Radio frequency link switching method and communication device

Abstract

The present application provides a radio frequency link switching method and a communication device. The method includes a terminal device receiving first information from a network device, the first information instructing the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from a first carrier group to a second carrier group. The terminal device determines a third carrier group based on a first parameter of the first carrier group and a first parameter of the second carrier group, the third carrier group being the first carrier group or the second carrier group, and a transmission link switching period is located within the third carrier group. The first parameter includes one or more of the following parameters: a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, a bandwidth portion BWP in the at least one carrier, an identification information of the at least one carrier, an identification information of a cell to which the at least one carrier belongs, or a number of carriers. This can reduce resource waste and improve resource utilization.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001]

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202111542892.4 entitled "Radio Frequency Link Switching Method and Communication Apparatus" filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on December 16, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002]

[0002] Technical field The present application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a radio frequency link switching method and a communications device. [Background technology]

[0003]

[0003] A radio frequency (RF) link of a wireless communication device can modulate a baseband signal onto a radio frequency carrier to obtain a radio frequency signal, and then radiate the radio frequency signal into a wireless channel. One wireless communication device may include one or more radio frequency links.

[0004]

[0004] A network device in a mobile communication system can instruct a terminal device to switch a radio frequency link from one carrier to another based on resource utilization in the frequency domain. However, the terminal device requires a certain switching period to switch the radio frequency link, and when the terminal device performs the radio frequency link switching process, it cannot communicate with the network device. If the terminal device and the network device cannot reach an agreement on the switching period for the terminal device to switch the radio link, resource waste will occur. Summary of the Invention

[0005]

[0005] The present application provides a radio frequency link switching method and a communication device to reduce resource waste and improve resource utilization.

[0006]

[0006] According to a first aspect, there is provided a radio frequency link switching method. The method may be performed by a terminal device or a module (e.g., a chip) configured in (or used in) a terminal device. In the following, for the purpose of explanation, an example in which the terminal device performs the method is used.

[0007] The method includes: a terminal device receiving first information from a network device, the first information instructing the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from a first carrier group to a second carrier group; the terminal device determining a third carrier group based on a first parameter of the first carrier group and a first parameter of the second carrier group, the third carrier group being the first carrier group or the second carrier group, and a transmission link switching period being located within the third carrier group; the first parameter including one or more of the following parameters: a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, a bandwidth fraction (BWP) of the at least one carrier, identification information of the at least one carrier, identification information of a cell to which the at least one carrier belongs, or a number of carriers.

[0008]

[0008] According to the above solution, the network device and the terminal device determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located in the same way as they determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located, so that the network device and the terminal device reach an agreement on the carrier in which the switching period is located, thereby reducing resource waste and improving communication reliability.

[0009]

[0009] Regarding the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the third carrier group is a carrier group in which the sum of the parameter values ​​of the first parameter of the included carriers is the largest or smallest among the first carrier group and the second carrier group; or The third carrier group is a carrier group to which the carrier having the maximum or minimum parameter value of the first parameter belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0010]

[0010] Regarding the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the step of the terminal device determining the third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group includes: The method includes a step of determining a third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group when the parameter value of the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as the parameter value of the second parameter of the second carrier group, where the second parameter is different from the first parameter, and the second parameter is one of the following parameters: The information includes one or more of a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, a bandwidth portion BWP of at least one carrier, identification information of at least one carrier, identification information of a cell to which at least one carrier belongs, the number of carriers, or a switching parameter of at least one carrier.

[0011]

[0011] According to the above solution, before the terminal device and the network device determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group, the terminal device and the network device separately determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the second parameter of the first carrier group and the second parameter of the second carrier group. Then, if the parameter value of the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as the parameter value of the second parameter of the second carrier group, the terminal device and the network device determine that the carrier group in which the switching period is located is the third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group. If the terminal device and the network device cannot determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the second parameter of the carrier group, the terminal device and the network device can determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the first parameter of the carrier group, so that the network device and the terminal device can reach an agreement on the carrier in which the switching period is located, which can reduce resource waste and improve communication reliability.

[0012]

[0012] Regarding the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes a step in which the terminal device receives a plurality of second information from the network device, the plurality of second information corresponding to a plurality of carriers, the plurality of carriers being a plurality of carriers configured by the network device and used to switch the transmission link, and each of the second information indicating a parameter value of a first parameter of the corresponding carrier.

[0013]

[0013] Regarding the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes a step in which the terminal device receives third information from the network device, the third information indicating multiple carriers, and the first carrier group and the second carrier group belong to the multiple carriers.

[0014]

[0014] Regarding the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method includes a step in which a terminal device determines a slot length corresponding to the largest subcarrier spacing based on the largest subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of multiple carriers, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

[0015]

[0015] According to the above solution, the terminal device and the network device can determine a maximum subcarrier spacing based on the subcarrier spacing of multiple carriers set by the network device and used to switch transmission links, and can determine that the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once in a slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing. This allows the terminal device and the network device to agree on a time limit or a number of times for the terminal device to switch transmission links, thereby preventing communication quality from being affected by the terminal device frequently switching transmission links. If supported by the capabilities of the terminal device, the capabilities of the terminal device can be fully utilized, thereby improving the scheduling flexibility of the network device.

[0016]

[0016] Regarding the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes a step in which the terminal device sends first capability information to the network device, the first capability information indicating a first duration, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

[0017]

[0017] According to the above solution, the terminal device and the network device determine a time limit or a number limit for switching the transmission link by the terminal device based on the capability of the terminal device, so that the terminal device and the network device can reach an agreement on a time limit or a number limit for switching the transmission link by the terminal device, and can avoid the communication quality from being affected by the terminal device frequently switching the transmission link. If supported by the capability of the terminal device, the capability of the terminal device can be fully utilized, and the scheduling flexibility of the network device can be improved.

[0018]

[0018] Regarding the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first capability information specifically indicates a first subcarrier spacing, and a slot length corresponding to the first subcarrier spacing is a first duration; The first capability information specifically indicates a first frequency band, and a slot length corresponding to a subcarrier spacing of the first frequency band is a first duration; The first capability information specifies a number N of symbols of a first preset duration, the N first preset duration being the first duration, and N being a positive integer; or The first capability information specifies a number M of slots of a second preset duration, the M second preset durations being the first duration, and M being a positive integer.

[0019]

[0019] Regarding the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes a step in which the terminal device determines a first duration based on a first subcarrier spacing, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the first duration, the first subcarrier spacing being the largest subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of at least one frequency band, and the at least one frequency band being a frequency band in which the terminal device supports switching of the transmission link.

[0020]

[0020] According to the above solution, the terminal device and the network device determine a time limit or a number limit for switching the transmission link by the terminal device based on the subcarrier spacing of the frequency band that the terminal device supports for switching the transmission link, so that the terminal device and the network device can reach an agreement on a time limit or a number limit for switching the transmission link by the terminal device, and can avoid the communication quality from being affected by the terminal device frequently switching the transmission link. If supported by the capability of the terminal device, the capability of the terminal device can be fully utilized, and the scheduling flexibility of the network device can be improved.

[0021]

[0021] According to a second aspect, a radio frequency link switching method is provided. For advantageous effects, please refer to the description in the first aspect. Details will not be described again here. The method may be performed by a network device or a module (e.g., a chip) configured in (or used in) a network device. For the purpose of explanation, the following uses an example in which the network device performs the method.

[0022]

[0022] The method includes: a network device sending first information to a terminal device, the first information instructing the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from a first carrier group to a second carrier group; the network device determining a third carrier group based on a first parameter of the first carrier group and a first parameter of the second carrier group, the third carrier group being the first carrier group or the second carrier group, and a transmission link switching period being located within the third carrier group; the first parameter being one of the following parameters: The information includes one or more of a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, a bandwidth portion BWP of at least one carrier, identification information of at least one carrier, identification information of a cell to which at least one carrier belongs, or the number of carriers.

[0023]

[0023] Regarding the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the third carrier group is a carrier group in which the sum of the parameter values ​​of the first parameter of the included carriers is the largest or smallest among the first carrier group and the second carrier group; or The third carrier group is a carrier group to which the carrier having the maximum or minimum parameter value of the first parameter belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0024]

[0024] Regarding the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the step of the network device determining the third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group includes: The method includes, when a parameter value of the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as a parameter value of the second parameter of the second carrier group, determining a third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group, wherein the second parameter is different from the first parameter, and the second parameter is one of the following parameters: The information includes one or more of a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, a bandwidth portion BWP of at least one carrier, identification information of at least one carrier, identification information of a cell to which at least one carrier belongs, the number of carriers, or a switching parameter of at least one carrier.

[0025]

[0025] Regarding the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: a step in which the network device sends a plurality of second information to the terminal device, the plurality of second information corresponding to a plurality of carriers, the plurality of carriers being a plurality of carriers configured by the network device and used to switch the transmission link, and each of the second information indicating a parameter value of a first parameter of the corresponding carrier.

[0026]

[0026] Regarding aspect 2, in some implementations of aspect 2, the method further includes: the network device sending third information to the terminal device, the third information indicating multiple carriers, and the first carrier group and the second carrier group belonging to the multiple carriers.

[0027]

[0027] Regarding the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: a step in which the network device determines a slot length based on the largest subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the multiple carriers, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

[0028]

[0028] Regarding the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: a step in which the network device receives first capability information from the terminal device, the first capability information indicating a first duration, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

[0029]

[0029] Regarding the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first capability information specifically indicates a first subcarrier spacing, and a slot length corresponding to the first subcarrier spacing is a first duration; The first capability information specifically indicates a first frequency band, and a slot length corresponding to a subcarrier spacing of the first frequency band is a first duration; The first capability information specifies a number N of symbols of a first preset duration, the N first preset duration being the first duration, and N being a positive integer; or The first capability information specifies a number M of slots of a second preset duration, the M second preset durations being the first duration, and M being a positive integer.

[0030]

[0030] Regarding the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: a step in which the network device determines a first duration based on a first subcarrier spacing, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first duration, the first subcarrier spacing being the largest subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of at least one frequency band, and the at least one frequency band being a frequency band in which the terminal device supports switching of the transmission link.

[0031] According to a third aspect, there is provided a radio frequency link switching method. The method may be performed by a terminal device or a module (e.g., a chip) configured in (or used in) the terminal device. In the following, for the purpose of explanation, an example in which the terminal device performs the method is used.

[0032]

[0031] The method includes: a terminal device receiving third information from a network device, the third information indicating a plurality of carriers, a first carrier group and the second carrier group belonging to the plurality of carriers, the plurality of carriers being configured by the network device and used to switch transmission links; the terminal device determining a slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing based on the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the plurality of carriers, and switching the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

[0033]

[0032] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a radio frequency link switching method. The method may be performed by a network device or a module (e.g., a chip) configured in (or used in) the network device. For the purposes of explanation, the following uses an example in which the network device performs the method.

[0034]

[0033] The method includes: a step of a network device sending third information to a terminal device, the third information indicating a plurality of carriers configured by the network device and used to switch a transmission link; a step of the network device determining a slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing based on a maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the plurality of carriers; and a step of the network device instructing the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

[0035]

[0034] According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a radio frequency link switching method. The method may be performed by a terminal device or a module (e.g., a chip) configured in (or used in) a terminal device. In the following, for the purpose of explanation, an example in which the terminal device performs the method is used.

[0036]

[0035] The method includes: a terminal device determining at least one carrier in an activated state, the at least one carrier belonging to a plurality of carriers configured by a network device and used to switch transmission links; the terminal device determining a slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing based on the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the at least one carrier; and the terminal device switching the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

[0037] According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a radio frequency link switching method. The method may be performed by a network device or a module (e.g., a chip) configured in (or used in) the network device. In the following, for the purpose of explanation, an example in which the network device performs the method is used.

[0038]

[0037] The method includes: a step of a network device determining at least one carrier in an activated state, the at least one carrier belonging to a plurality of carriers configured by the network device for the terminal device and used to switch a transmission link; the network device determining a slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing based on a maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the at least one carrier; and the network device instructing the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

[0039]

[0038] According to a seventh aspect, there is provided a radio frequency link switching method. The method may be performed by a terminal device or a module (e.g., a chip) configured in (or used in) a terminal device. In the following, for the purpose of explanation, an example in which the terminal device performs the method is used.

[0040]

[0039] The method includes: a step in which a terminal device sends first capability information to a network device, the first capability information indicating a first duration, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

[0041]

[0040] For the first capability information, please refer to the description in the first aspect, and for the sake of simplicity, the details will not be described again here.

[0042] According to an eighth aspect, there is provided a radio frequency link switching method. The method may be performed by a network device or a module (e.g., a chip) configured in (or used in) the network device. In the following, for the purpose of explanation, an example in which the network device performs the method is used.

[0043]

[0042] The method includes: a step in which a network device receives first capability information from a terminal device, the first capability information indicating a first duration, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

[0044]

[0043] For the first capability information, please refer to the description in the second aspect, and for the sake of simplicity, the details will not be described again here.

[0045]

[0044] According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a radio frequency link switching method. The method may be performed by a terminal device or a module (e.g., a chip) configured in (or used in) a terminal device. In the following, for the purpose of explanation, an example in which the terminal device performs the method is used.

[0046] The method includes: a terminal device transmitting second capability information to a network device, the second capability information indicating at least one frequency band in which the terminal device supports switching of the transmission link; the terminal device determining a first duration based on a first subcarrier spacing, the terminal device switching the transmission link at most once within the first duration, the first subcarrier spacing being a maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the at least one frequency band.

[0047] According to a tenth aspect, there is provided a radio frequency link switching method. The method may be performed by a network device or a module (e.g., a chip) configured in (or used in) the network device. In the following, for the purpose of explanation, an example in which the network device performs the method is used.

[0048] The method includes: a step of a network device receiving second capability information from a terminal device, the second capability information indicating at least one frequency band in which the terminal device supports switching of the transmission link; the network device determining a first duration based on a first subcarrier spacing, the network device switching the transmission link at most once within the first duration, the first subcarrier spacing being a maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the at least one frequency band.

[0049] According to an eleventh aspect, there is provided a communication device including a processing unit and a transceiver unit. The transceiver unit is configured to transmit and receive data under control of the processing unit. The processing unit is configured to load a computer program in the storage unit and perform the method of any of the first to tenth aspects or possible implementations of the first to tenth aspects.

[0050]

[0049] Optionally, the communication device further comprises a storage unit.

[0051] According to a twelfth aspect, there is provided a communication device including a processor, the processor being capable of performing the method of any one of the first to tenth aspects or possible implementations of the first to tenth aspects.

[0052]

[0051] Optionally, the communication device further includes a memory, and the processor may be coupled to the memory and configured to execute instructions in the memory to perform the method in any possible implementation of the first to tenth aspects.

[0053]

[0052] Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication interface may be a transceiver, a pin, a circuit, a bus, a module, or another type of communication interface. This is not limited thereto.

[0054]

[0053] In implementation, the communication interface may be a transceiver or an input / output interface.

[0055] In another implementation, the communication device is a chip configured in a communication device (e.g., a network device or a terminal device). Also, when the communication device is a chip configured in a communication device, the communication interface may be an input / output interface, and the processor may be a logic circuit.

[0056] Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0057] According to a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a processor including an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit configured to receive signals via the input circuit and send signals via the output circuit so that the processor can perform a method in any possible implementation of the first to tenth aspects.

[0058] In a particular implementation process, the processor may be one or more chips, the input circuits may be input pins, and the output circuits may be output pins.

[0059]

[0058] According to a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product. The computer program product includes: a computer program (sometimes referred to as code or instructions). When the computer program is executed, it can perform the method of any possible implementation of the first to tenth aspects.

[0060]

[0059] According to a fifteenth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program (sometimes referred to as code or instructions). When the computer program is executed on a computer, it can perform the method in any possible implementation of the first to tenth aspects.

[0061]

[0060] According to a sixteenth aspect, there is provided a communication system including at least one terminal device as described above and at least one network device as described above. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0062] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2]

[0062] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating transmission link switching according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 3]

[0063] FIG. 3 is another diagram illustrating transmission link switching according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4]

[0064] FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a radio frequency link switching method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 5]

[0065] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating transmission link switching according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6]

[0066] FIG. 6 is another diagram illustrating switching of transmission links according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7]

[0067] FIG. 7 is another diagram illustrating switching of transmission links according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8]

[0068] FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a radio frequency link switching method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 9]

[0069] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 10]

[0070] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 11]

[0071] FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0063]

[0072] The technical solutions of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0064]

[0073] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and fully described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. It is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part, not all, of the embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments that those skilled in the art can obtain based on the embodiments of the present application without any creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0065]

[0074] In the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of embodiments of this application, terms such as "first," "second," etc. are intended to distinguish between similar objects and do not necessarily indicate a particular order or sequence. It should be understood that data used in such a manner are interchangeable, under appropriate circumstances, and that, as a result, the embodiments of this application described herein may be performed in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprise" and "have," as well as other variations, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a list of steps or units is not necessarily limited to the explicitly listed steps or units but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or other steps or units inherent to such process, method, product, or device.

[0066]

[0075] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as a long term evolution (LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, a fifth generation (5G) system or a new radio (NR) system, and future communication systems such as a sixth generation mobile communication system, which are not limited in the present application.

[0067]

[0076] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a communication system applicable to the present application.

[0068]

[0077] As shown in Fig. 1, the communication system 100 may include at least one network device, such as the network device 101 shown in Fig. 1. The communication system 100 may further include at least one terminal device, such as the terminal devices 102 to 107 shown in Fig. 1. The terminal devices 102 to 107 may be mobile or fixed. The network device 101 may communicate with one or more of the terminal devices 102 to 107 via a wireless link. In addition, the wireless link switching method provided in the embodiments of the present application may be used between the network device and the terminal device to realize uplink transmission of the terminal device.

[0069]

[0078] The terminal devices in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user equipment. In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with a wireless transceiver device, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation security, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network, a terminal device in a future developed public land mobile network (PLMN), etc. It should be understood that the present application is not limited to a specific form of the terminal device.

[0070]

[0079] The network device in the embodiments of the present application may be a device having a radio transceiver function in an access network. The device may include, but is not limited to, a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a NodeB (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., a Home Evolved NodeB or Home NodeB (HNB)), an access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, a transmission point (TP), or a transmission reception point (TRP). Alternatively, the network device may be a network node forming a gNB or a transmission point, such as a distributed unit (DU). It should be understood that the present application is not limited to a specific form of the network device.

[0071]

[0080] Hereinafter, the relevant technologies and terms in the embodiments of the present application will be described.

[0072]

[0081] 1. Carrier aggregation

[0082] A network device may configure multiple cells for a UE. Each cell includes one downlink carrier and zero to two uplink carriers. The downlink carriers are used to carry downlink information transmitted by the network device to the UE, and the uplink carriers are used to carry uplink information transmitted by the UE to the network device. The network device may activate some of the configured cells for the UE, and the network device may communicate with the UE on carriers of some of the cells. Depending on the UE's uplink communication capabilities, different numbers of configured and activated uplink carriers may be supported.

[0073]

[0083] 2.Transmission link (transmitter, Tx)

[0084] A transmission link is a radio frequency link used to transmit a signal and may also be referred to as a transmission path or a radio frequency transmission path. Here, both the transmission path and the radio frequency transmission path are referred to as a transmission path in this application. In this application, the transmission path may operate as follows, but is not limited to: the transmission path may receive a baseband signal from a baseband chip, perform radio frequency processing (such as up-conversion, amplification, and filtering) on ​​the baseband signal to obtain a radio frequency signal, and radiate the radio frequency signal into space via an antenna. Specifically, the transmission path may include, but is not limited to, one or more electronic components, including an antenna switch, an antenna tuner, a low noise amplifier (LNA), a power amplifier (PA), a mixer, a local oscillator (LO), and a filter. These electronic components may be integrated into one or more chips depending on the requirements. Furthermore, an antenna may alternatively be considered part of the transmission path. Optionally, the transmit path in this application may be replaced with a radio frequency chain, a Tx, an antenna, a radio frequency, a transmit path, a transmit port, a receive path, or any combination thereof.

[0074]

[0085] In a mobile communication system, two methods shown in Table 1 are defined for a terminal device having two transmission links and supporting switching of the transmission links between two carriers. Carrier 1 and Carrier 2 represent two uplink carriers, respectively, and T represents a radio frequency chain. Method 1 in Table 1 indicates that the terminal device has one transmission link in Carrier 1 and may perform one-port transmission in Carrier 1; and that the terminal device has one transmission link in Carrier 2 and may perform one-port transmission in Carrier 2. Method 2 indicates that the terminal device has no transmission link in Carrier 1 and two transmission links in Carrier 2. In this way, the terminal device can perform two-port transmission in Carrier 2. It can be known that the terminal device supports a maximum of one transmission link in Carrier 1 and a maximum of two transmission links in Carrier 2. The terminal device can switch between the two methods, in other words, it can switch one transmission link between Carrier 1 and Carrier 2. A switching period is required for the terminal device to switch the transmission link. This switching period is sometimes referred to as the uplink switching gap. The terminal device is not scheduled to perform transmissions on either of the two carriers during the uplink switching gap.

[0075] Table 1

[0076] [Table 1]

[0077]

[0086] The network device may configure, for the terminal device, the carrier on which the switching period is located based on the configuration information. For example, the network device may transmit uplink transmission link switching information (denoted as UplinkTxSwitching) to the terminal device. The information may be:

[0078]

number

[0079]

[0087] The uplink transmission link switching information may include, but is not limited to, uplink transmission link switching period location information (uplinkTxSwitchingPeriodLocation) and uplink transmission link switching carrier (uplinkTxSwitchingCarrier). uplinkTxSwitchingCarrier enumerates one of carriers, carrier 1 and carrier 2, respectively. In other words, the network device designates one of carriers, carrier 1 and carrier 2, based on the information and designates true or false based on uplinkTxSwitchingPeriodLocation to notify the terminal device whether the uplink transmission link switching period is located within that carrier. For example, uplinkTxSwitchingCarrier designates carrier 1. If uplinkTxSwitchingPeriodLocation indicates True, the terminal device can determine that the switching period is located on carrier 1; or if uplinkTxSwitchingPeriodLocation indicates False, the terminal device can determine that the switching period is not located on carrier 1.

[0080]

[0088] In this application, when a transmission link is located within a carrier, it can be understood that the terminal device can adjust the parameters of the transmission link so that the terminal device can perform uplink transmission on the carrier based on the transmission link. When a switching period of a transmission link is located within a carrier, it can be understood that the switching period belongs to the time range of the transmission link within the carrier, or that the switching period is within the uplink time unit of the carrier. For example, when a switching period of a transmission link is located in carrier 1, it means that the switching period is within the uplink slot of carrier 1.

[0081]

[0089] In one example, if the network device can notify the terminal device that the transmission link switching period is located in carrier 1 based on the transmission link switching information, the terminal device determines that the switching period is located in carrier 1 after receiving the uplink transmission link switching information. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, if two transmission links of the terminal device are both in carrier 2 before switching and the network device notifies the terminal device that two-port transmission is to be performed in carrier 1, the terminal device needs to switch the two transmission links from carrier 2 to carrier 1. In this case, the terminal device determines that the switching period is located in carrier 1 based on the transmission link switching information, as shown in FIG. 2. In another example, if the network device sets the transmission link switching period to be located in carrier 2 and instructs the terminal device to switch the two transmission links from carrier 2 to carrier 1, the terminal device and the network device can determine that the transmission link switching period is located in carrier 2, and the terminal device can switch the transmission links during the switching period in carrier 2, as shown in FIG. 3. This allows the terminal device and the network device to reach an agreement on the carrier on which the switching period will be located, and they do not perform communication during the switching period. In other words, the network device does not schedule the terminal device to transmit uplink information during the switching period, and the terminal device does not transmit uplink information to the network device during the switching period. If the terminal device and the network device do not reach an agreement on the carrier on which the switching period will be located, the terminal device and the network device cannot determine whether the switching period will be located on the pre-switching carrier or the post-switching carrier, which results in wasted resources.

[0082]

[0090] With technological improvements, terminal devices may support more carriers used for switching transmission links. For example, terminal devices may switch transmission links among at least three carriers. The aforementioned method for specifying a switching period is only capable of specifying whether the switching period is within one carrier, because the terminal device is designed to switch transmission links between two carriers. If a terminal device supports switching transmission links among more carriers, the aforementioned method for a network device to specify the carrier on which the switching period is located is no longer applicable to the terminal device. For example, a terminal device may support switching of uplink transmission links among three carriers, namely, carrier 1, carrier 2, and carrier 3. In the aforementioned method, if the network device individually configures whether the switching period is located on carrier 1, carrier 2, and carrier 3, for example, the uplinkTxSwitchingPeriodLocation corresponding to carrier 1, carrier 2, and carrier 3 indicate "true," "false," and "false," respectively. The terminal device may determine that the switching period is located on carrier 1, that the switching period is not located on carrier 2, and that the switching period is not located on carrier 3. When a network device instructs a terminal device to switch a transmission link between carrier 2 and carrier 3, the switching period set by the network device is not within the two carriers, so the terminal device and the network device cannot determine the carrier on which the switching period is located. Alternatively, when a network device sets a switching period to be located on two of three carriers, if the network device instructs a terminal device to perform switching on two carriers, both of the two carriers will include one switching period. However, in reality, the terminal device does not need such a long period to switch a transmission link, which causes a waste of resources.Therefore, at present, there is still a lack of a method suitable for indicating the switching time, which allows the network device and the terminal device to reach an agreement on the carrier on which the switching period is located, when the terminal device supports switching the transmission link between multiple carriers.

[0083]

[0091] The transmission link switching method provided in the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0084]

[0092] FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a radio frequency link switching method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0085]

[0093] S401: A network device sends first information to a terminal device, where the first information instructs the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from a first carrier group to a second carrier group.

[0086]

[0094] In response, the terminal device receives first information from the network device and determines, based on the first information, to switch at least one transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group.

[0087]

[0095] Optionally, when at least one transmission link of the terminal device is in the first carrier group, the network device may transmit first information to the terminal device. The first information is specifically used to schedule or configure the at least one transmission link of the terminal device to perform uplink transmission in the second carrier group. The terminal device receives the first information and determines to switch the at least one transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group. Thus, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the at least one transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group based on the first information.

[0088]

[0096] For example, when two transmission links of a terminal device are on carrier 1 and carrier 2, respectively, a network device sends first information to the terminal device, and the first information is used to schedule the terminal device to perform two-port transmission on carrier 3. In this case, the terminal device may decide to switch the two transmission links from a first carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 2) to a second carrier group (including carrier 3).

[0089]

[0097] Optionally, the network device may transmit third information to the terminal device, the third information indicating a plurality of carriers configured by the network device for the terminal device and used to switch the transmission link, wherein the first carrier group and the second carrier group belong to the plurality of carriers.

[0090]

[0098] In the present application, multiple carriers configured by a network device for a terminal device and used to switch transmission links may be understood as multiple carriers configured by a network device for a terminal device and that may be used to dynamically switch transmission links.

[0091]

[0099] In response to this, the terminal device receives third information from the network device, and determines, based on the third information, one of the plurality of carriers configured by the network device to be used for switching the transmission link.

[0092]

[0100] The network device is capable of determining a second carrier group from the plurality of carriers and instructing the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group based on the first information.

[0093]

[0101] S402: The network device and the terminal device individually determine a carrier group in which a switching period is located based on a first parameter of the first carrier group and a first parameter of the second carrier group.

[0094]

[0102] The network device and the terminal device may separately determine a third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group. A switching period during which the terminal device switches at least one transmission link is located in the third carrier group. The third carrier group is one of the first carrier group and the second carrier group, i.e., the first carrier group or the second carrier group.

[0095]

[0103] It should be noted that the network device and the terminal device separately execute S402. After determining to instruct the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group, the network device may determine the carrier group in which the switching period will be located. After receiving the first information and determining to switch at least one transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group, the terminal device may determine the carrier group in which the switching period will be located. The order in which the network device executes S402 and the terminal device execute S402 is not limited to the embodiments of the present application. Both the network device and the terminal device determine the carrier group in which the switching period will be located based on the first parameter of the carrier groups before and after the switching, so that the network device and the terminal device reach an agreement on the carrier group in which the switching period will be located. This can reduce resource waste and improve communication reliability.

[0096]

[0104] The first parameter may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following parameters: Number of carriers, a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier; a bandwidth part (BWP) in at least one carrier; Identification of at least one carrier; Identification of the cell to which at least one carrier belongs; A parameter indicating whether the cell on which the carrier is located is a primary cell (PCell) or a primary-secondary cell, or The switching parameters of at least one carrier.

[0097]

[0105] The primary cell within a secondary cell group (SCG) may be referred to as the primary secondary cell (PSCell).

[0098]

[0106] Specific implementations in which the first parameter includes one or more of the aforementioned parameters will be described separately below, although the present application is not limited thereto.

[0099]

[0107] Implementation example 1: The first parameter is the number of carriers, and the network device and the terminal device individually determine the third carrier group based on the number of carriers in the first carrier group and the number of carriers in the second carrier group.

[0100]

[0108] The network device and the terminal device individually determine whether the switching period is within the pre-switching carrier group or the post-switching carrier group based on the number of carriers included in the carrier groups before and after the transmission link switching. The network device and the terminal device determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the same parameters, and as a result, the network device and the terminal device reach an agreement on the carrier in which the switching period is located. This can reduce resource waste and improve communication reliability.

[0101]

[0109] In one example, the third carrier group is the carrier group with the smallest number of carriers among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0102]

[0110] For example, as shown in FIG. 5, if two transmission links of a terminal device are on carrier 1 and carrier 3, respectively, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the two transmission links to carrier 2 based on the first information (e.g., schedules the terminal device to perform two-port transmission on carrier 2). Specifically, the first carrier group includes carrier 1 and carrier 3, and the number of carriers in the first carrier group is 2, and the second carrier group includes carrier 2, and the number of carriers in the second carrier group is 1. After receiving the first information, the terminal device determines to switch the two transmission links from carrier 1 and carrier 3 to carrier 2. Based on the fact that the number of carriers in the first carrier group is 2 and the number of carriers in the second carrier group is 1, the network device and the terminal device determine that the second carrier group has the fewest number of carriers and that the switching period should be located in the second carrier group (i.e., the third carrier group in which the switching period is located is the second carrier group). In this way, the terminal device and the network device can reach an agreement. In this way, fewer carrier resources can be occupied during the switching period, which can reduce resource waste and improve resource utilization.

[0103]

[0111] As another example, as shown in FIG. 6, when two transmission links of a terminal device are both on carrier 2, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the two transmission links to carrier 1 and carrier 3, respectively, based on the first information. Specifically, the first carrier group includes carrier 2, and the number of carriers in the first carrier group is 1, and the second carrier group includes carrier 1 and carrier 3, and the number of carriers in the second carrier group is 2. The network device and the terminal device independently determine that the switching period is located in the first carrier group (i.e., the third carrier group in which the switching period is located is the first carrier group) based on the fact that the number of carriers in the first carrier group is 1, the number of carriers in the second carrier group is 2, and the first carrier group has the smallest number of carriers. Both the terminal device and the network device determine the carrier where the switching period is located based on the number of carriers in the carrier groups before and after the switching, so that the terminal device and the network device can reach an agreement and reduce the waste of resources caused by securing a switching period in both the carrier groups before and after the switching due to a lack of agreement, which can reduce the waste of resources and improve the reliability of communication.

[0104]

[0112] In another example, the third carrier group is the carrier group having the greatest number of carriers among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0105]

[0113] The network device and the terminal device use the carrier group having the largest number of carriers among the carrier groups before and after the switching as the carrier group in which the switching period is located, and as a result, the network device and the terminal device reach an agreement on the carrier group in which the switching period is located.

[0106]

[0114] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, when a terminal device switches two transmission links from a first carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 3) to a second carrier group (including carrier 2), both the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching period is located in the first carrier group having the largest number of carriers, i.e., the switching period is located in carrier 1 and carrier 3 before the switching.

[0107]

[0115] As another example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, when the terminal device switches two transmission links from a first carrier group (including carrier 2) to a second carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 3), both the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching period is located in the second carrier group having the largest number of carriers, i.e., the switching period is located in carrier 1 and carrier 3 after the switch.

[0108]

[0116] Implementation Example 2: The first parameter is a carrier bandwidth, and the network device and the terminal device individually determine a carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier in the first carrier group and the carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier in the second carrier group.

[0109]

[0117] Optionally, the network device may send a plurality of pieces of information A to the terminal device, where the plurality of pieces of information A correspond to a plurality of carriers configured by the network device and used to switch the transmission link, and each piece of information A indicates a carrier bandwidth of the corresponding carrier.

[0110]

[0118] The plurality of pieces of information A may be carried in the same message and transmitted by the network device to the terminal device, or the plurality of pieces of information A may be carried in different messages and transmitted separately by the network device to the terminal device, which is not limited in the present application.

[0111]

[0119] Optionally, information A may be carried in a radio resource control (RRC) message or a system information block (SIB) 1.

[0112]

[0120] For example, the plurality of pieces of information A may be carried in the same RRC message sent by the network device to the terminal device, or may be carried in different RRC messages.

[0113]

[0121] In one example, the third carrier group is the carrier group that includes the smallest total carrier bandwidth of the included carriers among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0114]

[0122] When the network device configures three carriers for the terminal device based on the third information, the carrier bandwidth of carrier 1 is 20 MHz, the carrier bandwidth of carrier 2 is 100 MHz, and the carrier bandwidth of carrier 3 is 40 MHz.

[0115]

[0123] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch two transmission links from carrier 1 and carrier 3 to carrier 2. The total carrier bandwidth of carrier 1 and carrier 3 included in the first carrier group is 60 MHz. The total carrier bandwidth of carriers included in the second carrier group is 100 MHz. The terminal device and the network device can determine that the carrier group with the smallest total carrier bandwidth among the first carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 3) and the second carrier group (including carrier 2) is the first carrier group, and determine that the switching period is located in the first carrier group. For example, the terminal device can switch two transmission links from the first carrier group to the second carrier group during a switching period T before the end time t of the first carrier group. However, the present application is not limited thereto. The network device does not schedule the terminal device to transmit uplink information during the switching period T, and the terminal device does not transmit uplink information during the switching period T. This solution allows the terminal device and the network device to reach an agreement, and in this way, the switching time can occupy a small amount of carrier resources, thereby reducing resource waste and improving resource utilization.

[0116]

[0124] As another example, in the example shown in FIG. 6 , if the network device instructs the terminal device to switch two transmission links from carrier 2 to carrier 1 and carrier 3, the terminal device and the network device may determine that the carrier group with the smallest total carrier bandwidth among the first carrier group (including carrier 2) and the second carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 3) is the second carrier group, and determine that the switching period is positioned in the second carrier group. For example, the terminal device may switch the two transmission links from the first carrier group to the second carrier group from the start time t of the second carrier group. However, the present application is not limited thereto. The network device does not schedule the terminal device to transmit uplink information during the switching period T, and the terminal device does not transmit uplink information during the switching period T.

[0117]

[0125] In one example, the third carrier group is the carrier group that includes the largest total carrier bandwidth of the included carriers among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0118]

[0126] For example, the network device configures three carriers for the terminal device based on the third information, and indicates the carrier bandwidth of each carrier based on the information A corresponding to each carrier. The terminal device determines based on the information A of the three carriers that the carrier bandwidth of Carrier 1 is 20 MHz, the carrier bandwidth of Carrier 2 is 100 MHz, and the carrier bandwidth of Carrier 3 is 40 MHz.

[0119]

[0127] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, if the two transmission links of the terminal device are on carrier 1 and carrier 3, respectively, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the two transmission links to carrier 2 based on the first information. After receiving the first information, the terminal device determines to switch the two transmission links from carrier 1 and carrier 3 to carrier 2. In this case, the first carrier group includes carrier 1 and carrier 3, and the total carrier bandwidth of the carriers included in the first carrier group is 60 MHz, while the second carrier group includes carrier 2, and the total carrier bandwidth of the carriers included in the second carrier group is 100 MHz. The network device and the terminal device determine that the switching period is positioned in the second carrier group based on the fact that the second carrier group is the carrier group with the largest total carrier bandwidth of the included carriers among the first carrier group and the second carrier group. For example, the switching period is T, and the terminal device switches two transmission links from the first carrier group to the second carrier group during switching period T, which starts from the start of the second carrier group. It should be understood that the present application is not limited thereto. The specific start and end times of the switching period in the carrier group in which the switching period is located may be determined based on a specific implementation. The network device does not schedule the terminal device to transmit uplink information during switching period T, and the terminal device does not transmit uplink information during switching period T. This allows the terminal device and the network device to reach an agreement. This can reduce resource waste and improve resource utilization.

[0120]

[0128] As another example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, if two transmission links of the terminal device are on carrier 2, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the two transmission links to carrier 1 and carrier 3, respectively, based on the first information. Specifically, the first carrier group includes carrier 2, and the total carrier bandwidth of the carriers included in the first carrier group is 100 MHz. The second carrier group includes carrier 1 and carrier 3, and the total carrier bandwidth of the carriers included in the second carrier group is 60 MHz. The network device and the terminal device determine that the switching period is located in the first carrier group based on the fact that the first carrier group is the carrier group with the largest total carrier bandwidth of the included carriers among the first and second carrier groups. For example, the switching period is located in the first carrier group, and the terminal device switches the two transmission links from the first carrier group to the second carrier group before the end of the first carrier group. In this way, the terminal device and the network device can reach an agreement, which can reduce the waste of resources caused by the switching period required for both the pre-switching and post-switching carrier groups due to the lack of agreement, thereby reducing the waste of resources and improving the reliability of communication.

[0121]

[0129] In another example, the third carrier group is a carrier group to which the carrier having the largest carrier bandwidth belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0122]

[0130] For example, the network device may configure three carriers for the terminal device based on the third information, where Carrier 1 has a carrier bandwidth of 20 MHz, Carrier 2 has a carrier bandwidth of 100 MHz, and Carrier 3 has a carrier bandwidth of 40 MHz. When the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link among Carrier 1, Carrier 2, and Carrier 3, the terminal device may determine that the carrier group to which Carrier 2, which has the largest carrier bandwidth, belongs is the carrier group in which the switching period is located. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, when the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link from Carrier 1 and Carrier 3 to Carrier 2, the network device and the terminal device may determine that the switching period is located in the second carrier group to which Carrier 2 belongs. As another example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, when the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link from Carrier 2 to Carrier 1 and Carrier 3, the network device and the terminal device may determine that the switching period is located in the first carrier group to which Carrier 2 belongs. In this way, the terminal device and the network device can agree on a switching period, which reduces resource waste and improves communication reliability.

[0123]

[0131] In another example, the third carrier group is a carrier group to which a carrier having the smallest carrier bandwidth belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0124]

[0132] For example, the network device may configure three carriers for the terminal device based on the third information, where Carrier 1 has a carrier bandwidth of 20 MHz, Carrier 2 has a carrier bandwidth of 100 MHz, and Carrier 3 has a carrier bandwidth of 40 MHz. When the network device instructs the terminal device to switch a transmission link among Carrier 1, Carrier 2, and Carrier 3, it may determine that the carrier group to which Carrier 1, which has the smallest carrier bandwidth, belongs is the carrier group in which the switching period is located. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, when the network device instructs the terminal device to switch a transmission link from Carrier 1 and Carrier 3 to Carrier 2, the network device and the terminal device may determine that the switching period is located in the first carrier group to which Carrier 1 belongs. As another example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, when the network device instructs the terminal device to switch a transmission link from Carrier 2 to Carrier 1 and Carrier 3, the network device and the terminal device may determine that the switching period is located in the second carrier group to which Carrier 1 belongs. In this way, the terminal device and the network device can reach an agreement on the switching period, which reduces resource waste and improves communication reliability.

[0125]

[0133] In another example, the third carrier group is a carrier group other than the carrier group to which the carrier with the largest carrier bandwidth belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group. In other words, the carrier group to which the carrier with the largest carrier bandwidth belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group is not the carrier group in which the switching period is located.

[0126]

[0134] For example, the network device may configure three carriers for the terminal device based on the third information, where Carrier 1 has a carrier bandwidth of 20 MHz, Carrier 2 has a carrier bandwidth of 100 MHz, and Carrier 3 has a carrier bandwidth of 40 MHz. If the network device instructs the terminal device to switch a transmission link among Carrier 1, Carrier 2, and Carrier 3, the terminal device may determine that the carrier group to which Carrier 2, which has the largest carrier bandwidth, belongs is not the carrier group in which the switching period is located. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, if the network device instructs the terminal device to switch a transmission link from Carrier 1 and Carrier 3 to Carrier 2, the network device and the terminal device may determine that the switching period is located in the first carrier group that does not include Carrier 2. As another example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, if the network device instructs the terminal device to switch a transmission link from Carrier 2 to Carrier 1 and Carrier 3, the network device and the terminal device may determine that the switching period is located in the second carrier group that does not include Carrier 2. This allows the terminal device and the network device to reach an agreement on the switching period, which reduces resource waste and improves communication reliability.

[0127]

[0135] Implementation Example 3: The first parameter is a bandwidth part (BWP) within a carrier. The network device and the terminal device independently determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the BWP of the carriers included in the first carrier group and the BWP of the carriers included in the second carrier group.

[0128]

[0136] Optionally, the network device may send a plurality of pieces of information B to the terminal device, where the plurality of pieces of information B correspond to a plurality of carriers configured by the network device and used to switch the transmission link, and each piece of information B indicates at least one BWP in the corresponding carrier. The plurality of pieces of information B may be carried in the same message or in different messages sent from the network device to the terminal device.

[0129]

[0137] The BWP for one carrier is equal to or less than the carrier bandwidth of that carrier. A network device can set the bandwidth size of the BWP based on the number of frequency-domain resource blocks (RBs). Optionally, the size of the BWP may be determined based on the number of RBs. A larger number of RBs included in the BWP indicates a wider bandwidth of the BWP, and a smaller number of RBs included in the BWP indicates a narrower bandwidth of the BWP. Alternatively, the size of the BWP may be determined based on the number of RBs and the subcarrier spacing of the BWP.

[0130]

[0138] In one example, the third carrier group is the carrier group among the first carrier group and the second carrier group in which the sum of the BWPs of the included carriers is the largest or the smallest.

[0131]

[0139] In another example, the third carrier group is a carrier group to which the carrier having the largest or smallest BWP bandwidth among the first carrier group and the second carrier group belongs.

[0132]

[0140] In another example, the third carrier group is a carrier group other than the carrier group to which the carrier with the largest bandwidth of the included BWP belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group. Specifically, if the BWP included in the carrier is the BWP with the largest bandwidth among the BWPs included in the carriers of the first carrier group and the second carrier group, the carrier group to which the carrier with the largest bandwidth belongs is not the carrier group in which the switching period is located.

[0133]

[0141] The implementation of determining the third carrier group based on the bandwidth of the BWP within the carrier is similar to the above implementation of determining the third carrier group based on the carrier bandwidth of the carrier, and for the sake of simplicity, the details will not be described again here.

[0134]

[0142] Optionally, the first parameter is an activated BWP in a carrier, where the activated BWP is an activated BWP in a carrier that is used for transmitting uplink information.

[0135]

[0143] For example, the size of the BWP is determined based on the number of RBs. A network device configures three carriers to be used for switching transmission links for a terminal device. If the bandwidth of the BWP activated on carrier 1 is 100 RBs, the bandwidth of the BWP activated on carrier 2 is 75 RBs, and the bandwidth of the BWP activated on carrier 3 is 30 RBs, the network device may determine the third carrier group based on the bandwidths of the activated BWPs of the carriers included in the first and second carrier groups.

[0136]

[0144] As another example, the size of the BWP is determined based on the number of RBs and the subcarrier spacing. A network device configures three carriers for terminal devices to be used to switch transmission links. If the BWP activated on carrier 1 contains 100 RBs, the subcarrier spacing is 30 kHz, and each RB contains 12 subcarriers, the size of the BWP on carrier 1 is 100 × 12 × 30 = 36 MHz. If the bandwidth of the BWP activated on carrier 2 is 75 RBs and the subcarrier spacing is 30 kHz, the bandwidth of the BWP on carrier 2 is 75 * 12 * 30 = 27 MHz. If the bandwidth of the BWP activated on carrier 3 is 30 RBs and the subcarrier spacing is 120 kHz, the size of the BWP on carrier 3 is 30 * 12 * 120 = 43.2 MHz. In this case, the third carrier group can be determined based on the bandwidths of the activated BWPs among the carriers included in the first and second carrier groups.

[0137]

[0145] Implementation Example 4: The first parameter is carrier identification information, and the network device and the terminal device individually determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the identification information of the carriers included in the first carrier group and the identification information of the carriers included in the second carrier group.

[0138]

[0146] In one example, the network device may transmit fourth information to the terminal device, the fourth information indicating identification information of a carrier on which the switching period is located.

[0139]

[0147] For example, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from a first carrier group to a second carrier group based on the first information. The network device may further transmit fourth information to the terminal device, where the fourth information indicates identification information of a carrier in which the switching period is located. The fourth information indicates identification information of one carrier, and the terminal device determines that the switching period is located in the carrier group to which the carrier indicated by the fourth information belongs. Alternatively, the fourth information may indicate identification information of each carrier in the carrier group in which the switching period is located, and the terminal device may determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the fourth information.

[0140]

[0148] By way of non-limiting example, the fourth information may be an RRC message, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), or downlink control information (DCI).

[0141]

[0149] The first information and the fourth information may be carried in the same message and transmitted by the network device to the terminal device, or the first information and the fourth information may be carried in different messages and transmitted by the network device to the terminal device.

[0142]

[0150] In this implementation, the network device and the terminal device may determine the carrier group to which the switching period belongs based on the size of the carrier identification information in the first carrier group and the size of the carrier identification information in the second carrier group.

[0143]

[0151] In one example, the third carrier group is the carrier group having the largest or smallest sum of carrier identification information among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0144]

[0152] In another example, the third carrier group is a carrier group to which the carrier having the smallest or largest identification information of the first carrier group or the second carrier group belongs.

[0145]

[0153] Optionally, the network device transmits a plurality of pieces of information C to the terminal device, the plurality of pieces of information C corresponding to a plurality of carriers configured by the network device and used to switch the transmission link, each piece of information C indicating identification information of a corresponding carrier. The plurality of pieces of information C may be carried in the same message or in different messages transmitted by the network device to the terminal device.

[0146]

[0154] Implementation Example 5: The first parameter is identification information of a cell to which a carrier belongs. The network device and the terminal device may determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the size of the identification information of the cell to which the carrier of the first carrier group belongs and the size of the identification information of the cell to which the carrier of the second carrier group belongs.

[0147]

[0155] For example, the network device may transmit fifth information to the terminal device, the fifth information being used to configure multiple cells and carriers for each of the multiple cells. The carriers for the multiple cells are carriers used to switch the transmission link. Optionally, the fifth information may alternatively indicate cell identification information for each of the multiple cells. When instructing the terminal device to switch the transmission link, the network device may determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the identification information of the cell to which the carrier group before the switch (i.e., the first carrier group) belongs and the identification information of the cell to which the carrier group after the switch (i.e., the second carrier group) belongs.

[0148]

[0156] Implementation Example 6: The first parameter is a carrier switching parameter set by the network device for the terminal device, and the network device and the terminal device individually determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the carrier switching parameter of the first carrier group and the carrier switching parameter of the second carrier group.

[0149]

[0157] The network device configures, for the terminal device, multiple carriers to be used for switching the transmission link based on the third information, and the network device can further send information D to the terminal device, where the information D indicates switching period parameters of the corresponding carriers. When the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link, the network device and the terminal device individually determine the carrier on which the switching period is located based on the switching parameters of the carriers in the first carrier group and the switching parameters of the carriers in the second carrier group.

[0150]

[0158] Optionally, the switching parameter may be a value related to the switching period.

[0151]

[0159] For example, the network device configures, for the terminal device, four carriers to be used for switching the transmission link based on the third information, and further configures values ​​corresponding to each of the plurality of carriers based on the information D. The information D may be two bits, and the network device may specify one of four values ​​0 to 3 based on the two bits. For example, the switching parameter of carrier 1 is 3, the switching parameter of carrier 2 is 2, the switching parameter of carrier 3 is 1, and the switching parameter of carrier 4 is 0.

[0152]

[0160] In one example, the network device and the terminal device may determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located, i.e., the third carrier group, based on the maximum or minimum value of the sum of the switching parameters of the carriers in the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0153]

[0161] For example, if a network device instructs a terminal device to switch a transmission link from carrier 1 and carrier 2 to carrier 3, the network device and the terminal device can independently determine that the sum of the switching parameters of the carriers in the first carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 2) is 5 and the sum of the switching parameters of the carriers in the second carrier group (including carrier 3) is 1. If the switching period is located in the carrier group with the largest sum of the switching parameters, the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching period is located in the first carrier group. Alternatively, if the switching period is located in the carrier group with the smallest sum of the switching parameters, the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching period is located in the second carrier group. In this way, the terminal device and the network device can reach an agreement. This reduces resource waste and improves resource utilization.

[0154]

[0162] In another example, the network device and the terminal device may determine that the carrier group in which the switching period is located (i.e., the third carrier group) is the carrier group to which the carrier with the largest or smallest corresponding switching parameter belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0155]

[0163] For example, if a network device instructs a terminal device to switch a transmission link from a first carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 2) to a second carrier group (including carrier 3), the network device and the terminal device can independently determine that the switching parameters corresponding to carrier 1, carrier 2, and carrier 3 are 3, 2, and 1, respectively. For example, the protocol can specify that the switching period is located in the carrier group to which the carrier with the largest switching parameter belongs. In this case, the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching period is located in the first carrier group to which carrier 1 belongs. For example, the terminal device switches the transmission link within the switching period before the end of the first carrier group. Alternatively, the protocol can specify that the switching period is located in the carrier group to which the carrier with the smallest switching parameter belongs. In this case, the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching period is located in the second carrier group to which carrier 3 belongs. For example, the terminal device switches the transmission link within the switching period starting from the start of carrier 3. In this way, the terminal device and the network device can reach an agreement, which reduces resource waste and improves resource utilization.

[0156]

[0164] Optionally, the switching parameter may be a parameter that indicates whether the switching period is within one carrier and is set by the network device.

[0157]

[0165] For example, the network device may set, based on the information E, whether each carrier used to switch the transmission link is the carrier on which the switching period is located. For example, the information E may be an uplinkTxSwitchingPeriodLocation parameter. If the parameter is True, it indicates that the switching period is located on that carrier. If the parameter is False, it indicates that the switching period is not located on that carrier. Alternatively, the parameter may be null. In other words, the parameter may not be set by the network device for the carrier used to switch the transmission link. According to this protocol, when the terminal device switches the transmission link from a first carrier group to a second carrier group, the switching period is located in the carrier group in which the carrier with the included parameter set to True is located, between the first carrier group and the second carrier group. If neither the first carrier group nor the second carrier group includes a carrier for which the parameter is True, the switching period is positioned in the carrier group among the first carrier group and the second carrier group in which a carrier for which the included parameter is False is positioned.

[0158]

[0166] In another example, the network device and the terminal device may determine that the carrier group (i.e., the third carrier group) in which the switching period is located among the first and second carrier groups is a carrier group that does not include a carrier with the largest corresponding switching parameter or a carrier group that does not include a carrier with the smallest corresponding switching parameter. In other words, the network device and the terminal device may determine which carrier in the first and second carrier groups has the largest corresponding switching parameter and determine that the switching period is not located in the carrier group to which the carrier with the largest switching parameter belongs. Alternatively, the network device and the terminal device may determine which carrier in the first and second carrier groups has the smallest corresponding switching parameter and determine that the switching period is not located in the carrier group to which the carrier with the smallest switching parameter belongs.

[0159]

[0167] Implementation Example 7: The first parameter indicates whether a cell in which a carrier is located is a PCell or a PSCell. The network device and the terminal device can determine whether a cell to which a carrier belongs in the first carrier group and the second carrier group is a PCell or a PSCell based on the first parameter of each carrier, and determine that the switching period is not in a carrier group including a carrier in the PCell or the PSCell.

[0160]

[0168] Optionally, if the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as the second parameter of the second carrier group, the terminal device and the network device may determine the third carrier group in the above-described manner for determining the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group, where the second parameter is different from the first parameter, and the second parameter is: The parameter may include one or more of the number of carriers, the carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, the bandwidth portion BWP of at least one carrier, identification information of at least one carrier, identification information of a cell to which at least one carrier belongs, a parameter indicating whether the cell in which the carrier is located is a PCell or a PSCell, or a switching parameter of at least one carrier.

[0161]

[0169] In other words, in this implementation, before determining the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group, the terminal device and the network device separately determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the second parameter of the first carrier group and the second parameter of the second carrier group. Then, if the parameter value of the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as the parameter value of the second parameter of the second carrier group, the terminal device and the network device determine that the carrier group in which the switching period is located is the third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group.

[0162]

[0170] The following describes an example of how to determine a third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group when the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as the second parameter of the second carrier group. The first parameter and the second parameter are two different parameters, including, but not limited to, the carrier bandwidth of the carrier, the BWP within the carrier, the carrier's identification information, the identification information of the cell to which the carrier belongs, the number of carriers included in the carrier group, and at least one carrier switching parameter. The first parameter and the second parameter in the following description are merely examples. However, the present application is not limited thereto.

[0163]

[0171] In one example, the second parameter is a carrier switching parameter, and the first parameter is a carrier bandwidth of a carrier, a BWP within a carrier, a carrier identity, a cell identity to which the carrier belongs, or the number of carriers included in a carrier group.

[0164]

[0172] Optionally, the switching parameter may be a parameter indicating whether the switching period is located within a carrier and set by the network device. For example, the network device may set, based on the information E, whether a carrier used to switch the transmission link is a carrier on which the switching period is located. When the information E indicates True, it indicates that the switching period is located within that carrier, and when the parameter indicates False, it indicates that the switching period is not located within that carrier.

[0165]

[0173] For example, the network device may configure, based on the third information, four carriers to be used for switching to the terminal device: Carrier 1, Carrier 2, Carrier 3, and Carrier 4. Also, a switching parameter for each carrier may be configured. For example, the switching parameter for Carrier 1 may be True, the switching parameter for Carrier 2 may be False, the switching parameter for Carrier 3 may be True, and the switching parameter for Carrier 4 may be False.

[0166]

[0174] For example, if one transmission link of the terminal device is on carrier 1, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link from carrier 2 to carrier 4 based on the first information. The terminal device and the network device determine a carrier group in which a switching period is located based on a switching parameter (i.e., an example of the second parameter) of a first carrier group (including carrier 2) and a switching parameter of a second carrier group (including carrier 4). Then, if the switching parameters of carrier 2 and carrier 4 are both False and the terminal device and the network device determine that the parameter value of the switching parameter of the first carrier group is the same as the parameter value of the switching parameter of the second carrier group, the terminal device and the network device determine a carrier group in which a switching period is located based on the first parameter of carrier 2 and the first parameter of carrier 4. The first parameter may be a carrier bandwidth of a carrier, a BWP within a carrier, identification information of a carrier, identification information of a cell to which a carrier belongs, or the number of carriers included in a carrier group.

[0167]

[0175] As another example, when two transmission links of a terminal device are on carrier 1 and carrier 2, respectively, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the two transmission links from carrier 1 and carrier 2 to carrier 3 based on the first information. The terminal device and the network device determine a carrier group in which a switching period is located based on a switching parameter of a first carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 2) and a switching parameter of a second carrier group (including carrier 4). Then, when the first carrier group and the second carrier group include the same switching parameter, for example, when the switching parameters of carrier 1 of the first carrier group and carrier 4 of the second carrier group are both True and the terminal device and the network device determine that the parameter value of the switching parameter of the first carrier group is the same as the parameter value of the switching parameter of the second carrier group, the terminal device and the network device determine a carrier group in which a switching period is located based on the first parameter of carrier 1 and the first parameter of carrier 3.

[0168] Alternatively, the switching parameter is one bit. When the one bit indicates 1, it indicates true; or when the one bit indicates 0, it indicates false. The terminal device and the network device may determine that the parameter value of the second parameter of the first carrier group is equal to the parameter value of the second parameter of the second carrier group based on the fact that the sum of the switching parameters of the carriers in the first carrier group (i.e., the sum of the switching parameter 1 of carrier 1 and the switching parameter 0 of carrier 2 is 1) is equal to the sum of the switching parameters of the carriers in the second carrier group (i.e., the switching parameter 1 of carrier 3). Then, the terminal device and the network device determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the first parameter of carrier 1 and the first parameter of carrier 3.

[0169]

[0176] In another example, the second parameter is a quantity of carriers in the carrier group and the first parameter is a carrier bandwidth of the carriers in the carrier group.

[0170]

[0177] For example, as shown in FIG. 7, two transmission links of a terminal device are on carrier 2 and carrier 4, respectively. The network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission links from carrier 2 and carrier 4 to carrier 1 and carrier 3 based on the first information. The first carrier group includes carrier 2 and carrier 4, and the number of carriers in the first carrier group is two. The second carrier group includes carrier 1 and carrier 3, and the number of carriers in the second carrier group is also two. The network device and the terminal device can determine that the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as the second parameter of the second carrier group. Then, the network device and the terminal device determine a third carrier group based on the carrier bandwidths of the carriers in the first carrier group and the carrier bandwidths of the carriers in the second carrier group (i.e., based on the first parameter of the carrier group), i.e., determine a carrier group in which a switching period is located. For example, the third carrier group is the carrier group in which the sum of the carrier bandwidths of the carriers in the first carrier group and the second carrier group is the largest or smallest. Alternatively, the third carrier group is a carrier group to which the carrier having the maximum or minimum carrier bandwidth belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0171]

[0178] In another example, the second parameter is a quantity of carriers in a carrier group and the first parameter is a switching parameter for carriers in the carrier group.

[0172]

[0179] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the terminal device switches a transmission link from carrier 2 and carrier 4 to carrier 1 and carrier 3. The number of carriers included in the first carrier group is the same as the number of carriers included in the second carrier group. The network device and the terminal device can determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the switching parameters of the carriers in the first carrier group and the switching parameters of the carriers in the second carrier group. For example, the switching parameters are values ​​associated with the switching period, and the third carrier group is the carrier group in which the sum of the switching parameters of the carriers in the first carrier group and the second carrier group is the largest or smallest. Alternatively, the third carrier group is the carrier group to which the carrier in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belongs, the switching parameter of which is the largest or smallest.

[0173]

[0180] In another example, the second parameter is a switching parameter for carriers within a carrier group, and the first parameter indicates whether a cell to which a carrier within the carrier group belongs is a PCell or a PSCell.

[0174]

[0181] For example, the network device and the terminal device cannot determine the carrier group in which the switching period is located based on the switching parameters of the carriers in the first carrier group and the switching parameters of the carriers in the second carrier group, for example, the sum of the switching parameters of the carriers in the first carrier group is the same as the sum of the switching parameters of the carriers in the second carrier group. Then, the network device and the terminal device determine that the switching period is not in a carrier group including a PCell or a PSCell based on whether the cells to which the carriers in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belong are PCells or PSCells. That is, the switching period is in a carrier group that does not include a PCell or a PSCell.

[0175]

[0182] According to the above-mentioned implementation provided in this embodiment of the present application, the network device and the terminal device follow the same method for determining the carrier group in which the switching period is located, so that the network device and the terminal device can reach an agreement on the carrier in which the switching period is located during the switching of the transmission link, which can reduce resource waste and improve resource utilization.

[0176]

[0183] It should be noted that the above mainly describes a specific implementation of the present application by using an example in which a terminal device switches two transmission links from a first carrier group to a second carrier group. It should be understood that the present application is not limited thereto. The method for determining a switching period provided in the present application can also be applied to a scenario in which a terminal device switches one, three, four, or more transmission links from a first carrier group to a second carrier group.

[0177]

[0184] 8 is another schematic flowchart of a radio frequency link switching method according to an embodiment of the present application, and the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 may be implemented separately from or in combination with the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

[0178]

[0185] S801: The network device sends third information to the terminal device, the third information including a plurality of carriers, the plurality of carriers being a plurality of carriers configured by the network device and used to switch the transmission link.

[0179]

[0186] In response to this, the terminal device receives third information from the network device, and determines, based on the third information, one of a plurality of carriers configured by the network device to be used for switching the transmission link.

[0180]

[0187] Each of the multiple carriers corresponds to a certain type of subcarrier spacing, which is the minimum allocation unit of frequency-domain resources and determines the time-domain length of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol. For example, if the subcarrier spacing is 15 kHz, the symbol length is 1 / 15 kHz = 66.7 μs. If the number of OFDM symbols included in a slot is a predetermined value, the larger the subcarrier spacing of a carrier, the shorter the slot length in the time-domain resources of that carrier. For example, one slot contains 14 OFDM symbols, and each OFDM symbol contains one cyclic prefix (CP). If the subcarrier spacing is 15 kHz, the slot length (i.e., the duration of one slot) is 1 ms. If the subcarrier spacing is 30 kHz, the slot length (i.e., the duration of one slot) is 0.5 ms.

[0181]

[0188] Optionally, the subcarrier spacing of the carrier may be, but is not limited to, 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60 kHz, 120 kHz, or 240 kHz.

[0182]

[0189] S802: The network device and the terminal device determine a slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing based on the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the multiple carriers, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

[0183]

[0190] Both the network device and the terminal device determine a slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing based on the subcarrier spacing of multiple carriers configured by the network device for the terminal device and used to switch transmission links. The network device instructs the terminal device to switch transmission links at most once within the slot length, and the terminal device switches transmission links at most once within the slot length. In other words, the terminal device does not expect the network device to instruct the terminal device to switch transmission links multiple times within the slot length.

[0184]

[0191] For example, the network device configures four carriers for the terminal device based on the third information, where the subcarrier spacing of carrier 1 is 30 kHz, the subcarrier spacing of carrier 2 is 15 kHz, the subcarrier spacing of carrier 3 is 30 kHz, and the subcarrier spacing of carrier 4 is 60 kHz. The network device and the terminal device can determine that the maximum subcarrier spacing of the four carriers is 60 kHz. If each slot includes 14 OFDM symbols and the slot length corresponding to 60 kHz is 0.25 ms, the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once in 0.25 ms. In other words, the terminal device does not expect to instruct the terminal device to switch the transmission link multiple times in 0.25 ms, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once in 0.25 ms. In this example, the maximum subcarrier spacing of 60 kHz is the subcarrier spacing of carrier 4. In the transmission link switching method provided in the present application, both the terminal device and the network device assume that the terminal device switches the transmission link only once within 0.25 ms, regardless of whether the first carrier group before switching when the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link and the second carrier group after switching when the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link include carrier 4.

[0185]

[0192] According to the above-described solution of the present application, the terminal device and the network device can determine a maximum subcarrier spacing based on the subcarrier spacing of multiple carriers configured by the network device and used to switch transmission links, and determine that the terminal device switches transmission links at most once within a slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing. In this way, the terminal device and the network device can reach an agreement on a time limit or a number of times for the terminal device to switch transmission links, thereby avoiding a case where communication quality is affected by the terminal device frequently switching transmission links. When supported by the capabilities of the terminal device, the capabilities of the terminal device can be fully utilized, and the scheduling flexibility of the network device can be improved.

[0186]

[0193] An embodiment of the present application further proposes that the network device and the terminal device are capable of determining a slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing based on the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the carriers that are in an activated state and are used to switch the transmission link, and that the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

[0187]

[0194] For example, the network device configures four carriers for the terminal device based on the third information. The network device and the terminal device determine a slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing based on the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the three activated carriers. The network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the slot length, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

[0188]

[0195] For example, among four carriers, the subcarrier spacing of Carrier 1 is 30 kHz, the subcarrier spacing of Carrier 2 is 15 kHz, the subcarrier spacing of Carrier 3 is 30 kHz, and the subcarrier spacing of Carrier 4 is 60 kHz. If Carrier 1, Carrier 2, and Carrier 3 are currently activated, the network device and the terminal device determine that the maximum subcarrier spacing of the three carriers is 30 kHz, and the slot length corresponding to 30 kHz subcarrier spacing is 0.5 ms. In this case, when the three carriers are activated, the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once in 0.5 ms, or the terminal device does not expect the network device to instruct the terminal device to switch the transmission link multiple times in 0.5 ms, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once in 0.5 ms. Furthermore, regardless of whether carrier 1 and carrier 3, which have a subcarrier spacing of 30 kHz, are involved in the transmission link switching, i.e., regardless of whether carrier 1 and carrier 3 belong to the first carrier group or the second carrier group, when three carriers are in an activated state, both the terminal device and the network device use 0.5 ms as the time limit for switching the transmission link. When carrier 4 is in an activated state, since carrier 4 has the longest subcarrier spacing among the carriers used for switching the transmission link, the network device and the terminal device determine that the slot length corresponding to carrier 4's 60 kHz subcarrier spacing is 0.25 ms. In this case, when carrier 4 is in an activated state, the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within 0.25 ms, regardless of whether carrier 4 is involved in the transmission link switching.

[0189]

[0196] An embodiment of the present application proposes that a terminal device and a network device may determine a time limit for switching a transmission link based on the capabilities of the terminal device.

[0190]

[0197] The terminal device transmits first capability information to the network device, the first capability information indicating a first duration, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

[0191]

[0198] In other words, the terminal device reports capability information for switching the transmission link by the terminal device to the network device, and notifies the network device that the terminal device will switch the transmission link at most once within a first duration, so that the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first duration after receiving the first capability information.

[0192]

[0199] In one example, the first capability information may specify a first duration or an identification of the first duration.

[0193]

[0200] The network device may determine, based on the first duration or identification information of the first duration in the first capability information, to instruct the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

[0194]

[0201] In another example, the first capability information specifically indicates a first subcarrier spacing, and a slot length corresponding to the first subcarrier spacing is a first duration.

[0195]

[0202] The first capability information may implicitly indicate the first duration by indicating the first subcarrier spacing. For example, the subcarrier spacing indicated by the first capability information transmitted by the terminal device to the network device is 30 kHz. After receiving the first capability information, the network device may determine that the slot length corresponding to the 30 kHz subcarrier spacing is 0.5 ms (e.g., one slot includes 14 OFDM symbols). In this case, the first duration is 0.5 ms. The network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within 0.5 ms, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within 0.5 ms. Optionally, the first capability information may specify identification information of the first subcarrier spacing.

[0196]

[0203] In another example, the first capability information specifically indicates a first frequency band, and a slot length corresponding to a subcarrier spacing of the first frequency band is a first duration.

[0197]

[0204] The first capability information may implicitly indicate the first duration so as to indicate the first frequency band. The first capability information may include identification information of the first frequency band. After receiving the first capability information, the network device determines that the first duration is a slot length corresponding to a subcarrier spacing of the first frequency band. The subcarrier spacing corresponding to the first frequency band may be predetermined by a protocol, predetermined by the network, or reported by the terminal device.

[0198]

[0205] In another example, the first capability information specifically indicates a quantity N of symbols, where a duration of N symbols in the time domain is the first duration, and N is a positive integer.

[0199]

[0206] The symbol duration of the symbol used to determine the first duration (i.e., the symbol duration in the time domain) may be predefined in the protocol. For example, the protocol may specify that the symbol duration corresponding to the number of symbols indicated by the first capability information is a symbol duration corresponding to a subcarrier spacing of 30 kHz. One symbol duration may be a duration without a CP or a duration with a CP. This is not limited in the present application. For another example, the symbol duration may be the symbol duration of the OFDM symbol carrying the first capability information. Alternatively, the symbol duration may be a symbol length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of multiple carriers configured by the network device for the terminal device and used to switch the transmission link. Alternatively, the symbol duration may be determined in another manner. This is not limited in the present application.

[0200]

[0207] The network device may determine, based on the number N of symbols indicated by the first capability information, that the first duration is a duration of N symbols, in which case the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first duration, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once in the first duration.

[0201]

[0208] In another example, the first capability information specifically indicates a number M of slots, where a duration of M slots in the time domain is the first duration, and M is a positive integer.

[0202]

[0209] The slot duration (i.e., the duration of one slot in the time domain) used to determine the first duration may be predefined in the protocol, may be the duration of the slot carrying the first capability information, or may be a slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of multiple carriers configured by the network device for the terminal device and used to switch the transmission link. Alternatively, the slot duration may be determined in another manner, which is not a limitation in the present application.

[0203]

[0210] An embodiment of the present application proposes that the terminal device and the network device may determine a time limit for switching a transmission link based on the frequency band that the terminal device supports for switching the transmission link.

[0204]

[0211] The terminal device may transmit second capability information to the network device, where the second capability information indicates at least one frequency band in which the terminal device supports switching of the transmission link.

[0205]

[0212] In response, the network device receives second capability information from the terminal device and determines, based on the second capability information, at least one frequency band in which the terminal device supports switching of the transmission link.

[0206]

[0213] The network device may determine a first subcarrier spacing based on at least one frequency band indicated by the second capability information. The first subcarrier spacing is a maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the at least one frequency band. The network device may determine that a slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing is a first duration. The network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

[0207]

[0214] The terminal device also similarly determines, based on at least one frequency band that the terminal device supports switching of the transmission link, a maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the at least one frequency band, where the slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing is a first duration, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once in the first duration.

[0208]

[0215] Optionally, in the present application, a possible way to understand that the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once in the first duration is that the interval between two consecutive times at which the terminal device switches the transmission link is equal to or greater than the first duration, that the interval between two consecutive times at which the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link is equal to or greater than the first duration (i.e., the first information is transmitted twice consecutively), or that the terminal device does not expect that the interval between two consecutive times at which the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link is less than the first duration (i.e., the first information is transmitted twice consecutively). In another possible way to understand, when the first duration is a slot length, the terminal device can switch the transmission link at most once in one slot length and at most once in the slot length following that slot length. When the transmission link is switched once in both of two consecutive slot lengths, the interval between two times at which the transmission link is switched may be shorter than the slot length. For example, the terminal device switches the transmission link once during the second-to-last symbol duration in the preceding slot length, and once during the transmission period of the second symbol in the next slot length, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0209]

[0216] According to the above-mentioned solution of the present application, the terminal device and the network device can reach an agreement on the time limit for the terminal device to switch the transmission link or the number of times the terminal device switches the transmission link, thereby avoiding the case where the terminal device frequently switches the transmission link and thereby affecting the communication quality, and the capabilities of the terminal device can be fully utilized, and the scheduling flexibility of the network device can be improved when supported by the capabilities of the terminal device.In various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is no logical contradiction, the terms and / or descriptions in various embodiments are consistent and can be cross-referenced, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined based on their internal logical relationships to form new embodiments.

[0210]

[0217] The methods provided in the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. The communication device and the communication apparatus provided in the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to Figures 9 and 10. To realize the functions in the methods provided in the above embodiments of the present application, each network element includes a hardware structure and / or a software module, and the above functions can be realized in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module. Whether the functions among the above functions are realized using a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module depends on the design constraints of a specific application and a technical solution.

[0211]

[0218] 9 is a block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 9, the communication device 900 may include a transceiver unit 920.

[0212]

[0219] In a possible design, the communication apparatus 900 may correspond to the terminal apparatus in the aforementioned method embodiments, and the communication apparatus 900 may be a terminal device or an apparatus, such as a chip, configured in a terminal device.

[0213]

[0220] The communication device 900 may correspond to a terminal device in the method according to the embodiment of the present application. The communication device 900 may have units configured to perform the methods performed by the terminal device in the methods of Figures 4 and 8. In addition, the units in the communication device 900 and other operations and / or functions described above may be used separately to realize corresponding procedures in the methods of Figures 4 and 8.

[0214]

[0221] Optionally, the communication device 900 may further include a processing unit 910. The processing unit 910 may be configured to process instructions or data and perform corresponding operations.

[0215]

[0222] Furthermore, it should be understood that if the communication device 900 is a chip configured (or used) in a terminal device, the transceiver unit 920 of the communication device 900 may be an input / output interface or circuitry within the chip, and the processing unit 910 of the communication device 900 may be a processor within the chip.

[0216]

[0223] Optionally, the communication device 900 may further include a storage unit 930. The storage unit 930 may be configured to store instructions or data. The processing unit 910 may execute the instructions or data stored in the storage unit to enable the communication device to perform corresponding operations.

[0217]

[0224] It should be further understood that the specific processes by which the units perform the corresponding steps described above have been described in detail in the method embodiments described above, and for the sake of conciseness, the details will not be described again here.

[0218]

[0225] In another possible design, the communication device 900 may correspond to the communication device in the aforementioned method embodiment. The communication device 900 may be a communication device, a device configured in a communication device, such as a chip, or a terminal device or a network device.

[0219]

[0226] It should be understood that the communication device 900 may correspond to the communication device in the method according to the embodiment of the present application. The communication device 900 may include units configured to perform the methods performed by the communication device in the methods of Figures 4 and 8. In addition, the units in the communication device 900 and other operations and / or functions described above may be used separately to realize corresponding procedures in the methods of Figures 4 and 8.

[0220]

[0227] Optionally, the communication device 900 may further include a processing unit 910. The processing unit 910 may be configured to process instructions or data and perform corresponding operations.

[0221]

[0228] Furthermore, it should be understood that if the communication device 900 is a chip configured (or used) in a terminal device, the transceiver unit 920 of the communication device 900 may be an input / output interface or circuitry within the chip, and the processing unit 910 of the communication device 900 may be a processor within the chip.

[0222]

[0229] Optionally, the communication device 900 may further include a storage unit 930. The storage unit 930 may be configured to store instructions or data. The processing unit 910 may execute the instructions or data stored in the storage unit to enable the communication device to perform corresponding operations.

[0223]

[0230] It should be further understood that the specific processes by which the units perform the corresponding steps described above have been described in detail in the method embodiments described above, and for the sake of conciseness, the details will not be described again here.

[0224]

[0231] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 920 of the communication device 900 may be implemented via a communication interface (e.g., transceiver, input / output interface) and may, for example, correspond to the transceiver 1010 of the terminal device 1000 shown in FIG. 10. The processing unit 910 of the communication device 900 may be implemented using at least one processor and may, for example, correspond to the processor 1020 of the terminal device 1000 shown in FIG. 10. Alternatively, the processing unit 910 in the communication device 900 may be realized via at least one logic circuit. The storage unit 930 in the communication device 900 may correspond to the memory of the terminal device 1000 shown in FIG. 10.

[0225]

[0232] It should be understood that if the communication device 900 is a network device, the transceiver unit 920 of the communication device 900 may be realized via a communication interface (e.g., a transceiver or an input / output interface) and may, for example, correspond to the transceiver 1110 of the network device 1100 shown in Figure 11. The processing unit 910 of the communication device 900 may be implemented using at least one processor and may, for example, correspond to the processor 1120 of the network device 1100 shown in Figure 11. The processing unit 910 in the communication device 900 may be realized via at least one logic circuit.

[0226]

[0233] FIG. 10 is a structural diagram of a terminal device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present application. The terminal device 1000 may be used in the system shown in FIG. 1 to implement the functions of the terminal device and the communication device in the aforementioned method embodiment. As shown, the terminal device 1000 includes a processor 1020 and a transceiver 1010. Optionally, the terminal device 1000 further includes a memory. The processor 1020, the transceiver 1010, and the memory can communicate with each other via an internal connection channel to transfer control signals and / or data signals. The memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor 1020 is configured to execute the computer program in the memory to control the transceiver 1010 to transmit and receive signals.

[0227]

[0234] The processor 1020 and the memory may be integrated into a single processing unit. The processor 1020 is configured to execute program code stored in the memory to implement the functions described above. In a particular implementation, the memory may alternatively be integrated into the processor 1020 or may be separate from the processor 1020. The processor 1020 may correspond to the processing unit in FIG. 9.

[0228]

[0235] The transceiver 1010 may correspond to the transceiver unit of Figure 9. The transceiver 1010 may include a receiver (also called a receiver machine or receiver circuit) and a transmitter (also called a transmitter machine or transmitter circuit). The receiver is configured to receive signals, and the transmitter is configured to transmit signals.

[0229]

[0236] It should be understood that the terminal device 1000 shown in Fig. 10 can realize the processing of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 8. The operations and / or functions of the modules in the terminal device 1000 are separately used to realize the corresponding procedures in the above-mentioned method embodiments. For details, please refer to the descriptions in the above-mentioned method embodiments. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions will be omitted here as appropriate.

[0230]

[0237] The processor 1020 may be configured to perform the operations described in the aforementioned method embodiments that are implemented within the terminal device, and the transceiver 1010 may be configured to perform the transmitting or receiving operations described in the aforementioned method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the aforementioned method embodiments. The details will not be described again here.

[0231]

[0238] Optionally, the terminal device 1000 may further include a power supply configured to provide power to various components or circuits within the terminal device.

[0232]

[0239] In addition, to further complete the functionality of the terminal device, the terminal device 1000 may further include input / output devices including, for example, one or more of an input unit, a display unit, an audio circuit, a camera, a sensor, etc., and the audio circuit may further include a speaker, a microphone, etc.

[0233]

[0240] FIG. 11 is a structural diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application. The network device 1100 can be used in the system shown in FIG. 1 to perform the functions of the communication device in the above-described method embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the network device 1100 includes a processor 1120 and a transceiver 1110. Optionally, the network device 1100 further includes a memory. The processor 1120, the transceiver 1110, and the memory can communicate with each other via an internal connection channel and transfer control and / or data signals. The memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor 1120 is configured to execute the computer program in the memory to control the transceiver 1110 to transmit and receive signals.

[0234]

[0241] The processor 1120 and the memory may be integrated into a single processing unit. The processor 1120 is configured to execute program code stored in the memory to implement the above-described functionality. In a particular implementation, the memory may alternatively be integrated into the processor 1120 or may be separate from the processor 1120. The processor 1120 may correspond to the processing unit in FIG. 9.

[0235]

[0242] The transceiver 1010 may correspond to the transceiver unit of Figure 9. The transceiver 1110 may include a receiver (also called a receiver machine or receiver circuit) and a transmitter (also called a transmitter machine or transmitter circuit). The receiver is configured to receive signals, and the transmitter is configured to transmit signals.

[0236]

[0243] It should be understood that the network device 1100 shown in Fig. 11 can realize the processing of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 8. The operations and / or functions of the modules in the terminal device 1100 are separately used to realize the corresponding procedures in the above-mentioned method embodiments. For details, please refer to the descriptions in the above-mentioned method embodiments. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions will be omitted here as appropriate.

[0237]

[0244] The processor 1120 may be configured to perform the operations described in the aforementioned method embodiments that are implemented within the communication device, and the transceiver 1110 may be configured to perform the transmitting or receiving operations in the aforementioned method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the aforementioned method embodiments. The details will not be described again here.

[0238]

[0245] An embodiment of the present application further provides a processing device including a processor and a (communication) interface, the processor configured to perform a method according to any one of the preceding method embodiments.

[0239]

[0246] It should be understood that a processing device may be one or more chips. For example, a processing device may be a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system-on-chip (SoC), a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD), or another integrated chip.

[0240]

[0247] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the present application further provides a computer program product, which includes computer program code that, when executed by one or more processors, enables an apparatus including the processors to perform the method in the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 8.

[0241]

[0248] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented, in whole or in part, by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used to implement the embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded into a computer and executed, the procedures or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are performed, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a terminal device, a core network device, a machine learning device, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from a website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, radio, or microwave) transmission. A computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium accessible by a computer, or a data storage device, such as a server or data center, that integrates one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tape), optical media (e.g., digital video discs (DVDs)), semiconductor media, etc.

[0242]

[0249] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores program code, which, when executed by one or more processors, enables an apparatus including the processors to perform the method in the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 8.

[0243]

[0250] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the present application also provides a system, which includes a plurality of terminal devices as described above, and may further include one or more communication devices as described above.

[0244]

[0251] In some embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be implemented in other ways. For example, the described device embodiments are merely examples. For example, the division into units is merely a logical functional division, and actual implementation may involve other divisions. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, and some features may be ignored or not implemented. Furthermore, the shown or described mutual couplings, direct couplings, or communication connections may be implemented via some interface. Indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be implemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

[0245]

[0252] The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and the parts shown as units may or may not be physical units, located in one location or distributed over multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected based on the actual requirements for achieving the objectives of the solutions of the embodiments.

[0246]

[0253] The above description is merely a specific implementation of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Any modifications or replacements that can be easily understood by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application shall be subject to the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A radio frequency link switching method comprising: receiving, by a terminal device, first information from a network device, the first information instructing the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from a first carrier group to a second carrier group; and a step in which the terminal device determines a third carrier group based on a first parameter of the first carrier group and a first parameter of the second carrier group, the third carrier group being the first carrier group or the second carrier group, and a switching period of the transmission link being located within the third carrier group; wherein the first parameter comprises the following parameter: The method includes one or more of a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, a bandwidth portion BWP of at least one carrier, identification information of at least one carrier, identification information of a cell to which at least one carrier belongs, or a number of carriers.

2. 10. The method of claim 1, The third carrier group is a carrier group in which the sum of the parameter values ​​of the first parameter of the included carriers is the largest or smallest among the first carrier group and the second carrier group; or A method in which the third carrier group is a carrier group to which a carrier having the maximum or minimum parameter value of a first parameter belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

3. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the terminal device determining a third carrier group based on a first parameter of the first carrier group and a first parameter of the second carrier group comprises: When a parameter value of a second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as a parameter value of a second parameter of the second carrier group, the terminal device determines the third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group; The second parameter is different from the first parameter, and the second parameter is a parameter: The method includes one or more of: a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier; a bandwidth portion BWP in at least one carrier; identification information of at least one carrier; identification information of a cell to which at least one carrier belongs; a number of carriers; or a switching parameter of at least one carrier.

4. 4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a step of receiving, by the terminal device, a plurality of pieces of second information from the network device, the plurality of pieces of second information corresponding to a plurality of carriers, the plurality of carriers being a plurality of carriers configured by the network device and used to switch the transmission link, and each piece of second information indicating a parameter value of a first parameter of a corresponding carrier.

5. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: The method includes the step of the terminal device receiving third information from the network device, the third information indicating the plurality of carriers, and the first carrier group and the second carrier group belonging to the plurality of carriers.

6. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: the terminal device determining a slot length corresponding to a maximum subcarrier spacing based on a maximum subcarrier spacing among subcarrier spacings of the plurality of carriers, and the terminal device switching the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

7. 4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

1. A method comprising: the terminal device transmitting first capability information to the network device, the first capability information indicating a first duration, and the terminal device switching the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

8. 8. The method of claim 7, The first capability information specifically indicates a first subcarrier spacing, and a slot length corresponding to the first subcarrier spacing is the first duration; The first capability information specifically indicates a first frequency band, and a slot length corresponding to a subcarrier spacing of the first frequency band is the first duration; The first capability information specifies a number N of symbols of a first preset duration, the N first preset durations being the first duration, and N is a positive integer; or The method, wherein the first capability information specifically indicates a number M of slots of a second preset duration, the M second preset durations being the first duration, and M being a positive integer.

9. 4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a step of determining a first duration based on a first subcarrier spacing, wherein the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the first duration, the first subcarrier spacing being a maximum subcarrier spacing among subcarrier spacings of at least one frequency band, the at least one frequency band being a frequency band in which the terminal device supports switching of the transmission link.

10. 1. A carrier switching method comprising: a network device transmitting first information to a terminal device, the first information instructing the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from a first carrier group to a second carrier group; and the network device determining a third carrier group based on a first parameter of the first carrier group and a first parameter of the second carrier group, the third carrier group being the first carrier group or the second carrier group, and a switching period of the transmission link being located within the third carrier group; wherein the first parameter comprises the following parameter: The method includes one or more of a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, a bandwidth portion BWP of at least one carrier, identification information of at least one carrier, identification information of a cell to which at least one carrier belongs, or a number of carriers.

11. 11. The method of claim 10, The third carrier group is a carrier group in which the sum of the parameter values ​​of the first parameter of the included carriers is the largest or smallest among the first carrier group and the second carrier group; or A method in which the third carrier group is a carrier group to which a carrier having the maximum or minimum parameter value of a first parameter belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

12. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of the network device determining a third carrier group based on a first parameter of the first carrier group and a first parameter of the second carrier group includes: When a parameter value of a second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as a parameter value of a second parameter of the second carrier group, the network device determines the third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group; The second parameter is different from the first parameter, and the second parameter is a parameter: The method includes one or more of: a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier; a bandwidth portion BWP in at least one carrier; identification information of at least one carrier; identification information of a cell to which at least one carrier belongs; a number of carriers; or a switching parameter of at least one carrier.

13. 13. The method of any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising: a step of transmitting, by the network device, a plurality of pieces of second information to the terminal device, the plurality of pieces of second information corresponding to a plurality of carriers, the plurality of carriers being a plurality of carriers configured by the network device and used to switch the transmission link, and each piece of second information indicating a parameter value of a first parameter of a corresponding carrier.

14. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: The method includes a step of the network device sending third information to the terminal device, the third information indicating the plurality of carriers, and the first carrier group and the second carrier group belonging to the plurality of carriers.

15. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: The method includes a step in which the network device determines a slot length based on a maximum subcarrier spacing among subcarrier spacings of the plurality of carriers, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

16. 13. The method of any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising: A method comprising the steps of: the network device receiving first capability information from the terminal device, the first capability information indicating a first duration; and the network device instructing the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

17. 17. The method of claim 16, The first capability information specifically indicates a first subcarrier spacing, and a slot length corresponding to the first subcarrier spacing is the first duration; The first capability information specifically indicates a first frequency band, and a slot length corresponding to a subcarrier spacing of the first frequency band is the first duration; The first capability information specifies a number N of symbols of a first preset duration, the N first preset durations being the first duration, and N is a positive integer; or The method, wherein the first capability information specifically indicates a number M of slots of a second preset duration, the M second preset durations being the first duration, and M being a positive integer.

18. 13. The method of any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising: a step of the network device determining a first duration based on a first subcarrier spacing, the network device instructing the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first duration, the first subcarrier spacing being a maximum subcarrier spacing among subcarrier spacings of at least one frequency band, the at least one frequency band being a frequency band in which the terminal device supports switching of the transmission link.

19. 1. A radio frequency link switching device comprising: a transceiver unit configured to receive first information from a network device, the first information instructing the radio frequency link switching device to switch at least one transmission link from a first carrier group to a second carrier group; and a processing unit configured to determine a third carrier group based on a first parameter of the first carrier group and a first parameter of the second carrier group, wherein the third carrier group is the first carrier group or the second carrier group, and a switching period of the transmission link is located within the third carrier group; wherein the first parameter comprises the following parameter: The apparatus includes one or more of a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, a bandwidth portion BWP of at least one carrier, identification information of the at least one carrier, identification information of a cell to which the at least one carrier belongs, or a number of carriers.

20. 20. The device of claim 19, The third carrier group is a carrier group in which the sum of the parameter values ​​of the first parameter of the included carriers is the largest or smallest among the first carrier group and the second carrier group; or The device, wherein the third carrier group is a carrier group to which a carrier having the maximum or minimum parameter value of a first parameter belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

21. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processing unit: and further configured to determine the third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group when a parameter value of the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as a parameter value of the second parameter of the second carrier group; The second parameter is different from the first parameter, and the second parameter is a parameter: The apparatus includes one or more of a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, a bandwidth portion BWP in at least one carrier, identification information of the at least one carrier, identification information of a cell to which the at least one carrier belongs, a number of carriers, or a switching parameter of the at least one carrier.

22. 22. The device according to any one of claims 19 to 21, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive a plurality of second information from the network device, the plurality of second information corresponding to a plurality of carriers configured by the network device to be used for switching the transmission link, and each piece of second information indicating a parameter value of a first parameter of a corresponding carrier.

23. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising: the transceiver unit is further configured to receive third information from the network device, the third information indicating the plurality of carriers, the first carrier group and the second carrier group belonging to the plurality of carriers.

24. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, the processing unit is further configured to determine a slot length corresponding to a maximum subcarrier spacing based on the maximum subcarrier spacing among subcarrier spacings of the plurality of carriers, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

25. 22. The device according to any one of claims 19 to 21, The transceiver unit is further configured to transmit first capability information to the network device, the first capability information indicating a first duration, and the terminal device switching the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

26. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, The first capability information specifically indicates a first subcarrier spacing, and a slot length corresponding to the first subcarrier spacing is the first duration; The first capability information specifically indicates a first frequency band, and a slot length corresponding to a subcarrier spacing of the first frequency band is the first duration; The first capability information specifies a number N of symbols of a first preset duration, the N first preset durations being the first duration, and N is a positive integer; or the first capability information specifies a number M of slots of a second preset duration, the M second preset durations being the first duration, and M being a positive integer.

27. 22. The device according to any one of claims 19 to 21, the processing unit is further configured to determine a first duration based on a first subcarrier spacing, wherein the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the first duration, the first subcarrier spacing being a maximum subcarrier spacing among subcarrier spacings of at least one frequency band, the at least one frequency band being a frequency band in which the terminal device supports switching of the transmission link.

28. 1. A carrier switching device comprising: a transceiver unit configured to transmit first information to a terminal device, the first information instructing the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from a first carrier group to a second carrier group; and a processing unit configured to determine a third carrier group based on a first parameter of the first carrier group and a first parameter of the second carrier group, wherein the third carrier group is the first carrier group or the second carrier group, and a switching period of the transmission link is located within the third carrier group; wherein the first parameter comprises the following parameter: The apparatus includes one or more of a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, a bandwidth portion BWP of at least one carrier, identification information of the at least one carrier, identification information of a cell to which the at least one carrier belongs, or a number of carriers.

29. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, The third carrier group is a carrier group in which the sum of the parameter values ​​of the first parameter of the included carriers is the largest or smallest among the first carrier group and the second carrier group; or The device, wherein the third carrier group is a carrier group to which a carrier having the maximum or minimum parameter value of a first parameter belongs among the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

30. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, the processing unit is further configured to determine the third carrier group based on a first parameter of the first carrier group and a first parameter of the second carrier group when a parameter value of a second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as a parameter value of a second parameter of the second carrier group; The second parameter is different from the first parameter, and the second parameter is a parameter: The apparatus includes one or more of a carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, a bandwidth portion BWP in at least one carrier, identification information of the at least one carrier, identification information of a cell to which the at least one carrier belongs, a number of carriers, or a switching parameter of the at least one carrier.

31. 31. Apparatus according to any one of claims 28 to 30, the transceiver unit is further configured to transmit a plurality of second information to the terminal device, the plurality of second information corresponding to a plurality of carriers, the plurality of carriers being a plurality of carriers configured by a network device to be used for switching the transmission link, and each of the second information indicating a parameter value of a first parameter of a corresponding carrier.

32. 32. The apparatus of claim 31, the transceiver unit is further configured to transmit third information to the terminal device, the third information indicating the plurality of carriers, the first carrier group and the second carrier group belonging to the plurality of carriers.

33. 32. The apparatus of claim 31, the processing unit is further configured to determine a slot length based on a maximum subcarrier spacing among subcarrier spacings of the plurality of carriers, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the slot length.

34. 31. Apparatus according to any one of claims 28 to 30, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive first capability information from the terminal device, the first capability information indicating a first duration, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

35. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, The first capability information specifically indicates a first subcarrier spacing, and a slot length corresponding to the first subcarrier spacing is the first duration; The first capability information specifically indicates a first frequency band, and a slot length corresponding to a subcarrier spacing of the first frequency band is the first duration; The first capability information specifies a number N of symbols of a first preset duration, the N first preset durations being the first duration, and N is a positive integer; or the first capability information specifies a number M of slots of a second preset duration, the M second preset durations being the first duration, and M being a positive integer.

36. 31. Apparatus according to any one of claims 28 to 30, the processing unit is further configured to determine a first duration based on a first subcarrier spacing, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first duration, the first subcarrier spacing being a maximum subcarrier spacing among subcarrier spacings of at least one frequency band, the at least one frequency band being a frequency band in which the terminal device supports switching of the transmission link.

37. A chip including at least one processor and a communication interface, A chip, wherein the communication interface is configured to receive signals input to or output from the chip, and the processor communicates with the communication interface and performs the method of any one of claims 1 to 3 through logic circuits or by executing code instructions.

38. 4. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed on a computer, enable the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 3.

39. A chip including at least one processor and a communications interface, comprising: A chip, wherein the communication interface is configured to receive signals input to or output from the chip, and the processor communicates with the communication interface and performs the method of any one of claims 10 to 12 through logic circuits or by executing code instructions.

40. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed in a computer, enable the computer to perform a method according to any one of claims 10 to 12.

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