Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

Provided in the embodiments of the present application are a communication method and apparatus. The method can be applied to a terminal device. The method comprises: a terminal device monitoring a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) within a first time period, wherein the first PDCCH is a PDCCH borne by a user specific search space (USS) and a type3 user common search space (CSS); and according to a result of the monitoring performed on the first PDCCH within the first time period, the terminal device determining whether to monitor the first PDCCH within a second time period, wherein the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period. The method facilitates a reduction in the opportunities by means of which a terminal device monitors a first PDCCH.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on July 20, 2023, with application number 202310897623.2 and application name “A Communication Method and Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0003] When a network device determines that there will be no data scheduled for a certain terminal device in the future, it sends a skipping command at the end of the data packet scheduled for the terminal device. After receiving the skipping command, the terminal device skips monitoring the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carried by the user common search space (USS) and the type 3 user common search space (CSS) for a period of time, starting from the next time slot of the current time.

[0004] However, when there is no data scheduled for a terminal device, even if the network device determines that there will be no data scheduled for the terminal device in the future, it cannot send a skipping command to the terminal device. As a result, the terminal device still needs to monitor the PDCCH when there is no data scheduled, which increases the chances of the terminal device monitoring the PDCCH.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus that can reduce the chances of a terminal device monitoring a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[0007] In the first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a terminal device, a chip in a terminal device, or a module that can realize all or part of the functions of the terminal device, etc. The following description is taken as an example of a terminal device. In this method, the terminal device monitors a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH within a first time period, and the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS. The terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH within a second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH within the first time period. The second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring results of the first PDCCH in the first time period, so that the terminal device may skip monitoring the first PDCCH in the second time period, which is beneficial to reducing the chance of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0009] In an optional embodiment, the terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring results of the first PDCCH in the first time period, including: when the first PDCCH is not monitored in the first time period, skipping the monitoring of the first PDCCH in the second time period; or, when the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period, monitoring the first PDCCH in the second time period.

[0010] It can be seen that when the terminal device fails to monitor the first PDCCH in the first time period, it skips monitoring the first PDCCH in the second time period, which can reduce the chances of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the starting position of the first time period is the time domain position indicated by the first first search space on the predefined time domain resource, or the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the second time period, or the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the third time period.

[0012] The third time period is a time period for skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH determined according to the skip command, and the first search space is the USS and the CSS of type 3.

[0013] In an optional embodiment, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in the first time domain resource when there is no overlap between the first time domain resource and the second time period or the third time period, or when there is overlap between the first time domain resource and the second time period. The first time domain resource is predefined or configured. This method can ensure that the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH on a fixed time domain resource (i.e., the first time domain resource), thereby facilitating the alignment of the monitoring pattern of the first PDCCH between the terminal device and the network device.

[0014] In another optional implementation, when the first time domain resource overlaps with the third time period, the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH within the first time domain resource. That is, even if the first time domain resource is a predefined or configured time domain resource in which the terminal device needs to monitor the first PDCCH, when the first time domain resource overlaps with the third time period in which the terminal device needs to skip the first PDCCH as determined by the skip command, the terminal device still skips monitoring the first PDCCH within the first time domain resource to save power consumption of the terminal device.

[0015] In an optional implementation, when the terminal device detects the first PDCCH in the first time domain resource, it monitors the first PDCCH in a fourth time period after the first time domain resource to reduce the probability of missing the first PDCCH.

[0016] In an optional implementation, the skip command received by the terminal device is carried in the group downlink control information. This approach can reduce network overhead.

[0017] In an optional implementation, the terminal device further determines the duration of the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period. It can be seen that the terminal device can dynamically adjust the duration of the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period.

[0018] On the second aspect, the embodiments of the present application also provide a communication method, which can be applied to a terminal device, a chip in a terminal device, or a module that can realize all or part of the functions of the terminal device, etc. The following description is made using a terminal device as an example. In this method, the terminal device monitors a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH within a first time period, and the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS. When the terminal device does not detect a skip command in a first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is prior to the first time period and closest to the first time period, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH within a second time period; or, when the terminal device detects a skip command in a first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is prior to the first time period and closest to the first time period, the terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH within the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH within the first time period. The second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0019] In an embodiment of the present application, when a terminal device does not detect a skip command in a first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is prior to a first time period and closest to the first time period, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in a second time period, regardless of whether the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in the first time period, so as to reduce the probability of missing the first PDCCH. When a terminal device detects a skip command in a first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is prior to the first time period and closest to the first time period, the terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring result in the first time period, which is beneficial to reducing the chances of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0020] In an optional embodiment, the terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in a second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period, including: when the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period and the first PDCCH does not carry a skip command, monitoring the first PDCCH in the second time period; or, when the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period and the first PDCCH carries a skip command, monitoring the first PDCCH on time domain resources other than the duration determined according to the skip command in the second time period; or, when the first PDCCH is not monitored in the first time period, skipping the monitoring of the first PDCCH in the second time period.

[0021] It can be seen that when the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH within the first time period, it monitors the first PDCCH within the second time period to reduce the probability of missing the first PDCCH; when the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH within the first time period, it skips monitoring the first PDCCH within the second time period to reduce the chance of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0022] In an optional embodiment, the first time period overlaps with the third time period, and the third time period is a time period for skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH determined according to the skip command. That is, when the first time period overlaps with the third time period for skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH determined according to the skip command by the terminal device, the terminal device still monitors the first PDCH within the first time period.

[0023] In an optional implementation, the skip command received by the terminal device is carried in the group downlink control information. This approach can reduce network overhead.

[0024] In an optional embodiment, the terminal device further determines the time domain position of the first time period based on an offset value corresponding to the first time period, a period corresponding to the first time period, and a subcarrier spacing. The offset value corresponding to the first time period, the period corresponding to the first time period, and the subcarrier spacing may be configured by the network device.

[0025] It can be seen that the terminal device can determine the time domain position of the first time period by itself according to the configuration of the network device.

[0026] In an optional implementation, the terminal device further determines the duration of the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period. It can be seen that the terminal device can dynamically adjust the duration of the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period.

[0027] On the third aspect, the embodiments of the present application also provide a communication method, which can be applied to a network device, a chip in a network device, or a module that can realize all or part of the functions of the network device, etc. The following description will be made using a network device as an example. In this method, the network device receives first indication information from a terminal device, and the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device has received the first physical downlink control channel PDCCH of scheduled data within a first time period, and the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS. When the first indication information indicates that the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH of scheduled data within the first time period, the network device sends the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data for M times. The network device sends the first PDCCH of scheduled data in the first time slot after sending the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data for the Mth time.

[0028] The value of M is greater than or equal to the number of time slots included in the duration of the second time period, and the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0029] In an embodiment of the present application, the value of M is greater than or equal to the number of time slots included in the length of the second time period, so that when the network device determines that the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH of scheduling data within the first time period, it sends the first PDCCH of scheduling data in the first time slot after continuously sending the first PDCCH without scheduling data M times, which is beneficial to ensure that the terminal device successfully receives the first PDCCH of scheduling data from the network device.

[0030] In an optional embodiment, when a network device transmits a first PDCCH for scheduling data within a first time period, the network device increases the number of transmissions of the first PDCCH for scheduling data, increases the transmit power of the first PDCCH for scheduling data, or increases the aggregation level of the first PDCCH for scheduling data. This approach can increase the success rate of the network device successfully transmitting the first PDCCH for scheduling data within the first time period, thereby reducing the probability of a terminal device missing the first PDCCH for scheduling data within the first time period.

[0031] In an optional implementation, when the network device determines not to send the first PDCCH scheduling data in the first time period and to send the first PDCCH scheduling data in the second time period, the first PDCCH not scheduling data is sent in the first time period.

[0032] This method is beneficial for the terminal device to monitor the first PDCCH without scheduling data in the first time period while still monitoring the first PDCCH in the second time period, thereby enabling the terminal device to receive the first PDCCH with scheduling data from the network device in the second time period, thereby reducing the probability of the terminal device missing the first PDCCH.

[0033] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device. The communication device has the function of implementing some or all of the functions of the terminal device described in the first aspect above, or implementing some or all of the functions of the terminal device described in the second aspect above, or implementing some or all of the functions of the network device described in the third aspect above. For example, the functions of the communication device may have the functions of some or all of the embodiments of the terminal device described in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, or may have the functions of implementing any one of the embodiments of the present application alone. The functions may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0034] In one possible design, the communication device may include a processing unit and a communication unit. The processing unit is configured to support the communication device in performing the corresponding functions in the above method. The communication unit is configured to support communication between the communication device and other communication devices. The communication device may also include a storage unit, which is coupled to the processing unit and the communication unit and stores program instructions and data necessary for the communication device.

[0035] In one embodiment, the communication device includes: a processing unit and a communication unit, wherein the communication unit is used to send and receive signals / signaling;

[0036] The processing unit is used to monitor the first physical downlink control channel PDCCH within a first time period, where the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS; the processing unit is also used to determine whether to monitor the first PDCCH within a second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH within the first time period; the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0037] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the relevant content of the first aspect above and will not be described in detail here.

[0038] In another embodiment, the communication device includes: a processing unit and a communication unit, the communication unit is used to send and receive signals / signaling; the processing unit is used to monitor a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH within a first time period, the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS; the processing unit is also used to monitor the first PDCCH within a second time period when no skip command is detected in the first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is prior to the first time period and closest to the first time period; or, the processing unit is also used to determine whether to monitor the first PDCCH within a second time period based on a result of monitoring the first PDCCH within the first time period when a skip command is detected in the first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is prior to the first time period and closest to the first time period; the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0039] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the relevant content of the second aspect above and will not be described in detail here.

[0040] In another embodiment, the communication device includes: a processing unit and a communication unit, the processing unit is used to process signals / signaling; the communication unit is used to receive first indication information from a terminal device, the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device has received a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH of scheduled data within a first time period, the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS; the communication unit is also used to send the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data M times when the first indication information indicates that the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH of scheduled data within the first time period; the communication unit is also used to send the first PDCCH of scheduled data in the first time slot after sending the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data for the Mth time; the value of M is greater than or equal to the number of time slots included in the length of a second time period, and the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0041] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the relevant content of the third aspect above and will not be described in detail here.

[0042] As an example, the communication unit may be a transceiver or a communication interface, the storage unit may be a memory, and the processing unit may be a processor.

[0043] In one embodiment, the communication device includes: a processor and a transceiver, the transceiver is used to send and receive signals / signaling; the processor is used to monitor a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH within a first time period, the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS; the processor is also used to determine whether to monitor the first PDCCH within a second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH within the first time period; the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0044] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the relevant content of the first aspect above and will not be described in detail here.

[0045] In another embodiment, the communication device includes: a processor and a transceiver, the transceiver is used to send and receive signals / signaling; the processor is used to monitor a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH within a first time period, the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS; the processor is also used to monitor the first PDCCH within a second time period when no skip command is detected in the first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is prior to the first time period and closest to the first time period; or, the processor is also used to determine whether to monitor the first PDCCH within a second time period based on a result of monitoring the first PDCCH within the first time period when a skip command is detected in the first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is prior to the first time period and closest to the first time period; the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0046] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the relevant content of the second aspect above and will not be described in detail here.

[0047] In another embodiment, the communication device includes: a processor and a transceiver, the processor is used to process signals / signaling; the transceiver is used to receive first indication information from a terminal device, the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device has received a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH of scheduled data within a first time period, the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS; the transceiver is also used to send the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data M times when the first indication information indicates that the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH of scheduled data within the first time period; the transceiver is also used to send the first PDCCH of scheduled data in the first time slot after sending the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data for the Mth time; the value of M is greater than or equal to the number of time slots included in the length of a second time period, and the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0048] In addition, in this aspect, other optional implementations of the communication device can refer to the relevant content of the third aspect above and will not be described in detail here.

[0049] In another embodiment, the communication device is a chip or a chip system. The processing unit may also be embodied as a processing circuit or a logic circuit; and the communication unit may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin, or related circuits on the chip or chip system.

[0050] During implementation, the processor can be used to perform, for example, but not limited to, baseband-related processing, and the transceiver can be used to perform, for example, but not limited to, radio frequency transceiver processing. The aforementioned devices can be provided on separate chips, or at least partially or entirely on the same chip. For example, the processor can be further divided into an analog baseband processor and a digital baseband processor. The analog baseband processor can be integrated with the transceiver on the same chip, while the digital baseband processor can be provided on a separate chip. With the continuous development of integrated circuit technology, more and more devices can be integrated on the same chip. For example, a digital baseband processor can be integrated with multiple application processors (such as, but not limited to, a graphics processor, a multimedia processor, etc.) on the same chip. Such a chip can be called a system on a chip (SoC). Whether each device is provided independently on different chips or integrated on one or more chips often depends on the needs of the product design. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation form of the aforementioned devices.

[0051] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a processor for executing the various methods described above. In the process of executing these methods, the process of sending the above-mentioned information and receiving the above-mentioned information in the above-mentioned methods can be understood as the process of the processor outputting the above-mentioned information and the process of the processor receiving the above-mentioned information input. When outputting the above-mentioned information, the processor outputs the above-mentioned information to the transceiver so that the transceiver can transmit it. After being output by the processor, the above-mentioned information may also need to undergo other processing before reaching the transceiver. Similarly, when the processor receives the above-mentioned information input, the transceiver receives the above-mentioned information and inputs it into the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver receives the above-mentioned information, the above-mentioned information may need to undergo other processing before being input into the processor.

[0052] For the sending and receiving operations involved in the processor, unless otherwise specified, or unless they conflict with their actual functions or internal logic in the relevant descriptions, they can be more generally understood as processor output, reception, input and other operations, rather than sending and receiving operations directly performed by the RF circuit and antenna.

[0053] During implementation, the processor may be a processor specifically configured to execute these methods, or may be a processor that executes computer instructions in a memory to execute these methods, such as a general-purpose processor. The memory may be a non-transitory memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM), which may be integrated with the processor on the same chip or disposed on separate chips. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the type of memory or the configuration of the memory and the processor.

[0054] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, which includes a network device and a terminal device. In another possible design, the system may also include other devices that interact with the network device and the terminal device.

[0055] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions, which, when executed by a computer, implements the method described in any one of the first to third aspects above.

[0056] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, implements the method described in any one of the first to third aspects above.

[0057] Ninthly, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor and an interface, wherein the interface is used to obtain a program or instruction, and the processor is used to call the program or instruction to implement or support the terminal device to implement the functions involved in the first aspect, or to implement or support the terminal device to implement the functions involved in the second aspect, or to implement or support the network device to implement the functions involved in the third aspect. For example, determine or process at least one of the data and information involved in the above method. In one possible design, the chip system also includes a memory, which is used to store program instructions and data necessary for the terminal. The chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0058] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising a processor for executing a computer program or executable instructions stored in a memory, wherein when the computer program or executable instructions are executed, the device performs the method in each possible implementation of aspects 1 to 3. The communication device can be a terminal device / network device, a chip in a terminal device / network device, or a module that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal device / network device.

[0059] In one possible implementation, the processor and the memory are integrated together; in another possible implementation, the memory is located outside the communication device.

[0060] The beneficial effects of the fourth to tenth aspects can refer to the beneficial effects of the first to third aspects, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture;

[0062] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a time domain resource provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIG4 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG10 is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] FIG15 is an interactive diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] FIG16 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] FIG17 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application are described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0079] In order to better understand the communication method disclosed in the embodiment of the present application, a system to which the embodiment of the present application is applicable is described.

[0080] The embodiments of the present application can be applied to systems evolved after 5G, such as long-term evolution (LTE) systems, fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems, and sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication systems, as well as satellite communications and short-range wireless communication systems. The system architecture is shown in Figure 1. A wireless communication system may include one or more network devices and one or more terminal devices. A wireless communication system may also perform point-to-point communication, such as communication between multiple terminal devices.

[0081] In an embodiment of the present application, the network device is a device with wireless transceiver functions, which is used to communicate with a terminal device. It can be an evolved base station (evolved Node B, eNB or eNodeB) in LTE, or a base station in a 5G / 6G network or a base station in a future evolved public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN), a broadband network service gateway (BNG), an aggregation switch or a non-third generation partnership project (3GPP) access device, etc. Optionally, the network devices in the embodiments of the present application may include various forms of base stations, such as: macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small stations), relay stations, access points, devices that realize base station functions in the future, access points (APs) in wireless fidelity (WiFi) systems, transmitting and receiving points (TRPs), transmitting points (TPs), mobile switching centers, and devices that perform base station functions in device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, devices that realize base station functions in communication systems evolved after 5G, integrated access and backhaul (IAB), and may also include centralized units (CUs) and distributed units (DUs) in cloud radio access networks (C-RAN) systems, non-terrestrial communication networks (non-terrestrial) networks, and mobile switching centers. The network equipment in the NTN communication system can be deployed on a high-altitude platform or a satellite, or can be various devices constituting an access node, such as an active antenna unit (AAU) and a baseband unit (BBU), etc., which are not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0082] Network devices can communicate and interact with core network devices to provide communication services to terminal devices. Core network devices are, for example, devices in the 5G core network (CN). As a bearer network, the core network provides an interface to the data network, providing communication connections, authentication, management, policy control, and data service delivery for terminals.

[0083] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may include various handheld devices, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, computing devices, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem with wireless communication capabilities. The terminal device may also be referred to as a terminal. Terminal equipment may also refer to user equipment (UE), access terminal, subscriber unit, user agent, cellular phone, smart phone, wireless data card, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet computer, wireless modem, handheld device, laptop computer, smart point of sale (POS), customer-premises equipment (CPE), machine type communication (MTC) terminal, communication equipment carried by high-altitude aircraft, wearable device, drone, robot, terminal in D2D, terminal in vehicle to everything (V2X), virtual reality (VR) terminal device, augmented reality (AR) terminal device, wireless terminal in industrial control, wireless terminal in self-driving, wireless terminal in remote medical, wireless terminal in smart grid, wireless terminal in transportation security, etc. This application does not limit the wireless terminals in smart cities, smart homes, or terminal devices in future communication networks.

[0084] The embodiments disclosed herein will present various aspects, embodiments, or features of the present invention centered around a system comprising multiple devices, components, modules, etc. It should be understood that each system may include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and / or may not include all of the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, combinations of these solutions may also be used.

[0085] At present, when the network device determines that there will be no data scheduling for a certain terminal device in the future period of time, it sends a skipping command at the tail packet of the data scheduled for the terminal device. After receiving the skipping command, the terminal device determines the duration according to the skipping command, and starts from the next time slot of the current time, skips the monitoring of the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carried by the user common search space (USS) and the user common search space (CSS) of type 3 (type 3) within the duration. The terminal device skips the monitoring of the PDCCH carried by the USS and the type 3 CSS within the duration, which can also be understood as: the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH carried by the USS and the type 3 CSS within the duration period, and can also be understood as: the terminal device does not perform blind detection operations on the PDCCH contained in the USS and the type 3 CSS within the duration.

[0086] For example, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a time domain resource. As shown in Figure 2, the terminal device monitors the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS in time slot a and time slot b, and receives a PDCCH skipping indication in time slot b. The PDCCH skipping indication is a skipping command, and the skipping command is carried in the downlink control information (DCI) of formate 0_1, 0_2, 1_1 and 1_2. Starting from the next time slot (i.e., time slot c) after receiving the skipping command, the terminal device skips monitoring the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS, that is, starting from time slot c, it does not monitor the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS. The duration of the terminal device skipping monitoring of the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS starting from time slot c is determined according to the skipping command received in time slot b. The terminal device resumes monitoring the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS in time slot d. If the terminal device receives a PDCCH skip indication in time slot e, the terminal device skips monitoring of the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS starting from time slot f, and the duration of the terminal device skipping monitoring of the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS starting from time slot f is determined according to the skipping command received in time slot e.

[0087] The terminal device monitors the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS on the time domain resources shown in Figure 2 above, and skips the monitoring process for the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS. This is a skipping process performed by the terminal device in accordance with the skipping command. In addition, the terminal device can also perform the skipping process during the active time period of discontinuous reception.

[0088] When the network device configures a PDCCH skipping duration list in the DCI carrying the skipping command but does not configure a search space group identification list, the terminal device implements the PDCCH skipping mode. In this PDCCH skipping mode, the PDCCH skipping duration list can have one, two, or three elements.

[0089] When the terminal device executes the PDCCH skipping mode and there is 1 element in the PDCCH skipping duration list, the downlink control information monitoring adaptation field (DCI monitoring adaptation field) is 1 bit. When the DCI monitoring adaptation field is 0, it indicates that the terminal device does not skip monitoring the PDCCH carried by USS and type 3 CSS; when the DCI monitoring adaptation field is 1, it indicates that the terminal device skips monitoring the PDCCH carried by USS and type 3 CSS.

[0090] When the terminal device executes the PDCCH skipping mode and the elements in the PDCCH skipping duration list are 2 or 3, the DCI monitoring adaptation field is 2 bits. When the DCI monitoring adaptation field is 00, it means that the terminal device does not skip monitoring of the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS; when the DCI monitoring adaptation field is 01, it means that the terminal device skips monitoring of the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS, and skips the time indicated by the first element in the PDCCH skipping duration list; when the DCI monitoring adaptation field is 10, it means that the terminal device skips monitoring of the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS, and skips the time indicated by the second element in the PDCCH skipping duration list; when the DCI monitoring adaptation field is 11, it means that the terminal device skips monitoring of the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS, and skips the time indicated by the third element in the PDCCH skipping duration list.

[0091] When the network device configures the PDCCH skipping duration list and the search space group identification list in the DCI carrying the skipping command, the terminal device implements the PDCCH switching+skipping mode. In the PDCCH switching+skipping mode, the PDCCH skipping duration list can contain one or two elements.

[0092] When the terminal device executes the PDCCH switching+skipping mode and there is 1 element in the PDCCH skipping duration list, the search space group identification list (search space group identification list) has 2 values. When the field of the search space group identification list is 00, it indicates that the terminal device searches the search space in group 0; when the field of the search space group identification list is 01, it indicates that the terminal device searches the search space in group 1, and after the timer expires, it jumps to search the search space in group 0; when the field of the search space group identification list is 10, it indicates that the terminal device skips monitoring of the PDCCH carried by USS and type 3 CSS; when the field of the search space group identification list is 110, it indicates that the field is reserved.

[0093] When the terminal device executes the PDCCH switching+skipping mode and there are 2 elements in the PDCCH skipping duration list, the search space group identification list has 2 values. When the search space group identification list field is 00, it indicates that the terminal device searches the search space in group 0; when the search space group identification list field is 01, it indicates that the terminal device searches the search space in group 1, and after the timer expires, it jumps to search the search space in group 0; when the search space group identification list field is 10, it indicates that the terminal device skips monitoring of the PDCCH carried by USS and type 3 CSS, and skips the time indicated by the first element in the PDCCH skipping duration list; when the search space group identification list field is 11, it indicates that the terminal device skips monitoring of the PDCCH carried by USS and type 3 CSS, and skips the time indicated by the second element in the PDCCH skipping duration list.

[0094] If the network device does not schedule data for a terminal device, it cannot send a skipping command, which will cause the terminal device to not receive the skipping command when there is no data scheduling. In addition, the terminal device still needs to monitor the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS when there is no data scheduling.

[0095] For example, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource. As shown in Figure 3, the terminal device receives a DCI carrying a skipping command from the network device in time slot a, so that the terminal device skips monitoring the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS in the time period a determined according to the skipping command. If there is no data scheduling in the time period b from time slot b to time slot c in Figure 3, the network device will not send the DCI carrying the skipping command in the time period b. Then, since the terminal device cannot receive the skipping command in the time period b, it will need to monitor the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS in the entire time period b, resulting in higher power consumption of the terminal device.

[0096] An embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method 100. In the communication method 100, a terminal device monitors a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH within a first time period, and the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS. The terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH within a second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH within the first time period. The second time period is a time period associated with the first time period. The terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH within the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH within the first time period, so that the terminal device may skip monitoring the first PDCCH within the second time period, thereby helping to reduce the chances of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0097] An embodiment of the present application also proposes a communication method 200. In the communication method 200, the terminal device monitors the first physical downlink control channel PDCCH in a first time period, and the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by the user-specific search space USS and the type 3 user common search space CSS. When the terminal device does not detect a skip command in the first PDCCH received on the time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in a second time period; or, when the terminal device detects a skip command in the first PDCCH received on the time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, the terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period. The second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0098] When the terminal device does not detect a skip command in the first PDCCH received on the time domain resource that is prior to the first time period and closest to the first time period, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in the second time period regardless of whether the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in the first time period, so as to reduce the probability of missing the first PDCCH. When the terminal device detects a skip command in the first PDCCH received on the time domain resource that is prior to the first time period and closest to the first time period, it determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring result in the first time period, which is beneficial to reducing the chances of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0099] An embodiment of the present application also proposes a communication method 300. In the communication method 300, the network device sends a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH of scheduling data to the terminal device within a first time period. The terminal device sends a first indication information to the network device, and the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device has received the first PDCCH of scheduling data within the first time period. When the first indication information indicates that the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH of scheduling data within the first time period, the network device sends the first PDCCH of no scheduling data M times. The network device sends the first PDCCH of scheduling data in the first time slot after sending the first PDCCH of no scheduling data for the Mth time. The value of M is greater than or equal to the number of time slots included in the length of the second time period, and the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0100] It can be seen that the value of M is greater than or equal to the number of time slots included in the length of the second time period. Therefore, when the network device determines that the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH of scheduling data within the first time period, it will send the first PDCCH of scheduling data in the first time slot after sending the first PDCCH without scheduling data M times continuously, which is beneficial to ensure that the terminal device successfully receives the first PDCCH of scheduling data from the network device.

[0101] The present application embodiment proposes a communication method 100. FIG4 is a flow chart of the communication method 100. The communication method 100 is described from the perspective of a terminal device. The communication method 100 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0102] S101. The terminal device monitors a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH within a first time period. The first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS.

[0103] Among them, the first PDCCH is the PDCCH carried by the USS and type 3 CSS, which can be understood as: the first PDCCH is the PDCCH scrambled by the modulation and coding scheme (MCS)-radio network temporary identity (RNTI), and the PDCCH scrambled by the RNTI contained in type 3.

[0104] In an optional embodiment, on a predefined time domain resource predefined by the network device and the terminal device, when no data is scheduled starting from the first time slot, the starting position of the first time period is the time domain position indicated by the first first search space on the predefined time domain resource, where the first search space is the USS and a type 3 CSS. The predefined time domain resource predefined by the network device and the terminal device refers to a time domain resource predefined by the network device and the terminal device according to certain rules.

[0105] That is, when no data is scheduled starting from the first time slot on the predefined time domain resource predefined by the network device and the terminal device, the first time period is the time period starting from the time domain position indicated by the first first search space on the predefined time domain resource. For example, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource. As shown in Figure 5, on the predefined time domain resource predefined by the network device and the terminal device, no data is scheduled starting from time slot 1, and the time domain position indicated by the first first search space on the predefined time domain resource is time slot 2, then the starting position of the first time period is time slot 2, that is, the first time period is the time period starting from time slot 2.

[0106] In another optional embodiment, the starting position of the first time period is the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the third time period, wherein the third time period is a time period for skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH determined by the terminal device according to a skipping command.

[0107] That is to say, the first time period is the time period after the third time period for skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH determined by the terminal device according to the skipping command. For example, Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource. As shown in Figure 6, the third time period is the time period for skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH determined by the terminal device according to the skipping command received on time slot 1, and the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the third time period is the next time slot of the third time period, then the first time period is located after the third time period and is adjacent to the third time period. Optionally, the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the third time period is n time slots away from the third time period, then the first time period is later than the third time period and is n time slots away from the third time period, and n is an integer greater than 1.

[0108] In another optional implementation, the starting position of the first time period is the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the second time period, and the second time period is a time period associated with the previous first time period before the first time period. For example, Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource. As shown in Figure 7, the first time period #1 is located after the third time period and is adjacent to the third time period, and the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the second time period #1 is the next time slot after the second time period #1, then the first time period #2 is later than the second time period #1 and is adjacent to the second time period #1. Optionally, the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the second time period #1 is spaced m time slots from the second time period #1, then the first time period #2 is later than the second time period #1 and is spaced m time slots from the second time period #1, where m is an integer greater than 1.

[0109] It is understandable that the duration of the first time period is predefined by the terminal device and the network device, or is configured by the network device to the terminal device. For example, the network device configures the duration of the first time period to the terminal device through radio resource control (RRC) signaling. The first time period is one or more, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit the number of first time periods.

[0110] In an optional implementation, as shown in Figure 5, when the starting position of the first time period is the time domain position indicated by the first first search space on the predefined time domain resource, there is no data scheduling in the first time period, so the terminal device needs to monitor the first PDCCH in the first time period.

[0111] In another optional embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, when the starting position of the first time period is the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the third time period, the terminal device skips monitoring of the first PDCCH in the third time period, and therefore needs to monitor the first PDCCH in the first time period after the third time period.

[0112] In another optional implementation, as shown in FIG7 , when the starting position of the first time period is the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the second time period, the terminal device also monitors the first PDCCH within the first time period.

[0113] It can be seen that no matter what the starting position of the first time period is, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH within the first time period.

[0114] S102. The terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in a second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period.

[0115] The second time period is a time period associated with the first time period. The association relationship between the first time period and the second time period may be predefined or configured by the network device for the terminal device.

[0116] It is understandable that a first time period is associated with one or more second time periods. There is no interval between the first time period and the second time period, or the interval between the first time period and the second time period is one time slot or multiple time slots, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0117] In an optional implementation, the duration of the second time period may be predefined or configured by the network device for the terminal device.

[0118] In another optional implementation, the terminal device defaults that the duration of the second time period is equal to the duration of the first time period.

[0119] In another optional embodiment, the terminal device determines the duration of the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period. This method allows the terminal device to dynamically adjust the duration of the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period.

[0120] For example, when the terminal device detects the first PDCCH within the first time period, the duration of the second time period is set to x1; when the terminal device does not detect the first PDCCH within the first time period, the duration of the second time period is set to x2. Wherein, x1 and x2 are real numbers, x1 can be greater than x2, x1 can be less than x2, or x1 can be equal to x2. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the size relationship between x1 and x12.

[0121] It is understandable that the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period, so that the terminal device can determine whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring result in the first time period. This approach allows the terminal device to skip monitoring the first PDCCH in the second time period, which is beneficial to reducing the chances of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0122] In an optional embodiment, the terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring results of the first PDCCH in the first time period, including: when the first PDCCH is not monitored in the first time period, skipping the monitoring of the first PDCCH in the second time period; or, when the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period, monitoring the first PDCCH in the second time period.

[0123] When the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH within the first time period, it indicates that there is a high possibility that data scheduling will still exist for a period of time after the first time period, so the terminal device still monitors the first PDCCH within the second time period to reduce the probability that the terminal device misses detecting the first PDCCH. When the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH within the first time period, it indicates that there is a high possibility that data scheduling will not exist for a period of time after the first time period, so the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH within the second time period to reduce the chance of monitoring the first PDCCH, thereby saving power consumption of the terminal device.

[0124] It can be seen that compared with the terminal device not considering the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period and continuing to monitor the first PDCCH in the first time period and the second time period, the terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period. This can reduce the chances of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH and save power consumption of the terminal device.

[0125] In addition, when the terminal device fails to monitor the first PDCCH within the first time period, the network device does not need to send an additional skipping command. The terminal device can skip monitoring the first PDCCH within the second time period, thereby reducing the terminal device's chance of monitoring the first PDCCH without increasing network overhead.

[0126] Exemplarily, as shown in FIG6 , the terminal device receives a skipping command from the network device in time slot 1, and determines that the duration to be skipped (skipping duration) is the third time period according to the skipping command, then the terminal device skips monitoring of the first PDCCH in the third time period. The terminal device starts monitoring the first PDCCH from the next time slot of the third time period, that is, monitors the first PDCCH in the first time period. If there is data scheduling in the first time period, that is, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in the first time period, then the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in the second time period. If there is no data scheduling in the first time period, that is, the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH in the first time period, then the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH in the second time period, so that the network device does not need to send an additional skipping command when there is no data scheduling, and the opportunity for the terminal device to monitor the first PDCCH can be reduced under the condition of reducing network overhead.

[0127] For example, in FIG6 , there is data scheduling on slot 6, so the network device sends the first PDCCH of the scheduling data to the terminal device on slot 6, but the terminal device does not correctly receive the first PDCCH of the scheduling data, that is, the terminal device misses detecting the first PDCCH of the scheduling data on slot 6. When the terminal device misses detecting the first PDCCH, the understanding of the PDCCH monitoring pattern between the terminal device and the network device deviates.

[0128] For example, Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource. As shown in Figure 8, the network device sends the first PDCCH to the terminal device in time slot 1, but the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH in slot 1. At this time, for the terminal device, the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH in the following slots 2 and 3. However, since the network device sends the first PDCCH in slot 1, it will be considered that the terminal device is in a state of monitoring the first PDCCH in slots 2 and 3. If the network device sends a DCI carrying a skipping command in slot 3, the network device will be considered that the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH in slots 4 and 5. However, the terminal device is in a state of monitoring the first PDCCH in slot 4, and the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH in slot 4, and will skip monitoring the first PDCCH in slots 5 and 6.

[0129] It can be seen that if the terminal device misses detecting the first PDCCH from the network device in slot 1 in Figure 8, the terminal device will actually monitor the first PDCCH in slot 4 and slot 7, while the network device will think that the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in slot 3 and slot 6, which will cause a deviation in the understanding of the PDCCH monitoring pattern between the network device and the terminal device.

[0130] To address the issue of a misunderstanding between the network device and the terminal device regarding the PDCCH monitoring pattern when the terminal device misses PDCCH detection, the terminal device and the network device predefine, or the network device configures, the terminal device with a fixed time domain resource for monitoring the first PDCCH. For ease of description, the fixed time domain resource predefines, or the network device configures, the terminal device with a fixed time domain resource for monitoring the first PDCCH is referred to as a first time domain resource. Thus, the first time domain resource is predefined or configured.

[0131] For a network device, when the network device determines to schedule data to a terminal device, it may send a first PDCCH of the scheduled data to the terminal device within a first time domain resource to ensure that the terminal device can receive the first PDCCH of the scheduled data within the first time domain resource.

[0132] For the terminal device, when the first time domain resource does not overlap with the second time period and the third time period, or when the first time domain resource overlaps with the second time period, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in the first time domain resource. When the first time domain resource overlaps with the third time period, the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH in the first time domain resource.

[0133] That is to say, even if the first time domain resource is predefined or configured as a time domain resource for the terminal device to monitor the first PDCCH, when the first time domain resource overlaps with the third time period determined by the terminal device according to the skipping command, the terminal device still skips monitoring the first PDCCH within the first time domain resource, and the network device will not send the first PDCCH for scheduling data within the first time domain resource.

[0134] In an optional embodiment, when a terminal device detects a first PDCCH within a first time domain resource, it indicates that there is a high possibility of data scheduling in a period of time after the first time domain resource. The terminal device then monitors the first PDCCH in a fourth time period after the first time domain resource to reduce the possibility of missing the first PDCCH. The fourth time period is configured by the network device, for example, it is configured to be t slots after the first time slot resource, or at other predefined locations, where t is an integer greater than 0.

[0135] In another optional implementation, when the first time domain resource does not overlap with the time domain resources in the second time period or the third time period, and the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH in the first time domain resource, the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH in a fifth time period after the first time domain resource. The fifth time period is predefined or configured, and the duration of the fifth time period may be equal to the duration of the second time period.

[0136] In this method, if the terminal device fails to monitor the first PDCCH in the first time domain resource, it indicates that there is a high possibility that there will be no data scheduling within a period of time after the first time domain resource. The terminal device then does not monitor the first PDCCH within the fifth time period after the first time domain resource, which can reduce the chance of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH and save power consumption of the terminal device.

[0137] In another optional implementation, when the first time domain resources overlap with the time domain resources within the third time period, and the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH within the first time period, the terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH on the time domain resources after the first time domain resources based on the third time period. Specifically, when the first time domain resources overlap with the time domain resources within the second time period, and the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH within the first time period, if the next time slot after the first time domain resource is within the third time period, the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH on the next time slot after the first time domain resource; if the next time slot after the first time domain resource is later than the third time period, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH on the next time slot after the first time domain resource.

[0138] Exemplarily, Figure 9 is another schematic diagram of time domain resources. As shown in Figure 9, the third time period determined by the terminal device according to the skipping command from the network device is a time period including time slot a and time slot b. If the first time domain resource is time slot a, and the terminal device should continue to skip monitoring of the first PDCCH in time slot b, then when the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH in time slot a, it still skips monitoring of the first PDCCH in time slot b after time slot a. If the first time domain resource is time slot b, and the terminal device should monitor the first PDCCH in time slot c, then when the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH in time slot b, it still monitors the first PDCCH in time slot c after time slot b.

[0139] In an optional embodiment, the skipping command is carried in group downlink control information (group-DCI). That is, the network device sends the skipping command to the terminal device in the form of group-DCI, thereby being able to send skipping commands to control multiple terminal devices at a time, reducing the number of DCI transmissions by the network device, and thus reducing the network overhead of the network device.

[0140] There are many forms of group-DCI sent by the network device to the terminal device. Taking formate2_0DCI as an example, the network device configures the terminal device to monitor formate2_0 at a high level, such as in RRC, and the monitoring position indication information is used to indicate which positions of the DCI in formate2_0 the terminal device monitors for the skipping command. The positions of the skipping commands monitored by multiple terminal devices in formate2_0 are different. When the network device determines that there is no data scheduling for a certain terminal device in a certain period of time in the future, the position corresponding to the terminal device in formate2_0DCI instructs the terminal device to execute the skipping process. For the terminal device, if the terminal device is configured with a skipping trigger, the formate2_0DCI is monitored at the position indicated by formate2_0. If the terminal device receives the skipping command at the indicated position, the skipping process is executed.

[0141] Optionally, for the network device, the network device sends the first PDCCH in the first time period, or does not send the first PDCCH in the first time period; the network device determines whether it has an opportunity to send the first PDCCH in the second time period based on whether the first PDCCH is sent in the first time period.

[0142] The implementation of the first time period may refer to the above S101, and the implementation of the second time period may refer to the above S102, which will not be repeated here.

[0143] The network device may determine whether to send the first PDCCH or not in the first time period according to the service situation of the terminal device. For example, if the network device determines that there is service scheduling for the terminal device in the first time period, the network device sends the first PDCCH in the first time period.

[0144] It can be understood that the network device determines whether there is an opportunity to send the first PDCCH in the second time period based on whether the first PDCCH is sent in the first time period, including: when the network device sends the first PDCCH in the first time period, determining that there is an opportunity to send the first PDCCH in the second time period; when the network device does not send the first PDCCH in the first time period, determining that there is no opportunity to send the first PDCCH in the second time period.

[0145] When the network device sends the first PDCCH in the first time period, the terminal device can monitor the first PDCCH in the first time period, so the terminal device will also monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period associated with the first time period. If the network device sends the first PDCCH in the second time period, the terminal device can successfully receive the first PDCCH. Whether the network device actually sends the first PDCCH depends on whether there is service scheduling for the terminal device. When the network device does not send the first PDCCH in the first time period, the terminal device also cannot monitor the first PDCCH in the first time period, so the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period associated with the first time period. Even if the network device sends the first PDCCH in the second time period, the terminal device cannot successfully receive the first PDCCH. The network device does not send the first PDCCH in the second time period to reduce signaling overhead.

[0146] Furthermore, when the network device determines that there is an opportunity to send the first PDCCH within the second time period, it sends the first PDCCH within the second time period, or does not send the first PDCCH within the second time period; when the network device determines that there is no opportunity to send the first PDCCH within the second time period, it does not send the first PDCCH within the second time period. It can also be understood that the network device determines whether there is an opportunity to send the first PDCCH within the second time period based on whether the first PDCCH is sent within the first time period, including: when the network device sends the first PDCCH within the first time period, it sends the first PDCCH within the second time period, or does not send the first PDCCH within the second time period; when the network device does not send the first PDCCH within the first time period, it does not send the first PDCCH within the second time period. That is, the network device may not need to perform the step of explicitly determining whether there is an opportunity to send the first PDCCH, but whether the first PDCCH can be sent within the second time period is associated with whether the first PDCCH was previously sent within the first time period.

[0147] Please refer to Table 1 below. Table 1 is a performance comparison of a terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH according to the communication method 100 and a terminal device monitoring the PDCCH according to the current skipping process.

[0148] Table 1

[0149] Among them, No_useful means that the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH but there is no first PDCCH, skipping without PDCCH means that the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH in a certain slot and there is no first PDCCH in the slot, useful monitor means that the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in a certain slot and there is PDCCH in the slot, impact means that the network device and the terminal device skip monitoring the first PDCCH, but the network device would have scheduled data at this time, the total number of PDCCH monitors (totalpdcchmonitornumber, TPM) represents the number of slots in which the terminal device performs PDCCH blind detection, and the total number of time slots (totalslotnumber, TSN) represents the total number of slots.

[0150] TPM / TSN represents the ratio of the number of slots used by a terminal device when monitoring the first PDCCH to the total number of slots used. When the scheduled data is the same, a higher TPM / TSN value indicates a higher number of PDCCH-only slots, where PDCCH-only refers to the number of slots used when the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH but no data is scheduled. The TPM / TSN ratios in Table 1 indicate that using communication method 100 to monitor the first PDCCH effectively reduces the number of ineffective first PDCCH monitoring attempts.

[0151] The results in Table 1 are based on the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), where the skipping command specifies a duration of 4 slots, and each data packet transmission occupies 10 slots. FTP traffic arrives every 20ms on average, and the data packet size is 0.5Mbytes.

[0152] In an embodiment of the present application, a terminal device monitors a first PDCCH during a first time period, and determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH during a second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH during the first time period, where the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period. This approach allows the terminal device to skip monitoring the first PDCCH during the second time period, thereby reducing the chances of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0153] The present application also provides a communication method 200. FIG10 is a flow chart of the communication method 200. The communication method 200 is described from the perspective of a terminal device. The communication method 200 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0154] S201. The terminal device monitors a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH within a first time period. The first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS.

[0155] The first PDCCH may refer to the above S101 and will not be described in detail.

[0156] In an optional implementation manner, the first time period is a predefined time period or a time period configured by a network device during which the terminal device needs to monitor the first PDCCH.

[0157] In another optional implementation, the terminal device determines the time domain position of the first time period based on an offset value corresponding to the first time period, a period corresponding to the first time period, and a subcarrier spacing, wherein the offset value corresponding to the first time period, the period corresponding to the first time period, and the subcarrier spacing are configured by the network device.

[0158] Specifically, the terminal device determines the starting time of the first time period based on (SFN_i*2^u*10-offset_i) modul cycle_i=0. Wherein, SFN_i represents the system frame number (SFN) of the first time period of terminal device i, offset_i represents the offset value corresponding to the first time period, cycle_i represents the cycle corresponding to the first time period, and modul cycle_i represents the remainder of cycle_i. u represents the number of subcarriers, and the number of subcarriers is determined according to the subcarrier space (SCS). For example, when the subcarrier spacing is 15Khz, the value of u is 0; when the subcarrier spacing is 30, the value of u is 1.

[0159] In the method in which the terminal device determines the time domain position of the first time period based on the offset value corresponding to the first time period, the period corresponding to the first time period and the subcarrier interval, the first is that the length of the time period can be predefined or configured by the network device.

[0160] S202a. When the terminal device does not detect a skip command in the first PDCCH received on the time domain resource before the first time period and closest to the first time period, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in the second time period.

[0161] The second time period is a time period associated with the first time period. The association between the second time period and the first time period can be predefined or configured by the network device. A first time period can be associated with one or more second time periods. For example, Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource. As shown in Figure 11, there are multiple first time periods, and each first time period is associated with one second time period.

[0162] It is understandable that when the terminal device does not detect a skip command on the first PDCCH received on the time domain resource that is closest to the first time period and before the first time period, it indicates that the network device has not instructed the terminal device to skip monitoring of the first PDCCH in the next period of time on the time domain resource that is closest to the first time period and before the first time period. Then, there is a high possibility that data scheduling will occur in a period of time after the first time period. Therefore, regardless of the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in the second time period to reduce the probability of missing the first PDCCH.

[0163] For example, Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource. As shown in Figure 12, if a terminal device detects a first PDCCH in time slot a before a first time period and does not detect a skipping command from the first PDCCH, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH during the first time period. Regardless of whether the first PDCCH is detected during the first time period, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH during the second time period to reduce the probability of missing the first PDCCH.

[0164] S202b. When the terminal device detects a skip command in the first PDCCH received on the time domain resource before the first time period and closest to the first time period, it determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period.

[0165] It is understandable that when the terminal device detects a skip command on the first PDCCH received on the time domain resource that is closest to the first time period and before the first time period, it indicates that the network device instructs the terminal device to skip monitoring the first PDCCH in the next period of time on the time domain resource that is closest to the first time period and before the first time period. The time period in which the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH is determined according to the skip command, and the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period. The terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCH in the first time period. This method is beneficial for the terminal device to skip monitoring the first PDCCH in the second time period when it does not monitor the first PDCCH in the first time period, which is beneficial for reducing the chances of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0166] In an optional embodiment, the above-mentioned terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring results of the first PDCCH in the first time period, including: when the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period and the first PDCCH does not carry a skip command, monitoring the first PDCCH in the second time period; or, when the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period and the first PDCCH carries a skip command, monitoring the first PDCCH on time domain resources other than the duration determined according to the skip command in the second time period; or, when the first PDCCH is not monitored in the first time period, skipping the monitoring of the first PDCCH in the second time period.

[0167] It can be seen that when the terminal device detects a skip command in the first PDCCH received on the time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, and when the first PDCCH is monitored within the first time period, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH within the second time period; when the terminal device detects a skip command in the first PDCCH received on the time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, and when the first PDCCH is not monitored within the first time period, the terminal device skips monitoring of the first PDCCH within the second time period.

[0168] When the terminal device detects a skip command on the first PDCCH received on the time domain resource that is closest to the first time period before the first time period, and fails to monitor the first PDCCH in the first time period, the method of skipping the monitoring of the first PDCCH in the second time period can enable the network device to skip the monitoring of the first PDCCH in the second time period on its own without sending an additional skipping command when there is no data scheduling. This can reduce the chances of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH while reducing network overhead.

[0169] In an optional embodiment, the first time period overlaps with the third time period, and the third time period is a time period during which the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH according to the skip command. When the first time period overlaps with the third time period, the terminal device still monitors the first PDCCH in the first time period and executes S202a or S202b above.

[0170] That is to say, when the first time period overlaps with the third time period, the terminal device ignores the overlapping part of the first time period and the third time period and skips monitoring the first PDCCH, and still monitors the first PDCCH on the time domain resources where the first time period and the third time period overlap.

[0171] In another optional implementation, when the first time period overlaps with the third time period, the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH in the first time period, and also skips monitoring the first PDCCH in a second time period associated with the first time period.

[0172] That is to say, when the first time period overlaps with the third time period, the terminal device gives priority to skipping the monitoring of the first PDCCH in the third time period, thereby skipping the monitoring of the first PDCCH in the first time period and in the second time period associated with the first time period, so as to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0173] In an optional implementation, for a network device, the network device may send the first PDCCH in a second time period associated with the first time period only after successfully sending the first PDCCH in the first time period, so as to increase the chance of successfully sending the first PDCCH; if the network device fails to successfully send the first PDCCH in the first time period, it will not send the first PDCCH in the second time period associated with the first time period, so as to save network overhead.

[0174] It is understandable that when there are multiple terminal devices in a cell, if the first time periods of multiple terminal devices are aligned in time domain resources, it will cause PDCCH congestion problems, increasing the difficulty of network device scheduling. For example, Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource. As shown in Figure 13, when the first time period of terminal device #1 is aligned with the first time period of terminal device #2, a large number of PDCCHs will be concentrated in the same time-frequency resources, causing PDCCH congestion. Therefore, the network device can configure different first time periods for different terminal devices so that the first time periods of different terminal devices are staggered in time domain resources.

[0175] In an optional implementation, the network device configures different offsets for the first time period for different terminal devices. Optionally, the offsets for the first time period for different terminal devices may be preset.

[0176] For example, Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of another time domain resource. As shown in Figure 14, there is an offset between the first time period of terminal device #1 and the first time period of terminal device #2, so that the first time period of terminal device #1 and the first time period of terminal device #2 do not overlap in time domain resources.

[0177] In an optional implementation, the skip command received by the terminal device is carried in the group downlink control information. The implementation method thereof can be found in the above-mentioned communication method 100 and will not be repeated here.

[0178] In an optional implementation, the terminal device further determines the duration of the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period. This implementation can be referred to in the above communication method 100 and will not be described in detail.

[0179] Optionally, for a network device, the network device sends a first PDCCH within a first time period, or does not send the first PDCCH within the first time period; when the network device sends a first PDCCH that does not include a skip command on a time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, it determines that there is an opportunity to send the first PDCCH within a second time period; when the network device sends a first PDCCH that includes a skip command on a time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, it determines whether there is an opportunity to send the first PDCCH within the second time period based on whether the first PDCCH is sent within the first time period.

[0180] The first PDCCH may refer to the description in S101 above, the first time period may refer to the description in S201 above, and the second time period may refer to the description in S202a above, which will not be repeated here.

[0181] It is understandable that when the network device sends the first PDCCH that does not include a skip command on the time domain resource before the first time period and closest to the first time period, the terminal device will monitor the first PDCCH in a second time period associated with the first time period. If the network device sends the first PDCCH in the second time period, the terminal device can successfully receive the first PDCCH. Whether the network device actually sends the first PDCCH depends on whether there is service scheduling for the terminal device.

[0182] When the network device sends the first PDCCH including a skip command on the time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, the terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period. Thus, the network device determines whether there is an opportunity to send the first PDCH in the second time period based on whether the first PDCCH is sent in the first time period, so as to be consistent with the behavior of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0183] Among them, when the network device sends the first PDCCH including a skip command on the time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, it determines whether to send the first PDCCH in the second time period based on whether the first PDCCH is sent in the first time period, including: when the network device sends the first PDCCH including a skip command on the time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, and sends the first PDCCH in the first time period, it is determined that there is an opportunity to send the first PDCCH in the second time period; when the network device sends the first PDCCH including a skip command on the time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, and does not send the first PDCCH in the first time period, it is determined that there is no opportunity to send the first PDCCH in the second time period.

[0184] When the network device sends the first PDCCH including the skip command on the time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, and when the first PDCCH is sent within the first time period, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH within the first time period, so that the terminal device will also monitor the first PDCCH within the second time period, and the first PDCCH sent by the network device within the second time period can be successfully received. When the network device sends the first PDCCH including the skip command on the time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, and does not send the first PDCCH within the first time period, the terminal device cannot monitor the first PDCCH within the first time period, so that the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH within the second time period, then even if the network device sends the first PDCCH within the second time period, the terminal device cannot successfully receive the first PDCCH, so the network device does not send the first PDCCH within the second time period to reduce signaling overhead.

[0185] Further, when the network device determines that there is an opportunity to send the first PDCCH within the second time period, it sends the first PDCCH within the second time period, or does not send the first PDCCH within the second time period; when the network device determines that there is no opportunity to send the first PDCCH within the second time period, it does not send the first PDCCH within the second time period. It can also be understood that when the network device sends the first PDCCH that does not include a skip command on the time domain resource that is closest to the first time period before the first time period, it determines that there is an opportunity to send the first PDCCH in the second time period, including: when the network device sends the first PDCCH that does not include a skip command on the time domain resource that is closest to the first time period before the first time period, the first PDCCH is sent in the second time period, or the PDCCH is not sent in the second time period; when the network device sends the first PDCCH that includes a skip command on the time domain resource that is closest to the first time period before the first time period, it determines whether to send the first PDCCH in the second time period based on whether the first PDCCH is sent in the first time period, including: when the network device sends the first PDCCH that includes a skip command on the time domain resource that is closest to the first time period before the first time period, and sends the first PDCCH in the first time period, the first PDCCH is sent in the second time period, or the first PDCCH is not sent in the second time period; when the network device sends the first PDCCH that includes a skip command on the time domain resource that is closest to the first time period before the first time period, and does not send the first PDCCH in the first time period, the first PDCCH is not sent in the second time period. That is, the network device may not need to perform the steps of explicitly determining whether there is an opportunity to send the first PDCCH, but whether the first PDCCH can be sent in the second time period is associated with whether the first PDCCH sent on the time domain resource before the first time period and closest to the first time period includes a skip command, and may further be associated with whether the first PDCCH is sent in the first time period.

[0186] In an embodiment of the present application, when a terminal device does not detect a skip command in a first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is prior to a first time period and closest to the first time period, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in a second time period regardless of whether the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period. When a skip command is detected in a first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is prior to the first time period and closest to the first time period, the terminal device determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring result in the first time period, thereby facilitating reducing the chances of the terminal device monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0187] The present application also proposes a communication method 300. FIG15 is an interaction diagram of the communication method 300. The communication method 300 is described from the perspective of the interaction between the terminal device and the network device. The communication method 300 includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0188] S301. A network device sends a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for scheduling data to a terminal device within a first time period. Correspondingly, the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH for scheduling data within the first time period.

[0189] The first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by the user-specific search space USS and the type 3 user common search space CSS. The implementation method thereof can be found in the above S101 and will not be described in detail.

[0190] In addition, the first time period may be predefined or configured by the network device for the terminal device.

[0191] S302. The terminal device sends first indication information to the network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device has received a first PDCCH for scheduling data within a first time period. Correspondingly, the network device receives the first indication information from the terminal device.

[0192] Among them, the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device has received the first PDCCH of the scheduling data within the first time period, and can also be understood as being used to indicate whether the terminal device has correctly demodulated the data from the network device within the first time period. The first indication information can be in the form of an acknowledgement (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK). The embodiment of the present application does not limit the form of the first indication information. Among them, ACK indicates that the terminal device has received the first PDCCH of the scheduling data, and NACK indicates that the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH of the scheduling data.

[0193] S303. When the first indication information indicates that the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH that schedules data within the first time period, the network device sends the first PDCCH that does not schedule data M times.

[0194] S304. The network device sends the first PDCCH for scheduling data in the first time slot after sending the first PDCCH for not scheduling data for the Mth time.

[0195] The value of M is greater than or equal to the number of time slots included in the duration of the second time period. The second time period is a time period associated with the first time period, and the association between the first time period and the second time period is predefined or configured by the network device. A first time period can be associated with one or more second time periods, and the duration of the second time period is predefined or configured by the network device.

[0196] It is understandable that when the first indication information indicates that the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH of the scheduling data within the first time period, the network device determines that the first PDCCH of the scheduling data has not been successfully sent, and thus the first PDCCH of the scheduling data needs to be resent so that the terminal device obtains the first PDCCH of the scheduling data. Since the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH of the scheduling data within the first time period, the network device and the terminal device will have an understanding deviation of the monitoring pattern of the PDCCH in the time domain resources after the first time period, that is, the network device believes that the position where the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH may be the position where the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0197] In order to enable the terminal device to successfully receive the first PDCCH of scheduled data retransmitted by the network device, the network device sends the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data M times on the time domain resources after the first time period, and sends the first PDCCH of scheduled data in the first time slot after sending the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data for the Mth time. This is because if there is a misunderstanding between the terminal device and the network device regarding the monitoring pattern of the PDCCH, the terminal device will monitor the first PDCCH at least once in the search space of M+1 consecutive first PDCCHs. Therefore, when the terminal device feeds back to the network device that it has not received the first PDCCH within the first time period, the network device sends the PDCCH of non-scheduled data M times in succession and sends the first PDCCH of scheduled data for the M+1th time, which can ensure that the terminal device receives the first PDCCH of scheduled data.

[0198] Exemplarily, the duration of the second time period includes 2 time slots. As shown in FIG8 above, if the network device sends the first PDCCH of scheduling data to the terminal device in time slot 1, and the terminal device misses detecting the first PDCCH in time slot 1, the terminal device indicates to the network device through the first indication information that the terminal device did not receive the first PDCCH of scheduling data in time slot 1. After receiving the first indication information from the terminal device, the network device sends the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data in the next 2 time slots (time slot 2 and time slot 3), and sends the first PDCCH of scheduling data in time slot 4. For the terminal device, if the terminal device misses detecting the first PDCCH in time slot 1, the monitoring of the first PDCCH is skipped in time slot 2 and time slot 3, so that the terminal device does not receive the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data sent by the network device in time slot 2 and time slot 3. After skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH in time slot 2 and time slot 3 , the terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in time slot 4 , thereby being able to monitor the first PDCCH of the scheduling data resent by the network device in time slot 4 .

[0199] Exemplarily, the duration of the second time period includes 2 time slots. As shown in Figure 8 above, if the network device sends the first PDCCH of scheduled data to the terminal device in time slot 2, and the terminal device misses the first PDCCH in time slot 2, the terminal device indicates to the network device through the first indication information that the first PDCCH of scheduled data in time slot 2 has not been received. After receiving the first indication information, the network device sends the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data in time slot 3 and time slot 4, and sends the first PDCCH of scheduled data in time slot 5. For the terminal device, the terminal device skips monitoring the first PDCCH in time slot 2 and time slot 3, and thus cannot receive the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data from the network device in time slot 3. The terminal device monitors the first PDCCH in time slot 4, and therefore can receive the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data from the network device in time slot 4. Furthermore, the terminal device also monitors the first PDCCH in time slot 5, and can receive the first PDCCH of scheduled data from the network device in time slot 5.

[0200] It can be seen that when the terminal device indicates that the first PDCCH of scheduled data has not been received within the first time period, the network device sends the first PDCCH without scheduled data M times, and then sends the first PDCCH of scheduled data in the first time slot after sending the first PDCCH without scheduled data for the Mth time. This method can ensure that the terminal device receives the first PDCCH of scheduled data resent by the network device.

[0201] In an optional embodiment, when the network device sends the first PDCCH of scheduling data within the first time period, in order to increase the terminal device's successful receipt of the first PDCCH of scheduling data, the network device increases the number of times the first PDCCH of scheduling data is sent, or increases the transmission power of the first PDCCH of scheduling data, or increases the aggregation level of the first PDCCH of scheduling data.

[0202] That is, when the first PDCCH for scheduling data exists within the first time period, the network device increases the number of transmissions of the first PDCCH within the first time period, or increases the transmission power of the first PDCCH, to ensure that the terminal device can correctly receive the first PDCCH for scheduling data with a higher probability within the first time period. Alternatively, when the first PDCCH for scheduling data exists within the first time period, the network device increases the time-frequency resources of the first PDCCH, that is, increases the aggregation level of the first PDCCH, to increase the robustness of the terminal device in monitoring the first PDCCH.

[0203] In an optional implementation, when the network device determines not to send the first PDCCH scheduling data in the first time period and to send the first PDCCH scheduling data in the second time period, the first PDCCH not scheduling data is sent in the first time period.

[0204] It is understandable that when the network device does not send the first PDCCH of scheduling data in the first time period, the terminal device cannot monitor the first PDCCH of scheduling data in the first time period. Since the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period, when the terminal device does not monitor the first PDCCH in the first time period, it will skip monitoring the first PDCCH in the second time period, so that the terminal device cannot receive the first PDCCH of scheduling data from the network device in the second time period. However, if there is no data scheduling in the first time period, but there is data scheduling in the second time period, the network device will still send the first PDCCH of scheduling data in the second time period, resulting in a waste of time domain resources.

[0205] Therefore, when the first PDCCH for scheduling data exists within the first time period and the first PDCCH for scheduling data does not exist within the second time period, in order to prevent the terminal device from skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH within the second time period, that is, in order to enable the terminal device to receive the first PDCCH for scheduling data from the network device within the second time period, the network device sends the first PDCCH without scheduling data within the first time period. As a result, the terminal device can monitor the first PDCCH within the first time period, and then also monitor the first PDCCH within the second time period associated with the first time period. Then, the terminal device can monitor the first PDCCH for scheduling data from the network device within the second time period.

[0206] The first PDCCH that does not schedule data and is sent by the network device during the first time period carries a skipping command, which instructs the terminal device to skip monitoring the first PDCCH. After receiving the first PDCCH that does not schedule data during the first time period, the terminal device reads the MCS field in the DCI. If the MCS is 00, the terminal device considers that the DCI is only used to send the skipping command, and all fields in the DCI except the field corresponding to the skipping command are virtual scheduling.

[0207] In an embodiment of the present application, when the network device determines that the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH for scheduled data within a first time period, the network device transmits the first PDCCH without scheduled data M times; then, in the first time slot after transmitting the first PDCCH without scheduled data for the Mth time, the network device transmits the first PDCCH for scheduled data. This approach is advantageous in ensuring that, if the terminal device has not successfully received the first PDCCH for scheduled data within the first time period, it successfully receives the first PDCCH for scheduled data retransmitted by the network device.

[0208] With respect to the technical solutions described above, the corresponding device implementation solutions are further described below.

[0209] To implement the various functions of the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device and the network device may include hardware structures and / or software modules, and implement the aforementioned functions in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules. Whether a particular one of the aforementioned functions is implemented in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0210] As shown in Figure 16, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 1600. The communication device 1600 can be a component of a terminal device (e.g., an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.) or a component of a network device (e.g., an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.). The communication device 1600 can also be other communication units for implementing the method in the method embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1600 may include: a communication unit 1601 and a processing unit 1602. Optionally, a storage unit 1603 may also be included.

[0211] In one possible design, one or more units in FIG16 may be implemented by one or more processors, or by one or more processors and memories, or by one or more processors and transceivers, or by one or more processors, memories, and transceivers, which are not limited in this embodiment of the present application. The processors, memories, and transceivers may be provided separately or integrated.

[0212] The communication device 1600 has the functions of the terminal device described in the embodiment of the present application, or the functions of the network device. For example, the communication device 1600 includes a module or unit or means corresponding to the steps involved in the terminal device described in the embodiment of the present application. The functions or units or means can be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by hardware executing the corresponding software implementation, or by a combination of software and hardware. For details, please refer to the corresponding description in the aforementioned corresponding method embodiment.

[0213] In one possible design, a communication device 1600 may include: a processing unit 1602 and a communication unit 1601, the communication unit 1601 is used to send and receive signals / signaling; the processing unit 1602 is used to monitor a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH within a first time period, and the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS; the processing unit 1602 is also used to determine whether to monitor the first PDCCH within a second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH within the first time period; the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0214] In an optional embodiment, the processing unit 1602 determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring results of the first PDCCH in the first time period, and is specifically used to: when the first PDCCH is not monitored in the first time period, skip monitoring of the first PDCCH in the second time period; or, when the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period, monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period.

[0215] In an optional embodiment, the starting position of the first time period is the time domain position indicated by the first first search space on the predefined time domain resource, or the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the second time period, or the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the third time period; the third time period is a time period for skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH determined according to a skip command, and the first search space is the USS and the type 3 CSS.

[0216] In an optional embodiment, the processing unit 1602 is further used to: monitor the first PDCCH in the first time domain resource when there is no overlap between the first time domain resource and the second time period or the third time period, or when there is overlap between the first time domain resource and the second time period; or skip monitoring of the first PDCCH in the first time domain resource when there is overlap between the first time domain resource and the third time period; the first time domain resource is predefined or configured.

[0217] In an optional implementation, the processing unit 1602 is further configured to: when the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time domain resource, monitor the first PDCCH in a fourth time period after the first time domain resource.

[0218] In an optional implementation, the skip command is carried in group downlink control information.

[0219] In an optional implementation, the processing unit 1602 is further configured to: determine the length of the second time period according to a monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period.

[0220] The embodiments of the present application and the above-mentioned method embodiments are based on the same concept, and the technical effects they bring are also the same. For the specific principles, please refer to the description of the above-mentioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0221] In another possible design, a communication device 1600 may include: a processing unit 1602 and a communication unit 1601, where the communication unit 1601 is configured to send and receive signals / signaling;

[0222] Processing unit 1602 is used to monitor a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH within a first time period, where the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS; processing unit 1602 is also used to monitor the first PDCCH within a second time period when no skip command is detected in the first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is prior to the first time period and closest to the first time period; or, processing unit 1602 is also used to determine whether to monitor the first PDCCH within a second time period based on a result of monitoring the first PDCCH within the first time period when a skip command is detected in the first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is prior to the first time period and closest to the first time period; the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

[0223] In an optional embodiment, the processing unit 1602 determines whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period based on the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period, and is specifically used to: when the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period and the first PDCCH does not carry a skip command, monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period; or, when the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period and the first PDCCH carries a skip command, monitor the first PDCCH on time domain resources other than the duration determined according to the skip command in the second time period; or, when the first PDCCH is not monitored in the first time period, skip monitoring of the first PDCCH in the second time period.

[0224] In an optional implementation manner, the first time period overlaps with a third time period, and the third time period is a time period for skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH determined according to a skip command.

[0225] In an optional implementation, the skip command is carried in group downlink control information.

[0226] In an optional implementation, the processing unit 1602 is further configured to determine the time domain position of the first time period according to the offset value corresponding to the first time period, the period corresponding to the first time period, and the subcarrier spacing.

[0227] In an optional implementation, the processing unit 1602 is further configured to determine a length of the second time period according to a monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period.

[0228] The embodiments of the present application and the above-mentioned method embodiments are based on the same concept, and the technical effects they bring are also the same. For the specific principles, please refer to the description of the above-mentioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0229] In another possible design, a communication device 1600 may include: a processing unit 1602 and a communication unit 1601, the processing unit 1602 being used to process signals / signaling; the communication unit 1601 being used to receive first indication information from a terminal device, the first indication information being used to indicate whether the terminal device has received a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH of scheduled data within a first time period, the first PDCCH being a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS; the communication unit 1601 being further used to send the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data M times when the first indication information indicates that the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH of scheduled data within the first time period; the communication unit 1601 being further used to send the first PDCCH of scheduled data in the first time slot after sending the first PDCCH of non-scheduled data for the Mth time; the value of M being greater than or equal to the number of time slots included in the length of a second time period, and the second time period being a time period associated with the first time period.

[0230] In an optional embodiment, the processing unit 1602 is used to: when sending the first PDCCH of the scheduling data within the first time period, increase the number of times the first PDCCH of the scheduling data is sent, or increase the transmission power of the first PDCCH of the scheduling data, or increase the aggregation level of the first PDCCH of the scheduling data.

[0231] In an optional embodiment, the communication unit 1601 is also used to: when it is determined that the first PDCCH for scheduling data is not sent within the first time period, and the first PDCCH for scheduling data is sent within the second time period, send the first PDCCH for not scheduling data within the first time period.

[0232] The embodiments of the present application and the above-mentioned method embodiments are based on the same concept, and the technical effects they bring are also the same. For the specific principles, please refer to the description of the above-mentioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0233] The present application also provides a communication device 1700. Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the structure of communication device 1700. Communication device 1700 can be a terminal device, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the terminal device in implementing the above-mentioned method; or it can be a network device, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the network device in implementing the above-mentioned method. This device can be used to implement the method described in the above-mentioned method embodiment. For details, please refer to the description of the above-mentioned method embodiment.

[0234] The communication device 1700 may include one or more processors 1701. The processor 1701 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor. For example, it may be a baseband processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, or a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor may be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit may be used to control a communication device (e.g., a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal, a terminal chip, a distributed unit (DU) or a centralized unit (CU), etc.), execute software programs, and process data from the software programs.

[0235] Optionally, the communication device 1700 may include one or more memories 1702, on which instructions 1704 may be stored. The instructions may be executed on the processor 1701, causing the communication device 1700 to perform the method described in the above method embodiment. Optionally, the memory 1702 may also store data. The processor 1701 and memory 1702 may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0236] Optionally, the communication device 1700 may further include a transceiver 1705 and an antenna 1706. The transceiver 1705 may be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, or a transceiver circuit, etc., and is configured to implement transceiver functions. The transceiver 1705 may include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver may be referred to as a receiver or a receiving circuit, etc., and is configured to implement a receiving function; the transmitter may be referred to as a transmitter or a transmitting circuit, etc., and is configured to implement a transmitting function.

[0237] The communication device 1700 is a terminal device: the processor 1701 is configured to execute S101 and S102 in the communication method 100, and to execute S201, S202a, or S202b in the communication method 200; the transceiver 1705 is configured to execute S301, S302, S303, and S304 in the communication method 300. The communication device 1700 is a network device: the transceiver 1705 is configured to execute S301, S302, S303, and S304 in the communication method 300.

[0238] Optionally, the processor 1701 may store an instruction 1703. The instruction 1703 runs on the processor 1701, which may enable the communication device 1700 to perform the method described in the above method embodiment. The instruction 1703 may be fixed in the processor 1701. In this case, the processor 1701 may be implemented by hardware.

[0239] The embodiments of the present application and the method embodiments shown in the above-mentioned communication methods 100 to 300 are based on the same concept and bring the same technical effects. For the specific principles, please refer to the description of the embodiments shown in the above-mentioned communication methods 100 to 300 and will not be repeated here.

[0240] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing computer software instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0241] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product for storing computer software instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0242] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program that, when executed on a computer, implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0243] The embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, which includes a network device and a terminal device. In another possible design, the system may also include other devices that interact with the network device and the terminal device.

[0244] The terms "first" and "second" in the description, claims and drawings of the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order. "First", "second" and the like are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defined as "first", "second" and the like may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more.

[0245] Furthermore, the terms "include," "comprise," and "have," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus comprising a series of steps or elements is not limited to the listed steps or elements, but may optionally include steps or elements not listed, or may optionally include other steps or elements inherent to the process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0246] Reference to an "embodiment" in the embodiments of this application means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it mean that each embodiment is mutually exclusive of another embodiment or an alternative embodiment. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0247] In the embodiments of the present application, "at least one (item)" refers to one or more, "more than one" refers to two or more, and "and / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b and (or) c can represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0248] In the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner to facilitate understanding.

[0249] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (eg, an SSD).

[0250] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Monitoring a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH in a first time period, where the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS; Determining whether to monitor the first PDCCH in a second time period according to a monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period; The second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The determining, according to the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period, whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period includes: When the first PDCCH is not monitored in the first time period, skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH in a second time period; or, When the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period, the first PDCCH is monitored in a second time period.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The starting position of the first time period is the time domain position indicated by the first first search space on the predefined time domain resource, or the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the second time period, or the time domain position indicated by the first search space after the third time period; The third time period is a time period for skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH determined according to a skip command, and the first search space is the USS and the type 3 CSS.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: When the first time domain resource does not overlap with the second time period or the third time period, or when the first time domain resource overlaps with the second time period, monitoring the first PDCCH in the first time domain resource; or, When the first time domain resource overlaps with the third time period, skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH in the first time domain resource; The first time domain resource is predefined or configured.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The method further comprises: When the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time domain resource, the first PDCCH is monitored in a fourth time period after the first time domain resource.

6. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that: The skip command is carried in the group downlink control information.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The duration of the second time period is determined according to the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period.

8. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Monitoring a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH in a first time period, where the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user specific search space USS and a type 3 user common search space CSS; When no skip command is detected in the first PDCCH received on the time domain resource before the first time period and closest to the first time period, monitoring the first PDCCH in a second time period; or, When a skip command is detected in the first PDCCH received on a time domain resource that is before the first time period and closest to the first time period, determining whether to monitor the first PDCCH in a second time period according to a monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period; The second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The determining, according to the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period, whether to monitor the first PDCCH in the second time period includes: When the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period and the first PDCCH does not carry a skip command, the first PDCCH is monitored in a second time period; or, When the first PDCCH is monitored in the first time period and the first PDCCH carries a skip command, the first PDCCH is monitored on time domain resources other than a duration determined according to the skip command in a second time period; or, When the first PDCCH is not monitored in the first time period, monitoring of the first PDCCH is skipped in a second time period.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: The first time period overlaps with a third time period, and the third time period is a time period for skipping monitoring of the first PDCCH determined according to a skip command.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that: The skip command is carried in the group downlink control information.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that The method further comprises: The time domain position of the first time period is determined according to the offset value corresponding to the first time period, the period corresponding to the first time period, and the subcarrier spacing.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The duration of the second time period is determined according to the monitoring result of the first PDCCH in the first time period.

14. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Receive first indication information from a terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device has received a first physical downlink control channel PDCCH of scheduling data within a first time period, where the first PDCCH is a PDCCH carried by a user-specific search space USS and a user common search space CSS of type 3; When the first indication information indicates that the terminal device has not received the first PDCCH for scheduling data within the first time period, sending the first PDCCH without scheduling data M times; Sending the first PDCCH for scheduling data in a first time slot after sending the first PDCCH for the Mth time without scheduling data; The value of M is greater than or equal to the number of time slots included in the duration of a second time period, and the second time period is a time period associated with the first time period.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: When sending the first PDCCH of the scheduling data in the first time period, the number of times the first PDCCH of the scheduling data is sent is increased, or the transmission power of the first PDCCH of the scheduling data is increased, or the aggregation level of the first PDCCH of the scheduling data is increased.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: When it is determined that the first PDCCH for scheduling data is not sent in the first time period and the first PDCCH for scheduling data is sent in the second time period, the first PDCCH for not scheduling data is sent in the first time period.

17. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device comprises a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or comprises a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, or comprises a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 14 to 16.

18. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device comprises a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, or configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 14 to 16.

19. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium is used to store instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 to be executed, or enables the method according to any one of claims 8 to 13 to be executed, or enables the method according to any one of claims 14 to 16 to be executed.

20. A computer program product comprising instructions, characterized in that When it is run on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 8 to 13 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 14 to 16 is executed.

Images