How to switch the radio frequency link and communication equipment.

Abstract

DEPCT6813 / 09 / 2567 This request provides for a method for switching radio frequency link and communication equipment. Consists of: a terminal device receiving information from a network device, where that information is then transmitted. Indicates that the terminal device switches at least one transmission link from the first carrier wave group. As it moves to the second carrier wave group, the terminal device will determine the third carrier wave group based on... The first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group. Where the third carrier wave is either the first or second carrier wave, and the switching period. The transmission link will be in the third carrier wave group; the first parameter will consist of the following parameters: One or more of the following are: the carrier band width of at least one carrier wave, and the width of... BWP band in at least one carrier wave, identification information of at least one carrier wave, Information identifying a cell containing at least one carrier wave, or the number of such carrier waves. It can reduce resource waste and improve resource utilization;

Description

Radio frequency link switching method and communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on December 16, 2021, with application number 202111542892.4 and application name “Radio Frequency Link Switching Method and Communication Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

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

[0003] The 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 radiate the radio frequency signal into a wireless channel. A wireless communication device may include one or more RF links.

[0004] In mobile communication systems, network equipment can instruct terminal devices to switch their radio frequency links from one carrier to another based on frequency domain resource utilization. However, switching radio frequency links takes time, and during this time, the terminal device cannot communicate with the network equipment. If the terminal device and the network equipment cannot reach a consensus on the switching time for the terminal device to switch radio frequency links, resources will be wasted.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a radio frequency link switching method and a communication device, which can reduce resource waste and improve resource utilization.

[0007] In a first aspect, a radio frequency link switching method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used for) the terminal device. The following description takes the execution of the method by the terminal device as an example.

[0008] The method includes: a terminal device receives first information from a network device, the first information being used to instruct 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 the first parameter of the second carrier group, the third carrier group being the first carrier group or the second carrier group, and the switching time of the transmission link is in the third carrier group, wherein the first parameter includes one or more of the following parameters: the carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, the partial bandwidth 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, or the number of carriers.

[0009] According to the above scheme, the network device and the terminal device follow the same method of determining the carrier group where the switching time is located, and determine the carrier group where the switching time is located, so that the network device and the terminal device reach a consensus on the carrier where the switching time is located, which can reduce resource waste and improve communication reliability.

[0010] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the third carrier group is the carrier group in which the sum of the parameter values ​​of the first parameter of the carriers included in the first carrier group and the second carrier group is the largest or smallest, or the third carrier group is the carrier group to which the carriers in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belong that have the largest or smallest parameter values ​​of the first parameter.

[0011] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, 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, including: 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, 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, wherein the second parameter is different from the first parameter, and the second parameter includes one or more of the following parameters: carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, partial bandwidth BWP in at least one carrier, identification information of at least one carrier, identification information of the cell to which at least one carrier belongs, number of carriers, or switching parameter of at least one carrier.

[0012] According to the above scheme, before the terminal device and the network device determine the carrier group where the switching time 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 respectively determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the second parameter of the first carrier group and the second parameter of the second carrier group. 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 then determine that the carrier group where the switching time 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. When the terminal device and the network device cannot determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the second parameter of the carrier group, the carrier group where the switching time is located is determined based on the first parameter of the carrier group, so that the network device and the terminal device reach a consensus on the carrier where the switching time is located, which can reduce resource waste and improve communication reliability.

[0013] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method also includes: the terminal device receives multiple second information from the network device, the multiple second information corresponds to multiple carriers, the multiple carriers are multiple carriers configured by the network device for switching the transmission link, and each of the second information is used to indicate the parameter value of the first parameter of the corresponding carrier.

[0014] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the terminal device receives third information from the network device, the third information being used to indicate the multiple carriers to which the first carrier group and the second carrier group belong.

[0015] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method also includes: the terminal device determines the time 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 time slot length.

[0016] According to the above scheme, the terminal device and the network device can determine the maximum subcarrier spacing based on the subcarrier spacing of multiple carriers configured by the network device for switching the transmission link, thereby determining that the terminal device can switch the transmission link at most once within the time slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing. This enables the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus on the time limit or number limit for the terminal device to switch the transmission link, and can avoid the situation where the communication quality is affected by the terminal device frequently switching the transmission link. It can fully utilize the capabilities of the terminal device to improve the scheduling flexibility of the network device when the terminal device capabilities support it.

[0017] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the terminal device sends first capability information to the network device, the first capability information is used to indicate a first duration, and the terminal device switches the sending link at most once within the first duration.

[0018] According to the above solution, the terminal device and the network device determine a time limit or a limit on the number of times the terminal device can switch transmission links based on the terminal device's capabilities. This allows the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus on the time limit or the number of times the terminal device can switch transmission links, thereby preventing the situation where frequent switching of transmission links by the terminal device affects communication quality. This solution can fully utilize the capabilities of the terminal device to improve the scheduling flexibility of the network device, provided the capabilities of the terminal device support it.

[0019] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first capability information is specifically used to indicate a first subcarrier spacing, and the time slot length corresponding to the first subcarrier spacing is the first time length; or, the first capability information is specifically used to indicate a first frequency band, and the time slot length corresponding to the subcarrier spacing of the first frequency band is the first time length; or, the first capability information is specifically used to indicate the number N of symbols of a first preset time length, N of the first preset time lengths is the first time length, and N is a positive integer; or, the first capability information is specifically used to indicate the number M of time slots of a second preset time length, M of the second preset time lengths is the first time length, and M is a positive integer.

[0020] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method also includes: the terminal device determines a first time duration based on a first subcarrier spacing, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the first time duration, wherein the first subcarrier spacing is the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of at least one frequency band, and the at least one frequency band is a frequency band that the terminal device supports switching the transmission link.

[0021] According to the above solution, the terminal device and the network device determine the time limit or number limit for the terminal device to switch the transmission link based on the subcarrier spacing of the frequency band supported by the terminal device. This allows the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus on the time limit or number limit for the terminal device to switch the transmission link, thereby avoiding the situation where the communication quality is affected by the terminal device frequently switching the transmission link. If the terminal device's capabilities support it, the terminal device's capabilities can be fully utilized to improve the scheduling flexibility of the network device.

[0022] In a second aspect, a radio frequency link switching method is provided. The beneficial effects can be found in the description of the first aspect and are not repeated here. The method can be performed by a network device or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used for) a network device. The following description takes the execution of the method by a network device as an example.

[0023] The method includes: a network device sends first information to a terminal device, the first information being used to instruct the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from a first carrier group to a second carrier group; the network device determines a third carrier group based on a first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group, the third carrier group being the first carrier group or the second carrier group, and the switching time of the transmission link is in the third carrier group, wherein the first parameter includes one or more of the following parameters: the carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, the partial bandwidth 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, or the number of carriers.

[0024] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the third carrier group is the carrier group in which the sum of the parameter values ​​of the first parameter of the carriers included in the first carrier group and the second carrier group is the largest or smallest, or the third carrier group is the carrier group to which the carriers in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belong that have the largest or smallest parameter values ​​of the first parameter.

[0025] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, 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, including: 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, 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, wherein the second parameter is different from the first parameter, and the second parameter includes one or more of the following parameters: carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, partial bandwidth BWP in at least one carrier, identification information of at least one carrier, identification information of the cell to which at least one carrier belongs, number of carriers, or switching parameter of at least one carrier.

[0026] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the method also includes: the network device sends multiple second information to the terminal device, the multiple second information corresponding to multiple carriers, the multiple carriers being multiple carriers configured by the network device for switching the transmission link, and each of the second information is used to indicate the parameter value of the first parameter of the corresponding carrier.

[0027] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: the network device sends third information to the terminal device, where the third information is used to indicate the multiple carriers to which the first carrier group and the second carrier group belong.

[0028] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the method also includes: the network device determines the time slot length based on the maximum 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 time slot length.

[0029] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the method also includes: the network device receives first capability information from the terminal device, the first capability information is used to indicate a first duration, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the sending link at most once within the first duration.

[0030] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first capability information is specifically used to indicate a first subcarrier spacing, and the time slot length corresponding to the first subcarrier spacing is the first time length; or, the first capability information is specifically used to indicate a first frequency band, and the time slot length corresponding to the subcarrier spacing of the first frequency band is the first time length; or, the first capability information is specifically used to indicate the number N of symbols of a first preset time length, N of the first preset time lengths is the first time length, and N is a positive integer; or, the first capability information is specifically used to indicate the number M of time slots of a second preset time length, M of the second preset time lengths is the first time length, and M is a positive integer.

[0031] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: 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, wherein the first subcarrier spacing is the maximum subcarrier spacing in the subcarrier spacing of at least one frequency band, and the at least one frequency band is a frequency band that the terminal device supports switching the transmission link. In a third aspect, a radio frequency link switching method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used for) a terminal device. The following is an example of a terminal device executing the method.

[0032] The method includes: a terminal device receives third information from a network device, where the third information is used to indicate multiple carriers, and the multiple carriers are multiple carriers configured by the network device for switching transmission links; the terminal device determines the time slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing in the subcarrier spacing of the multiple carriers, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the time slot length.

[0033] In a fourth aspect, a radio frequency link switching method is provided, which can be executed by a network device or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used for) a network device. The following description will be given using an example of a network device executing the method.

[0034] The method includes: a network device sends third information to a terminal device, where the third information is used to indicate multiple carriers, and the multiple carriers are multiple carriers configured by the network device for switching transmission links; the network device determines the time slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing in the subcarrier spacing of the multiple carriers, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the time slot length.

[0035] In a fifth aspect, a radio frequency link switching method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used for) a terminal device. The following description will be given using the terminal device executing the method as an example.

[0036] The method includes: a terminal device determines at least one carrier in an activated state, and the at least one carrier belongs to multiple carriers configured by a network device for switching transmission links; the terminal device determines the time slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing in the subcarrier spacing of the at least one carrier, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the time slot length.

[0037] In a sixth aspect, a radio frequency link switching method is provided, which can be executed by a network device or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used for) a network device. The following description will be given using an example of a network device executing the method.

[0038] The method includes: a network device determines at least one carrier in an activated state, and the at least one carrier belongs to multiple carriers configured by the network device for a terminal device for switching a transmission link; the network device determines the time slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing in the subcarrier spacing of the at least one carrier, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the time slot length.

[0039] In a seventh aspect, a radio frequency link switching method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used for) a terminal device. The following description will be given using the terminal device executing the method as an example.

[0040] The method includes: the terminal device sends first capability information to the network device, the first capability information is used to indicate a first duration, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

[0041] For the first capability information, please refer to the description of the first aspect, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0042] In an eighth aspect, a radio frequency link switching method is provided, which can be executed by a network device or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used for) a network device. The following description will be given using an example of a network device executing the method.

[0043] The method includes: a network device receives first capability information from a terminal device, the first capability information is used to indicate a first duration, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch a transmission link at most once within the first duration.

[0044] For the first capability information, please refer to the description of the second aspect, which will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0045] In a ninth aspect, a radio frequency link switching method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used for) a terminal device. The following description will be given using the terminal device executing the method as an example.

[0046] The method includes: a terminal device sends second capability information to a network device, where the second capability information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports at least one frequency band for switching a transmission link; the terminal device determines a first duration based on a first subcarrier spacing, where the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the first duration, wherein the first subcarrier spacing is the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the at least one frequency band.

[0047] In a tenth aspect, a radio frequency link switching method is provided, which can be executed by a network device or a module (such as a chip) configured in (or used for) a network device. The following description will be given using an example of a network device executing the method.

[0048] The method includes: a network device receives second capability information from a terminal device, where the second capability information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports at least one frequency band for sending link switching; the network device determines a first duration based on a first subcarrier spacing, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the sending link at most once within the first duration, wherein the first subcarrier spacing is the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the at least one frequency band.

[0049] In the eleventh aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processing unit and a transceiver unit, wherein the transceiver unit is used to send and receive data under the control of the processing unit; the processing unit is used to read the computer program in the storage unit and execute the method in the above-mentioned first to tenth aspects and any possible implementation method of the first to tenth aspects.

[0050] Optionally, the communication device further includes the storage unit.

[0051] In a twelfth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor, wherein the processor can implement the method in any possible implementation of the first to tenth aspects and the first to tenth aspects.

[0052] Optionally, the communication device further includes a memory, the processor is coupled to the memory, and the processor is used to execute instructions in the memory to implement the method in any possible implementation of the first to tenth aspects above.

[0053] Optionally, the communication device further comprises a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface. In the embodiment of the present application, the communication interface can be a transceiver, a pin, a circuit, a bus, a module, or other types of communication interfaces, without limitation.

[0054] In one 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 (such as a network device or a terminal device). When the communication device is a chip configured in the communication device, the communication interface can be an input / output interface, and the processor can 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] In a thirteenth aspect, a processor is provided, comprising: an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal through the input circuit and transmit a signal through the output circuit, so that the processor executes the method of any possible implementation of aspects 1 to 10.

[0058] In a specific implementation process, the processor may be one or more chips, the input circuit may be an input pin, and the output circuit may be an output pin.

[0059] In the fourteenth aspect, a computer program product is provided, which includes: a computer program (also referred to as code, or instructions), which, when executed, can implement the method in any possible implementation of the above-mentioned first to tenth aspects.

[0060] In the fifteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program (also referred to as code, or instructions) which, when run on a computer, can implement the method in any possible implementation of the first to tenth aspects.

[0061] In a tenth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising at least one of the above-mentioned terminal devices and at least one of the above-mentioned network devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a switching transmission link provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIG3 is another schematic diagram of a switching transmission link provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] FIG4 is a schematic flowchart of a radio frequency link switching method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a switching transmission link provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG6 is another schematic diagram of a switching transmission link provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] FIG7 is another schematic diagram of a switching transmission link provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] FIG8 is a schematic flowchart of a radio frequency link switching method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG9 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of an example of a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of an example of a network device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] The technical solution in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0074] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0075] The terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification, claims, and above-mentioned drawings of the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequential order. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present application described herein can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any of their variations are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, a process, method, system, product, or device comprising a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0076] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), world-wide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, fifth generation (5G) system or new radio (NR) and future communication systems such as sixth generation mobile communication system. This application is not limited to this.

[0077] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system applicable to the present application.

[0078] As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 100 may include at least one network device, such as the network device 101 in Figure 1; the communication system 100 may also include at least one terminal device, such as the terminal devices 102 to 107 in Figure 1. The terminal devices 102 to 107 may be mobile or fixed. The network device 101 and one or more of the terminal devices 102 to 107 may communicate via a wireless link. The RF link switching method provided in the embodiments of the present application may be used between the network device and the terminal device to implement uplink communication of the terminal device.

[0079] The terminal device in the embodiment of the present application may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device. The terminal device in the embodiment of the present application may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, 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 smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in 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 handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network or a terminal device in a future evolved public land mobile communication network (PLMN), etc. It should be understood that this application does not limit the specific form of the terminal device.

[0080] The network device in the embodiment of the present application may be a device with wireless transceiver functions in the access network. The device includes but is not limited to: a base station, an evolved node B (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., home evolved node B, or home node B, HNB), an access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (WIFI) system, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, a transmission point (TP), or a transmission and reception point (TRP). The device may also be a network node constituting a gNB or a transmission point, such as a distributed unit (DU). It should be understood that the present application does not limit the specific form of the network device.

[0081] The following describes the relevant technologies and terms involved in the embodiments of this application.

[0082] 1. Carrier Aggregation

[0083] The network device can configure multiple cells for the UE. Each cell includes one downlink carrier and zero to two uplink carriers. The downlink carrier is used to carry downlink information sent by the network device to the UE, and the uplink carrier is used to carry uplink information sent by the UE to the network device. The network device can activate some of the multiple cells configured for the UE, and the network device and the UE can communicate on the carriers of these cells. Based on the UE's uplink communication capabilities, different numbers of uplink carriers can be configured and activated.

[0084] 2. Transmitter (TX)

[0085] The transmission link is a radio frequency link for transmitting signals, which may also be referred to as a transmission channel or a radio frequency transmission channel, and is referred to as a transmission channel in this application. In this application, the transmission channel may work in the following manner, but is not limited to the following manner: the transmission channel 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 through an antenna. Specifically, the transmission channel may include but is not limited to one or more electronic devices in 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 devices may be integrated into one or more chips as needed. In addition, the antenna may also be considered as part of the transmission channel. Optionally, the transmission channel in this application may also be replaced by a radio frequency chain, Tx, antenna, radio frequency, transmission channel, transmission port, receiving channel, or any combination thereof.

[0086] In a mobile communication system, two modes are defined for terminal devices with two transmission links that support transmission link switching between two carriers, as shown in Table 1. Carrier 1 and Carrier 2 represent the two uplink carriers, respectively, and T represents the radio frequency chain. Mode 1 in Table 1 indicates that the terminal device has one transmission link on Carrier 1 and can perform one-port transmission on Carrier 1, as well as one transmission link on Carrier 2 and can perform one-port transmission on Carrier 2. Mode 2 indicates that the terminal device has no transmission link on Carrier 1 and two transmission links on Carrier 2. In this mode, the terminal device can perform two-port transmission on Carrier 2. It can be seen that the terminal device supports a maximum of one transmission link on Carrier 1 and a maximum of two transmission links on Carrier 2. The terminal device can switch between these two modes, that is, it can switch one transmission link between Carrier 1 and Carrier 2. However, switching between transmission links requires a switching time, which is called the uplink switching gap. The terminal device does not want to transmit on either carrier during the uplink switching gap.

[0087] Table 1

[0088] The number of transmission links on (carrier 1 + carrier 2) is 11T+1T or 20T+2T.

[0089] The network device can configure the carrier where the switching time is located for the terminal device through configuration information. For example, the network device can send uplink transmission link switching information (recorded as UplinkTxSwithcing) to the terminal device. The information can be as follows:

[0090]

[0091] Among them, the uplink transmission link switching information may include but is not limited to uplink transmission link switching time location information (uplinkTxSwitchingPeriodLocation) and uplink transmission link switching carrier (uplinkTxSwitchingCarrier), wherein uplinkTxSwitchingCarrier enumerates (ENUMERATED) one carrier in carrier 1 (carrier1) and carrier 2 (carrier2), that is, the network device indicates one of the carriers in carrier 1 and carrier 2 through this information, and indicates true (True) or false (False) through uplinkTxSwitchingPeriodLocation to notify the terminal device whether the uplink transmission link switching time is located on the carrier. For example, uplinkTxSwitchingCarrier indicates carrier 1. If uplinkTxSwitchingPeriodLocation indicates True, the terminal device can determine that the switching time is located on carrier 1; if uplinkTxSwitchingPeriodLocation indicates False, the terminal device can determine that the switching time is not located on the carrier.

[0092] In this application, the transmission link is on a certain carrier, which can be understood as the terminal device can adjust the parameters of the transmission link so that the terminal device can use the transmission link to perform uplink transmission on the carrier. In addition, the switching time of the transmission link is located in the carrier, which can be understood as the switching time belonging to the time range of the transmission link on the carrier, or it can be understood as the switching time within the uplink time unit of the carrier. For example, the switching time of the transmission link is located in carrier 1, which means that the switching time is within the uplink time slot of carrier 1.

[0093] In one example, the network device can notify the terminal device that the switching time of the transmission link is on carrier 1 by sending link switching information. After the terminal device receives the uplink transmission link switching information, it determines that the switching time is on carrier 1. For example, as shown in Figure 2, before the switching, the two transmission links of the terminal device are both on carrier 2. The network device can notify the terminal device that 2port transmission will be performed on carrier 1. Then the terminal device needs to switch the two transmission links from carrier 2 to carrier 1. Based on the transmission link switching information, the terminal device determines that the switching time is on carrier 1, as shown in Figure 2. In another example, when the network device configures the switching time of the transmission link to be on carrier 2, if the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the two transmission links from carrier 2 to carrier 1, as shown in Figure 3, the terminal device and the network device can determine that the switching time of the transmission link is on carrier 2, and the terminal device switches the transmission link within the switching time on carrier 2. This allows the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus on the carrier where the switching time is located, and not communicate within the switching time, that is, the network device does not schedule the terminal device to send uplink information within the switching time, and the terminal device does not send uplink information to the network device within the switching time. If the terminal device and the network device do not reach a consensus on the carrier where the switching time is located, the terminal device and the network device cannot determine whether the switching time is located on the carrier before the switching or the carrier after the switching, which will cause resource waste.

[0094] As technology improves, terminal devices can support more carriers for switching transmission links, such as terminal devices can switch transmission links between at least three carriers. Since the above-mentioned switching time indication method is designed for terminal devices to switch transmission links between two carriers, it can only indicate whether the switching time is on one carrier. When the terminal device supports switching transmission links between more carriers, the above-mentioned method of the network device indicating to the terminal device the carrier where the switching time is located will no longer be applicable. For example, the terminal device supports switching uplink transmission links between three carriers, namely carrier 1, carrier 2 and carrier 3. If the network device uses the above-mentioned method to respectively configure whether the switching time is located on carrier 1, carrier 2 and carrier 3, such as uplinkTxSwitchingPeriodLocation corresponding to carrier 1, carrier 2 and carrier 3 indicates "true", "false" and "false" respectively. Then the terminal device can determine that the switching time is located on carrier 1, the switching time is not located on carrier 2 and the switching time is not located on carrier 3. If the network device instructs the terminal device to switch transmission links on carrier 2 and carrier 3, since the network device configures the switching time not to be on the two carriers, the terminal device and the network device will not be able to determine the carrier where the switching time is located. Alternatively, if the network device configures a switching time for two of the three carriers, when the network device instructs the terminal device to switch between these two carriers, each carrier includes a switching time, but the terminal device does not actually need such a long time to switch the transmission link, which will result in a waste of resources. Therefore, there is currently a lack of a suitable switching time indication method that allows the network device and the terminal device to reach a consensus on the carrier where the switching time is located when the terminal device supports switching the transmission link between multiple carriers.

[0095] The following describes the method for switching the transmission link provided in this application with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0096] FIG4 is a schematic flowchart of a radio frequency link switching method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0097] S401: A network device sends first information to a terminal device, where the first information is used to instruct the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from a first carrier group to a second carrier group.

[0098] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first information from the network device, and determines to switch at least one transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group based on the first information.

[0099] Optionally, when the at least one transmitting link of the terminal device is in the first carrier group, the network device may send first information to the terminal device, where the first information is specifically used to schedule or configure the at least one transmitting link of the terminal device to perform uplink transmission on the second carrier group. The terminal device receives the first information and determines to switch the at least one transmitting link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group, thereby enabling the network device to instruct the terminal device to switch the at least one transmitting link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group through the first information.

[0100] For example, when the two transmitting links of the terminal device are on carrier 1 and carrier 2 respectively, the network device sends the first information to the terminal device, and the first information is used to schedule the terminal device to perform 2port transmission on carrier 3. The terminal device can then determine to switch the two transmitting links from the first carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 2) to the second carrier group (including carrier 3).

[0101] Optionally, the network device may send third information to the terminal device, where the third information is used to indicate multiple carriers, where the multiple carriers are multiple carriers configured by the network device for the terminal device to switch transmission links, to which the first carrier group and the second carrier group belong.

[0102] In the present application, the multiple carriers configured by the network device for the terminal device for switching the transmission link can be understood as the multiple carriers configured by the network device for the terminal device that can perform dynamic switching of the transmission link.

[0103] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the third information from the network device, and determines the multiple carriers configured by the network device for switching the transmission link based on the third information.

[0104] The network device may determine a second carrier group from the multiple carriers, and instruct the terminal device to switch at least one transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group through the first information.

[0105] S402: The network device and the terminal device determine the carrier group where the switching time is located according to the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group respectively.

[0106] The network device and the terminal device may determine a third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group, respectively, and the switching time for the terminal device to switch the 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, that is, the third carrier group is the first carrier group or the second carrier group.

[0107] It should be noted that the network device and the terminal device execute S402 respectively, and the network device can determine the carrier group where the switching time is located 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 terminal device can determine the carrier group where the switching time is located after receiving the first information to determine to switch at least one transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the order in which the network device executes S402 and the terminal device executes S402. The network device and the terminal device both determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the first parameters of the carrier group before and after the switching, so that the network device and the terminal device reach a consensus on the carrier group where the switching time is located, which can reduce resource waste and improve communication reliability.

[0108] The first parameter may include but is not limited to one or more of the following parameters:

[0109] The number of carriers, the carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, the bandwidth part (BWP) of at least one carrier, the identification information of at least one carrier, the identification information of the cell to which the at least one carrier belongs, whether the cell to which the carrier belongs is a primary cell (PCell) or a primary / secondary cell, or the switching parameters of at least one carrier.

[0110] Among them, the primary cell in the secondary cell group (SCG) can be called a primary SCG Cell (PSCell).

[0111] The following describes specific implementations in which the first parameter includes one or more of the above parameters, but the application is not limited thereto.

[0112] In the first implementation mode, the first parameter is the number of carriers, and the network device and the terminal device determine the third carrier group according to the number of carriers in the first carrier group and the number of carriers in the second carrier group, respectively.

[0113] The network device and the terminal device determine whether the switching time is in the carrier group before the switching or in the carrier group after the switching based on the number of carriers included in the carrier groups before and after the switching of the transmission link. The network device and the terminal device determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the same parameters, so that the network device and the terminal device reach a consensus on the carrier where the switching time is located, which can reduce resource waste and improve communication reliability.

[0114] In one example, the third carrier group is the carrier group with the smallest number of carriers between the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0115] For example, as shown in Figure 5, when the two transmission links of the terminal device are respectively on carrier 1 and carrier 3, the network device instructs the terminal device through the first information to switch the two transmission links to carrier 2 (for example, scheduling the terminal device to perform 2port transmission on carrier 2), that is, 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 number of carriers in the second carrier group is the smallest, and the switching time is located in the second carrier group (that is, the third carrier group where the switching time is located is the second carrier group). This allows the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus, and this method can make the switching time occupy less carrier resources, reduce resource waste, and improve resource utilization.

[0116] As another example, as shown in Figure 6, when the two transmission links of the terminal device are both in carrier 2, the network device instructs the terminal device through the first information to switch the two transmission links to carrier 1 and carrier 3 respectively, that is, 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 respectively determine that the number of carriers of the first carrier group is the smallest and the switching time is located in the first carrier group (that is, the third carrier group where the switching time is located is the first carrier group) based on the number of carriers of the carrier groups before and after the switching, so that the terminal device and the network device can reach a consensus, which can reduce the waste of resources caused by leaving switching time in the carrier groups before and after the switching due to failure to reach a consensus, reduce resource waste, and improve communication reliability.

[0117] In another example, the third carrier group is the carrier group with the largest number of carriers between the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0118] The network device and the terminal device both use the carrier group with the largest number of carriers in the carrier groups before and after the switching as the carrier group where the switching time is located, so that the network device and the terminal device reach a consensus on the carrier group where the switching time is located.

[0119] For example, in the example shown in Figure 5, when the terminal device switches the two transmission links from the first carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 3) to the second carrier group (including carrier 2), both the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching time is located in the first carrier group with a larger number of carriers, that is, the switching time is located in carrier 1 and carrier 3 before the switching.

[0120] For example, in the example shown in Figure 6, the terminal device switches the two transmission links from the first carrier group (including carrier 2) to the second carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 3). Both the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching time is located in the second carrier group with a larger number of carriers, that is, the switching time is located in carrier 1 and carrier 3 after switching.

[0121] In implementation mode three, the first parameter is the carrier bandwidth, and the network device and the terminal device determine the carrier group where the switching time 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.

[0122] Optionally, the network device may send multiple information A to the terminal device, where the multiple information A corresponds to multiple carriers, which are multiple carriers configured by the network device for switching the transmission link, and each information A is used to indicate the carrier bandwidth of the corresponding carrier.

[0123] It should be noted that the multiple pieces of information A may be carried in the same message and sent by the network device to the terminal device, or the multiple pieces of information A may be carried in different messages and sent by the network device to the terminal device respectively. This application does not limit this.

[0124] Optionally, the information A may be carried in a radio resource control (RRC) message or a system information block (SIB) 1.

[0125] For example, the multiple information A can be carried in the same RRC message sent by the network device to the terminal device, or can be carried in different RRC messages.

[0126] In one example, the third carrier group is a carrier group in which the sum of the carrier bandwidths of the carriers included in the first carrier group and the second carrier group is the smallest.

[0127] If the network device configures three carriers for the terminal device through the third information, the carrier bandwidth of carrier 1 is 20MHz, the carrier bandwidth of carrier 2 is 100MHz, and the carrier bandwidth of carrier 3 is 40Mhz.

[0128] For example, in the example shown in Figure 5, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch two transmission links from carrier 1 and carrier 3 to carrier 2, wherein the sum of the carrier bandwidths of carriers 1 and carrier 3 included in the first carrier group is 60MHz, the second carrier group includes carrier 2, and the sum of the carrier bandwidths of the carriers included in the second carrier group is 100MHz. The terminal device and the network device can determine that the carrier group with the smallest sum of the carrier bandwidths of the carriers in the first carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 3) and the second carrier group (including carrier 2) is the first carrier group, and can determine that the switching time is in the first carrier group. For example, the terminal device can switch the two transmission links from the first carrier group to the second carrier group within the switching time T before the end time t of the first carrier group, but the present application is not limited to this. The network device does not schedule the terminal device to send uplink information within the switching time T, and the terminal device does not send uplink information within the switching time T. According to this solution, the terminal device and the network device can reach a consensus, and this method can make the switching time occupy less carrier resources, reduce resource waste, and improve resource utilization.

[0129] For another example, in the example shown in Figure 6, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the two transmission links from carrier 2 to carrier 1 and carrier 3. The terminal device and the network device can determine that the carrier group with the smallest sum of the carrier bandwidths of the carriers in the first carrier group (including carrier 2) and the second carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 3) is the second carrier group, thereby determining that the switching time is in the second carrier group. For example, the terminal device can switch the two transmission links from the first carrier group to the second carrier group starting from the starting time t of the second carrier group, but the present application is not limited to this. The network device does not schedule the terminal device to send uplink information within the switching time T, and the terminal device does not send uplink information within the switching time T.

[0130] In one example, the third carrier group is a carrier group having the largest sum of carrier bandwidths of carriers included in the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0131] For example, the network device configures three carriers for the terminal device through the third information, and indicates the carrier bandwidth of each carrier through the information A corresponding to each carrier. The terminal device determines that the carrier bandwidth of carrier 1 is 20MHz, the carrier bandwidth of carrier 2 is 100MHz, and the carrier bandwidth of carrier 3 is 40Mhz based on the information A of the three carriers.

[0132] For example, in the example shown in Figure 5, when the two transmission links of the terminal device are respectively on carrier 1 and carrier 3, the network device instructs the terminal device through the first information to switch the two transmission links to carrier 2. After receiving the first information, the terminal device determines to switch the two transmission links from carrier 1 and carrier 3 to carrier 2. Then the first carrier group includes carrier 1 and carrier 3, and the sum of the carrier bandwidths of the carriers included in the first carrier group is 60MHz. The second carrier group includes carrier 2, and the sum of the carrier bandwidths of the carriers included in the second carrier group is 100MHz. The network device and the terminal device determine that the switching time is in the second carrier group based on the fact that the carrier group with the largest sum of the carrier bandwidths of the carriers included in the first carrier group and the second carrier group is the second carrier group. Exemplarily, the switching time is T, and the terminal device switches the two transmission links from the first carrier group to the second carrier group within the switching time T starting from the start time of the second carrier group. It should be understood that the present application is not limited to this, and the specific start time and end time of the switching time in the carrier group where it is located can be determined based on the specific implementation. The network device does not schedule the terminal device to send uplink information within the switching time T, and the terminal device does not send uplink information within the switching time T. This allows the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus, reduce resource waste, and improve resource utilization.

[0133] For another example, in the example shown in FIG6 , when the two transmission links of the terminal device are both in carrier 2, the network device instructs the terminal device through the first information to switch the two transmission links to carrier 1 and carrier 3 respectively, that is, the first carrier group includes carrier 2, and the sum of the carrier bandwidths of the carriers included in the first carrier group is 100MHz, the second carrier group includes carrier 1 and carrier 3, and the sum of the carrier bandwidths of the carriers included in the second carrier group is 60MHz. The network device and the terminal device determine that the switching time is in the first carrier group based on the fact that the carrier group with the largest sum of the carrier bandwidths of the carriers included in the first carrier group and the second carrier group is the first carrier group. Exemplarily, the switching time is 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 time of the first carrier group. This enables the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus, reduces the waste of resources caused by leaving switching time in the carrier groups before and after the switch due to failure to reach a consensus, reduces resource waste, and improves communication reliability.

[0134] In another example, the third carrier group is the carrier group to which the carrier with the maximum carrier bandwidth in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belongs.

[0135] For example, the network device configures three carriers for the terminal device through the third information, and the carrier bandwidth of carrier 1 is 20MHz, the carrier bandwidth of carrier 2 is 100MHz, and the carrier bandwidth of carrier 3 is 40Mhz. When the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link between carrier 1, carrier 2, and carrier 3, the terminal device can determine that the carrier group to which carrier 2 with the largest carrier bandwidth belongs is the carrier group where the switching time is located. For example, in the example shown in Figure 5, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link from carrier 1 and carrier 3 to carrier 2, then the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching time is in the second carrier group to which carrier 2 belongs. For another example, in the example shown in Figure 6, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link from carrier 2 to carrier 1 and carrier 3, then the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching time is in the first carrier group to which carrier 2 belongs. This enables the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus on the switching time, reduces resource waste, and improves communication reliability.

[0136] In another example, the third carrier group is the carrier group to which the carrier having the minimum carrier bandwidth in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belongs.

[0137] For example, the network device configures three carriers for the terminal device through the third information, and the carrier bandwidth of carrier 1 is 20MHz, the carrier bandwidth of carrier 2 is 100MHz, and the carrier bandwidth of carrier 3 is 40Mhz. When the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link between carrier 1, carrier 2, and carrier 3, the terminal device can determine that the carrier group to which carrier 1 with the smallest carrier bandwidth belongs is the carrier group where the switching time is located. For example, in the example shown in Figure 5, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link from carrier 1 and carrier 3 to carrier 2, then the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching time is in the first carrier group to which carrier 1 belongs. For another example, in the example shown in Figure 6, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link from carrier 2 to carrier 1 and carrier 3, then the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching time is in the second carrier group to which carrier 1 belongs. This enables the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus on the switching time, reduces resource waste, and improves communication reliability.

[0138] 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 in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belongs. That is, the carrier group to which the carrier with the largest carrier bandwidth in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belongs is not the carrier group where the switching time occurs.

[0139] For example, the network device configures three carriers for the terminal device through the third information, and the carrier bandwidth of carrier 1 is 20MHz, the carrier bandwidth of carrier 2 is 100MHz, and the carrier bandwidth of carrier 3 is 40Mhz. When the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link between carrier 1, carrier 2, and carrier 3, the terminal device can determine that the carrier group to which carrier 2 with the largest carrier bandwidth belongs is not the carrier group where the switching time is located. For example, in the example shown in Figure 5, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link from carrier 1 and carrier 3 to carrier 2, then the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching time is located in the first carrier group that does not include carrier 2. For another example, in the example shown in Figure 6, the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link from carrier 2 to carrier 1 and carrier 3, then the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching time is located in the second carrier group that does not include carrier 2. This enables the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus on the switching time, reduces resource waste, and improves communication reliability.

[0140] In the third implementation mode, the first parameter is the bandwidth part (BWP) in the carrier, and the network device and the terminal device determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the BWP in the carriers included in the first carrier group and the BWP in the carriers in the second carrier group.

[0141] Optionally, the network device may send multiple pieces of information B to the terminal device, where the multiple pieces of information B correspond to multiple carriers, where the multiple carriers are multiple carriers configured by the network device for switching the transmission link, and each piece of information B is used to indicate at least one BWP in the corresponding carrier. The multiple pieces of information B may be carried in the same message or in different messages sent by the network device to the terminal device.

[0142] The BWP within a carrier is less than or equal to the carrier bandwidth of that carrier. Network devices can configure the BWP bandwidth size based on the number of frequency domain resource blocks (RBs). Alternatively, the BWP size can be determined by the number of RBs. The more RBs a BWP contains, the larger the BWP bandwidth, while the fewer RBs a BWP contains, the smaller the BWP bandwidth. Alternatively, the BWP size can be determined by the number of RBs and the subcarrier spacing of the BWP.

[0143] In one example, the third carrier group is a carrier group in which the sum of bandwidths of BWPs of carriers included in the first carrier group and the second carrier group is the largest or the smallest.

[0144] In another example, the third carrier group is the carrier group to which the carrier with the smallest or largest bandwidth of the BWP included in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belongs.

[0145] In another example, the third carrier group is a carrier group other than the carrier group to which the carrier containing the BWP with the largest bandwidth in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belongs. That is, if the BWP contained in a carrier is the BWP with the largest bandwidth among the BWPs contained in each carrier in the first carrier group and the second carrier group, the carrier group to which the carrier containing the BWP with the largest bandwidth belongs is not the carrier group where the switching time occurs.

[0146] Determining the third carrier group based on the bandwidth of the BWP in the carrier is similar to the implementation method of determining the third carrier group based on the carrier bandwidth of the carrier in the previous article. Please refer to the description in the previous article. For the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0147] Optionally, the first parameter is an activated BWP in the carrier, and the activated BWP is a BWP activated in the carrier for transmitting uplink information.

[0148] For example, the size of BWP is determined by the number of RBs. The network device configures three carriers for switching the transmission link for the terminal device. The bandwidth of the activated BWP in carrier 1 is 100 RBs, the bandwidth of the activated BWP in carrier 2 is 75 RBs, and the bandwidth of the activated BWP in carrier 3 is 30 RBs. The terminal device and the network device can determine the third carrier group based on the bandwidth of the activated BWP in the carriers included in the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0149] For another example, the size of the BWP is determined by the number of RBs and the subcarrier spacing. The network device configures three carriers for the terminal device to switch the transmission link. The activated BWP in carrier 1 includes 100 RBs, the subcarrier spacing is 30kHz, and each RB includes 12 subcarriers. The size of the BWP in carrier 1 is 100*12*30=36MHz. The bandwidth of the activated BWP in carrier 2 is 75 RBs, and the subcarrier spacing is 30kHz. The bandwidth of the BWP in carrier 2 is 75*12*30=27MHz. The bandwidth of the activated BWP in carrier 3 is 30 RBs, and the subcarrier spacing is 120kHz. The size of the BWP in carrier 3 is 30*12*120=43.2MHz. The terminal device and the network device can then determine the third carrier group based on the bandwidth of the activated BWP in the carriers included in the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0150] In a fourth embodiment, the first parameter is identification information of the carrier, and the network device and the terminal device determine the carrier group where the switching time is located according to the identification information of the carriers included in the first carrier group and the identification information of the carriers in the second carrier group respectively.

[0151] In one example, the network device may send fourth information to the terminal device, where the fourth information is used to indicate identification information of the carrier where the switching time is located.

[0152] For example, the network device instructs the terminal device, through the first information, to switch at least one transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group. The network device also sends fourth information to the terminal device, which may indicate identification information of the carrier where the switching time is located. The fourth information may indicate identification information of a carrier, and the terminal device determines that the switching time is in the carrier group to which the carrier indicated by the fourth information belongs. Alternatively, the fourth information indicates identification information of each carrier in the carrier group where the switching time is located, and the terminal device may determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the fourth information.

[0153] As an example but not limitation, the fourth information may be an RRC message, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) or downlink control information (DCI).

[0154] The first information and the fourth information may be carried in the same message and sent by the network device to the terminal device, or the first information and the fourth information may be carried in different messages and sent by the network device to the terminal device respectively.

[0155] In this embodiment, the network device and the terminal device can determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the size of the identification information of the carriers in the first carrier group and the size of the identification information of the carriers in the second carrier group.

[0156] In one example, the third carrier group is a carrier group in which the sum of identification information of carriers in the first carrier group and the second carrier group is the largest or the smallest.

[0157] In another example, the third carrier group is the carrier group to which the carrier with the smallest or largest identification information of the carriers in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belongs.

[0158] Optionally, the network device may send multiple pieces of information C to the terminal device. The multiple pieces of information C correspond to multiple carriers configured by the network device for switching transmission links, and each piece of information C indicates identification information of a corresponding carrier. The multiple pieces of information C may be carried in the same message or in different messages sent by the network device to the terminal device.

[0159] In a fifth embodiment, the first parameter is the identification information of the cell to which the carrier belongs. The network device and the terminal device can determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the size of the identification information of the cell to which the carrier belongs in the first carrier group and the size of the identification information of the cell to which the carrier belongs in the second carrier group.

[0160] For example, the network device sends fifth information to the terminal device, and the fifth information is used to configure multiple cells and the carrier of each cell in the multiple cells. The carrier of the multiple cells is the carrier used to switch the transmission link. Optionally, the fifth information can also indicate the cell identification information of each cell in the multiple cells. When the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link, it can determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the identification information of the cell to which the carrier group before switching (i.e., the first carrier group) belongs and the identification information of the cell to which the carrier group after switching (i.e., the second carrier group) belongs.

[0161] In the sixth implementation mode, the first parameter is the switching parameter of the carrier configured by the network device for the terminal. The network device and the terminal device determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the switching parameter of the carrier in the first carrier group and the switching parameter of the carrier in the second carrier group respectively.

[0162] The network device configures multiple carriers for switching transmission links for the terminal device through third information. The network device may also send information D to the terminal device, where the information D is used to indicate the switching time 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 determine the carrier for the switching time 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, respectively.

[0163] Optionally, the switching parameter may be a value related to the switching time.

[0164] For example, the network device configures four carriers for switching the transmission link for the terminal device through the third information. The network device also configures a value corresponding to each of the multiple carriers through information D. The information D can be 2 bits, and the network device can use the 2 bits to indicate one of four values ​​0 to 3. 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.

[0165] In one example, the network device and the terminal device can determine the carrier group where the switching time is located, that is, 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.

[0166] For example, when the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link from carrier 1 and carrier 2 to carrier 3, the network device and the terminal device can respectively 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 time is in the carrier group with the largest sum of the switching parameters, the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching time is in the first carrier group. Alternatively, it can be stipulated that the switching time is in the carrier group with the smallest sum of the switching parameters, and the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching time is in the second carrier group. This enables the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus, reduce resource waste, and improve resource utilization.

[0167] In another example, the network device and the terminal device can determine that the carrier group where the switching time is located (i.e., the third carrier group) is the carrier group to which the carrier with the maximum or minimum corresponding switching parameter in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belongs.

[0168] For example, when the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link from the first carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 2) to the second carrier group (including carrier 3), the network device and the terminal device can respectively determine that the corresponding switching parameters in carrier 1, carrier 2, and carrier 3 are 3, 2, and 1. For example, the protocol may stipulate that the switching time is located in the carrier group to which the carrier with the largest switching parameter belongs, then the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching time is located in the first carrier group to which carrier 1 belongs. Exemplarily, the terminal device switches the transmission link within the switching time before the end moment of the first carrier group. Alternatively, the protocol may stipulate that the switching time is located in the carrier group to which the carrier with the smallest switching parameter belongs, then the network device and the terminal device can determine that the switching time is located in the second carrier group to which carrier 3 belongs. Exemplarily, the terminal device switches the transmission link within the switching time starting from the starting moment of carrier 3. This enables the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus, reduce resource waste, and improve resource utilization.

[0169] Optionally, the switching parameter may be a parameter of whether the switching time configured by the network device is located on one carrier.

[0170] For example, the network device can configure through information E whether each carrier used to switch the transmission link is the carrier where the switching time is located. For example, the information E can be the uplinkTxSwitchingPeriodLocation parameter. If the parameter is True, it means that the switching time is located in the carrier. If the parameter is False, it means that the switching time is not located in the carrier. The parameter can also be empty, that is, the carrier used to switch the transmission link may not be configured with this parameter by the network device. It can be stipulated by the protocol that when the terminal device switches the transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group, the switching time is located in the carrier group where the carrier with the parameter True is located in the first carrier group and the second carrier group; if neither the first carrier group nor the second carrier group contains the carrier with the parameter True, the switching time is located in the carrier group where the carrier with the parameter False is located in the first carrier group and the second carrier group.

[0171] In another example, the network device and the terminal device can determine that the carrier group where the switching time is located (i.e., the third carrier group) is the first carrier group and the second carrier group that does not contain the carrier with the largest corresponding switching parameter, or does not contain the carrier with the smallest corresponding switching parameter. That is, the network device and the terminal device can determine the carrier with the largest corresponding switching parameter in the first carrier group and the second carrier group, thereby determining the carrier group to which the switching time does not belong to the carrier with the largest switching parameter. Or the network device and the terminal device can determine the carrier with the smallest corresponding switching parameter in the first carrier group and the second carrier group, thereby determining the carrier group to which the switching time does not belong to the carrier with the smallest switching parameter.

[0172] In a sixth embodiment, the first parameter is used to indicate whether the cell in which the carrier is located is a PCell or a PSCell. The network device and the terminal device can determine whether the cell to which the carriers in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belong is a PCell or a PSCell based on the first parameter of each carrier, thereby determining that the switching time is not in the carrier group of the carrier containing the PCell or PSCell.

[0173] Optionally, when 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 by using the above-mentioned method of determining the carrier group where the switching time is located 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 includes one or more of the following:

[0174] The number of carriers, the carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, the partial bandwidth BWP of at least one carrier, the identification information of at least one carrier, the identification information of the cell to which at least one carrier belongs, whether the cell where the carrier is located is a PCell or a PSCell, or the switching parameters of at least one carrier.

[0175] That is to say, in one embodiment, before the terminal device and the network device determine the carrier group where the switching time 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 respectively determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the second parameter of the first carrier group and the second parameter of the second carrier group, and 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, then the terminal device and the network device determine that the carrier group where the switching time 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.

[0176] The following example illustrates how, when the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as the second parameter of the second carrier group, the third carrier group is determined based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group. It should be noted that the first parameter and the second parameter are two different parameters including but not limited to the carrier bandwidth of the carrier, the BWP in the carrier, the identification information of the carrier, the identification information of the cell to which the carrier belongs, the number of carriers included in the carrier group, and the switching parameter of at least one carrier. The first parameter and the second parameter hereinafter are only examples, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0177] In one example, the second parameter is a switching parameter of the carrier, and the first parameter is the carrier bandwidth of the carrier, the BWP in the carrier, the identification information of the carrier, the identification information of the cell to which the carrier belongs, or the number of carriers included in the carrier group.

[0178] Optionally, the switching parameter may be a parameter indicating whether the switching time configured by the network device is located on a carrier. For example, the network device may configure, through information E, whether a carrier used for switching the transmission link is the carrier where the switching time is located. If the information E indicates True, it indicates that the switching time is located on the carrier; if the parameter indicates False, it indicates that the switching time is not located on the carrier.

[0179] For example, the network device may configure four carriers for switching for the terminal device through the third information, namely, carrier 1, carrier 2, carrier 3, and carrier 4. And the switching parameters of each carrier are configured, for example, the switching parameter of carrier 1 is True, the switching parameter of carrier 2 is False, the switching parameter of carrier 3 is True, and the switching parameter of carrier 4 is False.

[0180] For example, when a 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 through the first information. The terminal device and the network device determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the switching parameter (i.e., an example of the second parameter) of the first carrier group (including carrier 2) and the switching parameter of the second carrier group (including carrier 4). The switching parameters of carrier 2 and carrier 4 are both False. 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. Then, the terminal device and the network device determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the first parameter of carrier 2 and the first parameter of carrier 4. The first parameter can be the carrier bandwidth of the carrier, the BWP in the carrier, the identification information of the carrier, the identification information of the cell to which the carrier belongs, or the number of carriers included in the carrier group.

[0181] For another example, when the two transmission links of the terminal device are on carrier 1 and carrier 2 respectively, the network device instructs the terminal device through the first information to switch the two transmission links from carrier 1 and carrier 2 to carrier 3. The terminal device and the network device determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the switching parameters of the first carrier group (including carrier 1 and carrier 2) and the switching parameters of the second carrier group (including carrier 4). The first carrier group and the second carrier group contain the same switching parameters. For example, the switching parameters of carrier 1 in the first carrier and carrier 4 in the second carrier group are both True. 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. Then the terminal device and the network device determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the first parameter of carrier 1 and the first parameter of carrier 3. Alternatively, the switching parameter is 1 bit, which indicates 1, indicating True, and 0, indicating False. The terminal device and the network device can 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 sum of the switching parameters of the carriers in the first carrier group (that is, the sum of the switching parameter 1 of carrier 1 and the switching parameter 0 of carrier 2 is 1) and the sum of the switching parameters of the carriers in the second carrier group (that is, the switching parameter 1 of carrier 3). The terminal device and the network device then determine the carrier group where the switching time is located based on the first parameter of carrier 1 and the first parameter of carrier 3.

[0182] In another example, the second parameter is the number of carriers in the carrier group, and the first parameter is the carrier bandwidth of the carriers in the carrier group.

[0183] For example, as shown in Figure 7, the two transmission links of the terminal device are respectively on carrier 2 and carrier 4. The network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission links from carrier 2 and carrier 4 to carrier 1 and carrier 3 through the first information. Among them, the first carrier group includes carrier 2 and carrier 4, and the number of carriers in the first carrier group is 2. 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 can determine that the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as that of the second carrier group. The network device and the terminal device then determine the third carrier group based on the carrier bandwidth of the carrier in the first carrier group and the carrier bandwidth of the carrier in the second carrier group (that is, the first parameter of the carrier group), that is, determine the carrier group where the switching time is located. For example, the third carrier group is the carrier group with the largest or smallest sum of the carrier bandwidths of the carriers in the first carrier group and the second carrier group. Alternatively, the third carrier group is the carrier group to which the carrier with the largest or smallest carrier bandwidth in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belongs.

[0184] In another example, the second parameter is the number of carriers in the carrier group, and the first parameter is a switching parameter of the carriers in the carrier group.

[0185] For example, in the example shown in Figure 7, the terminal device switches the transmission link from carrier 2 and carrier 4 to carrier 1 and carrier 3. Among them, the first carrier group and the second carrier group contain the same number of carriers, and the network device and the terminal device can determine the carrier group where the switching time 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 parameter is a numerical value associated with the switching time, and the third carrier group is the carrier group with the largest or smallest sum of the switching parameters of the carriers in the first carrier group and the second carrier group. Alternatively, the third carrier group is the carrier group to which the carrier with the largest or smallest switching parameter in the first carrier group and the second carrier group belongs.

[0186] In another example, the second parameter is a switching parameter of a carrier in the carrier group, and the first parameter is whether the cell described by the carrier in the carrier group is a PCell or a PSCell.

[0187] For example, the network device and the terminal device cannot determine the carrier group where the switching time 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, such as the sum of the switching parameters of the carriers in the first carrier group and the second carrier group is the same. The network device and the terminal device then determine that the switching time is not in the carrier group containing PCell or PSCell based on whether the cell to which the carriers in the second carrier group of the first carrier combination belong is PCell or PSCell. That is, the switching time is in the carrier group that does not contain PCell or PSCell.

[0188] According to the above implementation method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the network device and the terminal device follow the same method of determining the carrier group where the switching time is located, so that the network device and the terminal device can reach a consensus on the carrier where the switching time is located when switching the sending link, which can reduce resource waste and improve resource utilization.

[0189] It should be noted that the above text mainly uses the example of the terminal device switching two transmission links from the first carrier group to the second carrier group to illustrate the specific implementation methods of this application. It should be understood that this application is not limited to this. The method for determining the switching time provided in this application can also be applied to scenarios where the terminal device switches 1, 3, 4 or more transmission links from the first carrier group to the second carrier group.

[0190] FIG8 is another schematic flow chart of a radio frequency link switching method provided in an embodiment of the present application. It should be noted that the embodiment shown in FIG8 can be implemented alone or in combination with the embodiment shown in FIG4.

[0191] S801: A network device sends third information to a terminal device, where the third information is used to indicate a plurality of carriers, where the plurality of carriers are configured by the network device for switching a transmission link.

[0192] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the third information from the network device, and determines the multiple carriers configured by the network device for switching the transmission link according to the third information.

[0193] Each of the multiple carriers corresponds to a subcarrier spacing, which is the minimum allocation unit of frequency domain resources. The subcarrier spacing determines the time domain length of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol. For example, when the subcarrier spacing is 15kHz, the symbol length is 1 / 15kHz=66.7us. When the number of OFDM symbols contained in a time slot is a preset value, the larger the subcarrier spacing for a carrier, the smaller the time slot length in the time domain resources on the carrier. For example, a time slot contains 14 OFDM symbols and each OFDM symbol is preceded by a cyclic prefix (CP). When the subcarrier spacing is 15kHz, the time slot length (i.e., the duration of a time slot) is 1ms; when the subcarrier spacing is 30kHz, the time slot length (i.e., the duration of a time slot) is 0.5ms.

[0194] 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.

[0195] S802, the network device and the terminal device determine the time slot length corresponding to 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 time slot length.

[0196] Both the network device and the terminal device determine the time 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 for switching the transmission link. The network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the time slot length, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the time slot length. In other words, the terminal device does not expect the network device to instruct the terminal device to switch the transmission link multiple times within the time slot length.

[0197] For example, the network device configures four carriers for the terminal device through the third information, with the subcarrier spacing of carrier 1 being 30kHz, the subcarrier spacing of carrier 2 being 15kHz, the subcarrier spacing of carrier 3 being 30kHz, and the subcarrier spacing of carrier 4 being 60kHz. The network device and the terminal device can determine that the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the four carriers is 60kHz. When each time slot includes 14 OFDM symbols, the time slot length corresponding to 60kHz is 0.25ms. In this case, the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within 0.25ms, or in other words, the terminal device does not expect the network device to instruct the terminal device to switch the transmission link multiple times within 0.25ms. The network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within 0.25ms. It should be noted that in this example, the maximum subcarrier spacing of 60kHz is the subcarrier spacing of carrier 4. In the switching method of the transmission link proposed in this application, regardless of whether the first carrier group before the switching and the second carrier group after the switching instruct the terminal device to switch the transmission link include carrier 4, the terminal device and the network device both believe that the terminal device only switches the transmission link once within 0.25ms.

[0198] According to the above scheme of the present application, the terminal device and the network device can determine the maximum subcarrier spacing based on the subcarrier spacing of multiple carriers configured by the network device for switching transmission links, thereby determining that the terminal device can switch the transmission link at most once within the time slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing. This enables the terminal device and the network device to reach a consensus on the time limit or number limit for the terminal device to switch the transmission link, and can avoid the situation where the communication quality is affected by the terminal device frequently switching the transmission link. It can fully utilize the capabilities of the terminal device to improve the scheduling flexibility of the network device when the terminal device capabilities support it.

[0199] The embodiments of the present application also propose that the network device and the terminal device can determine the time slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing based on the maximum subcarrier spacing of the carrier in the activated state used to switch the transmission link, and the terminal device can switch the transmission link at most once within the time slot length.

[0200] For example, the network device configures four carriers for the terminal device through the third information. The network device and the terminal device determine the time slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier interval based on the maximum subcarrier interval among the subcarrier intervals of the three carriers in the activated state. The network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the time slot length, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the time slot length.

[0201] For example, among the four carriers, the subcarrier spacing of carrier 1 is 30kHz, the subcarrier spacing of carrier 2 is 15kHz, the subcarrier spacing of carrier 3 is 30kHz, and the subcarrier spacing of carrier 4 is 60kHz. The carriers currently in the activated state are carrier 1, carrier 2, and carrier 3. The network device and the terminal device determine that the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the three carriers is 30kHz, and the time slot length corresponding to the 30kHz subcarrier spacing is 0.5ms. Then, when the three carriers are in the activated state, the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within 0.5ms, or in other words, the terminal device does not expect the network device to instruct the terminal device to switch the transmission link multiple times within 0.5ms, and the network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within 0.5ms. And regardless of whether carrier 1 and carrier 3 with a subcarrier spacing of 30kHz involve switching the transmission link, that is, regardless of whether carrier 1 and carrier 3 belong to the first carrier group or the second carrier group, when the three carriers are in the activated state, the terminal device and the network device use 0.5ms as the time limit for switching the transmission link. When carrier 4 is in an activated state, since the subcarrier spacing of carrier 4 is the carrier with the largest subcarrier spacing among the carriers used to switch the transmission link, the network equipment and the terminal equipment determine that the time slot length corresponding to the subcarrier spacing of carrier 4 of 60kHz is 0.25ms. Then, when carrier 4 is in an activated state, regardless of whether carrier 4 involves switching the transmission link, the terminal equipment can switch the transmission link at most once within 0.25ms.

[0202] The embodiments of the present application propose that the terminal device and the network device can determine the time limit for switching the transmission link based on the capabilities of the terminal device.

[0203] The terminal device sends first capability information to the network device, where the first capability information is used to indicate a first duration, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

[0204] That is to say, the terminal device reports the terminal device's ability information of switching the transmission link to the network device, notifying the network device that the terminal device can switch the transmission link at most once within a first time period, so that after the network device receives the first capability information, it can instruct the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first time period.

[0205] In one example, the first capability information may indicate the first duration or identification information of the first duration.

[0206] 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.

[0207] In another example, the first capability information specifically indicates a first subcarrier spacing, and the time slot length corresponding to the first subcarrier spacing is the first duration.

[0208] The first capability information can implicitly indicate the first duration by indicating the first subcarrier spacing. For example, the subcarrier spacing indicated by the first capability information sent by the terminal device to the network device is 30kHz. After receiving the first capability information, the network device can determine that the time slot length corresponding to the subcarrier spacing of 30kHz is 0.5ms (for example, a time slot includes 14 OFDM symbols), then the first duration is 0.5ms. The network device instructs the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within 0.5ms, and the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within 0.5ms. Optionally, the first capability information can indicate the identification information of the first subcarrier spacing.

[0209] In another example, the first capability information specifically indicates a first frequency band, and the time slot length corresponding to the subcarrier spacing of the first frequency band is the first time length.

[0210] The first capability information may implicitly indicate the first duration by indicating 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 the time slot length corresponding to the subcarrier spacing of the first frequency band. The subcarrier spacing corresponding to the first frequency band may be predefined by the protocol, preconfigured by the network, or reported by the terminal device.

[0211] In another example, the first capability information specifically indicates the number N of symbols, the duration of N symbols in the time domain is the first duration, and N is a positive integer.

[0212] The symbol duration of the symbol used to determine the first duration (i.e., the duration of a symbol in the time domain) may be predefined by the protocol. For example, the protocol may stipulate that the symbol duration corresponding to the number of symbols indicated by the first capability information is the symbol duration corresponding to the 30kHz subcarrier spacing, where one symbol duration may be the duration without CP or the duration with CP, which is not limited in this 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 the symbol length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing in the subcarrier spacing of multiple carriers configured by the network device for the terminal device for switching the transmission link. Or the symbol duration may be determined by other means, which is not limited in this application.

[0213] The network device may determine the first duration to be N symbol durations based on the number of symbols N indicated by the first capability information. The network device then 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 within the first duration.

[0214] In another example, the first capability information specifically indicates the number M of time slots, the duration of the M time slots in the time domain is the first duration, and M is a positive integer.

[0215] The duration of the time slot used to determine the first duration (i.e., the duration of a time slot in the time domain) may be predefined by the protocol, or the duration of the time slot that carries the first capability information, or the time slot duration may be the time slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of multiple carriers configured by the network device for the terminal device for switching the transmission link. Alternatively, the time slot duration may be determined by other means, which is not limited in this application.

[0216] The embodiments of the present application propose that the terminal device and the network device can determine the time limit for switching the transmission link based on the frequency band supported by the terminal device for switching the transmission link.

[0217] The terminal device may send second capability information to the network device, where the second capability information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports at least one frequency band for sending link switching.

[0218] Correspondingly, the network device receives the second capability information from the terminal device, and determines, based on the second capability information, at least one frequency band supported by the terminal device for sending link switching.

[0219] The network device may determine a first subcarrier spacing based on at least one frequency band indicated by the second capability information, where the first subcarrier spacing is the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the at least one frequency band, and the network device may determine that the time slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing is the first duration. The network device may instruct the terminal device to switch the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

[0220] The terminal device also adopts the same method, and based on at least one frequency band that the terminal device supports transmission link switching, determines the maximum subcarrier spacing among the subcarrier spacings of the at least one frequency band, where the time slot length corresponding to the maximum subcarrier spacing is the first duration. The terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the first duration.

[0221] Optionally, in the application, one possible way to understand that the terminal device switches the transmission link at most once within the first duration is that the interval between the terminal device switching the transmission link twice in a row is greater than or equal to the first duration, the interval between the network device instructing the terminal device to switch the transmission link twice in a row (i.e., the first information sent twice in a row) is greater than or equal to the first duration, or the terminal device does not expect the network device to instruct the terminal device to switch the transmission link twice in a row (i.e., the interval between the first information sent twice in a row) is less than the first duration. Another possible way to understand it is that if the first duration is a time slot length, the terminal device can only switch the transmission link at most once within one of the time slot lengths, and at most once within the next time slot length of the time slot length. If the transmission link is switched once in both of these two consecutive time slot lengths, the interval between the two switching transmission links may be less than the time slot length, such as the terminal device switches the transmission link once within the second-to-last symbol duration within the previous time slot length, and switches the transmission link once within the second symbol duration within the next time slot length. However, the present application is not limited to this.

[0222] According to the above scheme of the present application, the terminal device and the network device can reach a consensus on the time limit for the terminal device to switch the transmission link or the number of times the transmission link is switched, which can avoid the situation where the communication quality is affected by the terminal device frequently switching the transmission link. When the terminal device capabilities support it, the capabilities of the terminal device can be fully utilized to improve the scheduling flexibility of the network device. In the various examples of this application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different examples are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different examples can be combined to form new examples based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0223] The method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described in detail above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Below, the communication apparatus and communication equipment provided by the embodiment of the present application are described in detail in conjunction with Figures 9 and 10. In order to implement the various functions in the method provided by the above embodiment of the present application, each network element may include a hardware structure and / or a software module, and implement the above functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. Whether one of the above functions is executed in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0224] FIG9 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG9 , the communication device 900 may include a transceiver unit 920 .

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

[0226] It should be understood that the communication device 900 may correspond to the terminal device in the method according to the above-mentioned embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 900 may include a unit for executing the method performed by the terminal device in the method in Figures 4 and 8. In addition, each unit in the communication device 900 and the above-mentioned other operations and / or functions are respectively for implementing the corresponding processes of the methods in Figures 4 and 8.

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

[0228] It should also be understood that when the communication device 900 is a chip configured in (or used in) a terminal device, the transceiver unit 920 in the communication device 900 can be the input / output interface or circuit of the chip, and the processing unit 910 in the communication device 900 can be the processor in the chip.

[0229] Optionally, the communication device 900 may further include a storage unit 930, which may be used 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.

[0230] It should also be understood that the specific process of each unit executing the above corresponding steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiment, and for the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0231] In another possible design, the communication device 900 may correspond to the communication device in the above method embodiment. The communication device 900 may be a communication device or a device configured in a communication device, such as a chip. The communication device may be a terminal device or a network device.

[0232] It should be understood that the communication device 900 may correspond to the communication device in the method according to the above-mentioned embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 900 may include units for executing the methods executed by the communication devices in the methods in Figures 4 and 8. In addition, the various units in the communication device 900 and the other operations and / or functions described above are for implementing the corresponding processes of the methods in Figures 4 and 8, respectively.

[0233] Optionally, the communication device 900 may further include a processing unit 910 , which may be configured to process instructions or data to implement corresponding operations.

[0234] It should also be understood that when the communication device 900 is a chip configured in (or used in) a communication device, the transceiver unit 920 in the communication device 900 can be the input / output interface or circuit of the chip, and the processing unit 910 in the communication device 900 can be the processor in the chip.

[0235] Optionally, the communication device 900 may further include a storage unit 930, which may be used 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.

[0236] It should also be understood that the specific process of each unit executing the above corresponding steps has been described in detail in the above method embodiment, and for the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0237] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 920 in the communication device 900 can be implemented through a communication interface (such as a transceiver or an input / output interface), for example, it can correspond to the transceiver 1010 in the terminal device 1000 shown in Figure 10. The processing unit 910 in the communication device 900 can be implemented by at least one processor, for example, it can correspond to the processor 1020 in the terminal device 1000 shown in Figure 10. The processing unit 910 in the communication device 900 can also be implemented by at least one logic circuit. The storage unit 930 in the communication device 900 can correspond to the memory in the terminal device 1000 shown in Figure 10.

[0238] It should be understood that when the communication device 900 is a network device, the transceiver unit 920 in the communication device 900 can be implemented through a communication interface (such as a transceiver or an input / output interface), for example, it can correspond to the transceiver 1110 in the network device 1100 shown in Figure 11. The processing unit 910 in the communication device 900 can be implemented by at least one processor, for example, it can correspond to the processor 1120 in the network device 1100 shown in Figure 11, and the processing unit 910 in the communication device 900 can be implemented by at least one logic circuit.

[0239] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal device 1000 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The terminal device 1000 can be used in the system shown in Figure 1 to perform the functions of the terminal device or communication device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. As shown in the figure, the terminal device 1000 includes a processor 1020 and a transceiver 1010. Optionally, the terminal device 1000 also includes a memory. The processor 1020, the transceiver 1010, and the memory can communicate with each other via internal connection paths to transmit control and / or data signals. The memory is used to store computer programs, and the processor 1020 is used to execute the computer programs in the memory to control the transceiver 1010 to transmit and receive signals.

[0240] The processor 1020 and the memory may be combined into a processing device, and the processor 1020 is configured to execute program code stored in the memory to implement the above functions. In a specific implementation, the memory may also be integrated into the processor 1020 or independent of the processor 1020. The processor 1020 may correspond to the processing unit in FIG9 .

[0241] The transceiver 1010 may correspond to the transceiver unit in Figure 9. The transceiver 1010 may include a receiver (or receiver, receiving circuit) and a transmitter (or transmitter, transmitting circuit). The receiver is used to receive signals, and the transmitter is used to transmit signals.

[0242] It should be understood that the terminal device 1000 shown in FIG10 is capable of implementing the processes related to the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in FIG4 and FIG8 . The operations and / or functions of the various modules in the terminal device 1000 are respectively for implementing the corresponding processes in the above-mentioned method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above-mentioned method embodiments. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are omitted here.

[0243] The processor 1020 can be used to execute the actions implemented by the terminal device described in the previous method embodiment, and the transceiver 1010 can be used to execute the sending or receiving actions described in the previous method embodiment. Please refer to the description of the previous method embodiment for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0244] Optionally, the terminal device 1000 may further include a power supply for providing power to various devices or circuits in the terminal device.

[0245] In addition, in order to make the functions of the terminal device more complete, the terminal device 1000 may also include input and output devices, such as one or more of an input unit, a display unit, an audio circuit, a camera and a sensor, etc. The audio circuit may also include a speaker, a microphone, etc.

[0246] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The network device 1100 can be applied to the system shown in Figure 1 to perform the functions of the communication device in the above method embodiment. As shown in Figure 11, the network device 1100 includes a processor 1120 and a transceiver 1110. Optionally, the network device 1100 also includes a memory. The processor 1120, the transceiver 1110, and the memory can communicate with each other via an internal connection path to transmit control and / or data signals. The memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor 1120 is used to execute the computer program in the memory to control the transceiver 1110 to transmit and receive signals.

[0247] The processor 1120 and the memory may be combined into a processing device, and the processor 1120 is used to execute the program code stored in the memory to implement the above functions. In specific implementations, the memory may also be integrated into the processor 1020 or independent of the processor 1120. The processor 1120 may correspond to the processing unit in Figure 9.

[0248] The transceiver 1110 may correspond to the transceiver unit in Figure 9. The transceiver 1110 may include a receiver (or receiver, receiving circuit) and a transmitter (or transmitter, transmitting circuit). The receiver is used to receive signals, and the transmitter is used to transmit signals.

[0249] It should be understood that the network device 1100 shown in FIG11 is capable of implementing the various processes related to the communication device in the method embodiments shown in FIG4 and FIG8 . The operations and / or functions of the various modules in the network device 1100 are respectively for implementing the corresponding processes in the above-mentioned method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above-mentioned method embodiments. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are omitted here.

[0250] The processor 1120 can be used to execute the actions implemented within the communication device described in the previous method embodiment, and the transceiver 1110 can be used to execute the sending or receiving actions in the previous method embodiment. Please refer to the description of the previous method embodiment for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0251] An embodiment of the present application further provides a processing device, including a processor and a (communication) interface; the processor is used to execute the method in any of the above method embodiments.

[0252] It should be understood that the processing device may be one or more chips. For example, the processing device may be a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system on chip (SoC), a central processor unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD), or other integrated chips.

[0253] According to the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the present application also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, which, when executed by one or more processors, enables the device including the processor to execute the method in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 8.

[0254] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, they can be implemented in whole or in part 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 and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. The computer can 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 can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium.

[0255] According to the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores program code. When the program code is executed by one or more processors, the device including the processor executes the method in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 8.

[0256] According to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the present application also provides a system, which includes the aforementioned multiple terminal devices. The system may further include the aforementioned one or more communication devices.

[0257] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0258] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0259] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

DEPCT6813 / 09 / 25671. Radio Frequency Link Switching Method which includes: using one end device to receive information I from a network device where information I indicates that the end device should switch at least one transmission link from carrier group I to carrier group II; and using the end device to determine the third carrier group based on the first parameter of carrier group I and the first parameter of carrier group II, where the third carrier group is either carrier group I or carrier group II, and the transmission link switching time is in the third carrier group, where the first parameter includes one or more of the following parameters: carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, BWP bandwidth of at least one carrier, identification information of at least one carrier, identification information of the cell in which at least one carrier is located, or carrier number.2.According to claim1, the third carrier group is the carrier group in which the sum of the parameters of the first parameter of the carriers that make up it is the largest or the smallest in the first and second carrier groups; or the third carrier group is the carrier group in which the carriers have the parameters of the first parameter that are the largest or the smallest in the first and second carrier groups.3.The method under claim 1 or 2, where terminal device decision determines the third carrier group based on the first parameter of the first carrier group and the first parameter of the second carrier group, shall include: terminal device decision determines the 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, where the second parameter differs from the first parameter and the second parameter includes one or more of the following parameters: carrier band width of at least one carrier, BWP band width of at least one carrier, carrier identification information of at least one carrier, identification information of the cell in which at least one carrier is located, carrier number, or carrier switching parameter of at least one carrier.4.Any one of the methods under claims 1 through 3, whereby the method includes: using a terminal device to receive more than one piece of second information from a network device, whereby more than one piece of second information corresponds to more than one carrier wave, whereby more than one carrier wave is configured by the network device and used for switching the transmission link, and each piece of second information indicates the parameter value of the first parameter of the corresponding carrier wave.

5. The method under claim 4, whereby the method includes: using a terminal device to receive a third information from a network device, whereby more than one carrier wave and the first and second carrier wave groups are in more than one carrier wave. 6.Method under Claim 4 or 5, whereby the method also includes: using the terminal device to determine the input channel length corresponding to the largest subcarrier interval based on the largest subcarrier intervals of more than one carrier, whereby the terminal device switches the transmission link a maximum of once per input channel length.

7. Any one of the methods under Claim 1 through 5, whereby the method also includes: using the terminal device to send capability one information to the network device, whereby capability one information indicates period one, and the terminal device switches the transmission link a maximum of once per period one. 8.The method according to claim 7, where the first capability information shall specifically indicate the first subcarrier interval and the input channel length corresponding to the first subcarrier interval shall be period one; the first capability information shall specifically indicate the first band and the input channel length corresponding to the first band subcarrier interval shall be period one; the first capability information shall specifically indicate the number N of symbols of the first specified period, where N of the first specified periods shall be period one, and N shall be a positive integer; or the first capability information shall specifically indicate the number M of input channels of the second specified period, where M of the second specified periods shall be period one, and M shall be a positive integer. 9.Any one of the methods under claims 1 through 5, whereby the method includes: using the terminal device to determine the first period based on the first subcarrier interval, whereby the terminal device switches the transmission link a maximum of once during the first period; the first subcarrier interval is the largest subcarrier interval of at least one band subcarrier interval, and at least one band is the band in which the terminal device supports transmission link switching.The carrier switching methods include: using one network device to send information one to an end device, where that information indicates to the end device to switch at least one transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group; and using a network device 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, where the third carrier group is either the first or the second carrier group, and the transmission link switching time falls within the third carrier group. The first parameter may include one or more of the following: the carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, the carrier band-width (BWP) of at least one carrier, the identification information of at least one carrier, the identification information of the cell in which at least one carrier resides, or the number of carriers.11According to claim 10, the third carrier group is the carrier group in which the sum of the parameters of the first parameter of the carriers that make up it is the greatest or least valuable of the first and second carrier groups; or the third carrier group is the carrier group in which the carriers in it have the parameters of the first parameter that are the greatest or least valuable of the first and second carrier groups.12.The method under claim 10 or 11, where the use of a 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, shall consist of: the use of a network device 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 the value of the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as the value of the second parameter of the second carrier group, where the second parameter differs from the first parameter, and the second parameter shall consist of one or more of the following parameters: the carrier band width of at least one carrier, the BWP band segment of at least one carrier, the identification information of at least one carrier, the identification information of the cell in which at least one carrier resides, the number of carriers, or the carrier switching parameter of at least one carrier.13.

14. The method under claim 13, which also includes: using a network device to send more than one second piece of information to the end device, where more than one second piece of information corresponds to more than one carrier wave, where more than one carrier wave is configured by the network device and used for switching the transmission link, and each second piece of information indicates the parameter value of the first parameter of the corresponding carrier wave. 15.

16. Any one of the methods under Claim 13 through 14, whereby the method includes: using a network device to determine the input channel length based on the largest subcarrier interval among more than one carrier subcarrier interval, whereby the network device indicates to the end device to switch the transmission link a maximum of once per input channel length. 17.The method according to claim 16, where the first capability information shall specifically indicate the first subcarrier interval and the input channel length corresponding to the first subcarrier interval shall be period one; the first capability information shall specifically indicate the first band and the input channel length corresponding to the first band subcarrier interval shall be period one; the first capability information shall specifically indicate the number N of symbols of the first specified period, where N of the first specified periods shall be period one, and N shall be a positive integer; or the first capability information shall specifically indicate the number M of input channels of the second specified period, where M of the second specified periods shall be period one, and M shall be a positive integer.18.Any one of the methods under claims 10 through 17, whereby the method includes: the use of a network device to determine the first period based on the first subcarrier interval, whereby the network device indicates to the end device to switch the transmission link a maximum of once in the first period; the first subcarrier interval is the largest subcarrier interval of at least one band subcarrier interval, and at least one band is the band in which the end device supports transmission link switching.19.The carrier switching method comprises: using one end device to determine at least one carrier in the activated state, where at least one carrier is within more than one carrier configured by the network device and used for switching the transmission link; and using that end device to determine the inlet channel length corresponding to the largest subcarrier interval based on the largest subcarrier interval of at least one carrier, where the end device switches the transmission link a maximum of once per inlet channel length.20The carrier switching method comprises: using one network device to determine at least one carrier in the enabled state, where at least one carrier is within more than one carrier configuration provided by the network device for the end device and is used for switching the transmission link; and using that network device to determine the input channel length corresponding to the largest subcarrier interval based on the largest subcarrier interval of at least one carrier, where the network device indicates to the end device to switch the transmission link a maximum of once per input channel length.21A radio link switcher consists of: a transceiver unit configured to receive first information from a network device, where this first information indicates to the radio link switcher to switch at least one transmission link from the first carrier group to the second carrier group; and a processor unit 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, where the third carrier group is either the first or the second carrier group, and the transmission link switching time falls within the third carrier group. The first parameter may include one or more of the following: the carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, the carrier band-width (BWP) of at least one carrier, the identification information of at least one carrier, the identification information of the cell in which at least one carrier resides, or the number of carriers.22The third carrier group is a carrier group in which the sum of the parameters of the first parameter of the carriers that make up it is the largest or the smallest in the first and second carrier groups; or the third carrier group is a carrier group in which the carriers in it have the parameters of the first parameter that are the largest or the smallest in the first and second carrier groups.23.The equipment under claim 21 or 22, where the processor is also 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 the value of the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as the value of the second parameter of the second carrier group, where the second parameter differs from the first parameter, and the second parameter consists of one or more of the following parameters: the carrier band width of at least one carrier, the carrier band width (BWP) segment of at least one carrier, the identification information of at least one carrier, the identification information of the cell in which at least one carrier is located, the number of carriers, or the carrier switching parameter of at least one carrier.24.

25.

24. The transceiver is configured to receive more than one second piece of information from a network device, where the second piece of information corresponds to more than one carrier wave, where the more than one carrier wave is configured by the network device and used for switching the transmission link, and each second piece of information indicates the parameter value of the first parameter of the corresponding carrier wave. 26.The equipment under either claim 24 or 25 is configured so that the processor unit determines the input channel length corresponding to the largest subcarrier interval based on the largest subcarrier interval of more than one carrier, and the end device switches the transmission link a maximum of once per input channel length.

27. The equipment under either claim 21 through 25 is configured so that the transceiver unit transmits capability one information to the network device, where capability one information indicates period one, and the end device switches the transmission link a maximum of once per period one.28.The equipment under claim 27 where the first capability information shall specifically indicate the first subcarrier interval and the input channel length corresponding to the first subcarrier interval shall be period one; the first capability information shall specifically indicate the first band and the input channel length corresponding to the first band subcarrier interval shall be period one; the first capability information shall specifically indicate the number N of symbols of the first specified period, where N of the first specified periods shall be period one, and N shall be a positive integer; or the first capability information shall specifically indicate the number M of input channels of the second specified period, where M of the second specified periods shall be period one, and M shall be a positive integer.29.The equipment under any one of claims 21 to 25 shall be configured so that the processor determines the first period based on the first subcarrier interval, in which the end device shall switch the transmission link a maximum of once per period one; the first subcarrier interval shall be the largest subcarrier interval of at least one band subcarrier interval; and at least one band shall be the band in which the end device supports 30 transmission link switches.The carrier switching unit comprises: a transceiver unit configured to transmit first information to the terminal, where this first information indicates to the terminal that it should switch at least one transmission link from carrier group one to carrier group two; and a processing unit configured to determine the third carrier group based on the first parameter of carrier group one and the first parameter of carrier group two, where the third carrier group is either carrier group one or carrier group two, and the transmission link switching time falls within carrier group three. The first parameter may include one or more of the following: carrier bandwidth of at least one carrier, carrier band-width (BWP) segment of at least one carrier, carrier identification information of at least one carrier, identification information of the cell in which at least one carrier resides, or carrier number.31The third carrier group is a carrier group in which the sum of the parameters of the first parameters of the carriers that make up the first and second carrier groups is maximized or minimized; or the third carrier group is a carrier group in which the carriers have parameters of the first parameter that are maximized or minimized in the first and second carrier groups.32.The equipment under claim 30 or 31, where the processor is also 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 the value of the second parameter of the first carrier group is the same as the value of the second parameter of the second carrier group, where the second parameter differs from the first parameter, and the second parameter consists of one or more of the following parameters: the carrier band width of at least one carrier, the carrier band width (BWP) segment of at least one carrier, the identification information of at least one carrier, the identification information of the cell in which at least one carrier is located, the number of carriers, or the carrier switching parameter of at least one carrier.33.

34.

35. A set of equipment under claim 33 where the transceiver unit is configured to send more than one second piece of information to the end device, where the second piece of information corresponds to more than one carrier wave, where the more than one carrier wave is configured by the network device and used for switching the transmission link, and each second piece of information indicates the parameter value of the first parameter of the corresponding carrier wave.The equipment under either claim 33 or 34, where the processor is configured to determine the input channel length based on the largest subcarrier interval among multiple carrier subcarrier intervals, and the network device indicates to the end device to switch the transmission link a maximum of once per input channel length.

36. The equipment under either claim 30 through 34, where the transceiver is configured to receive capability one information from the end device, where capability one information indicates period one, and the network device indicates to the end device to switch the transmission link a maximum of once per period one.37.The set of instruments pursuant to claim 36 where the first capability information shall specifically indicate the first subcarrier interval and the input channel length corresponding to the first subcarrier interval shall be period one; the first capability information shall specifically indicate the first band and the input channel length corresponding to the first band subcarrier interval shall be period one; the first capability information shall specifically indicate the number N of symbols of the first specified period, where N of the first specified periods shall be period one, and N shall be a positive integer; or the first capability information shall specifically indicate the number M of input channels of the second specified period, where M of the second specified periods shall be period one, and M shall be a positive integer. 38.A set of equipment under any one of claims 30 through 37 whereby the processor is configured to determine the first period based on the first subcarrier interval, whereby the network device indicates to the end device to switch the transmission link a maximum of once per period, the first subcarrier interval being the largest subcarrier interval of at least one band subcarrier interval, and at least one band is the band in which the end device supports transmission link switching.

39. A set of communication equipment consisting of at least one processor coupled to memory where the memory is configured to store programs or instructions; and at least one processor is configured to execute programs or instructions to enable the set of equipment to perform any of claims 1 through 20. 40.A chip which contains at least one processor and a communication interface, where the communication interface is configured to receive signals fed into the chip or signals sent out of the chip, and the processor communicates with the communication interface and executes one of the claims 1 through 20 through logic circuits or by executing code instructions; 41. A computer-readable storage medium which stores instructions and, when those instructions are run on a computer, enables that computer to execute one of the claims 1 through 20; 42. A computer program product which contains instructions which, when those instructions are run on a computer, enables that computer to execute one of the claims 1 through 20.

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