161] Optionally, the first base station indicates to the UE the priorities of the N dormant cells. The N dormant cells in the dormant cell list may be arranged in order of priority, for example, in descending order of priority, or the priorities of the N dormant cells may be separately broadcast by the base station in the basic cell. This is not limited. Optionally, the UE selects the first dormant cell for access based on the priority order suggested by the first base station and with reference to the signal reception quality of the dormant cell. It may be understood that the first base station only provides a suggestion regarding the priority order. In the present application, the UE is not limited to selecting the dormant cell with the highest priority order based on the priority order indicated by the first base station. The priority may be comprehensively determined by the first base station based on conditions such as the load and coverage capacity of the dormant cell. This is not limited.

[0162] Optionally, association relationship #1 includes one mapping table or one virtual table, and one row in the table is used to map one SSB detected in the basic cell to one or more PRACHs configured in the dormant cell. A specific mapping format is not specified. The spatial domain parameters for sending one PRACH by a UE in the dormant cell are the same as the spatial domain parameters for detecting the corresponding SSB by the UE in the basic cell.

[0163] Optionally, the first base station may implicitly indicate association relationship #1. Specifically, the base station may indicate to the UE an association relationship between an SSB of the basic cell (hereinafter referred to as SSB #1) and an SSB of the first dormant cell (hereinafter referred to as SSB #2). The correspondence between SSB #2 and the PRACH may be included in the configuration information of the dormant cell acquired by the UE in S601. Thus, the UE may know the correspondence between SSB #1 and the available PRACH of the first dormant cell. The UE may send the PRACH on the PRACH resource corresponding to SSB #2. For example, in the C frequency band (C band), there are generally only eight SSBs, but in the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency band, there are more than 64 SSBs. Assuming there are 64 SSBs in mmWave, overhead is large when the UE sends the PRACH on the PRACH resource corresponding to the 64 SSBs. Therefore, the base station can indicate to the UE in the basic cell that one SSB in the C-band is associated with eight SSBs in mmWave. In this way, after detecting one SSB in the C-band, the UE needs to send a PRACH on PRACH resources corresponding to up to eight SSBs in mmWave to save transmission resources. Through implicit indication, the existing association relationship between the SSBs and the PRACH can be reused. Compared with the association relationship between SSB#1 of the basic cell and the PRACH of the dormant cell defined by cross-carrier, the amount of SSBs in different frequency bands is generally multiplexed, so the above-described method for defining the association relationship between SSB#1 and SSB#2 is simpler.

[0164] Optionally, the association relationship #2 includes a mapping table or a virtual table, and a row in the table is used to map an SSB detected in the basic cell to one or more wake-up signals configured in the dormant cell. A specific mapping format is not specified. The spatial domain parameters for sending a wake-up signal by a UE in the dormant cell are the same as the spatial domain parameters for detecting the corresponding SSB by the UE in the basic cell. Optionally, the association relationship #2 further indicates the time-domain and / or frequency-domain positions of the one or more wake-up signals corresponding to the one SSB.

[0165] Optionally, the association relationship #3 includes a mapping table or a virtual table, and one row in the table is used to map one reference signal detected in the dormant cell to one or more PRACHs configured in the dormant cell. A specific mapping format is not specified. The spatial domain parameters for sending the PRACH by the UE in the dormant cell are the same as the spatial domain parameters for detecting the corresponding reference signal in the dormant cell by the UE. Optionally, the configuration information including the association relationship #3 further includes a reference signal configuration of the dormant cell.

[0166] Optionally, in another implementation, association relationship #3 is an association relationship between a reference signal and a PRACH group within the detection period of one reference signal. Specifically, the PRACHs available to the UE may be divided into one or more PRACH groups. Each group may include one or more PRACHs, and each PRACH group may correspond to the reference signal of one dormant cell. Different PRACHs in a PRACH group may occupy different time-frequency resource locations or may use different transmission sequences at the same time-frequency resource location. By obtaining association relationship #3, the UE may know the time-frequency resource location of the PRACH corresponding to the reference signal. Therefore, when the UE receives a reference signal sent by the base station, the UE may obtain the PRACH group corresponding to the reference signal and initiate random access to the corresponding dormant cell through the PRACH in the PRACH group.

[0167] Optionally, the association relationship #4 includes a mapping table or a virtual table, and one row in the table is used to map one reference signal detected in the dormant cell to one or more wake-up signals configured in the dormant cell. A specific mapping format is not specified. The spatial domain parameters for sending the wake-up signal by the UE in the dormant cell are the same as the spatial domain parameters for detecting the corresponding reference signal in the dormant cell by the UE. Optionally, the configuration information including the association relationship #4 further includes a reference signal configuration of the dormant cell. Optionally, the association relationship #4 further indicates the time domain location and / or frequency domain location of one or more wake-up signals corresponding to one reference signal.

[0168] Optionally, the association relationship #5 includes a mapping table or a virtual table, and one row in the table is used to map one SSB detected in the basic cell to one or more reference signals configured in the dormant cell. A specific mapping format is not specified. Optionally, the configuration information including the association relationship #5 further includes a reference signal configuration of the dormant cell. Optionally, the association relationship #5 further indicates a time domain location and / or a frequency domain location of one or more reference signals corresponding to one SSB.

[0169] For a specific description of the spatial domain parameters, please refer to the relevant content in the embodiment shown in Figure 2. Details will not be described here.

[0170] S602: The UE determines a first dormant cell from the N dormant cells.

[0171] The UE may determine the dormant cell to be accessed, i.e., the first dormant cell, from the N dormant cells based on conditions such as cell signal reception quality.

[0172] S603: The UE initiates random access to the first dormant cell.

[0173] As described above, in a multi-carrier deployment scenario, the first base station may maintain normal transmission of downlink common signals in only one basic cell, and may not transmit downlink signals or may transmit only simplified downlink signals in another dormant cell, thereby saving energy in the dormant cell. In addition, the basic cell may broadcast configuration information of the dormant cell in the downlink common signal. After obtaining the configuration information, the UE may directly access the dormant cell or may indicate to the base station to wake up the dormant cell. As a result, the UE does not need to first access the basic cell and then wake up the dormant cell to perform cell handover, and does not need to first access the basic cell and then set the dormant cell as a secondary cell to access the secondary cell. This reduces the overall access delay of the UE when accessing the dormant cell.

[0174] Optionally, in the implementation of the present application, the method further includes: the UE receives an SSB of a basic cell (hereinafter referred to as SSB#1);

[0175] Since downlink common signals such as SSBs may typically be sent in basic cells, the UE may perform operations such as downlink timing, frequency offset estimation, cell measurements, etc. based on the SSBs from the basic cells. Any processing scheme may be used to perform downlink timing, frequency offset estimation, or cell measurements, which is not limited in this application.

[0176] Based on the received SSB#1, the UE may use different random access schemes.

[0177] For example, in an implementation, S603 includes: the UE sends a PRACH corresponding to the first dormant cell to the second base station, and the PRACH and SSB#1 satisfy an association relationship#1.

[0178] It should be noted that in this application, sending a PRACH may also mean sending a preamble in the PRACH.

[0179] Optionally, assuming that T dormant cells among the N dormant cells belong to the second base station (where T≦N), the first base station receives corresponding PRACHs in the T dormant cells separately, and the PRACHs of the T dormant cells each have an association relationship #1 with SSB#1.

[0180] As another example, in an implementation, S603 includes the following S603-1 to S603-3.

[0181] S603-1: The UE sends a wake-up signal to the second base station through the first dormant cell.

[0182] The second base station is a base station that manages the first dormant cell, and the second base station and the first base station that manages the basic cell may be the same base station or different base stations.

[0183] The wake-up signal indicates to the second base station to send a downlink common signal, for example, an SSB (hereinafter referred to as SSB#2), to the UE in the first dormant cell. The wake-up signal and SSB#2 satisfy association relationship#2, so that the UE can perform random access based on the SSB of the first dormant cell. For detailed descriptions of the wake-up signal and the downlink common signal, please refer to the above-mentioned related content of the first indication information or WUS.

[0184] S603-2: The UE receives SSB#2 from the first dormant cell.

[0185] S603-3: The UE sends a PRACH corresponding to SSB#2 to the base station.

[0186] The UE may decide to initiate random access to the first dormant cell through one PRACH corresponding to SSB#2. The association relationship between SSB#2 and the PRACH is the same as association relationship #1. The association relationship between SSB#2 and the PRACH may include the configuration information of the dormant cell acquired by the UE in S501. Details will not be described.

[0187] Optionally, assuming that T dormant cells among the N dormant cells belong to the second base station (T≦N), the second base station separately receives corresponding wake-up signals in the T dormant cells, and the wake-up signals of the T dormant cells each have an association relationship #2 with SSB#1.

[0188] According to the above two implementations, in a multi-carrier deployment scenario, the base station does not need to send any signals in the dormant cell, and the energy saving effect of the dormant cell can be maximized. In addition, with the support of the basic component carrier, the UE can obtain the configuration information of the dormant cell and directly access the dormant cell or wake up the dormant cell by using a wake-up signal, avoiding first accessing the basic cell and then being handed over to the dormant cell, and reducing the delay of accessing the dormant cell.

[0189] Optionally, in the implementation of the present application, the UE receives a reference signal from a dormant cell and triggers the sending of a downlink common signal of the first dormant cell by using a wake-up signal. The reference signal is used to assist the UE in selecting a dormant cell to be accessed and a PRACH resource, so that the success rate of cell access can be improved and the access delay can be reduced.

[0190] In this implementation, the method further includes: the UE receives P reference signals from L dormant cells, the P reference signals have association relationships with Q PRACHs, L, P, and Q are positive integers, L≦P, L≦N, and the first dormant cell belongs to the L dormant cells.

[0191] Specifically, the L dormant cells may be managed by one or more base stations including the second base station, and the UE may receive P reference signals from one or more base stations including the second base station. That is, the UE may separately receive reference signals from different base stations that manage the dormant cells. For a specific description of the reference signals, please refer to the above related content, for example, the reference signals or DRS in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0192] Optionally, if the configuration information of the dormant cell includes an association relationship between the SSB of the basic cell and the reference signal of the dormant cell, i.e., the aforementioned association relationship #5, the UE may determine a specific reference signal corresponding to the dormant cell based on the received SSB of the basic cell and association relationship #5, and receive only the reference signal corresponding to the dormant cell.

[0193] Optionally, the configuration information of the N dormant cells includes configuration information of the reference signals of the N dormant cells and an association relationship between the reference signals of the N dormant cells and the PRACH, i.e., association relationship #3. Specifically, the base station may broadcast the configuration information of the reference signals of the N dormant cells, for example, including time-frequency position information of the reference signals, so that the UE detects the reference signals of the dormant cells at the corresponding time-frequency positions. In addition, the base station may further broadcast association relationship #4 in the basic cell, so that the UE determines the wake-up signal to be sent to the accessed dormant cell.

[0194] In this implementation, S602 includes: The UE determines a first reference signal from the P reference signals, and correspondingly determines a first dormant cell in which the first reference signal is located.

[0195] Specifically, the UE may detect reference signals from the L dormant cells based on the reference signal configuration information of the dormant cells received from the basic cell, determine a first reference signal from the detected reference signals based on conditions such as signal reception quality, and determine the cell where the first reference signal is located as the dormant cell to be accessed, i.e., the first dormant cell. For a detailed description of the method for determining the first dormant cell, please refer to step S201-1 in the embodiment shown in Figure 2. Details will not be described.

[0196] In this implementation, S603 includes: the UE sends a PRACH corresponding to the first dormant cell to the second base station, and the PRACH and the first reference signal from the first dormant cell satisfy an association relationship #3.

[0197] As mentioned above, the association relationship #3 may include association relationships between the reference signals and PRACHs of the N dormant cells. The first dormant cell belongs to the N dormant cells. Therefore, the UE can acquire the PRACH corresponding to the first dormant cell by acquiring the association relationship #3.

[0198] The resource location of the PRACH corresponding to the first dormant cell is determined based on the resource location of the first reference signal, and the spatial domain parameters for sending the PRACH are the same as the spatial domain parameters for receiving the first reference signal. For a specific description of the spatial domain parameters, please refer to the above related content. Details will not be described.

[0199] Optionally, in another implementation, the UE may send a wake-up signal corresponding to the first reference signal to the second base station to indicate to the second base station to wake up the first dormant cell. In this implementation, S603 includes: the UE sends a wake-up signal to the second base station through the first dormant cell, receives SSB#2 from the first dormant cell, and sends a PRACH corresponding to SSB#2 to the base station, where the wake-up signal and the first reference signal satisfy the aforementioned association relationship #4.

[0200] Optionally, the time-domain position of the wake-up signal may be determined based on a predefined time-domain offset or a time-domain offset carried in the first reference signal with reference to the time-domain position of the first reference signal. For details, please refer to the relevant contents in the embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 5.

[0201] Optionally, in another implementation, when the reference signal is a PSS, the association relationship between the reference signal and the PRACH may reuse the association relationship between the SSB and the PRACH indicated in the SIB1 information of the dormant cell. The base station does not need to indicate association relationship #3 to the UE. Details will not be described.

[0202] The embodiment shown in Figure 7 describes a method for accessing a dormant cell by a UE in a multi-carrier deployment scenario from the perspective of a base station. The embodiment shown in Figure 7 and the embodiment shown in Figure 6 are mutually referenced, and the contents described in the previous embodiments will not be described.

[0203] S701: A first base station sends configuration information of N dormant cells to a terminal, where N is a positive integer.

[0204] The configuration information of the N dormant cells is used by the terminal to determine to initiate random access to the first dormant cell. When the dormant cell is in a cell idle state and the first dormant cell belongs to the N dormant cells, the dormant cell does not send a downlink common signal.

[0205] Optionally, in the implementation, the first dormant cell is managed by the first base station. The method further includes: S702: the first base station receives a PRACH corresponding to the first dormant cell.

[0206] Optionally, the method further includes: the first base station sends SSB#1 to the UE through a basic cell; based on the received SSB#1, the UE may use different random access schemes, and the first base station may then perform corresponding operations.

[0207] For example, S702 includes: A first base station receives a PRACH corresponding to a first dormant cell from a UE, and the PRACH and SSB#1 satisfy an association relationship#1.

[0208] In another example, the method further includes: the first base station receives a wake-up signal sent by the UE through the first dormant cell, and the first base station sends SSB#2 to the UE through the first dormant cell. Correspondingly, S702 includes: the first base station receives a PRACH corresponding to SSB#2 from the UE. For a specific description of implementation, please refer to the above S603-1 to S603-3. Details will not be described.

[0209] Optionally, in the implementation, the first base station manages a total of S dormant cells including the first dormant cell. The method further includes: the first base station sends P1 reference signals to the UE through L1 dormant cells, and the P1 reference signals have association relationships with Q1 PRACHs (i.e., satisfy association relationship #3), where L1, P1, and Q1 are positive integers, L1≦P1, and L1≦S≦N. The first dormant cell belongs to the L1 dormant cells.

[0210] It may be appreciated that in addition to the first base station, another base station may also send reference signals to the UE through some or all of the dormant cells managed by the other base station.

[0211] In the implementation, optionally, S702 includes receiving a PRACH sent by the UE through a first dormant cell, and the PRACH and a first reference signal from the first dormant cell satisfy association relationship #3.

[0212] Optionally, the first base station receives corresponding PRACHs in each of the L1 dormant cells, and the PRACHs of the L1 dormant cells have association relationships #3 with reference signals from the L1 dormant cells, respectively.

[0213] In this implementation, optionally, the method further includes: the first base station receives a wake-up signal sent by the UE in the first dormant cell, and the first base station sends SSB#2 of the first dormant cell to the UE, and S702 includes: the second base station receives a PRACH corresponding to SSB#2 from the UE; the wake-up signal and the reference signal received by the UE from the first dormant cell satisfy association relationship #4.

[0214] When the first base station receives a wake-up signal in the first sleeping cell, the first base station wakes up the first sleeping cell and normally sends a downlink common signal, such as an SSB, through the first sleeping cell.

[0215] For a specific description of the above-mentioned association relationship, please refer to the relevant content in the embodiment shown in Figure 6. Details will not be described.

[0216] It can be understood that S701 and S702 are separated. If the first dormant cell is managed by a second base station other than the first base station, step S702 can be performed by the second base station. Details will not be described.

[0217] According to the cell access methods provided in Figures 6 and 7, in a multi-carrier deployment scenario, the base station indicates the SSB of the basic cell, or indicates the association relationship between the reference signal of the dormant cell and the wake-up signal of the dormant cell, or indicates the association relationship between the reference signal of the dormant cell and the PRACH of the dormant cell through the basic cell, to assist the UE in selecting an appropriate resource for sending the wake-up signal or selecting an appropriate PRACH for accessing the dormant cell, so as to reduce the access delay of the UE accessing the dormant cell while reducing the energy consumption of the network device.

[0218] An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device configured to implement any one of the aforementioned methods. For example, a communication device is provided, including a unit (or means) configured to perform steps performed by a terminal or a network device in any one of the aforementioned methods. For example, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device may be a module, e.g., a chip, used for a terminal or a network device. Alternatively, the communication device is a terminal or a network device. As shown in FIG. 8, the communication device 800 includes a receiving unit 810 and a sending unit 820.

[0219] When the communication apparatus is configured to perform the functions of the UE in the embodiment of the method shown in FIG. 2 , the receiving unit 810 is configured to receive M reference signals, where the M reference signals are from C cells, where M and C are positive integers and M is greater than or equal to C. The sending unit 820 is configured to send first indication information to the network device based on the first reference signal, where the first indication information indicates the network device to send a downlink common signal in the target cell, where the downlink common signal is used by the terminal to access the target cell, where the downlink common signal includes system information, and the first reference signal belongs to the M reference signals and is from the target cell.

[0220] Optionally, the communication device 800 further includes a processing unit 830 .

[0221] The processing unit 830 may be configured to determine a first reference signal from the M reference signals, for example, to determine the first reference signal based on signal reception qualities of the M reference signals.

[0222] Optionally, the first reference signal carries a local cell identification, where the value of the local cell identification is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to N-1, where N is less than the maximum value of the physical cell identification.

[0223] Optionally, the reference signals of different cells have different frequency domain locations, and therefore the cell in which a reference signal is located may be implicitly indicated using the frequency domain location.

[0224] Optionally, the sending unit 820 is configured to send the indication information by using a predefined transmission power.

[0225] Optionally, the first indication information carries a cell identity of the target cell. Optionally, the first indication information is a sequence corresponding to the cell identity of the target cell.

[0226] Optionally, the first reference signal further carries a time-domain offset, where the time-domain offset indicates an offset between a time-domain location of the first reference signal and a time-domain location of the first indication information, where the first reference signal is located in the downlink portion of the time division duplex frame structure and the first indication information is located in the uplink portion of the time division duplex frame structure. In this implementation, the processing unit 830 is configured to determine a time-domain location of the first indication information based on the time-domain location of the first reference signal and the time-domain offset carried in the first reference signal. The sending unit 820 is configured to send the first indication information at the determined time-domain location of the first indication information.

[0227] Optionally, there is a predefined time-domain offset between a time-domain location of the first reference signal and a time-domain location of the first indication information, where the reference signal is located in a downlink portion of the time division duplex frame structure and the first indication information is located in an uplink portion of the time division duplex frame structure. In this implementation, the processing unit 830 is configured to determine a time-domain location of the first indication information based on the time-domain location of the first reference signal and the predefined offset. The sending unit 820 is configured to send the first indication information at the determined time-domain location of the first indication information.

[0228] For a more detailed description of the functions performed by the units in the communication device on the terminal side in the above implementation, please refer to the description of the steps performed by the UE in the method embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 4. The details will not be described again here.

[0229] When the communication device is configured to perform the functions of the UE in the embodiment of the method shown in Figure 6, the receiving unit 810 is configured to receive configuration information of N dormant cells from the basic cell, where N is a positive integer. The processing unit 830 is configured to determine a first dormant cell from the N dormant cells. The sending unit 820 is configured to initiate random access to the first dormant cell, and the dormant cell does not send a downlink common signal when the dormant cell is in a cell idle state. The basic cell is managed by a first network device.

[0230] Optionally, the receiving unit 810 is further configured to receive a first synchronization signal block from the basic cell. The sending unit 820 is configured to send a first random access channel corresponding to the first dormant cell to a second network device, where the first random access channel has a first association relationship with the first synchronization signal block, and the second network device manages the first dormant cell.

[0231] Optionally, the receiving unit 810 is further configured to receive a first synchronization signal block from the basic cell. The sending unit 820 is configured to send first indication information to a second network device through the first dormant cell, the first indication information indicating to the network device to send a second synchronization signal block to a terminal in the first dormant cell, the first indication information having a second association relationship with the first synchronization signal block. The receiving unit 810 is further configured to receive the second synchronization signal block. The sending unit 820 is further configured to send a second random access channel corresponding to the second synchronization signal block to the second network device.

[0232] Optionally, the receiving unit 810 is further configured to receive P reference signals from L dormant cells, the P reference signals being reference signals having an association relationship with Q physical random access channels, where L, P, and Q are respectively positive integers, L≦P, and L≦N. In an implementation, the sending unit 820 is configured to send a third random access channel corresponding to the first dormant cell to the second network device, the third random access channel having a third association relationship with the first reference signal from the first dormant cell. In an implementation, the sending unit 820 is configured to send second indication information to the second network device through the first dormant cell based on the first reference signal, the second indication information indicating to the second network device to send a third synchronization signal block to the terminal in the first dormant cell. The receiving unit 810 is configured to receive the third synchronization signal block. The sending unit 820 is further configured to send a fourth random access channel corresponding to the third synchronization signal block to the second network device, and the second indication information has a fourth association relationship with the first reference signal, the first reference signal belonging to the P reference signals and being from the first dormant cell.

[0233] The first network device and the second network device may be the same network device or may be different network devices.

[0234] For a more detailed description of the functions performed by the units in the communication device on the terminal side in the above implementation, please refer to the description of the steps performed by the UE in the method embodiment shown in Figure 6. The details will not be described again here.

[0235] 5 , the sending unit 820 is configured to send R reference signals to the terminal through C1 cells, where R and C1 are positive integers and R is greater than or equal to C1. The receiving unit 810 is configured to receive first indication information from the terminal, the first indication information corresponding to a first reference signal, the first reference signal being one of the R reference signals and being from a target cell, the first indication information indicating to a network device to send a downlink common signal in the target cell, the downlink common signal being used by the terminal to access the target cell, and the downlink common signal including system information. The sending unit 820 is further configured to send the downlink common signal to the terminal in the target cell.

[0236] Optionally, the receiving unit 810 is configured to receive the R1 pieces of indication information at time domain positions of the R1 pieces of indication information, wherein the distances between the time domain positions of the R1 pieces of indication information and the time domain positions of the R1 reference signals are equal to the time domain offsets carried in the R1 reference signals respectively, and the first indication information belongs to the R1 pieces of indication information.

[0237] Optionally, the receiving unit 810 is configured to receive the R2 pieces of indication information at time-domain positions of the R2 pieces of indication information, wherein the distances between the time-domain positions of the R2 pieces of indication information and the time-domain positions of the R2 pieces of reference signals are equal to a predefined time-domain offset, respectively, and the first indication information belongs to the R2 pieces of indication information.

[0238] For a more detailed description of the functions performed by the unit of the communication apparatus on the network device side in the above implementation, please refer to the description of the steps performed by the first base station in the method embodiment shown in Figure 5. The details will not be described again here.

[0239] When the communication device is configured to perform the functions of the first base station in the embodiment of the method shown in FIG. 7, the sending unit 820 is configured to send configuration information of N dormant cells to the terminal through the basic cell, where N is a positive integer, the configuration information of the N dormant cells is used by the terminal to decide to initiate random access to the first dormant cell, the dormant cell does not send a downlink common signal when the dormant cell is in a cell idle state, and the first dormant cell belongs to the N dormant cells.

[0240] In an implementation, the first network device manages a basic cell and S dormant cells, where S≦N.

[0241] Optionally, the first dormant cell belongs to the S dormant cells. The sending unit 820 is further configured to send a first synchronization signal block to the terminal through the basic cell. The receiving unit 810 is further configured to receive a first random access channel corresponding to the first dormant cell from the terminal, where the first random access channel has a first association relationship with the first synchronization signal block.

[0242] Optionally, the receiving unit 810 is further configured to receive corresponding random access channels in S1 dormant cells, where the random access channels of the S1 dormant cells each have a first association relationship with the first synchronization signal block, where S1≦S, and the first dormant cell belongs to the S1 dormant cells.

[0243] Optionally, the first dormant cell belongs to the S dormant cells. The sending unit 820 is further configured to send a first synchronization signal block to the terminal through the basic cell. The receiving unit 810 is further configured to receive first indication information sent by a terminal in the first dormant cell, the first indication information indicating to the first network device to send a second synchronization signal block to the terminal in the first dormant cell, the first indication information having a second association relationship with the first synchronization signal block. The sending unit 820 is further configured to send the second synchronization signal block. The receiving unit 810 is further configured to receive a second random access channel corresponding to the second synchronization signal block from the terminal.

[0244] Optionally, the receiving unit 810 is configured to receive corresponding indication information in S2 dormant cells, where the indication information of the S2 dormant cells has a second association relationship with the first synchronization signal block, where S2≦S, and the first dormant cell belongs to the S2 dormant cells.

[0245] Optionally, the first dormant cell belongs to the S dormant cells. The sending unit 820 is further configured to send P1 reference signals to the terminal through the L1 dormant cells, where the P1 reference signals have association relationships with Q1 physical random access channels, where L1, P1, and Q1 are respectively positive integers, and L1≦P1, and L1≦S≦N. In an implementation, the receiving unit 810 is further configured to receive a third random access channel corresponding to the first dormant cell from the terminal, where the third random access channel has a third association relationship with the first reference signal from the first dormant cell, and the first dormant cell belongs to the L1 dormant cells. In another implementation, the receiving unit 810 is further configured to receive second indication information from the terminal, where the second indication information indicates to the second network device to send a third synchronization signal block to the terminal in the first dormant cell. The sending unit 820 is further configured to send a third synchronization signal block. The receiving unit 810 is further configured to receive a fourth random access channel corresponding to the third synchronization signal block, where the second indication information has a fourth association relationship with a first reference signal, the first reference signal belonging to the P1 reference signals and being from a first dormant cell.

[0246] Optionally, the receiving unit 810 is further configured to receive corresponding random access channels in the L1 dormant cells, and the random access channels of the L1 dormant cells each have a third association relationship with a reference signal from the L1 cells.

[0247] For a more detailed description of the functions performed by the unit of the communication apparatus on the network device side in the above implementation, please refer to the description of the steps performed by the first base station in the method embodiment shown in Figure 7.

[0248] It should be understood that the division into units in the above-mentioned device is merely a logical division of functions. In actual implementation, all or some of the units may be integrated into one physical entity or physically separated. For example, the receiving unit 810 and the sending unit 820 may be combined into one communication unit so that the communication device 800 can communicate with other terminals / network devices.

[0249] In addition, all units in the device may be implemented in a form in which the processing elements call software, or in a form of hardware. Alternatively, some units may be implemented in a form in which the processing elements call software, and some units may be implemented in a form of hardware. For example, each unit may be a separately located processing element or may be integrated into a chip of the device for implementation. In addition, each unit may alternatively be stored in memory in the form of a program that is called by the processing element of the device to perform the function of the unit. In addition, all or part of the units may be integrated or implemented independently. The processing element in this specification may also be called a processor and may be an integrated circuit having signal processing capabilities. In implementation, the steps in the above-mentioned methods or units may be implemented by using hardware integrated logic circuits in the processing element, or may be implemented in the form of software that is called by the processing element.

[0250] In an example, a unit in any one of the aforementioned apparatuses may comprise one or more integrated circuits, such as one or more Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), one or more microprocessors (e.g., for example,The integrated circuit may be a digital signal processor (DSP), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms. In another example, when a unit in the device can be implemented in a form in which a program is scheduled by a processing element, the processing element may be a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), or another processor that can call a program. In yet another example, the unit may be integrated and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

[0251] The aforementioned unit for receiving (e.g., communication unit) is an interface circuit of the device and is configured to receive signals from another device. For example, when the device is implemented in the form of a chip, the receiving unit is an interface circuit of the chip and configured to receive signals from another chip or device. The aforementioned unit for sending (e.g., sending unit or communication unit) is an interface circuit of the device and is configured to send signals to another device. For example, when the device is implemented in the form of a chip, the sending unit is an interface circuit of the chip and configured to send signals to another chip or device.

[0252] 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application. The network device may be a base station configured to implement the cell access method provided in the above-described method embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the network device includes an antenna 910, a radio frequency device 920, and a baseband device 930. The antenna 910 is connected to the radio frequency device 920. In the uplink direction, the radio frequency device 920 receives information sent by a terminal through the antenna 910 and sends the information sent by the terminal to the baseband device 930 for processing. In the downlink direction, the baseband device 930 processes the information of the terminal and sends the processed information to the radio frequency device 920. The radio frequency device 920 processes the information of the terminal and then sends the processed information to the terminal through the antenna 910.

[0253] The baseband device 930 may include one or more processing elements 931, for example, a main control CPU and another integrated circuit. In addition, the baseband device 930 may further include a memory element 932 and an interface 933. The memory element 932 is configured to store programs and data. The interface 933 is configured to exchange information with the radio frequency device 920. The interface is, for example, a common public radio interface (CPRI). The aforementioned devices used in the network device may be located within the baseband device 930. For example, the aforementioned devices used in the network device may be chips on the baseband device 930. The chip includes at least one processing element and an interface circuit. The processing element is configured to perform any cell access method steps provided in the aforementioned method embodiments. The interface circuit is configured to communicate with other devices. In implementation, the units of the network device for performing the steps in the aforementioned methods may be implemented in the form of scheduling a program by the processing element. For example, the devices used in the network device include a processing element and a memory element. The processing element invokes a program stored in a storage element to implement the cell access method provided in any one of the preceding method embodiments. The storage element may be a storage element located on the same chip as the processing element, i.e., an on-chip storage element, or a storage element located on a different chip from the chip of the processing element, i.e., an off-chip storage element.

[0254] 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present application. The terminal is configured to implement the cell access method provided in the aforementioned method embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the terminal includes an antenna 1010, a radio frequency unit 1020, and a signal processing unit 1030. The antenna 1010 is connected to the radio frequency unit 1020. In the downlink direction, the radio frequency unit 1020 receives information sent by a network device through the antenna 1010 and sends the information sent by the network device to the signal processing unit 1030 for processing. In the uplink direction, the signal processing unit 1030 processes the information of the terminal and sends the processed information to the radio frequency unit 1020. The radio frequency unit 1020 processes the information of the terminal and then sends the processed information to the network device through the antenna 1010.

[0255] The signal processing unit 1030 is configured to perform processing for the communication protocol layer of data. The signal processing unit 1030 may be a subsystem of the terminal. The terminal may further include another subsystem, for example, a central processing subsystem, configured to process the operating system and application layer of the terminal. In another example, a peripheral subsystem is configured to connect to another device. The signal processing unit 1030 may be a separately located chip. Optionally, the aforementioned devices may be located within the signal processing unit 1030.

[0256] The signal processing unit 1030 may include one or more processing elements 1031, such as a main control CPU and another integrated circuit. Additionally, the signal processing unit 1030 may further include a memory element 1032 and an interface circuit 1033. The memory element 1032 is configured to store data and programs. Programs used to implement the methods performed by the terminal in the aforementioned methods may or may not be stored in the memory element 1032, for example, in a memory external to the signal processing unit 1030. When a program is to be used, the signal processing unit 1030 loads the program into its cache for use. The interface circuit 1033 is configured to communicate with devices. The aforementioned devices may be located within the signal processing unit 1030. The signal processing unit 1030 may be implemented through a chip. The chip includes at least one processing element and an interface circuit. The processing element is configured to implement any cell access method steps provided in the aforementioned method embodiments. The interface circuit is configured to communicate with other devices. In implementation, the unit of the terminal for performing the steps of the above-mentioned method may be implemented in the form of scheduling a program by a processing element. For example, the device includes a processing element and a memory element. The processing element calls a program stored in the memory element to perform any cell access method provided in the above-mentioned method embodiments. The memory element may be a memory element located on the same chip as the processing element, i.e., an on-chip memory element.

[0257] In another implementation, the storage element may alternatively be a storage element located on a different chip than the processing element, i.e., an off-chip storage element, in which case the processing element invokes or loads a program from the off-chip storage element onto the on-chip storage element to invoke and perform any of the cell access methods in the above-described method embodiments.

[0258] In yet another implementation, the terminal or network device unit for performing the steps of the aforementioned method may be configured as one or more processing elements, which may be integrated circuits, such as one or more ASICs, one or more DSPs, one or more FPGAs, or a combination of these types of integrated circuits, which may be integrated together to form a chip.

[0259] Units for performing steps in the aforementioned methods may be integrated together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC). The SOC chip is configured to implement the aforementioned methods. At least one processing element and a memory element may be integrated into the chip. The methods performed by the terminal or network device may be implemented in the form of scheduling a program by a processing element. Alternatively, at least one integrated circuit may be integrated into the chip to implement the methods performed by the terminal or network device. Alternatively, with reference to the aforementioned implementations, the functions of some units may be implemented in the form of scheduling a program by a processing element, and the functions of some units are implemented in the form of an integrated circuit.

[0260] In yet another implementation, a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application may include at least one processing element and an interface circuit. The at least one processing element is configured to implement any cell access method provided in the above-described method embodiment. The processing element may perform some or all of the steps performed by a terminal or network device in a first manner, specifically by calling a program stored in a storage element, or in a second manner, specifically by using a hardware integrated logic circuit in the processing element in combination with instructions, or may reliably perform some or all of the steps performed by a terminal or network device by combining the first and second manners. It may be understood that the interface circuit may be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device may further include a memory configured to store instructions to be executed by the processing element, to store input data required by the processing element to execute the instructions, or to store data generated after the processing element executes the instructions.

[0261] As noted above, a processing element herein may be a general-purpose processor, e.g., a CPU, or may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the methods described above, e.g., one or more ASICs, one or more microprocessors DSPs, one or more FPGAs, or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuits. A storage element may be a memory or may refer collectively to multiple storage elements.

[0262] Those skilled in the art may understand that all or part of the steps in the method embodiments may be implemented by hardware associated with program instructions. The aforementioned program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, the steps in the method embodiments are implemented. The aforementioned storage medium includes any medium that can store program code, such as a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, etc.

[0263] The resource in the embodiment of the present application may also be referred to as a transmission resource, and may include one or more of a time domain resource, a frequency domain resource, and a code channel resource. The resource may be used to carry data or signaling in an uplink or downlink communication process.

[0264] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this specification merely describes an associative relationship for describing related objects, and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may indicate the following three cases: only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists.

[0265] It should be understood that in an embodiment of the present invention, "B corresponding to A" indicates that B is associated with A, and B may be determined based on A. However, it should be further understood that determining B based on A does not mean that B is only determined based on A, and alternatively, B may be determined based on A and / or other information.

[0266] In the embodiments of this application, "plurality" means two or more.

[0267] Descriptions such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present application are used merely as examples and to distinguish between objects, but do not indicate the order of the objects in the embodiments of the present application, nor any particular limitation on the quantity of the objects, and cannot constitute any limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0268] In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "transmit / transmission" refers to bidirectional transmission and includes a sending action and / or a receiving action. Specifically, "transmit / transmission" in the embodiments of the present application includes data sending, data receiving, or data sending and data receiving. In other words, data transmission in this specification includes uplink data transmission and / or downlink data transmission. Data may include information and / or signals. Uplink data transmission is uplink information transmission and / or uplink signal transmission. Downlink data transmission is downlink information transmission and / or downlink signal transmission.

[0269] The contents in the embodiments of this application may be mutually referenced. Unless otherwise specified or there is no logical contradiction, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and may be mutually referenced, and the technical features in different embodiments may be combined based on their internal logical relationships to form a new embodiment.

[0270] It may be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal and / or the network device may perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application. The steps or operations are merely examples. In the embodiments of the present application, other operations or variations of various operations may alternatively be performed. In addition, the steps may be performed in a different sequence than presented in the embodiments of the present application, and not all operations in the embodiments of the present application may be performed.

Claims

1. A cell access method, the cell access method being applied to a terminal, the cell access method comprising: receiving M reference signals, the M reference signals being from C cells, M and C being positive integers, and M being greater than or equal to C; determining a first reference signal from the M reference signals; sending first indication information to a network device based on the first reference signal, the first indication information indicating to the network device to send a downlink common signal in a target cell, the downlink common signal being used by the terminal to access the target cell, the downlink common signal including system information, and the first reference signal belonging to the M reference signals and originating from the target cell; A cell access method comprising:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reference signal carries a local cell identification, the value of the local cell identification being an integer between 0 and N-1, inclusive, where N is a positive integer and N is less than a maximum value of a physical cell identification.

3. the value of the local cell identity and the value of the physical cell identity, V = V PCI mod N, where V represents the value of the local cell identity, and V PCI The method of claim 2 , wherein: represents the value of the physical cell identity.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference signals of different cells have different frequency domain locations.

5. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reference signal further carries a time-domain offset, the time-domain offset indicating an offset between a time-domain position of the first reference signal and a time-domain position of the first indication information.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a predefined time-domain offset exists between a time-domain location of the first reference signal and a time-domain location of the first indication information.

7. 1. A data transmission device, the data transmission device comprising one or more processors for executing instructions, the instructions causing the data transmission device to: receiving M reference signals, the M reference signals being from C cells, M and C being positive integers, and M being greater than or equal to C; determining a first reference signal from the M reference signals; sending first indication information to a network device based on the first reference signal, the first indication information indicating to the network device to send a downlink common signal in a target cell, the downlink common signal being used by a terminal to access the target cell, the downlink common signal including system information, and the first reference signal belonging to the M reference signals and originating from the target cell; A device that makes this possible.

8. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first reference signal carries a local cell identification, the value of the local cell identification being an integer between 0 and N-1, inclusive, where N is a positive integer and N is less than a maximum value of a physical cell identification.

9. the value of the local cell identity and the value of the physical cell identity, V = V PCI mod N, where V represents the value of the local cell identity, and V PCI The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein: represents the value of the physical cell identity.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the reference signals of different cells have different frequency domain locations.

11. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first reference signal further carries a time-domain offset, the time-domain offset indicating an offset between a time-domain position of the first reference signal and a time-domain position of the first indication information.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a predefined time-domain offset exists between a time-domain location of the first reference signal and a time-domain location of the first indication information.

13. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions, the computer program or instructions implementing the method of any one of claims 1 to 6 when executed by a communication device.

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