Method and communication device for handling uplink transmission

Abstract

A method for processing uplink transmissions in a communication device includes: receiving a configuration from a network end, wherein the configuration includes a set of reference signals; performing at least one measurement on the set of reference signals to generate a measurement report; transmitting a first uplink channel to the network end in response to at least one reference signal in the set of reference signals satisfying a condition; and transmitting a second uplink channel including the measurement report to the network end.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a method and communication device for a wireless communication system, and more particularly to a method and communication device for processing uplink transmission. [Previous Technology]

[0002] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) developed the Long Term Evolution (LTE) system to improve the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), which supports the 3GPP Rel-8 standard and / or the 3GPP Rel-9 standard to meet the increasing needs of users.

[0003] The Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-A) system evolved from the Long Term Evolution system. The goal of the Advanced Long Term Evolution system is to provide fast power state transitions, improve edge performance of evolved Node-B (eNB), and increase peak data rates and throughput. It includes advanced technologies such as carrier aggregation and uplink (UL) multiple-input multiple-output (UL MIMO).

[0004] Next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN) was developed to enhance Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, supporting 3GPP Rel-15 to 3GPP Rel-19 standards. NG-RAN includes one or more next-generation nodes (gNBs) and features such as wider operating frequency bands, different parameter sets (numerologies) across different frequency ranges, massive MIMO (multi-input multi-output) systems, and advanced channel coding.

[0005] In Layer 1 (L1) / L2 triggered mobility (LTM) or multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems, communication devices can periodically report measurement data for beam or cell to the next-generation radio access network (NGN) to execute beam / cell switching procedures. However, periodic measurement report transmissions consume uplink resources. Furthermore, without beam / cell switching indication from the NDN, the communication device may not know whether to execute a beam / cell switching procedure. Therefore, how to handle uplink transmissions to execute beam / cell switching procedures is a problem that urgently needs to be solved. [Summary of the Invention]

[0006] One of the objectives of this invention is to provide a method and communication device thereof for processing uplink transmission in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0007] This invention discloses a method for a communication device to process uplink (UL) transmissions, comprising: receiving a configuration from a network end, wherein the configuration includes a set of reference signals (RS); performing at least one measurement on the set of reference signals to generate a measurement report; transmitting a first uplink channel to the network end in response to at least one reference signal of the set of reference signals satisfying a condition; and transmitting a second uplink channel including the measurement report to the network end.

[0008] The present invention further discloses a communication device for processing uplink (UL) transmissions, comprising at least one storage device and at least one processing circuit coupled to the at least one storage device. The at least one storage device is configured to store instructions, and the at least one processing circuit is configured to execute the following instructions stored in the at least one storage device: receiving a configuration from a network end, wherein the configuration includes a set of reference signals (RS); performing at least one measurement for the set of reference signals to generate a measurement report; transmitting a first uplink channel to the network end in response to at least one reference signal of the set of reference signals satisfying a condition; and transmitting a second uplink channel including the measurement report to the network end.

[0009] The present invention further discloses a method for processing uplink (UL) transmission at a network end, comprising: transmitting a configuration to a communication device, wherein the configuration includes a set of reference signals (RS); receiving a first uplink channel from the communication device in response to at least one reference signal of the set of reference signals satisfying a condition; and receiving a second uplink channel from the communication device including a measurement report for the set of reference signals.

[0010] Based on the above description, the present invention provides a method and communication apparatus for processing uplink transmission. When specific conditions occur, the communication apparatus transmits measurement reports through the uplink channel, replacing the periodic reporting of measurement reports. Therefore, uplink resources used for periodic reporting of measurement reports can be saved. Furthermore, in the absence of cell / beam switching instructions from the network end, the communication apparatus (e.g., with effective timing advance) performs uplink transmission to execute the cell / beam switching procedure.

Implementation Method

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is simply composed of a network terminal 12 and a plurality of communication devices 14. The wireless communication system 10 can support time-division duplexing (TDD) mode, frequency-division duplexing (FDD) mode, combined operation mode of time-division duplexing and frequency-division duplexing, non-terrestrial network (NTN) mode, or licensed-assisted access (LAA) mode. That is, the network terminal 12 and the communication devices 14 can communicate with each other through frequency-division duplex carriers, time-division duplex carriers, licensed carriers (licensed serving cells) and / or unlicensed carriers (or unlicensed serving cells). In addition, the wireless communication system 10 can support carrier aggregation. In other words, the network terminal 12 and the communication device 14 can communicate with each other through multiple service cells (e.g., multiple service carriers) that include a primary cell (e.g., a primary component carrier) and one or more secondary cells (e.g., secondary component carriers).

[0013] In Figure 1, network terminal 12 and communication device 14 are used to illustrate the architecture of wireless communication system 10. In a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), network terminal 12 may be a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), which includes at least one base station (Node-B, NB). In one embodiment, in systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-advanced (LTE-A), and evolved versions of LTE, network terminal 12 may be an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), which includes at least one evolved NB (eNB) and / or at least one relay node. In one embodiment, network terminal 12 may be a next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN), which includes at least one next-generation node-B (gNB) and / or at least one fifth-generation (5G) base station (BS). In one embodiment, the next-generation or fifth-generation base station of network terminal 12 may include an non-terrestrial gateway (NTN Gateway) and a non-terrestrial payload (NTN payload). In one embodiment, network terminal 12 may be any base station conforming to a specific communication standard for communicating with communication device 14.

[0014] New Radio (NR) is a standard defined for fifth-generation systems (or fifth-generation networks) to provide a unified air interface with better performance. It deploys next-generation base stations to enable fifth-generation systems, supporting advanced features such as enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC), and massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC). Enhanced Mobile Broadband provides broadband services with greater bandwidth and low / medium latency. Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications provides higher reliability and low latency for applications such as end-to-end communications. Examples of such applications include industrial internet, smart grids, infrastructure protection, remote surgery, and intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Massive Machine Type Communications enables the Internet of Things (IoT) of fifth-generation systems, which includes billions of connected devices and / or sensors.

[0015] In addition, the network terminal 12 may also include at least one of a Universal Terrestrial Global Radio Access Network / an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Global Radio Access Network / a Next Generation Radio Access Network and a core network, wherein the core network includes network entities such as a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Serving Gateway (S-GW), a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway (P-GW), a Self-Organizing Networks (SON) server, a Radio Network Controller (RNC), an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), a Session Management Function (SMF), a User Plane Function (UPF), and / or an Authentication Server Function (AUSF). In one embodiment, after network terminal 12 receives information transmitted by communication device 14, the information may be processed only by Universal Terrestrial Global Access Network (UTN) / Evolved Universal Terrestrial Global Access Network (UTN) / Next Generation Radio Access Network (NGR), and a decision corresponding to the information may be made by UTN / UTN / NGR / NGR. In one embodiment, UTN / UTN / NGR / NGR may forward the information to the core network, where the core network processes the information and then makes a decision corresponding to the information. In one embodiment, the information may be processed by UTN / UTN / NGR / NGR and the core network, and a decision may be made after coordination and / or cooperation are performed by UTN / UTN / NGR / NGR and the core network.

[0016] The communication device 14 may be user equipment (UE), a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), a low-cost device (e.g., a machine-type communication (MTC) device), a device-to-device (D2D) communication device, a narrow-band internet of things (NB-IoT), a mobile phone, a laptop, a tablet, an e-reader, a portable computer system, or a combination of the above devices. Furthermore, depending on the transmission direction, the network terminal 12 and the communication device 14 may be considered as either a transmitter or a receiver. For example, for an uplink (UL), the communication device 14 is the transmitter and the network terminal 12 is the receiver; for a downlink (DL), the network terminal 12 is the transmitter and the communication device 14 is the receiver.

[0017] The communication device 14 can perform layer 1 (L1) measurements to generate layer 1 measurement results, and can change the service cell based on the layer 1 measurement results. This procedure may be referred to as conditional L1 / L2 triggered mobility (C-LTM). Conditional L1 / L2 triggered mobility can support intra-gNB-distributed unit (intra-gNB-DU) mobility, intra-gNB-central unit (intra-gNB-CU) mobility, and / or inter-gNB-DU mobility. Conditional L1 / L2 triggered mobility can support intra-frequency mobility and / or inter-frequency mobility. Conditional L1 / L2 triggered mobility can be supported for licensed spectrum. Conditional Layer 1 / Layer 2 triggered mobility can support at least one of the following scenarios: primary cell (PCell) change in non-carrier aggregation (non-CA) and / or non-dual connection (non-DC) scenarios; primary and secondary cell (SCell) change in carrier aggregation scenarios; and dual connection scenarios. Communication device 14 can process Layer 3 (L3) handover commands from network endpoint 12.

[0018] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication device 20 may be the communication device 14 or the network terminal 12 in Figure 1, but is not limited thereto. The communication device 20 may include at least one processing circuit 200, at least one storage device 210, and at least one communication interface device 220. The at least one processing circuit 200 may be a microprocessor or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The at least one storage device 210 may be any data storage device used to store program code 214. The at least one processing circuit 200 can read and execute the program code 214 through the at least one storage device 210. For example, at least one storage device 210 may be a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Flash Memory, Random-Access Memory (RAM), Compact Disc ROM (CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Disc-ROM (DVD-ROM), Blu-ray Disc-ROM (BD-ROM), Magnetic Tape, Hard Disk, Optical Data Storage Device, Non-volatile Storage Device, Non-transitory Computer-readable Medium (e.g., tangible media), etc., but is not limited to these. At least one communication interface device 220 may include at least one radio transceiver, which is used to transmit and receive signals (such as data, messages and / or packets) based on the processing results of at least one processing circuit 200.

[0019] Figure 3 is a flowchart of process 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 30 is used in a communication device (e.g., communication device 14 in Figure 1 or communication device 20 in Figure 2) to process uplink transmission. Process 30 can be compiled into program code 214 and includes the following steps:

[0020] Step 300: Begin.

[0021] Step 302: Receive a first configuration from a network end, wherein the first configuration contains a set of reference signals (RS).

[0022] Step 304: Perform at least one measurement for the reference signal set to generate a measurement report.

[0023] Step 306: Transmit a first uplink channel to the network end in response to at least one reference signal in the reference signal set satisfying a condition.

[0024] Step 308: Transmit a second uplink channel containing the measurement report to the network end.

[0025] Step 310: End.

[0026] According to process 30, the communication device receives a first configuration from the network end, wherein the first configuration includes a set of reference signals. The communication device performs at least one measurement on the set of reference signals to generate a measurement report (e.g., a beam report). When (e.g., in response) at least one reference signal in the set of reference signals meets a condition, the communication device transmits a first uplink channel to the network end. (e.g., after transmitting the first uplink channel to the network end) the communication device transmits a second uplink channel containing the measurement report to the network end. That is, when the condition occurs, the communication device transmits the measurement report through the second uplink channel instead of periodically reporting the measurement report. Therefore, the uplink resources used for periodically reporting the measurement report can be saved.

[0027] There are many ways to implement process 30, not limited to those described above. The following embodiments can be used for process 30.

[0028] In one embodiment, according to at least one configuration, the communication device performs at least one communication operation with the network end. In one embodiment, the at least one configuration is different from the first configuration. In one embodiment, the at least one communication operation includes at least one of the following operations: receiving downlink control information (DCI) from the network end through a first cell; receiving a downlink channel from the network end through a second cell; and transmitting a fifth uplink channel to the network end through the second cell. In one embodiment, the first cell may be the same as or different from the second cell. In one embodiment, the at least one configuration includes at least one of the following elements: a search space (SS) set configuration; a control resource set (CORESET) configuration; a second configuration for receiving the downlink channel; a third configuration for setting the first cell to receive downlink control information; a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) status; and a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource indicator (SRI).

[0029] In one embodiment, the first uplink channel satisfies at least one of the following conditions: the first uplink channel includes (e.g., a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH); the first uplink channel carries 1-bit information; the first uplink channel is configured with at least one of a first periodicity and a first offset; and the first uplink channel indicates (e.g., notifies) the second uplink channel to carry a measurement report. In one embodiment, the first uplink channel carries channel state information (CSI). In one embodiment, the 1-bit information indicates whether the second uplink channel will be transmitted. For example, the 1-bit information with a first value (e.g., 0) indicates that the second uplink channel will not be transmitted. For example, the 1-bit information with a second value (e.g., 1) indicates that the second uplink channel will be transmitted.

[0030] In one embodiment, the second uplink channel satisfies at least one of the following conditions: the second uplink channel includes, for example, a configured grant PUSCH (CG-PUSCH) or a physical uplink control channel; and the second uplink channel is configured with at least one of a second period and a second offset. In one embodiment, the communication device determines the duration for the second uplink channel based on the first period. In one embodiment, the second uplink channel includes at least one of an event identification (ID), a candidate identification (candidate ID), an SSB resource indicator (SSBRI), and a Channel Status Information Reference Signal Resource Indicator (CSI-RS) (CRI). In one embodiment, the candidate identification is the identification of a candidate cell, a candidate reference signal, or a candidate beam.

[0031] In one embodiment, the first uplink channel and the second uplink channel satisfy at least one of the following conditions: the first uplink channel and the second uplink channel are configured to have the same period; and the first uplink channel and the second uplink channel are each configured with an offset. For example, the second period is the same as the first period, and the second offset is the same as the first offset. For example, the second period is the same as the first period, and the second offset is different from the first offset.

[0032] In one embodiment, when the communication device indicates via (or through) the first uplink channel that the second uplink channel will not be transmitted, the communication device does not transmit the second uplink channel until the communication device indicates via (or through) the first uplink channel that the second uplink channel will be transmitted. In one embodiment, when the communication device indicates via (or through) the first uplink channel that the second uplink channel will be transmitted, the communication device transmits the second uplink channel until the communication device indicates via (or through) the first uplink channel that the second uplink channel will not be transmitted. In one embodiment, when the communication device indicates via (or through) the first uplink channel that the second uplink channel will be transmitted, the second uplink channel is available for use by the communication device until the communication device transmits the second uplink channel.

[0033] In one embodiment, after transmitting the second uplink channel, the communication device starts a first timer. In one embodiment, the communication device does not retransmit the measurement report before the first timer expires (e.g., during the operation of the first timer).

[0034] In one embodiment, the measurement report includes at least one of the following: a first quantity of reference signal set, at least one signal quality, a plurality of differential signal qualities, and event identification. In one embodiment, the measurement report includes a plurality of capacity indices for the reference signal set. In one embodiment, the first quantity is set by a first higher layer signal. In one embodiment, the first quantity is a fixed value. In one embodiment, the first quantity of reference signal set includes (for example) a first quantity of synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block resource indicators or a first quantity of channel status information reference signal resource indicators. In one embodiment, the at least one signal quality includes (for example) at least one layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP), at least one reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or at least one signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR). In one embodiment, the total number of at least one signal quality and a plurality of differential signal qualities is a first quantity. In another embodiment, the total number of at least one signal quality and a plurality of differential signal qualities is respectively related to a first quantity of signal qualities in the reference signal set.

[0035] In one embodiment, the communication device is configured (e.g., provided) by a second higher-layer signal, and the second higher-layer signal indicates a unified transmission configuration indicator state. In one embodiment, when the communication device is configured by the second higher-layer signal indicating the unified transmission configuration indicator state, the communication device receives downlink control information from the network end, and the downlink control information indicates the transmission configuration indicator state for downlink channels (e.g., physical DL shared channel (PDSCH), physical DL control channel (PDCCH), and / or channel status information reference signal). In one embodiment, when the communication device receives downlink control information indicating the transmission configuration indicator state, the communication device stops (or disables) the transmission of the second uplink channel. In one embodiment, when the communication device receives a Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state activation from the network (e.g., via a medium access control-control element (MAC-CE)), the communication device stops (or disables) transmitting the second uplink channel. For example, when the communication device receives a TCI state activation from the network (e.g., via a MAC-CE) and when the communication device is not set by a second higher-layer signal indicating a unified TCI state, the communication device stops (or disables) transmitting the second uplink channel.

[0036] In one embodiment, the communication device receives downlink control information (e.g., a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) order for candidate cells of the communication device) from a network end (e.g., from a service cell of the communication device). In one embodiment, based on the downlink control information, the communication device transmits at least one physical random access channel (PRACH) to the service cell of the communication device. In one embodiment, the communication device receives a downlink channel (e.g., downlink control information or a physical downlink shared channel) containing a cell switching command from a network end (e.g., from a service cell of the communication device). In one embodiment, based on the cell switching command, the communication device performs a cell switching.

[0037] In one embodiment, the communication device (e.g., a higher layer of the communication device, such as a media access control layer) determines whether the at least one reference signal satisfies a condition based on a second and a third number of at least one event instance for the at least one reference signal. In one embodiment, the third number is set by a third higher layer signal. In one embodiment, the third number is a fixed value.

[0038] In one embodiment, the communication device (e.g., a higher layer of the communication device, such as a media access control layer) determines that at least one reference signal satisfies a condition in response to a second number of at least one event instance for the at least one reference signal being not less than a third number. In one embodiment, the communication device (e.g., a higher layer of the communication device, such as a media access control layer) determines that at least one reference signal does not satisfy a condition in response to a second number of at least one event instance for the at least one reference signal being less than a third number.

[0039] In one embodiment, the communication device (e.g., a higher layer of the communication device, such as a media access control layer) determines that at least one reference signal satisfies a condition in response to a second number of at least one event instance for the at least one reference signal within a time window being not less than a third number. In one embodiment, the time window is set by a fourth higher layer signal. In one embodiment, the communication device (e.g., a higher layer of the communication device, such as a media access control layer) determines that at least one reference signal does not satisfy a condition in response to a second number of at least one event instance for the at least one reference signal within a time window being less than a third number.

[0040] In one embodiment, the communication device initiates (or restarts) a second timer set with a third value in response to the occurrence (or being occurred) of an event instance of at least one event instance. In one embodiment, the third value is set by a fifth higher-layer signal. In one embodiment, the third value is not less than the minimum of the first period and the second period. In one embodiment, the third value is not greater than twice the minimum value. In one embodiment, the communication device restarts a counter used to determine a second number of event instances (e.g., setting the counter to 0) in response to the expiration of the second timer.

[0041] In one embodiment, the communication device sets (or resets) the time window to a fourth value. In one embodiment, the fourth value is set by a sixth higher-layer signal. In one embodiment, the communication device activates (or restarts) the time window in response to the occurrence of the first (e.g., earliest) event instance of at least one event instance. In one embodiment, the communication device activates (or restarts) a third timer set with the fourth value in response to the occurrence of the first (e.g., earliest) event instance of at least one event instance. In one embodiment, the communication device determines at least one event instance (e.g., the period of at least one event instance) based on the period of a set of reference signals.

[0042] In one embodiment, a counter determines (e.g., indicates) a second number of at least one event instance. In one embodiment, the communication device increments the counter by one in response to the occurrence of an event instance (e.g., an event instance of at least one event instance). In one embodiment, after a time window, the communication device resets the counter used to determine the second number of at least one event instance (e.g., sets the counter to 0). In one embodiment, the communication device resets the counter used to determine the second number of at least one event instance (e.g., sets the counter to 0) in response to a third timer expiring.

[0043] In one embodiment, a higher layer of the communication device (e.g., a media access control layer) processes a second timer. In one embodiment, a higher layer of the communication device (e.g., a media access control layer) processes a third timer. In one embodiment, a higher layer of the communication device (e.g., a media access control layer) processes a counter.

[0044] In one embodiment, the communication device performs uplink transmission (e.g., transmitting a first uplink channel and / or a second uplink channel) in response to at least one reference signal satisfying a condition. In one embodiment, the communication device does not perform uplink transmission (e.g., not transmitting the first uplink channel and / or the second uplink channel) in response to at least one reference signal not satisfying a condition.

[0045] In one embodiment, after (or within) a time window, the communication device performs uplink transmission (e.g., transmitting a first uplink channel and / or a second uplink channel) in response to at least one reference signal satisfying a condition. In one embodiment, after / before a third timer expires or when the third timer expires, the communication device performs uplink transmission (e.g., transmitting a first uplink channel and / or a second uplink channel) in response to at least one reference signal satisfying a condition. In one embodiment, after a time window, the communication device does not perform uplink transmission (e.g., does not transmit the first uplink channel and / or the second uplink channel) in response to at least one reference signal not satisfying a condition. In one embodiment, after / before a third timer expires or when the third timer expires, the communication device does not perform uplink transmission (e.g., does not transmit the first uplink channel and / or the second uplink channel) in response to at least one reference signal not satisfying a condition.

[0046] In one embodiment, the communication device performs an uplink transmission (e.g., transmitting a first uplink channel and / or a second uplink channel) in response to at least one reference signal satisfying a condition. "At least one reference signal satisfying a condition" means that the second timer has not expired after the time window. In one embodiment, the communication device performs an uplink transmission (e.g., transmitting a first uplink channel and / or a second uplink channel) in response to at least one reference signal satisfying a condition. "At least one reference signal satisfying a condition" means that the second timer has not expired and the third timer has expired. In one embodiment, the communication device does not perform an uplink transmission (e.g., not transmitting a first uplink channel and / or a second uplink channel) in response to at least one reference signal not satisfying a condition. "At least one reference signal not satisfying a condition" means that the second timer has expired after the time window. In one embodiment, the communication device does not perform an uplink transmission (e.g., not transmitting a first uplink channel and / or a second uplink channel) in response to at least one reference signal not satisfying a condition. "At least one reference signal not satisfying a condition" means that the second timer expired after the third timer expired.

[0047] In one embodiment, the communication device performs at least one operation to respond to at least one reference signal satisfying a condition. In one embodiment, the at least one operation includes at least one of the following operations: resetting a timer (e.g., setting a timer to 0); starting (or restarting) a second timer having a fifth value; and starting (or restarting) a third timer having a sixth value. In one embodiment, the fifth value is the same as or different from the third value. In one embodiment, the sixth value is the same as or different from the fourth value.

[0048] In one embodiment, after performing at least one operation, the communication device (e.g., again) determines whether the at least one reference signal satisfies a condition based on a fourth and a fifth number of event instances for the at least one reference signal. In one embodiment, the fourth number is the same as or different from the second number. In one embodiment, the fifth number is the same as or different from the third number. Details of the communication device's determination of whether the at least one reference signal satisfies the condition can be found in the preceding paragraphs and will not be repeated here.

[0049] In one embodiment, at least one event instance indicates that at least one signal quality (e.g., at least one radio link quality) of at least one reference signal becomes a threshold better than a signal quality of a reference signal. In one embodiment, the at least one signal quality includes (e.g.,) at least one layer 1 reference signal received power. In one embodiment, a lower layer (e.g., a physical layer) of the communication device transmits at least one indicator to a higher layer (e.g., a media access control layer) of the communication device in response to the occurrence of at least one event instance. In one embodiment, at least one indicator indicates that at least one condition corresponding to at least one reference signal is met.

[0050] In one embodiment, each event instance of at least one event instance is associated with a first function of a service cell of the communication device and / or a second function of a candidate cell of the communication device. In one embodiment, each event instance of at least one event instance is associated with a first function of a service reference signal of the communication device and / or a second function of a candidate reference signal of the communication device. For example, a condition (e.g., one of at least one conditions) is satisfied in response to the first function being less than the second function. For example, an event instance occurs in response to the first function being less than a first measurement threshold and / or the second function being greater than a second measurement threshold. In one embodiment, the first measurement threshold and the second measurement threshold are set by a seventh higher layer signal.

[0051] In one embodiment, the first function is the measurement result of a service cell (or service reference signal). In one embodiment, the first function is the sum of a first measurement offset and the measurement result of the service cell (or service reference signal). In one embodiment, the first measurement offset may be determined based on at least one of a first cell-specific offset, a first reference signal-specific offset, and a first hysteresis parameter. In one embodiment, the first cell-specific offset, the first reference signal-specific offset, and the first hysteresis parameter are set by an eighth higher-level signal. In one embodiment, the second function is the measurement result of a candidate cell (or candidate reference signal). In one embodiment, the second function is the sum of a second offset and the measurement result of a candidate cell (or candidate reference signal). In one embodiment, the second function is determined based on at least one of a second cell-specific offset, a second reference signal-specific offset, and a second hysteresis parameter. In one embodiment, the second cell-specific offset, the second reference signal-specific offset, and the second hysteresis parameter are set by a ninth higher-level signal.

[0052] In one embodiment, the first measurement offset, the second measurement offset, the first measurement threshold, and the second measurement threshold are updated in response to the communication device starting (or restarting) a third timer set with a sixth value. In one embodiment, the first measurement offset, the second measurement offset, the first measurement threshold, and the second measurement threshold are updated in response to a counter value greater than 0.

[0053] In one embodiment, the measurement result (e.g., service cell and / or candidate cell) is associated with filtering / averaging of channel measurements. For example, the average measurement result is the average of measurement results (e.g., Layer 1 reference signal received power, reference signal received quality, or signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio) across different time instances (e.g., where is the average measurement result, is the measurement result at the time instance, and is the number of measurement results). For example, the current filtered measurement result is associated with a coefficient, a previous filtered measurement result, and the current measurement result (e.g., where is the current filtered measurement result, is the coefficient, is the previous filtered measurement result, and is the current measurement result). For example, the average measurement result is the average of measurement results of a reference signal (e.g., synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel or channel status information reference signal) in the spatial domain at a time instance (e.g., where is the average measurement result, is the measurement result of the th reference signal at a time instance, and is the number of reference signals). For example, the average measurement result is the average of the measurements of a reference signal (e.g., a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel or channel status information reference signal) in the spatial domain at different time instances. For example, the current filtered average measurement result is associated with a coefficient, a previous filtered average measurement result, and the current average measurement result (e.g., where is the current filtered average measurement result, is the coefficient, is the previous filtered average measurement result, is the current average measurement result, and ). In one embodiment, the lower layer (e.g., the physical layer) of the communication device processes the filtering / averaging of channel measurements.

[0054] In one embodiment, at least one indicator (e.g., at least one first-layer / second-layer triggered mobility indicator) indicates whether at least one condition corresponding to at least one reference signal is satisfied. In one embodiment, an indicator having a seventh value (e.g., 1) (e.g., one of the at least one indicator) indicates that the corresponding condition (e.g., one of the at least one conditions) is satisfied. In one embodiment, an indicator having an eighth value (e.g., 0) (e.g., one of the at least one indicator) indicates that the corresponding condition (e.g., one of the at least one conditions) is not satisfied.

[0055] In one embodiment, the communication device initiates (or restarts) a third timer in response to the communication device receiving a plurality of (e.g., consecutive) first indicators (e.g., at least one indicator) having a seventh value. The number of the plurality of (e.g., consecutive) first indicators may be a third number or a fifth number, but is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, after the third timer expires, the communication device determines the number of the plurality of (e.g., consecutive) second indicators (e.g., at least one indicator) having an eighth value obtained during the operation of the third timer.

[0056] In one embodiment, the communication device determines that a condition is met in response to the number of a plurality of (e.g., consecutive) second indicators being less than a threshold. In one embodiment, the communication device performs an uplink transmission (e.g., transmitting a first uplink channel and / or a second uplink channel) in response to the condition being met. In one embodiment, the communication device determines that a condition is not met in response to the number of a plurality of (e.g., consecutive) second indicators being not less than a threshold. In one embodiment, the threshold is set by a tenth higher layer signal. In one embodiment, the threshold is a fixed value. It should be noted that "the communication device obtains (e.g., consecutive) indicators" means that a lower layer (e.g., the physical layer) of the communication device transmits (e.g., consecutive) indicators to a higher layer (e.g., the media access control layer) of the communication device.

[0057] In one embodiment, the first uplink channel corresponds to a first priority index. In one embodiment, (e.g., when the first uplink channel and the third uplink channel collide in the same time period) the communication device transmits the first uplink channel and disables the transmission of the third uplink channel, in response to the first priority index being greater than the second priority index of the third uplink channel. In one embodiment, (e.g., when the first uplink channel and the third uplink channel collide in the same time period) the communication device disables the transmission of the first uplink channel and the transmission of the third uplink channel, in response to the first priority index not being greater than the second priority index of the third uplink channel. In one embodiment, (e.g., when the first uplink channel and the third uplink channel collide in the same time period) the communication device transmits the first uplink channel and disables the transmission of the third uplink channel. In one embodiment, the first uplink channel may include (e.g., multiplexed) the first uplink signal of the third uplink channel (e.g., first uplink control information (UCI)). In one embodiment, (e.g., when the first uplink channel and the third uplink channel collide within the same time interval) the communication device transmits the third uplink channel and disables the transmission of the first uplink channel. In one embodiment, the third uplink channel may include (e.g., multiplexed) a second uplink signal (e.g., second uplink control information) of the first uplink channel. In one embodiment, the third uplink channel includes (e.g., a physical uplink shared channel (e.g., a defined allowable physical uplink shared channel) or a physical uplink control channel.

[0058] In one embodiment, the second uplink channel corresponds to a third priority index. In one embodiment, (e.g., when the second uplink channel and the fourth uplink channel collide in the same time interval) the communication device transmits the second uplink channel and disables the transmission of the fourth uplink channel in response to the third priority index being greater than the fourth priority index of the fourth uplink channel. In one embodiment, (e.g., when the second uplink channel and the fourth uplink channel collide in the same time interval) the communication device disables the transmission of the second uplink channel and the transmission of the fourth uplink channel in response to the third priority index not being greater than the fourth priority index of the fourth uplink channel. In one embodiment, (e.g., when the second uplink channel and the fourth uplink channel collide in the same time interval) the communication device transmits the second uplink channel and disables the transmission of the fourth uplink channel. In one embodiment, the second uplink channel may include (e.g., multiplexed) the third uplink signal (e.g., third uplink control information) of the fourth uplink channel. In one embodiment, (e.g., when the second uplink channel and the fourth uplink channel collide in the same time interval) the communication device transmits the fourth uplink channel and disables the transmission of the second uplink channel. In one embodiment, the fourth uplink channel may include (e.g., multiplexed) the fourth uplink signal (e.g., fourth uplink control information) of the second uplink channel. In one embodiment, the fourth uplink channel includes (e.g., a physical uplink shared channel, such as a defined allowable physical uplink shared channel) or a physical uplink control channel.

[0059] In one embodiment, (for example, when the first uplink channel and the physical random access channel collide in the same time interval) the communication device transmits the physical random access channel and disables the transmission of the first uplink channel. In another embodiment, (for example, when the second uplink channel and the physical random access channel collide in the same time interval) the communication device transmits the physical random access channel and disables the transmission of the second uplink channel.

[0060] In one embodiment, the communication device receives downlink control information containing a request from the network end. In one embodiment, the request triggers a channel status information report. In one embodiment, based on the request, the communication device transmits a fifth uplink channel (e.g., a physical uplink shared channel) carrying channel status information to the network end.

[0061] In one embodiment, the communication device transmits first capability information about the maximum number of reference signal sets to the network end. In one embodiment, the communication device transmits second capability information to the network end. The second capability information indicates at least one of the following: whether the communication device supports client-triggered / instructed cell switching; whether the communication device supports acquisition before a triggering event / condition; whether the communication device supports timing advance (TA) acquisition after a triggering event / condition; whether the communication device supports client-based timing advance measurement; whether the communication device supports temporal filtering / averaging of channel measurements; and whether the communication device supports spatial filtering / averaging of channel measurements.

[0062] In one embodiment, the communication device and the network end operate in carrier aggregation. In one embodiment, the communication device is configured with a plurality of service cells. In one embodiment, based on downlink control information received from a second service cell of the network end, the communication device receives a downlink channel (e.g., the aforementioned downlink channel, but not limited thereto) from a first service cell of the network end. In one embodiment, based on downlink control information received from a fourth service cell of the network end, the communication device transmits an uplink channel (e.g., the aforementioned first uplink channel, second uplink channel, third uplink channel, fourth uplink channel, or fifth uplink channel, but not limited thereto) to a third service cell of the network end. In one embodiment, based on downlink control information indicating at least one of a transmission configuration indicator state and a probe reference signal resource indicator, the communication device receives a downlink channel from the network end. In one embodiment, the communication device is configured with at least one of a search space set configuration, a search space configuration, a control resource set configuration, and a configuration regarding downlink channel repetition. In one embodiment, at least one of the search space set configuration, the search space configuration, the control resource set configuration, and the configuration regarding downlink channel repetition is used to receive (e.g., monitor) downlink control information.

[0063] Figure 4 is a flowchart of process 40 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Process 40 is used in a network terminal (e.g., network terminal 12 in Figure 1 or communication device 20 in Figure 2) to process uplink transmission. Process 40 can be compiled into program code 214 and includes the following steps:

[0064] Step 400: Begin.

[0065] Step 402: Transmit a first configuration to a communication device, wherein the first configuration includes a set of reference signals.

[0066] Step 404: Receive a first uplink channel from the communication device in response to at least one reference signal in the reference signal set meeting a condition.

[0067] Step 406: Receive a second uplink channel from the communication device containing a measurement report for the reference signal set.

[0068] Step 480: End.

[0069] According to process 40, the network end transmits a first configuration to the communication device, wherein the first configuration includes a set of reference signals. The network end receives a first uplink channel from the communication device in response to at least one reference signal in the set of reference signals meeting a condition. (For example, after receiving the first uplink channel from the communication device) The network end receives a second uplink channel from the communication device containing a measurement report (e.g., a beam report) for the set of reference signals. That is, the network end does not periodically receive measurement reports. Therefore, uplink resources used for periodically reporting measurement reports can be saved.

[0070] There are many ways to implement process 40, not limited to those described above. The embodiments of process 30 can be applied to process 40, and will not be elaborated here.

[0071] Figure 5 is a flowchart of process 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 50 is used in a communication device (e.g., communication device 14 in Figure 1 or communication device 20 in Figure 2) to process uplink transmission. Process 50 can be compiled into program code 214 and includes the following steps:

[0072] Step 500: Begin.

[0073] Step 502: Receive a first configuration from a network end, wherein the first configuration includes a set of candidate configurations, and each candidate configuration in the set of candidate configurations includes at least one of a candidate identification, a physical cell identification, a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block frequency, a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block, a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block period, and a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block transmission power.

[0074] Step 504: Perform at least one uplink transmission with a candidate cell according to at least one indicator, wherein the candidate cell corresponds to a candidate configuration in the set of candidate configurations.

[0075] Step 506: End.

[0076] According to process 50, the network end receives a first configuration from the network end. The first configuration includes a set of candidate configurations. Each candidate configuration in the candidate configuration set includes at least one of candidate identification, entity cell identification, synchronization signal / entity broadcast channel block frequency, subcarrier spacing of the synchronization signal / entity broadcast channel block, synchronization signal / entity broadcast channel block period, and synchronization signal / entity broadcast channel block transmission power. According to at least one indicator, the network end (e.g., decides) performs at least one uplink transmission with the candidate cell, wherein the candidate cell corresponds to a candidate configuration in the candidate configuration set. That is, the information in the first configuration is used by the communication device to perform at least one uplink transmission (e.g., transmit a cell handover request). Therefore, the communication device can perform a cell handover in the absence of a cell handover indication from the network end.

[0077] There are many ways to implement process 50, not limited to those described above. The following embodiments can be used for process 50.

[0078] In one embodiment, the communication device receives at least one indicator from a network end. In one embodiment, a lower layer (e.g., the physical layer) of the communication device transmits at least one indicator to a higher layer (e.g., the media access control layer) of the communication device (e.g., in response to at least one event instance occurring). In one embodiment, the at least one event instance indicates that at least one signal quality (e.g., at least one radio link quality) of at least one candidate reference signal becomes better than a first threshold of signal quality of a serving reference signal. In one embodiment, the at least one event instance indicates that at least one signal quality (e.g., at least one radio link quality) of at least one candidate reference signal is greater than a first measurement threshold and / or the signal quality of the serving reference signal is less than a second measurement threshold. In one embodiment, the at least one indicator is associated with at least one of a candidate configuration in a candidate configuration set and a first reference signal (e.g., a candidate reference signal). In one embodiment, the candidate configuration corresponds to the first reference signal.

[0079] In one embodiment, according to a second configuration (e.g., the first configuration of process 30), the communication device performs at least one measurement for the first reference signal set to generate at least one measurement result. In one embodiment, the second configuration is different from the first configuration. In another embodiment, the second configuration is the same as the first configuration. In one embodiment, based on the at least one measurement result, the communication device determines that at least one condition corresponding to at least one reference signal of the first reference signal set is satisfied. Details of the at least one condition can be found in the embodiment of process 30, and will not be repeated here.

[0080] In one embodiment, the communication device initiates (or restarts) a first timer (i.e., the third timer for the embodiment of process 30) in response to the satisfaction of at least one condition. In one embodiment, during the operation of the first timer, the communication device transmits an uplink channel to the service cell of the communication device (e.g., after a first time interval without a valid timing advance for a candidate cell of the communication device). The first time interval may have a fixed length or may be set by the network end. In one embodiment, the communication device receives at least one indicator (e.g., physical downlink control channel sequence) from the service cell of the communication device (e.g., after transmitting the uplink channel). In one embodiment, the communication device determines whether an execution condition has been satisfied in response to the expiration of the first timer. The execution condition may be a condition of process 30. Details of the execution condition can be found in the embodiment of process 30 and will not be repeated here.

[0081] In one embodiment, the uplink channel includes, for example, an physical uplink control channel carrying uplink control information. In one embodiment, the uplink channel is associated with a timing pre-grant or a resource grant. In one embodiment, the uplink resources for the uplink channel correspond to at least one of candidate cell identification and candidate cell synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block. In one embodiment, (e.g., when a condition of at least one condition is met) the communication device instructs a candidate cell identification (e.g., a candidate identification set by a candidate configuration) to a service cell of the communication device via the uplink channel. In one embodiment, (e.g., when a condition of at least one condition is not met) the communication device instructs a preset value. In one embodiment, the communication device instructs an index (or group index) of a reference signal to a service cell of the communication device via the uplink channel. In one embodiment, the reference signal is a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block or a channel status information reference signal. In one embodiment, the reference signal having an odd identification corresponds to a first group identification. In one embodiment, the reference signal with an even number of identifiers corresponds to the second group identifier.

[0082] In one embodiment, the uplink channel is configured with a second timer (e.g., the parameter ProhibitTimer). In one embodiment, the communication device transmits the uplink channel and starts (or restarts) the second timer in response to the second timer not operating during a second time interval used to transmit the uplink channel. In one embodiment, the uplink channel includes, for example, a physical uplink control channel or a physical uplink shared channel carrying uplink control information (e.g., a scheduling request) or media access control elements. In one embodiment, the uplink control information or media access control element includes at least one of the following: candidate cell identification (e.g., candidate identification set by candidate configuration), indicators of the candidate cell's reference signal (e.g., synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block or channel status information reference signal) (e.g., synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block resource indicator or channel status information reference signal resource indicator), the signal quality of the reference signal (e.g., reference signal received power, reference signal received quality and / or signal interference noise ratio), the differential signal quality between reference signals, the signal quality of the serving cell (e.g., reference signal received power, reference signal received quality and / or signal interference noise ratio), and the differential signal quality between the serving cell (or serving reference signal) and the candidate cell (or candidate reference signal).

[0083] In one embodiment, at least one indicator includes downlink control information (e.g., physical downlink control channel sequence) transmitted by the network end. In one embodiment, the downlink control information includes at least one of a random access preamble (RAP) set indicator, a random access preamble indicator, a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel indicator, a physical random access channel mask indicator, a cell indicator, and a physical random access channel retransmission indicator. In one embodiment, the communication device determines the random access preamble based on the downlink control information. In one embodiment, the step of performing at least one uplink transmission includes: transmitting a physical random access channel (e.g., to a candidate cell) based on the downlink control information. In one embodiment, the random access preamble set indicator indicates a random access preamble set set set by a first higher-layer signal. The first higher-layer signal sets more than one random access preamble set. In one embodiment, the random access preamble indicator indicates at least one first random access preamble indicator. At least one first random access preamble indicator may be included in the random access preamble set indicated by the random access preamble set indicator. In one embodiment, (e.g., if at least one first random access preamble indicator is not all zero) the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel indicator indicates the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel used to determine the random access channel occasion for random access channel transmission. In one embodiment, (e.g., if at least one first random access preamble indicator is all zero) the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel indicator is reserved. In one embodiment, (e.g., if at least one first random access preamble indicator is not all zero) the physical random access channel mask indicator indicates the random access channel occasion associated with the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel indicated by the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel indicator. In one embodiment, the cell indicator indicates the cell (e.g., candidate cell or service cell) used for random access channel transmission. For example, the first bit field of a cell indicator with a first value (e.g., 0) is mapped to a serving cell. For example, the second bit field of a cell indicator with a second value (e.g., a value different from the first value) is mapped to a candidate cell. In one embodiment, (e.g., if the cell indicated by the cell indicator is a candidate cell) an entity random access channel retransmission indicator indicates an initial transmission or a retransmission of the entity random access channel.

[0084] In one embodiment, the communication device receives first downlink control information (e.g., entity downlink control channel sequence) from the network end for initiating a random access (RA) procedure. In one embodiment, based on the cell indicator in the first downlink control information, the communication device determines the cell (e.g., candidate cell) used to initiate the random access procedure. In one embodiment, the communication device determines whether at least one first random access preamble indicator indicated by the random access preamble indicator in the first downlink control information is all 0.

[0085] In one embodiment, the communication device performs at least one of the following operations in response to at least one first random access preamble indicator indicated by the random access preamble indicator in the first downlink control information not being all 0: (e.g., according to the cell indicator in the first downlink control information) selecting at least one synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel indicator corresponding to at least one resource indicator (e.g., synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block resource indicator and / or channel status information reference signal resource indicator) of a candidate cell, wherein the candidate cell satisfies at least one condition; selecting at least one first physical random access channel according to at least one of the at least one synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel indicator, cell indicator, random access preamble indicator and physical random access channel masking indicator; and transmitting the selected at least one first physical random access channel to the candidate cell.

[0086] In one embodiment, the communication device performs at least one of the following operations in response to at least one first random access preamble indicator indicated by a random access preamble indicator in the first downlink control information being all 0: (e.g., according to a cell indicator in the first downlink control information) selecting at least one second random access preamble indicator from the set of random access preamble indicators corresponding to at least one resource indicator (e.g., a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block resource indicator and / or a channel status information reference signal resource indicator) of a candidate cell, wherein the candidate cell satisfies at least one condition; and executing a random access procedure according to the selected at least one second random access preamble indicator.

[0087] In one embodiment, the communication device performs at least one of the following operations in response to at least one first random access preamble indicator indicated by the random access preamble indicator in the first downlink control information not being all zero: determining whether the random access preamble indicator indicates more than one random access preamble indicator; (e.g., based on the cell indicator in the first downlink control information) selecting from at least one first random access preamble indicator corresponding to at least one resource indicator (e.g., synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block resource indicator and / or channel status information reference signal resource indicator) of the candidate cell. At least one third random access preamble indicator and at least one of the selected third random access preamble indicator and physical random access channel mask indicator are used to perform a random access procedure in response to a random access preamble indicator indicating more than one random access preamble indicator, wherein the candidate cell satisfies at least one condition; and at least one of the cell indicator, random access preamble indicator, synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel indicator and physical random access channel mask indicator are used to perform a random access procedure in response to a random access preamble indicator not indicating more than one random access preamble indicator.

[0088] In one embodiment, (for example, if more than one physical random access channel does not overlap in the time domain) the communication device transmits at least one synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel corresponding to more than one physical random access channel.

[0089] In one embodiment, after transmitting at least one first physical random access channel to a candidate cell, the communication device monitors the first downlink channel transmitted by the service cell of the communication device within a first window. In one embodiment, the first downlink channel includes (for example) second downlink control information. In one embodiment, the first window includes (for example) a random access response (RAR) window set by a second higher-layer signal. In one embodiment, the first window is activated after the communication device transmits at least one first physical random access channel. In one embodiment, based on a first downlink channel or a media access control element (e.g., transmitted via a physical downlink shared channel scheduled by the first downlink channel), the communication device determines (e.g., obtains) at least one of the following: candidate identification (e.g., candidate cell identification), timing pre-set value, scheduling or enabling of a physical uplink shared channel (e.g., a set allowable physical uplink shared channel), a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel for the physical uplink shared channel (e.g., a set allowable physical uplink shared channel), and a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel for timing pre-set. In one embodiment, the communication device initiates (or restarts) (e.g., indicated by the media access control element or candidate identification) a third timer (e.g., the parameter TimeAlignmentTimer) for the candidate cell in response to the communication device obtaining (e.g., receiving) the timing pre-set value. In one embodiment, the third timer is set with a third value. In one embodiment, the third value is set (e.g., a third higher-level signal) for each candidate cell. In one embodiment, the third value is a common value set (e.g., a fourth higher-layer signal) for all candidate cells of the communication device. In one embodiment, the third value is indicated in a media access control element (e.g., transmitted by a physical downlink shared channel scheduled by a first downlink channel). In one embodiment, the third value is indicated in the first downlink channel.

[0090] In one embodiment, the communication device calculates (or computes) at least a certain amount of timing advance value for at least one uplink transmission. That is, the communication device performs a timing advance measurement based on the user end, and determines the at least certain amount of timing advance value based on the timing advance measurement result based on the user end.

[0091] In one embodiment, the communication device determines at least a certain amount of pre-time value for at least one uplink transmission based on a media access control element transmitted by the network end. In one embodiment, the communication device starts (or restarts) a fourth timer in response to receiving the at least certain amount of pre-time value.

[0092] In one embodiment, at least one uplink transmission includes cell handover information. In one embodiment, at least one uplink transmission includes (e.g.) a set allowable entity uplink shared channel. In one embodiment, the cell handover information includes (e.g.) a cell handover request. In one embodiment, the communication device determines at least one uplink resource for at least one uplink transmission based on at least one of a higher-layer signaling and a media access control element. In one embodiment, at least one uplink resource for at least one uplink transmission meets at least one of the following conditions: at least one uplink resource for at least one uplink transmission is set to a period; and at least one uplink resource for at least one uplink transmission is indicated by a third time interval and is valid (or available) within the third time interval. In one embodiment, the period is set by a fifth higher-layer signal. In one embodiment, the communication device performs at least one uplink transmission using at least one uplink resource. In one embodiment, the communication device periodically performs at least one uplink transmission using at least one uplink resource according to the period.

[0093] In one embodiment, the communication device determines that the cell switching procedure has been completed by receiving a message (e.g., a cell switching completion message) from the network. In one embodiment, the message includes, for example, an indicator or configuration.

[0094] In one embodiment, at least one indicator indicates at least one of the following events: a fifth timer expires; and a fourth value of a first counter is not greater than a second threshold. In one embodiment, the second threshold is 0 or a positive integer, but is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, the fifth timer is associated with a second reference signal. In one embodiment, the second reference signal is a reference signal of a first set of reference signals. In one embodiment, the communication device starts (or restarts) the fifth timer in response to a first condition being met. In one embodiment, the first condition is met in response to a fifth value of the second counter not being less than a third threshold. In one embodiment, the communication device increments the fourth value of the first counter (e.g., the fourth value increases by 1) in response to at least one event instance not occurring. In one embodiment, the communication device increments the fifth value of the second counter (e.g., the fifth value increases by 1) in response to at least one event instance occurring. In one embodiment, the fourth value of the first counter indicates the number of times at least one event instance has not occurred. In one embodiment, the fifth value of the second counter indicates the number of times at least one event instance has occurred. In one embodiment, the communication device is set with a second threshold and a third threshold by a sixth higher-layer signal.

[0095] In one embodiment, a lower layer (e.g., the physical layer) of the communication device transmits an indicator (e.g., a Layer 1 / Layer 2 triggered mobility indicator) having a sixth value (e.g., 0) to a higher layer (e.g., the media access control layer) of the communication device in response to at least one event instance not occurring. In one embodiment, a lower layer (e.g., the physical layer) of the communication device transmits an indicator (e.g., a Layer 1 / Layer 2 triggered mobility indicator) having a seventh value (e.g., 1) to a higher layer (e.g., the media access control layer) of the communication device in response to at least one event instance occurring. In one embodiment, a fourth value of a first counter indicates the number of indicators (e.g., consecutive Layer 1 / Layer 2 triggered mobility indicators) having a sixth value. In one embodiment, a fifth value of a second counter indicates the number of indicators (e.g., consecutive Layer 1 / Layer 2 triggered mobility indicators) having a seventh value (e.g., consecutive Layer 1 / Layer 2 triggered mobility indicators). In one embodiment, at least one event instance occurs when at least one signal quality (e.g., at least one radio link quality) of at least one candidate reference signal becomes better than (or not better than) a fourth threshold of a signal quality of a serving cell. In another embodiment, at least one event instance occurs when at least one signal quality (e.g., at least one radio link quality) of at least one candidate reference signal is greater than (or not greater than) a third measurement threshold and / or the signal quality of the serving reference signal is less than (or not less than) a fourth measurement threshold.

[0096] In one embodiment, at least one uplink transmission satisfies at least one of the following conditions: at least one uplink transmission includes at least one second entity random access channel in response to the absence of a valid timing pre-registration for the candidate cell; and at least one uplink transmission includes at least one entity uplink shared channel in response to the validity of at least a certain timing pre-registration for the candidate cell. In one embodiment, at least one second entity random access channel includes cell switching information (e.g., a cell switching request). In one embodiment, at least one entity uplink shared channel includes cell switching information (e.g., a cell switching request). In one embodiment, at least a certain timing pre-registration for the candidate cell is valid in response to the sixth timer associated with the candidate cell (e.g., the parameter TimeAlignmentTimer) not having expired.

[0097] In one embodiment, at least one uplink transmission satisfies at least one of the following conditions: at least one uplink transmission includes at least one second physical random access channel in response to the absence of a valid timing pre-set for the candidate cell; at least one uplink transmission includes at least one physical uplink shared channel transmitted after the fourth time interval in response to the validity of at least a timing pre-set for the candidate cell and the communication device being in the fourth time interval; and at least one uplink transmission includes at least one physical uplink shared channel in response to the validity of at least a timing pre-set for the candidate cell and the communication device not being in the fourth time interval. In one embodiment, the fourth time interval is set by a seventh higher-layer signal. In one embodiment, the fourth time interval is initiated after the communication device transmits at least one first physical random access channel (e.g., to the candidate cell) according to first downlink control information (e.g., physical downlink control channel sequence).

[0098] In one embodiment, after transmitting an entity random access channel (e.g., to a candidate cell) according to first downlink control information (e.g., entity downlink control channel sequence), the communication device monitors the second downlink channel transmitted by the candidate cell of the communication device within a second window. In one embodiment, the second downlink channel includes (e.g.,) third downlink control information. In one embodiment, the second window includes (e.g.,) a random access response window set by an eighth higher-level signal.

[0099] In one embodiment, the communication device stops executing the cell switching procedure for the candidate cell (e.g., stops transmitting cell switching information) in response to the absence of a valid timing precedence for the candidate cell. In one embodiment, after a fourth time interval, the communication device stops executing the cell switching procedure for the candidate cell in response to the absence of a valid timing precedence for the candidate cell and the communication device being in the fourth time interval. In one embodiment, the communication device stops executing the cell switching procedure for the candidate cell in response to the absence of a valid timing precedence for the candidate cell and the communication device not being in the fourth time interval.

[0100] In one embodiment, at least one uplink transmission satisfies at least one of the following conditions: at least one uplink transmission includes at least one physical uplink shared channel in response to at least a certain time-prep for candidate cells being valid; and at least one uplink transmission includes at least one second physical random access channel in response to the absence of a valid time-prep for candidate cells and (e.g., for cell switching procedures) physical random access channel resources being set for candidate cells. In one embodiment, the communication device stops executing the cell switching procedure for candidate cells in response to the absence of a valid time-prep for candidate cells and (e.g., for cell switching procedures) physical random access channel resources not being set for candidate cells.

[0101] In one embodiment, after stopping the cell switching procedure for candidate cells, the communication device restarts the cell switching procedure for suitable candidate cells. In one embodiment, after stopping the cell switching procedure for candidate cells after a fourth time interval, the communication device restarts the cell switching procedure for suitable candidate cells. In one embodiment, the suitable candidate cells satisfy at least one condition.

[0102] In one embodiment, a communication device without a valid timing precedence transmits (e.g., decides to transmit) a cell switching request to a candidate cell. In one embodiment, the communication device increments a third counter (e.g., for the candidate cell) by 1 in response to the communication device without a valid timing precedence transmitting (e.g., decides to transmit) a cell switching request to the candidate cell. In one embodiment, the communication device without a valid timing precedence continues to execute a timing precedence grant or resource grant (e.g., by transmitting the aforementioned uplink channel) in response to the candidate cell still meeting at least one of the conditions and the third counter not exceeding at least one of a fifth threshold. In one embodiment, the communication device stops executing the cell switching procedure for the candidate cell in response to the candidate cell not meeting at least one of the conditions and the third counter exceeding at least one of the fifth threshold.

[0103] In one embodiment, the communication device obtains a plurality of indicators associated with a plurality of candidate cells. In one embodiment, the plurality of indicators includes at least one indicator. In one embodiment, the communication device selects candidate cells from the plurality of candidate cells in a priority order based on at least one of the following factors: candidate identification or entity cell identification; a first decision regarding whether the candidate cell contains at least one valid timing advance; a second decision regarding whether the candidate cell is a secondary cell for the communication device; and a third decision regarding whether the candidate cell is configured with at least one entity random access channel resource.

[0104] In one embodiment, (e.g., if the communication device is capable on) of performing user-side timing pre-measurement, the communication device does not perform an uplink synchronization procedure according to the higher-level configuration. In one embodiment, (e.g., if the timing pre-measure value of a candidate cell is the same as the timing pre-measure value of a service cell or the timing pre-measure value of the candidate cell is 0), the communication device transmits a message or information (e.g., an uplink resource request message) for a cell switching request to the network end. In one embodiment, (e.g., when the communication device calculates at least a certain timing pre-measure value for at least one uplink transmission), the communication device transmits a message or information (e.g., an uplink resource request message) for a cell switching request to the network end. In one embodiment, (e.g., when the communication device has been configured with uplink resources for a cell switching request (e.g., a configured allowable entity uplink shared channel)), the communication device does not transmit a message or information (e.g., an uplink resource request message) for a cell switching request to the network end.

[0105] In one embodiment, at least one first / second physical random access channel transmitted by the candidate cell is at least one contention-free physical random access channel resource set by the network end. In one embodiment, the communication device is configured with a set of physical random access channel resources for each candidate cell. In one embodiment, after a fourth time interval, the communication device increments a third counter by 1 in response to the communication device not obtaining a timing pre-set value for the candidate cell. In one embodiment, after the fourth time interval, the communication device retransmits at least one first / second physical random access channel in response to the communication device not obtaining a timing pre-set value for the candidate cell. In one embodiment, based on the third counter, the communication device determines the transmission power for the at least one first / second physical random access channel.

[0106] In one embodiment, the communication device initiates (or restarts) a third timer (e.g., parameter TimeAlignmentTimer) set with a third value in response to the communication device receiving a downlink channel. In one embodiment, the communication device determines whether an execution condition is met in response to the third timer expiring. In one embodiment, the communication device performs at least one of the following operations in response to the execution condition not being met and the third timer expiring: stopping the cell switching procedure for the candidate cell; and restarting the cell switching procedure for the suitable candidate cell after stopping the cell switching procedure for the candidate cell. The execution condition may be the condition of process 30. Details of the execution condition can be found in the embodiment of process 30, and will not be repeated here.

[0107] In one embodiment, the timed pre-registration or the resource used to transmit the cell switching request is invalidated before the execution condition is met. In one embodiment, the communication device increments a third counter by 1 in response to the invalidation of the timed pre-registration or the resource used to transmit the cell switching request. In one embodiment, the communication device continues to execute the timed pre-registration grant or the resource grant in response to at least one of the conditions that the candidate cell still meets and the invalidation of the timed pre-registration or the resource used to transmit the cell switching request. In one embodiment, the communication device stops executing the cell switching procedure for the candidate cell in response to the condition that the candidate cell does not meet at least one condition.

[0108] In one embodiment, the communication device transmits capability information to the network end. In one embodiment, the capability information indicates at least one of the following: whether the communication device supports user-end triggered / instructed cell switching; whether the communication device supports permission / acquisition before the triggering event / condition; whether the communication device supports timed pre-granting or resource granting after the triggering event / condition; whether the communication device supports timed pre-measurement based on the user end; whether the communication device supports temporal filtering / averaging of channel measurements; and whether the communication device supports spatial filtering / averaging of channel measurements.

[0109] It should be noted that the embodiments of process 30 can be applied to process 50, and the embodiments of process 50 can be applied to process 30.

[0110] Figure 6 is a flowchart of process 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 60 is used in a network terminal (e.g., network terminal 12 in Figure 1 or communication device 20 in Figure 2) to process uplink transmission. Process 60 can be compiled into program code 214 and includes the following steps:

[0111] Step 600: Begin.

[0112] Step 602: Generate a first configuration, wherein the first configuration includes a set of candidate configurations, and each candidate configuration in the set of candidate configurations includes at least one of a candidate identification, a physical cell identification, a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block frequency, a subcarrier spacing of a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block, a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block period, and a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block transmission power.

[0113] Step 604: Transmit the first configuration to a communication device.

[0114] Step 606: End.

[0115] According to process 60, the network end generates a first configuration. The first configuration includes a set of candidate configurations. Each candidate configuration in the candidate configuration set includes at least one of the following: candidate identification, entity cell identification, synchronization signal / entity broadcast channel block frequency, synchronization signal / entity broadcast channel block subcarrier spacing, synchronization signal / entity broadcast channel block period, and synchronization signal / entity broadcast channel block transmission power. The network end transmits the first configuration to the communication device. That is, the information in the first configuration is used by the communication device to perform at least one uplink transmission (e.g., transmitting a cell handover request). Therefore, in the absence of a cell handover instruction from the network end, the communication device can perform a cell handover procedure.

[0116] There are many ways to implement process 60, and it is not limited to those described above. The embodiments of process 50 can be applied to process 60, and will not be elaborated here.

[0117] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a determination 70 of whether at least one reference signal in an embodiment of the present invention satisfies a condition (e.g., the condition of process 30 or the execution condition for an embodiment of process 50). The communication device is configured with a timer TM1 and a counter. The timer TM1 and the counter are respectively set to a fixed value T1 and a maximum value Cn_MAX of the variable Cn. The communication device sets the variable Cn to 0, and the maximum value Cn_MAX of the variable Cn is set to 4 by the network end. In Figure 7, the communication device and the timer TM1 correspond to the time domain T. Each arrow in the time domain T of the communication device represents the lower layer (e.g., the physical layer) of the communication device transmitting an instruction to the higher layer (e.g., the media access control layer) of the communication device in a time instance, or represents the communication device transmitting an uplink channel to the network end in a time instance.

[0118] In time instance t1, a first event instance occurs for a reference signal (e.g., a candidate reference signal). The communication device transmits a first indicator IN1 corresponding to the reference signal, increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=1), and starts timer TM1 in response to the occurrence of the first event instance. In time instance t2, a second event instance occurs for the reference signal. The communication device transmits a second indicator IN2 corresponding to the reference signal, increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=2), and restarts timer TM1 in response to the occurrence of the second event instance. In time instance t3, a third event instance occurs for the reference signal. The communication device transmits a third indicator IN3 corresponding to the reference signal, increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=3), and restarts timer TM1 in response to the occurrence of the third event instance. In time instance t4, a fourth event instance occurs for the reference signal. The communication device transmits a fourth indicator IN4 corresponding to the reference signal, increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=4), and restarts the counter in response to the occurrence of the fourth event instance.

[0119] In Figure 7, because the counter reaches its maximum value Cn_MAX at time instance t4 (i.e., the variable Cn is not less than the maximum value Cn_MAX), the communication device determines whether the reference signal meets the condition. Specifically, the communication device determines that the reference signal meets the condition in response to the timer TM1 not expiring at time instance t4. Therefore, at time instance t5, the communication device transmits the uplink channel UL_C to the network end in response to the reference signal meeting the condition. Furthermore, the communication device resets the variable Cn to 0 in response to the communication device transmitting the uplink channel UL_C to the network end.

[0120] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a determination 80 of whether at least one reference signal in an embodiment of the present invention satisfies a condition (e.g., the condition of process 30 or the execution condition for an embodiment of process 50). The communication device is configured with a timer TM1 and a counter. The timer TM1 and the counter are respectively set to a fixed value T1 and a maximum value Cn_MAX of the variable Cn. The communication device sets the variable Cn to 0, and the maximum value Cn_MAX of the variable Cn is set to 4 by the network end. In Figure 8, the communication device and the timer TM1 correspond to the time domain T. Each arrow in the time domain T of the communication device represents the lower layer (e.g., the physical layer) of the communication device transmitting an instruction to the higher layer (e.g., the media access control layer) of the communication device in a time instance, or represents the communication device transmitting an uplink channel to the network end in a time instance.

[0121] In time instance t1, a first event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits a first indicator IN1 corresponding to the reference signal, increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=1), and starts timer TM1 in response to the occurrence of the first event instance. In time instance t2, a second event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits a second indicator IN2 corresponding to the reference signal, increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=2), and restarts timer TM1 in response to the occurrence of the second event instance. In time instance t3, a third event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits a third indicator IN3 corresponding to the reference signal, increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=3), and restarts timer TM1 in response to the occurrence of the third event instance.

[0122] In Figure 8, because the counter did not reach its maximum value Cn_MAX at time instance t4 (i.e., the variable Cn is less than the maximum value Cn_MAX), the communication device determines that the reference signal does not meet the condition. Therefore, the communication device does not transmit the uplink channel to the network end in response to the reference signal not meeting the condition. In addition, the communication device resets the variable Cn to 0 in response to the timer TM1 expiring.

[0123] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a determination 90 of whether at least one reference signal in an embodiment of the present invention satisfies a condition (e.g., the condition of process 30 or the execution condition for the embodiment of process 50). The communication device is configured with a timer TM2 and a counter. The timer TM2 and the counter are respectively set with a fixed value T2 and a threshold Cn_TH for the variable Cn. The communication device sets the variable Cn to 0, and the threshold Cn_TH for the variable Cn is set to 4 by the network end. In Figure 9, the communication device and the timer TM2 correspond to the time domain T. Each arrow in the time domain T of the communication device represents the lower layer (e.g., the physical layer) of the communication device transmitting an instruction to the higher layer (e.g., the media access control layer) of the communication device in a time instance, or represents the communication device transmitting an uplink channel to the network end in a time instance.

[0124] In time instance t1, a first event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits the first indicator IN1 corresponding to the reference signal, increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=1), and starts timer TM2 in response to the occurrence of the first event instance. In time instance t2, a second event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits the second indicator IN2 corresponding to the reference signal and increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=2) in response to the occurrence of the second event instance. In time instance t3, a third event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits the third indicator IN3 corresponding to the reference signal and increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=3) in response to the occurrence of the third event instance. In time instance t4, a fourth event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits the fourth indicator IN4 corresponding to the reference signal and increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=4) in response to the occurrence of the fourth event instance. In time instance t5, a fifth event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits the fifth indicator IN5 corresponding to the reference signal and increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=5) in response to the occurrence of the fifth event instance. At time instance t6, timer TM2 expires.

[0125] In Figure 9, (e.g., when timer TM2 expires) the communication device determines whether the reference signal meets the condition. Specifically, the communication device determines that the reference signal meets the condition in response to the variable Cn (i.e., 5) being not less than the threshold Cn_TH. Therefore, in a time instance (e.g., time instance t7 after time instance t6), the communication device transmits the uplink channel UL_C (e.g., the first uplink channel of process 30, at least one entity uplink shared channel for the embodiment of process 50, or the uplink channel for the embodiment of process 50) to the network end in response to the reference signal meeting the condition. Furthermore, the communication device resets the variable Cn to 0 in response to timer TM2 expiring or the communication device transmitting the uplink channel UL_C.

[0126] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a determination 100 of whether at least one reference signal in an embodiment of the present invention satisfies a condition (e.g., the condition of process 30 or the execution condition for an embodiment of process 50). The communication device is configured with a timer TM2 and a counter. The timer TM2 and the counter are respectively set with a fixed value T2 and a threshold Cn_TH for the variable Cn. The communication device sets the variable Cn to 0, and the threshold Cn_TH for the variable Cn is set to 4 by the network end. In Figure 10, the communication device and the timer TM2 correspond to the time domain T. Each arrow in the time domain T of the communication device represents the lower layer (e.g., the physical layer) of the communication device transmitting an instruction to the higher layer (e.g., the media access control layer) of the communication device in a time instance, or represents the communication device transmitting an uplink channel to the network end in a time instance.

[0127] In time instance t1, a first event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits the first indicator IN1 corresponding to the reference signal, increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=1), and starts timer TM2 in response to the occurrence of the first event instance. In time instance t2, a second event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits the second indicator IN2 corresponding to the reference signal and increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=2) in response to the occurrence of the second event instance. In time instance t3, a third event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits the third indicator IN3 corresponding to the reference signal and increments the counter by 1 (i.e., Cn=3) in response to the occurrence of the third event instance. In time instance t4, timer TM2 expires.

[0128] In Figure 10, when timer TM2 expires, the communication device determines whether the reference signal meets the condition. Specifically, the communication device determines that no reference signal meets the condition in response to the variable Cn (i.e., 3) being less than the threshold Cn_TH. Therefore, the communication device does not transmit the uplink channel to the network end in response to the absence of a reference signal meeting the condition. Furthermore, the communication device resets the variable Cn to 0 in response to the timer TM2 expiring.

[0129] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a determination 110 of whether at least one reference signal satisfies a condition (e.g., the condition of process 30 or the execution condition for the embodiment of process 50) according to an embodiment of the present invention. A communication device is configured with timer TM1 and timer TM2. Timer TM1 and timer TM2 are respectively set to fixed values ​​T1 and T2. In Figure 11, the communication device, timer TM1, and timer TM2 correspond to the time domain T. Each arrow in the time domain T of the communication device represents a lower layer (e.g., physical layer) of the communication device transmitting an instruction to a higher layer (e.g., media access control layer) of the communication device in a time instance, or represents the communication device transmitting an uplink channel to the network end in a time instance.

[0130] In time instance t1, a first event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits a first indicator IN1 corresponding to the reference signal and starts timers TM1 and TM2 in response to the occurrence of the first event instance. In time instance t2, a second event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits a second indicator IN2 corresponding to the reference signal and restarts timer TM1 in response to the occurrence of the second event instance. In time instance t3, a third event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits a third indicator IN3 corresponding to the reference signal and restarts timer TM1 in response to the occurrence of the third event instance. In time instance t4, a fourth event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits a fourth indicator IN4 corresponding to the reference signal and restarts timer TM1 in response to the occurrence of the fourth event instance. In time instance t5, timer TM2 expires.

[0131] In Figure 11, (for example, when timer TM2 expires) the communication device determines whether the reference signal meets the condition. Specifically, the communication device determines that the reference signal meets the condition in response to timer TM1 not expiring in time instance t5. Therefore, in a time instance after time instance t5 (e.g., time instance t6), the communication device transmits the uplink channel UL_C (e.g., the first uplink channel of process 30, at least one entity uplink shared channel for the embodiment of process 50, or the uplink channel for the embodiment of process 50) to the network end in response to the reference signal meeting the condition. Furthermore, the communication device resets the variable Cn to 0 in response to timer TM2 expiring or the communication device transmitting the uplink channel UL_C.

[0132] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a determination 120 of whether at least one reference signal satisfies a condition (e.g., the condition of process 30 or the execution condition for the embodiment of process 50) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication device is configured with timer TM1 and timer TM2. Timer TM1 and timer TM2 are respectively set with fixed values ​​T1 and T2. In Figure 12, the communication device, timer TM1, and timer TM2 correspond to the time domain T. Each arrow on the time domain T of the communication device represents the lower layer (e.g., the physical layer) of the communication device transmitting an instruction to the higher layer (e.g., the media access control layer) of the communication device in a time instance, or represents the communication device transmitting an uplink channel to the network end in a time instance.

[0133] In time instance t1, a first event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits a first indicator IN1 corresponding to the reference signal and starts timers TM1 and TM2 in response to the occurrence of the first event instance. In time instance t2, a second event instance for the reference signal occurs. The communication device transmits a second indicator IN2 corresponding to the reference signal and restarts timer TM1 in response to the occurrence of the second event instance. In time instance t3, timer TM1 expires. In time instance t4, timer TM2 expires.

[0134] In Figure 12, when timer TM2 expires, the communication device determines whether the reference signal meets the condition. Specifically, the communication device determines that no reference signal meets the condition, in response to timer TM1 expiring at time instance t3 before timer TM2 expires. Therefore, the communication device does not transmit an uplink channel to the network end in response to the absence of a reference signal meeting the condition. Furthermore, the communication device resets the variable Cn to 0 in response to timer TM2 expiring.

[0135] Figure 13 is a flowchart of process 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 130 is used by a communication device (e.g., communication device 14 in Figure 1 or communication device 20 in Figure 2) to process uplink transmission according to downlink control information (e.g., physical downlink control channel sequence). Process 130 can be compiled into program code 214 and includes the following steps:

[0136] Step 1300: Begin.

[0137] Step 1302: Receive the following link control information used to initiate a random access procedure.

[0138] Step 1304: Based on a cell indicator in the downlink control information, determine a candidate cell to initiate the random access procedure.

[0139] Step 1306: Are at least one first random access preamble indicated by a random access preamble indicator in the downlink control information all 0? If yes, proceed to step 1308. If no, proceed to step 1312.

[0140] Step 1308: Select at least one second random access preamble from a set of random access preambles, wherein the set of random access preambles corresponds to at least one resource indicator of the candidate cell, and the candidate cell satisfies a condition.

[0141] Step 1310: Execute the random access procedure according to the selected at least one second random access preamble, and execute step 1318.

[0142] Step 1312: Select at least one synchronization signal / entity broadcast channel index corresponding to the at least one resource indicator of the candidate cell, wherein the candidate cell satisfies the condition.

[0143] Step 1314: Select at least one physical random access channel based on at least one of the at least one synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel indicator, the cell indicator, the random access preamble indicator, and the physical random access channel masking indicator in the downlink control information.

[0144] Step 1316: Transmit the selected at least one entity random access channel to the candidate cell.

[0145] Step 1318: End.

[0146] Figure 14 is a flowchart of process 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 140 is used by a communication device (e.g., communication device 14 in Figure 1 or communication device 20 in Figure 2) to process uplink transmission according to downlink control information (e.g., physical downlink control channel sequence). Process 140 can be compiled into program code 214 and includes the following steps:

[0147] Step 1400: Begin.

[0148] Step 1402: Receive the following link control information used to initiate a random access procedure.

[0149] Step 1404: Based on a cell indicator in the downlink control information, determine a candidate cell to initiate the random access procedure.

[0150] Step 1406: Are at least one first random access preamble indicated by a random access preamble indicator in the downlink control information all 0? If yes, proceed to step 1408. If no, proceed to step 1412.

[0151] Step 1408: Select at least one second random access preamble from a set of random access preambles, wherein the set of random access preambles corresponds to at least one resource indicator of the candidate cell, and the candidate cell satisfies a condition.

[0152] Step 1410: Execute the random access procedure according to the selected at least one second random access preamble, and execute step 1420.

[0153] Step 1412: Does the random access preamble indicator indicate more than one random access preamble indicator? If yes, proceed to step 1414. If no, proceed to step 1418.

[0154] Step 1414: Select at least one third random access preamble from the at least one first random access preamble, wherein the at least one first random access preamble corresponds to the at least one resource indicator of the candidate cell, and the candidate cell satisfies the condition.

[0155] Step 1416: Execute the random access procedure based on at least one of the selected at least one third random access preamble and an entity random access channel masking index in the downlink control information, and execute step 1420.

[0156] Step 1418: Execute the random access procedure based on at least one of the cell indicator, the random access preamble indicator, at least one synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel indicator and the physical random access channel masking indicator.

[0157] Step 1420: End.

[0158] Figure 15 is a flowchart of process 150 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 150 is used in a communication device (e.g., communication device 14 in Figure 1 or communication device 20 in Figure 2) to process uplink transmission (e.g., a cell switching procedure for the communication device). Process 150 can be compiled into program code 214 and includes the following steps:

[0159] Step 1500: Begin.

[0160] Step 1502: Decide to send a cell switching information to a candidate cell.

[0161] Step 1504: Is the timing pre-setting of the candidate cell effective? If yes, proceed to step 1506. If no, proceed to step 1508.

[0162] Step 1506: Transmit at least one entity uplink shared channel to the candidate cell, and perform step 1510.

[0163] Step 1508: Transfer at least one entity random access channel to the candidate cell.

[0164] Step 1510: End.

[0165] Figure 16 is a flowchart of process 160 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 160 is used in a communication device (e.g., communication device 14 in Figure 1 or communication device 20 in Figure 2) to process uplink transmission (e.g., a cell switching procedure for the communication device). Process 160 can be compiled into program code 214 and includes the following steps:

[0166] Step 1600: Begin.

[0167] Step 1602: Decide to send a cell switching information to a candidate cell.

[0168] Step 1604: Is the timing pre-setting of the candidate cell effective? If yes, proceed to step 1606. If no, proceed to step 1608.

[0169] Step 1606: Transmit at least one entity uplink shared channel to the candidate cell, and perform step 1614.

[0170] Step 1608: Is the communication device within a time interval? If yes, proceed to step 1610. If no, proceed to step 1612.

[0171] Step 1610: After the time interval, transmit at least one entity random access channel to the candidate cell, and perform step 1614.

[0172] Step 1612: Transmit the at least one entity random access channel to the candidate cell.

[0173] Step 1614: End.

[0174] Figure 17 is a flowchart of process 170 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 170 is used in a communication device (e.g., communication device 14 in Figure 1 or communication device 20 in Figure 2) to process uplink transmission (e.g., a cell switching procedure for the communication device). Process 170 can be compiled into program code 214 and includes the following steps:

[0175] Step 1700: Begin.

[0176] Step 1702: Decide to send a cell switching information to a candidate cell.

[0177] Step 1704: Is the timing pre-setting of the candidate cell effective? If yes, proceed to step 1706. If no, proceed to step 1708.

[0178] Step 1706: Transmit at least one entity uplink shared channel to the candidate cell, and perform step 1712.

[0179] Step 1708: Stop the execution of the one-cell switching procedure for this candidate cell.

[0180] Step 1710: Restart the cell switching procedure for a suitable candidate cell.

[0181] Step 1712: End.

[0182] Figure 18 is a flowchart of process 180 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 180 is used in a communication device (e.g., communication device 14 in Figure 1 or communication device 20 in Figure 2) to process uplink transmission (e.g., a cell switching procedure for the communication device). Process 180 can be compiled into program code 214 and includes the following steps:

[0183] Step 1800: Begin.

[0184] Step 1802: Decide to send a cell switching information to a candidate cell.

[0185] Step 1804: Is the timing pre-setting of the candidate cell effective? If yes, proceed to step 1806. If no, proceed to step 1808.

[0186] Step 1806: Transmit at least one entity uplink shared channel to the candidate cell, and perform step 1816.

[0187] Step 1808: Is the communication device within a time interval? If yes, proceed to step 1810. If no, proceed to step 1812.

[0188] Step 1810: After this time interval, stop executing the one-cell switching procedure for the candidate cell and execute step 1814.

[0189] Step 1812: Stop the execution of the cell switching procedure for the candidate cell.

[0190] Step 1814: Restart the cell switching procedure for a suitable candidate cell.

[0191] Step 1816: End.

[0192] Figure 19 is a flowchart of process 190 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 190 is used in a communication device (e.g., communication device 14 in Figure 1 or communication device 20 in Figure 2) to process uplink transmission (e.g., a cell switching procedure for the communication device). Process 190 can be compiled into program code 214 and includes the following steps:

[0193] Step 1900: Begin.

[0194] Step 1902: Decide to send a cell switching information to a candidate cell.

[0195] Step 1904: Is the timing pre-setting of the candidate cell effective? If yes, proceed to step 1906. If no, proceed to step 1908.

[0196] Step 1906: Transmit at least one entity uplink shared channel to the candidate cell, and perform step 1916.

[0197] Step 1908: Is an entity random access channel resource for a cell switching procedure set up for the candidate cell? If yes, proceed to step 1910. If no, proceed to step 1912.

[0198] Step 1910: Transfer at least one entity random access channel to the candidate cell, and perform step 1916.

[0199] Step 1912: Stop the execution of the one-cell switching procedure for this candidate cell.

[0200] Step 1914: Restart the cell switching procedure for a suitable candidate cell.

[0201] Step 1916: End.

[0202] In processes 150 to 160, at least one entity’s uplink shared channel contains a cell switching request, and / or at least one entity’s random access channel contains a cell switching request.

[0203] In processes 170 to 190, at least one entity uplink shared channel contains a cell switching request and a suitable candidate cell that satisfies a condition (e.g., a condition of at least one condition used in the embodiment of process 50).

[0204] The terms “first,” “second,” … “ninth,” and “tenth” used above are for distinguishing related statements, not for limiting the order of related statements. The word “decide” used in the above description can be replaced with “compute,” “calculate,” “obtain,” “generate,” “output,” “use,” “choose / select,” “decide,” or “is configured to.” The word “according to” used in the above description can be replaced with “in response to.” The word “via” used in the above description can be replaced with “on,” “in,” or “at.” The words “when,” “if,” or “since” used in the above description can be replaced with “in response to.” The word “candidate cell” used in the above description can be replaced with “candidate reference signal” or “candidate beam.” The word “cell switching request” used in the above description can be replaced with “cell switching command.” The word “cell switching” used in the above description can be replaced with “beam switching.” The term "time window" used in the above description can be replaced with "time interval" or "time duration".

[0205] Those skilled in the art can combine, modify, or change the above-described embodiments in accordance with the spirit of the present invention, but are not limited thereto. The foregoing statements, steps, and / or processes (including suggested steps) can be implemented by a device, which can be hardware, software, firmware (a combination of hardware device and computer instructions and data, and the computer instructions and data are read-only software on the hardware device), electronic system, or a combination of the above devices, wherein the device can be a communication device.

[0206] The hardware may be analog microcomputer circuitry, digital microcomputer circuitry, and / or hybrid microcomputer circuitry. For example, the hardware may be application-specific integrated circuitry, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices, coupled hardware components, or combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the hardware may include a general-purpose processor, a microprocessor, a controller, a digital signal processor (DSP), or combinations thereof.

[0207] Software may be a combination of program code, a combination of instructions, and / or a combination of functions, which is stored (e.g., in a storage unit, such as a computer-readable medium). For example, a computer-readable medium may be a user identification module, read-only memory, flash memory, random access memory, optical disc read-only memory (CD-ROM / DVD-ROM / BD-ROM), magnetic tape, hard disk, optical data storage device, non-volatile memory, or a combination of the above elements. The computer-readable medium (such as a storage unit) may be internally coupled to at least one processor (such as a processor integrated with the computer-readable medium) or externally coupled to at least one processor (such as a processor independent of the computer-readable medium). The at least one processor may include (e.g., be configured to) one or more modules for executing the software stored in the computer-readable medium. A combination of program code, instructions, and / or functions (features) enables at least one processor, one or more modules, hardware, and / or electronic systems to perform related steps.

[0208] The electronic system may be a system on chip (SoC), system in package (SiP), computer on module (CoM), computer programmable product, device, mobile phone, notebook computer, tablet computer, e-book, portable computer system, and communication device 20.

[0209] Based on the above description, the present invention provides a method and communication apparatus for processing uplink transmission. When specific conditions occur, the communication apparatus transmits measurement reports through the uplink channel, replacing the periodic reporting of measurement reports. Therefore, uplink resources used for periodic reporting of measurement reports can be saved. Furthermore, in the absence of cell / beam switching instructions from the network end, the communication apparatus (e.g., with effective timing pre-processing) performs uplink transmission to execute the cell / beam switching procedure. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and all equivalent variations and modifications made within the scope of the claims of the present invention should be considered within the scope of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 3 is a flowchart of a process according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 4 is a flowchart of a process according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 5 is a flowchart of a process according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 6 is a flowchart of a process according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a determination of whether at least one reference signal satisfies a condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a determination of whether at least one reference signal satisfies a condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a determination of whether at least one reference signal satisfies a condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a determination of whether at least one reference signal satisfies a condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a determination of whether at least one reference signal satisfies a condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a determination of whether at least one reference signal satisfies a condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 13 is a flowchart of a process according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 14 is a flowchart of a process according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 15 is a flowchart of a process according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 16 is a flowchart of a process according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 17 is a flowchart of a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 18 is a flowchart of a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 19 is a flowchart of a first embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for a communication device to process uplink (UL) transmissions, comprising: receiving a configuration from a network end, wherein the configuration includes a set of reference signals (RS); performing at least one measurement for the set of reference signals to generate a measurement report; determining that at least one reference signal of the set of reference signals satisfies a condition in response to a second number of at least one event instance for the at least one reference signal within a time window being not less than a third number, wherein the time window is set by a third higher-layer signal and the third number is set by a fourth higher-layer signal; transmitting a first uplink channel to the network end in response to the at least one reference signal of the set of reference signals satisfying the condition; and transmitting a second uplink channel including the measurement report to the network end.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first uplink channel satisfies at least one of the following conditions: the first uplink channel includes a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH); the first uplink channel carries 1-bit information; the first uplink channel is configured with at least one of a first periodicity and a first offset; and the first uplink channel instructs the second uplink channel to carry the measurement report.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second uplink channel satisfies at least one of the following conditions: the second uplink channel includes a configured grant PUSCH (CG-PUSCH); and the second uplink channel is configured with at least one of a second period and a second offset.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the first uplink channel and the second uplink channel satisfy at least one of the following conditions: the first uplink channel and the second uplink channel are configured to have the same period; and the first uplink channel and the second uplink channel are each configured to have an offset.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement report includes at least one of a first quantity of the reference signal set, at least one signal quality, a plurality of differential signal qualities, and an event identification (ID), wherein the first quantity is set by a first higher layer signal.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured by a second higher layer signal, and the second higher layer signal indicates a unified transmission configuration indicator (TCI) status.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one event instance indicates that the signal quality of the at least one reference signal becomes a threshold that is better than the signal quality of the reference signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one signal quality includes at least one layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP).

9. The method as described in request 1, further comprising: starting the time window to respond to the occurrence of a first event instance in response to at least one event instance.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the at least one event instance based on a period of the reference signal set.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining that the at least one reference signal does not satisfy the condition, in response that a second number of at least one event instance for the at least one reference signal within a time window is less than a third number.

12. The method as described in request 11, further comprising: after the time window, resetting a counter used to determine the second number of the at least one event instance.

13. The method as described in request item 1, wherein the first uplink channel corresponds to a first priority index.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising at least one of the following steps: transmitting the first uplink channel and disabling the transmission of a third uplink channel in response to a second priority indicator of the third uplink channel being greater than the first priority indicator; and disabling the transmission of the first uplink channel and the transmission of the third uplink channel in response to the first priority indicator not being greater than the second priority indicator of the third uplink channel.

15. The method as described in request item 1, wherein the second uplink channel corresponds to a third priority metric.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising at least one of the following steps: transmitting the second uplink channel and disabling the transmission of a fourth uplink channel in response to a third priority indicator being greater than a fourth priority indicator of the fourth uplink channel; and disabling the transmission of the second uplink channel and the transmission of the fourth uplink channel in response to a third priority indicator not being greater than the fourth priority indicator of the fourth uplink channel.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting a maximum number of capability information about the reference signal set to the network end.

18. A communication apparatus for processing uplink (UL) transmissions, comprising: at least one storage device; and at least one processing circuit coupled to the at least one storage device, wherein the at least one storage device is configured to store instructions, and the at least one processing circuit is configured to execute the following instructions stored in the at least one storage device: receiving a configuration from a network end, wherein the configuration includes a set of reference signals (RS); performing at least one measurement for the set of reference signals to generate a measurement report; determining that at least one reference signal of the set of reference signals satisfies a condition in response to a second number of at least one event instance for the at least one reference signal within a time window being not less than a third number, wherein the time window is set by a third higher-layer signal, and the third number is set by a fourth higher-layer signal; Transmit a first uplink channel to the network end in response to the condition being met by at least one reference signal in the reference signal set; and transmit a second uplink channel containing the measurement report to the network end.

19. A method for processing uplink (UL) transmissions at a network end, comprising: transmitting a configuration to a communication device, wherein the configuration includes a set of reference signals (RS); receiving a first uplink channel from the communication device in response to at least one reference signal of the set of reference signals satisfying a condition; and receiving a second uplink channel from the communication device including a measurement report for the set of reference signals; wherein the at least one reference signal satisfies the condition in response to a second number of at least one event instance for the at least one reference signal within a time window being not less than a third number; wherein the time window is set by a third higher-layer signal, and the third number is set by a fourth higher-layer signal.

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