Communication method and apparatus, and readable storage medium

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a communication method and apparatus, and a readable storage medium, which can be applied to the technical field of communications, and can overcome some problems existing in a traditional handover method, for example, can solve the problem of a confusion / conflict of identification information of cells. The method comprises: a first network device sending a handover request message to a plurality of candidate target cells, wherein the plurality of candidate target cells have the same first identification information; the first network device receiving handover request acknowledgement messages respectively corresponding to the plurality of candidate target cells, wherein each handover request acknowledgement message comprises feature information and a handover configuration of a candidate target cell; and the first network device sending a first message to a terminal device, wherein the first message comprises handover configurations and feature information respectively corresponding to the plurality of candidate target cells, and the feature information is used for the terminal device to select one candidate target cell from the plurality of candidate target cells as a target cell.

Description

Communication method, device and readable storage medium

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on September 20, 2023, with application number 202311226045.6 and application name “Communication Method, Device and Readable Storage Medium”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to communication methods, devices, and readable storage media. Background Art

[0003] In order to provide reliable communication services for areas that are difficult to be covered by terrestrial networks (TN), such as oceans and forests, non-terrestrial networks (NTN) can be introduced into the fifth-generation mobile network (5G).

[0004] In a mobile communication system, a connected user equipment (UE) can switch from a previously connected source cell to a target cell through a handover process. However, applying the traditional handover process between an NTN network and a TN network will encounter many problems.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, an apparatus, and a readable storage medium, which can overcome the problems existing in the traditional switching process.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the embodiments of the present application adopt the following technical solutions:

[0008] In the first aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a first network device, or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the first network device. The following is an example of the first network device executing the method, and the method includes: the first network device sends a handover request message to multiple candidate target cells, and the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same. The first network device receives a handover request confirmation message corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells respectively; wherein each handover request confirmation message includes characteristic information and handover configuration of the candidate target cell. The first network device sends a first message to the terminal device, and the first message includes the handover configuration and characteristic information corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells respectively; the characteristic information is used by the terminal device to select one of the candidate target cells as the target cell from the multiple candidate target cells.

[0009] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, when the first identification information of multiple candidate target cells is the same, that is, when the first identification information is confused, the terminal device can determine the target cell based on the characteristic information of the candidate target cell, thereby successfully switching to the target cell.

[0010] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in a possible design, the switching request message includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the feedback characteristic information of the candidate target cell.

[0011] This solution provides a method for triggering candidate target cells to feedback feature information.

[0012] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in a possible design, the first message includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to determine the target cell from multiple candidate target cells.

[0013] Based on this solution, the terminal device can determine the need to autonomously determine the target cell based on the second indication information.

[0014] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in a possible design, the characteristic information is second identification information or area information, wherein the second identification information is used to uniquely identify a cell.

[0015] This solution provides two types of characteristic information that will not be confused with other cells and can be used to uniquely identify the target cell.

[0016] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in a possible design, the method also includes: the first network device receives a measurement report from the terminal device, and the measurement report includes first identification information of multiple candidate target cells.

[0017] Based on this solution, the first network device can obtain the first identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device through the measurement process, wherein a certain measured cell can be determined as the target cell by the first network device, thereby obtaining the first identification information of the target cell, that is, the first identification information of multiple candidate target cells.

[0018] In combination with the above-mentioned first aspect, in one possible design, the frequencies of multiple candidate target cells are the same.

[0019] The communication method provided in the present application can be used to determine a target cell from a plurality of candidate target cells having the same frequency points and first identification information, that is, it can be used to solve the problem of confusion between the first identification information and the frequency points.

[0020] In the second aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal device or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the terminal device. The following is an example of a terminal device executing the method, and the method includes: the terminal device receives a first message from a first network device, and the first message includes a switching configuration and feature information corresponding to a plurality of candidate target cells, wherein the first identification information of the plurality of candidate target cells is the same. The terminal device selects one of the candidate target cells as the target cell from the plurality of candidate target cells based on the feature information. The terminal device applies the switching configuration of the target cell to switch to the target cell.

[0021] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, when the first identification information of multiple candidate target cells is the same, that is, when the first identification information is confused, the terminal device can determine the target cell based on the characteristic information of the candidate target cell, thereby successfully switching to the target cell.

[0022] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in one possible design, the characteristic information includes second identification information or area information, and the second identification information is used to uniquely identify the cell; wherein, the second identification information of the target cell is the same as the second identification information of any measured cell; or, the terminal device is located in the area indicated by the area information corresponding to the target cell.

[0023] This solution provides two types of characteristic information that can be used to uniquely identify a target cell, preventing confusion with other cells. When the characteristic information is second identification information, if a candidate target cell has the same second identification information as a cell measured by the terminal device, the candidate target cell is considered the target cell. When the characteristic information is area information, if the terminal device is located in the area indicated by the area information corresponding to a candidate target cell, the candidate target cell is considered the target cell.

[0024] In conjunction with the second aspect, in one possible design, when the characteristic information includes second identification information, the method further includes: the terminal device measuring the second identification information of one or more cells. The terminal device compares the second identification information of each candidate target cell in the multiple candidate target cells with the second identification information of the measured cells.

[0025] When the characteristic information includes the second identification information, the terminal device can measure the neighboring cell to read the second identification information of the neighboring cell, and compare the second identification information of the neighboring cell with the second identification information of the candidate target cell to determine the target cell.

[0026] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in a possible design, the method also includes: the terminal device sends a measurement report to the first network device, the measurement report includes the first identification information of the target cell, and the first identification information of the target cell is the same as the first identification information of multiple candidate target cells.

[0027] Based on this solution, the terminal device can report the first identification information of the measured cell to the first network device through the measurement process, wherein a measured cell can be determined as a target cell by the first network device, thereby obtaining the first identification information of the target cell, that is, the first identification information of multiple candidate target cells.

[0028] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in a possible design, the method also includes: the terminal device retains the switching configuration of other candidate target cells in the first message except the switching configuration of the target cell.

[0029] In this solution, the retained handover configurations of other candidate target cells may be used in subsequent handover procedures, which can save signaling overhead.

[0030] In combination with the above-mentioned second aspect, in a possible design, the first message also includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to determine the target cell from multiple candidate target cells.

[0031] Based on this solution, the terminal device can determine the need to autonomously determine the target cell based on the second indication information.

[0032] In combination with the above second aspect, in a possible design, the frequencies of multiple candidate target cells are the same.

[0033] The communication method provided in the present application can be used to determine a target cell from a plurality of candidate target cells having the same frequency points and first identification information, that is, it can be used to solve the problem of confusion between the first identification information and the frequency points.

[0034] According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a first network device or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the first network device. The following is an example of the first network device executing the method, which includes: the first network device sends a handover request message to multiple candidate target cells, and the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same; wherein the handover request message includes the location information associated with the terminal device, and the location information associated with the terminal device is used by the candidate target cell to perform access control on the terminal device. The first network device receives a handover request confirmation message corresponding to the target cell, and the handover confirmation message includes the handover configuration corresponding to the target cell; the target cell is a candidate target cell among multiple candidate target cells for which access control on the terminal device is successful. The first network device sends a first message to the terminal device, and the first message includes the handover configuration corresponding to the target cell; the first message is used for the terminal device to switch to the target cell.

[0035] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, when the first identification information of multiple candidate target cells is the same, that is, when the first identification information is confused, the candidate target cell can perform admission control based on the location information associated with the terminal device. If the admission control performed by the candidate target cell is successful, the candidate target cell can be considered to be the target cell, and the terminal device can be switched to the candidate target cell.

[0036] In conjunction with the third aspect above, in one possible design, successful admission control includes: determining that the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell. Failed admission control includes: determining that the terminal device is not located within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell.

[0037] Based on this solution, a candidate target cell can perform access control on a terminal device by determining whether the terminal device is located within its coverage area. If the terminal device is not within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell, it means that the candidate target cell is not a neighboring cell that the terminal device can measure, and therefore, the candidate target cell will not be the target cell. Conversely, if the terminal device is within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell, it means that the candidate target cell is a neighboring cell that the terminal device can measure, and the terminal device can access the candidate target cell, and therefore, the candidate target cell can be considered the target cell.

[0038] In combination with the third aspect above, in one possible design, the location information associated with the terminal device includes at least one of the following: area information of the beam where the terminal device is located, location information of the terminal device, and information about the geographical area where the terminal device is located.

[0039] This solution provides multiple possible terminal device-associated location information, which can represent the current location of the terminal device.

[0040] In combination with the above-mentioned third aspect, in a possible design, the method also includes: the first network device receives a measurement report from the terminal device, and the measurement report includes first identification information of multiple candidate target cells.

[0041] Based on this solution, the first network device can obtain the first identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device through the measurement process, wherein a certain measured cell can be determined as the target cell by the first network device, thereby obtaining the first identification information of the target cell, that is, the first identification information of multiple candidate target cells.

[0042] In combination with the third aspect above, in one possible design, the frequencies of multiple candidate target cells are the same.

[0043] The communication method provided in the present application can be used to determine a target cell from a plurality of candidate target cells having the same frequency points and first identification information, that is, it can be used to solve the problem of confusion between the first identification information and the frequency points.

[0044] In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a network device corresponding to a candidate target cell, or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell. The following is an example of the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell executing the method, and the method includes: the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell receives a handover request message from a first network device, and the handover request message includes location information associated with the terminal device. The network device corresponding to the candidate target cell performs admission control on the terminal device based on the location information associated with the terminal device.

[0045] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the candidate target cell can perform admission control based on the location information associated with the terminal device. If the admission control performed by the candidate target cell is successful, the candidate target cell can be considered as the target cell, and the terminal device can be switched to the candidate target cell.

[0046] In combination with the above-mentioned fourth aspect, in a possible design, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell performs access control on the terminal device, including: determining that the terminal device is located within the coverage area and the access control is successful; or determining that the terminal device is not located in the coverage area and the access control fails.

[0047] Based on this solution, a candidate target cell can perform access control on a terminal device by determining whether the terminal device is located within its coverage area. If the terminal device is not within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell, it means that the candidate target cell is not a neighboring cell that the terminal device can measure, and therefore, the candidate target cell will not be the target cell. Conversely, if the terminal device is within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell, it means that the candidate target cell is a neighboring cell that the terminal device can measure, and the terminal device can access the candidate target cell, and therefore, the candidate target cell can be considered the target cell.

[0048] In combination with the above-mentioned fourth aspect, in a possible design, after the admission control is successfully performed, the method also includes: the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell sends a switching request confirmation message to the first network device, and the switching confirmation message includes the switching configuration.

[0049] Based on this solution, successful admission control indicates that the candidate target cell is the target cell, and the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell can feed back a handover request confirmation message to inform the first network device.

[0050] In combination with the fourth aspect above, in a possible design, the admission control fails, and the method further includes: the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell sends a switching rejection message to the first network device.

[0051] Based on this solution, failure in admission control indicates that the candidate target cell is not the target cell, and the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell can feed back a handover request rejection message to inform the first network device.

[0052] In combination with the fourth aspect above, in a possible design, the location information associated with the terminal device includes at least one of the following: area information of the beam where the terminal device is located, location information of the terminal device, and information about the geographical area where the terminal device is located.

[0053] This solution provides multiple possible terminal device-associated location information, which can represent the current location of the terminal device.

[0054] In a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a first network device or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the first network device. The following is an example of the first network device executing the method, and the method includes: the first network device obtains the location information associated with the terminal device and the respective area information of multiple candidate target cells; wherein the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same. The first network device determines the target cell based on the location information associated with the terminal device and the respective area information of the multiple candidate target cells, the target cell belongs to multiple candidate target cells, and the terminal device is located in the coverage area of ​​the target cell. The first network device sends a first message to the terminal device, the first message including the switching configuration of the target cell; the first message is used for the terminal device to switch to the target cell.

[0055] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, when the first identification information of multiple candidate target cells is the same, that is, when the first identification information is confused, the first network device can determine the target cell based on the location information associated with the terminal device and the respective area information of the multiple candidate target cells. In other words, the problem of confusion of the first identification information can be solved.

[0056] In conjunction with the fifth aspect, in one possible design, the first network device obtaining the respective area information of the plurality of candidate target cells includes: the first network device receiving the respective area information of the plurality of candidate target cells; or, the first network device obtaining the respective area information of the plurality of candidate target cells from network devices corresponding to the plurality of candidate target cells; or, the first network device obtaining the respective area information of the plurality of candidate target cells from a network management element.

[0057] This solution provides multiple ways to obtain the area information of candidate target cells.

[0058] In combination with the above-mentioned fifth aspect, in a possible design, the first network device obtains location information associated with the terminal device and area information of multiple candidate target cells, including: the first network device obtains neighboring cell relations, and the neighboring cell relations include first identification information, second identification information and first location information of the candidate target cell; wherein, the first location information includes area information of the candidate target cell and location information of the terminal device located in the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell.

[0059] Based on this solution, the first network device can obtain the neighboring cell relationship to obtain the location information associated with the terminal device and the area information of the candidate target cell.

[0060] In combination with the fifth aspect above, in one possible design, the first network device obtains a neighboring cell relationship, including: the first network device receives the first identification information and the second identification information of the candidate target cell reported by the terminal device, and the location information of the terminal device measured to the candidate target cell. Alternatively, the first network device receives handover confirmation information corresponding to the candidate target cell, and the handover confirmation information includes the area information, the first identification information and / or the second identification information of the candidate target cell. Alternatively, the first network device receives the neighboring cell relationship from the second network device.

[0061] This solution provides multiple ways to obtain neighboring cell relationships.

[0062] In combination with the above-mentioned fifth aspect, in a possible design, the method also includes: the first network device sends the neighboring area relationship to the third network device.

[0063] Based on this solution, neighbor relations can be transmitted between network devices.

[0064] In combination with the above-mentioned fifth aspect, in a possible design, the location information associated with the terminal device includes at least one of the following: area information of the beam where the terminal device is located, location information of the terminal device, and information about the geographical area where the terminal device is located.

[0065] This solution provides multiple possible terminal device-associated location information, which can represent the current location of the terminal device.

[0066] In combination with the above-mentioned fifth aspect, in a possible design, the method also includes: the first network device receives a measurement report from the terminal device, and the measurement report includes first identification information of multiple candidate target cells.

[0067] Based on this solution, the first network device can obtain the first identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device through the measurement process, wherein a certain measured cell can be determined as the target cell by the first network device, thereby obtaining the first identification information of the target cell, that is, the first identification information of multiple candidate target cells.

[0068] In combination with the fifth aspect above, in one possible design, the frequencies of multiple candidate target cells are the same.

[0069] The communication method provided in the present application can be used to determine a target cell from a plurality of candidate target cells having the same frequency points and first identification information, that is, it can be used to solve the problem of confusion between the first identification information and the frequency points.

[0070] In a sixth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a core network device or by a module (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system) implemented in the core network device. The following description uses the core network device performing the method as an example. The method includes: the core network device receiving cell information from a fourth network device; the cell information includes information about a serving cell of the fourth network device and information about neighboring cells of the serving cell; the serving cell information includes first identification information and second identification information of the serving cell, and the neighboring cell information includes second identification information of the neighboring cell; the first identification information is used to identify one or more cells, and the second identification information is used to uniquely identify a cell. The core network device receives a handover request message from a fifth network device; the handover request message includes first identification information of a target cell to which a terminal device requests handover and second identification information of a cell measured by the terminal device; the handover request message is used to request the target cell to prepare handover resources. The core network device determines, based on the cell information and the handover request message, that the first identification information of the target cell is identical to the first identification information of the serving cell, and that the second identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device is identical to the second identification information of the serving cell or a neighboring cell. The core network device sends a second message to the fourth network device, the second message being used to request the target cell to prepare handover resources.

[0071] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, core network devices can obtain cell information, including information about the serving cell and its neighboring cells. Furthermore, based on this cell information, the core network device can determine whether the serving cell of a particular network device is the target cell. This solves the problem of network devices being unable to determine the target cell and, consequently, unable to complete cell handover in scenarios where the network devices have no neighboring cell relationships.

[0072] In combination with the above-mentioned sixth aspect, in a possible design, the switching request message also includes identification information of the sixth network device; the method also includes: the core network device ignores the identification information of the sixth network device.

[0073] In the traditional handover process, if a handover request message received by a core network device includes the identification information of a network device, the core network device can use that network device as the network device corresponding to the target cell. However, with this solution, if the handover request message also includes the identification information of a network device, the core network device can ignore the identification information of the network device and still determine the target cell based on the cell information.

[0074] In combination with the above-mentioned sixth aspect, in a possible design, the information of the service cell also includes at least one of the frequency information of the service cell, the first identification information of the neighboring cell, and the frequency information of the neighboring cell.

[0075] Based on this solution, the core network device can also obtain at least one of the frequency information of the serving cell, the first identification information of the neighboring cell, and the frequency information of the neighboring cell. This information can assist the core network device in determining the target cell.

[0076] In combination with the sixth aspect above, in one possible design, the frequency of the service cell is the same as the frequency of the target cell.

[0077] Based on this solution, the core network equipment can further determine whether the frequency of the serving cell is the same as the frequency of the target cell. Only when the frequencies are the same can the serving cell be considered to be the target cell; otherwise, it is not.

[0078] In the seventh aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a core network device or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the core network device. The following is an illustration of the method executed by the core network device, which includes: the core network device receives cell information from the seventh network device; the cell information includes the first identification information and area information of the service cell of the seventh network device. The core network device receives a switching request message from the eighth network device; the switching request message includes the first identification information of the target cell to which the terminal device requests switching. The core network device determines, based on the cell information and the location information of the terminal device, that the first identification information of the service cell is the same as that of the target cell, and that the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the service cell. The core network device sends a second message to the seventh network device, and the second message is used to request the target cell to prepare switching resources.

[0079] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, a core network device can obtain cell information, including the first identification information and area information of the serving cell. Furthermore, based on this cell information, the core network device can determine whether the serving cell of a particular network device is the target cell. This solves the problem of a network device being unable to determine the target cell and thus unable to complete a cell handover in scenarios where the network device has no neighboring cell relationship.

[0080] In combination with the above-mentioned seventh aspect, in a possible design, the switching request message also includes identification information of the ninth network device; the method also includes: the core network device ignores the identification information of the ninth network device.

[0081] In the traditional handover process, if a handover request message received by a core network device includes the identification information of a network device, the core network device can use that network device as the network device corresponding to the target cell. However, with this solution, if the handover request message also includes the identification information of a network device, the core network device can ignore the identification information of the network device and still determine the target cell based on the cell information.

[0082] In combination with the seventh aspect above, in one possible design, the core network device obtains the location information of the terminal device, including: the core network device receives the location information of the terminal device from the terminal device. Alternatively, the switching request message includes the location information of the terminal device.

[0083] Based on this solution, multiple methods are provided for core network devices to obtain the location information of terminal devices.

[0084] In combination with the above-mentioned seventh aspect, in a possible design, the cell information also includes at least one of the frequency information of the serving cell, the first identification information of the neighboring cell of the serving cell, the second identification information of the neighboring cell, and the frequency information of the neighboring cell.

[0085] Based on this solution, the core network device can also obtain at least one of the frequency information of the serving cell, the first identification information of the neighboring cell, the second identification information of the neighboring cell, and the frequency information of the neighboring cell. This information can assist the core network device in determining the target cell.

[0086] In combination with the seventh aspect above, in one possible design, the frequency of the service cell is the same as the frequency of the target cell.

[0087] Based on this solution, the core network equipment can further determine whether the frequency of the serving cell is the same as the frequency of the target cell. Only when the frequencies are the same can the serving cell be considered to be the target cell; otherwise, it is not.

[0088] In an eighth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a first network device or by a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the first network device. The following description takes the first network device performing the method as an example. The method includes: the first network device sends a third message to a terminal device, where the third message includes one or more measurement gap (GAP) configurations. The first network device receives third indication information from the terminal device, where the third indication information is used to indicate activation or deactivation of one or more GAPs among the one or more GAPs included in the third message.

[0089] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the first network device and the terminal device can align the deactivated / activated GAP, thereby increasing the data transmission volume and reducing the GAP scheduling overhead.

[0090] In combination with the above-mentioned eighth aspect, in a possible design, the third message also includes information about one or more frequency points associated with one or more GAP configurations; the one or more frequency points are frequency points configured for the terminal device to perform measurements.

[0091] In combination with the above-mentioned eighth aspect, in a possible design, the method also includes: the first network device sends information about the area associated with the frequency point to the terminal device; the information about the area associated with the frequency point is used by the terminal device to determine the measured frequency point and / or the unmeasured frequency point based on whether it is located in the area associated with the frequency point; wherein the GAP associated with the unmeasured frequency point is the GAP that is deactivated as indicated by the third message; the GAP associated with the measured frequency point is the GAP that is activated as indicated by the third message.

[0092] Based on this solution, the terminal device can determine whether to measure the frequency according to the area associated with the frequency, and further determine whether to deactivate the GAP associated with the frequency.

[0093] In combination with the above-mentioned eighth aspect, in a possible design, the method also includes: the first network device sends fourth indication information to the terminal device, and the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to determine whether to measure the frequency point based on information of the area associated with the frequency point.

[0094] Based on this solution, the terminal device can determine, under the instruction of the fourth indication information, whether to measure the frequency point based on the information of the area associated with the frequency point.

[0095] In combination with the above-mentioned eighth aspect, in a possible design, the third indication information is carried in the media access control layer control element MAC CE or the radio resource control RRC message.

[0096] This solution provides multiple signalings that can carry the third indication information.

[0097] In a ninth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be executed by a terminal device or by a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the terminal device. The following description uses the terminal device executing the method as an example. The method includes: the terminal device receiving a third message from a first network device, where the third message includes one or more measurement gap (GAP) configurations. The terminal device sends third indication information to the first network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate activation or deactivation of one or more GAPs among the one or more GAPs included in the third message.

[0098] Based on the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the first network device and the terminal device can align the deactivated / activated GAP, thereby increasing the data transmission volume and reducing the GAP scheduling overhead.

[0099] In combination with the above-mentioned ninth aspect, in a possible design, the second message also includes information about one or more frequency points associated with one or more GAP configurations; the one or more frequency points are frequency points configured for the terminal device to perform measurements.

[0100] In conjunction with the ninth aspect above, in one possible design, the method further includes: the terminal device obtaining information about an area associated with the frequency point. Based on the information about the area associated with the frequency point, the terminal device determines whether it is located within the area associated with the frequency point; if it is located within the area associated with the frequency point, the terminal device determines to measure the frequency point; if it is not located within the area associated with the frequency point, the terminal device determines not to measure the frequency point. The GAP associated with the frequency point that is not measured is the GAP that the third message indicates to be deactivated; the GAP associated with the frequency point that is measured is the GAP that the third message indicates to be activated.

[0101] Based on this solution, the terminal device can obtain information about the area associated with the frequency point, and determine whether to measure the frequency point based on the area associated with the frequency point, thereby further determining whether to deactivate the GAP associated with the frequency point.

[0102] In combination with the above-mentioned ninth aspect, in a possible design, the method also includes: the terminal device receives fourth indication information from the first network device, and the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to determine whether to measure the frequency point based on information of the area associated with the frequency point.

[0103] Based on this solution, the terminal device can determine, under the instruction of the fourth indication information, whether to measure the frequency point based on the information of the area associated with the frequency point.

[0104] In combination with the above-mentioned ninth aspect, in a possible design, the third indication information is carried in the media access control layer control element MAC CE or the radio resource control RRC message.

[0105] This solution provides multiple signalings that can carry the third indication information.

[0106] In a tenth aspect, a communication device is provided for implementing various methods. The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the implementation methods. The modules, units, or means can be implemented through hardware, software, or hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the functions.

[0107] In some possible designs, the communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module may be configured to implement the processing functionality of any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof. The transceiver module may include a receiving module and a transmitting module, respectively configured to implement the receiving functionality and the transmitting functionality of any of the above aspects and any possible implementations thereof.

[0108] In some possible designs, the transceiver module may be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver or a communication interface.

[0109] In the eleventh aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions, and when the processor executes the instructions, the communication device executes the method described in any one of the aspects.

[0110] In the twelfth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor and a communication interface; the communication interface is used to communicate with a module outside the communication device; the processor is used to execute a computer program or instruction so that the communication device executes the method described in any aspect.

[0111] In a thirteenth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: at least one processor; the processor is configured to execute a computer program or instruction stored in a memory, so that the communication device performs the method described in any one of the aspects. The memory may be coupled to the processor, or may be independent of the processor.

[0112] In a fourteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, in which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer-readable storage medium is run on a communication device, the communication device can execute the method described in any one of the aspects.

[0113] In a fifteenth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a communication device, enables the communication device to execute the method described in any one of the aspects.

[0114] In a sixteenth aspect, a communication device is provided (for example, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system), which includes a processor for implementing the functions involved in any aspect.

[0115] In some possible designs, the communication device includes a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data.

[0116] In some possible designs, when the device is a chip system, it can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0117] The communication device provided in any one of the tenth to sixteenth aspects may be the first network device in the first, third, fifth or eighth aspects, or a device included in the first network device, such as a chip or a chip system; or, the communication device may be the terminal device in the second or ninth aspect, or a device included in the terminal device, such as a chip or a chip system. Alternatively, the communication device may be the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell in the fourth aspect, or a device included in the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell, such as a chip or a chip system. Alternatively, the communication device may be the core network device in the sixth or seventh aspects, or a device included in the core network device, such as a chip or a chip system.

[0118] It can be understood that when the communication device provided in any one of the tenth to sixteenth aspects is a chip, the sending action / function of the communication device can be understood as output information, and the receiving action / function of the communication device can be understood as input information.

[0119] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the tenth to sixteenth aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by different design methods in the first to ninth aspects, and will not be repeated here.

[0120] In the seventeenth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a first network device and a terminal device. The first network device is used to implement the method described in the first aspect, and the terminal device is used to implement the method described in the second aspect. Alternatively, the communication system comprises a first network device and a network device corresponding to a candidate target cell. The first network device is used to implement the method described in the third aspect, and the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell is used to implement the method described in the fourth aspect. Alternatively, the communication system comprises a first network device and a terminal device. The first network device is used to implement the method described in the eighth aspect, and the terminal device is used to implement the method described in the ninth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0121] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the RAN architecture based on the NTN network;

[0122] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the cell switching process;

[0123] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an NTN cell with multiple neighboring cells;

[0124] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0125] FIG5 is an interactive diagram of a first communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0126] FIG6 is a flow chart of a first communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0127] FIG7 is an interactive diagram of a second communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0128] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a second communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0129] FIG9 is an interactive diagram of a third communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0130] FIG10 is an interactive diagram of a fourth communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0131] FIG11 is an interactive diagram of a fifth communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0132] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0133] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a fifth communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0134] FIG14 is an interactive diagram of a sixth communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0135] FIG15 is an interactive diagram of a seventh communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0136] FIG16 is a schematic diagram of multiple frequency points and associated multiple regions provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0137] FIG17 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0138] FIG18 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0139] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, a brief introduction to the relevant technologies of the present application is first given as follows.

[0140] 1. NTN network:

[0141] The NTN network has the advantages of wide coverage, long communication distance, high reliability, great flexibility, and high throughput. By introducing non-terrestrial communications into 5G, it can provide communication services for areas that are difficult for terrestrial networks to cover, such as oceans and forests, enhance the reliability of 5G communications, and provide more data transmission resources to support a larger number of connections.

[0142] Currently, a variety of NTN-based radio access network (RAN) architectures have been proposed. These RAN architectures can be applied to 5G or new radio (NR) systems. The following describes each of them in conjunction with Figure 1.

[0143] Architecture 1, shown in (1) of Figure 1, is also known as the transparent satellite architecture. In Architecture 1, the base station and UE communicate via the Uu interface, while the satellite and NTN gateway can serve as the base station's remote radio unit (RRU). The satellite's functions include radio frequency filtering, frequency conversion, and amplification. That is, the satellite is primarily responsible for regenerating physical layer signals and does not have other higher protocol layers.

[0144] Architecture 2 is shown in (2) of Figure 1. The satellite is a regenerative satellite without an inter-satellite link (ISL) and has the processing capabilities of a base station. That is, in this architecture, the satellite acts as a base station. In Architecture 2, the satellite can exchange routing information (SRI) with the NTN gateway via the NG interface (NG over SRI). The satellite can communicate with the core network via the NG interface. The satellite can communicate with terminal devices via the Uu interface.

[0145] Architecture 3 is shown in (3) of Figure 1. The satellite is a regenerative satellite with an intersatellite link and has the processing capabilities of a base station. In other words, in this architecture, the satellite also acts as a base station. Different satellites can communicate with each other via intersatellite links. Satellites can exchange routing information with the NTN gateway via the NG interface. Satellites can communicate with the core network via the NG interface. Satellites can communicate with terminal devices via the Uu interface.

[0146] Architecture 4 is shown in (4) of Figure 1. The satellite is a regenerative satellite with the processing capabilities of a distributed unit (DU) in a base station. That is, in this architecture, the satellite acts as a DU. The satellite can communicate with the centralized unit (CU) in the base station via the F1 interface. The satellite can exchange routing information with the NTN gateway via the FI interface (F1 over SRI). The CU in the base station can communicate with the core network via the NG interface. The satellite can communicate with terminal devices via the Uu interface.

[0147] Architecture 5 is not shown in Figure 1. In Architecture 5, the satellite is a base station with integrated access and backhaul (IAB) functionality.

[0148] Optionally, as shown in FIG1 , the core network may be connected to the data network via an N6 interface.

[0149] 2. Cell switching:

[0150] In a mobile communication system, a connected UE can switch from its previously connected source cell to a target cell through a handover process. In a traditional handover process, the mobility management of a connected UE is controlled by the base station. Specifically, the base station sends a handover message to instruct the UE which cell to switch to and how to perform the handover. As shown in Figure 2, a handover process based on the Xn interface includes the following steps:

[0151] Step 1: The source base station (referring to the serving base station of the source cell to which the UE is currently connected) sends a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message to the connected UE. The RRC reconfiguration message contains information such as the measurement object, report configuration, and measurement identifier. Among them, the measurement object is used to indicate the frequency to be measured. For example, the frequency to be measured can be the frequency of the cell to be measured. The cell to be measured is usually a neighboring cell of the source cell to which the UE is currently connected. The source base station can indicate one or more frequencies to be measured through the RRC reconfiguration message. The report configuration is used to configure the events that the UE needs to meet in the measurement report to report the measured cell. The measurement identifier is used to bind the measurement object and the report configuration. This information used for the UE to perform measurements can also be called measurement configuration or measurement control. In other words, step 1 can also be called the source base station sending measurement configuration / measurement control.

[0152] Step 2: After measuring the frequency to be measured according to the RRC reconfiguration message, the UE generates a measurement report and reports it to the source base station. The measurement report may include the measurement results of the cell measured by the UE and events associated with the measurement results, such as the signal strength of the current source cell being below the threshold and the signal strength of the measured cell being above the threshold.

[0153] Step 3: After receiving the measurement report, the source base station decides whether the UE should switch to another cell based on the measurement report. If a handover is required, the source base station selects a target cell from the cells reported in the measurement report and sends a handover request message to the serving base station of the target cell (hereinafter referred to as the target base station).

[0154] Step 4: After receiving the handover request message, the target base station decides whether to allow the UE to access based on the current situation. If allowed, it sends a handover request confirmation message to the source base station. The handover request confirmation message includes the parameters required for accessing the target cell (hereinafter referred to as the handover configuration), such as the target cell ID (physical cell ID), the cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) allocated by the target cell to the UE, the identifier of the target base station security-related algorithm, and the random access channel (RACH) resource information required for accessing the target cell. Exemplarily, the RACH resource information may include at least one of the following: dedicated RACH resources, the association between RACH resources and synchronization signal blocks (synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block, SSB), the association between RACH resources and UE-specific channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) configuration, public RACH resources, and other information.

[0155] Step 5: After receiving the handover request confirmation message from the target base station, the source base station sends an RRC reconfiguration message (hereinafter referred to as a handover command) to the UE. The handover command contains information about the target cell and the handover configuration required for the UE to access the target cell. For example, the relevant information about the target cell may include the physical cell identifier (PCI) of the target cell and the frequency information of the target cell.

[0156] Step 6: The UE initiates random access to the target base station according to the handover command.

[0157] Step 7: The UE sends an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the target base station.

[0158] Step 8: The target base station sends a context release message to the source base station, so that the source base station releases the UE context.

[0159] In addition, unlike the traditional handover process in which the base station is responsible for whether the handover should be performed, 5G introduces a new handover process: conditional handover (CHO), which is defined as: when one or more handover execution conditions are met, the UE (by itself) performs the handover. The main steps of conditional handover include: the source base station sends CHO configuration information to the UE through RRC reconfiguration information, which includes the handover execution conditions and related configuration parameters (such as PCI, frequency, etc.) corresponding to the candidate cell (or potential cell, candidate target cell). After receiving the CHO configuration, the UE can start to evaluate whether the candidate cell meets the handover execution conditions. When the candidate cell meets the corresponding handover execution conditions, the UE can decide whether to switch to the candidate cell.

[0160] The candidate cell may be a cell configured by the network side for CHO for the UE (or prepared for CHO for the UE).

[0161] The handover execution condition for each candidate cell can be generated by the source base station. For example, the handover execution condition can be: the signal quality of the candidate cell is higher than that of the current serving cell and exceeds a configured offset. Another example of a handover execution condition can be: the signal quality of the current serving cell is less than threshold 1, and the signal quality of the candidate cell is greater than threshold 2. For details, please refer to existing protocols and will not be elaborated here.

[0162] Currently, there are two types of identification information for cells, the physical cell identifier (PCI) and the cell global identifier (CGI). Among them, PCI is used to distinguish the wireless signals of different cells. It is necessary to ensure that there is no identical PCI within the coverage range of the coherent cell. However, after a certain distance, the PCIs of different cells can be the same, so PCI cannot uniquely identify the cell. CGI can be used to identify the area covered by a cell. Its structure is more complex than PCI. Generally, CGI can be used to identify a unique cell. Normally, the number of bits occupied by PCI is less than the number of bits occupied by CGI. For example, PCI may occupy 9 bits and CGI occupies more than 30 bits.

[0163] In terrestrial networks, base stations typically manually configure neighbor relationships, exchange neighbor relationships through inter-station interfaces, or obtain neighbor relationships from operations, administration, and maintenance (OAM) network elements (also known as network management elements). Neighbor relationships include information about the serving cell's neighbors, such as the PCI, CGI, frequency, and base station identifier of the base station where the neighboring cell resides. In traditional handover procedures, the measurement results reported by a UE in a measurement report typically include the PCI and frequency of the cell measured by the UE. After receiving the measurement report, the source base station can query neighbor relationships based on the measurement results to determine the corresponding target cell. However, if the source base station queries neighbor relationships based on the PCI and frequency of a cell in the measurement report and finds multiple cells with the same PCI and frequency, the source base station cannot determine which cell's PCI the UE reported. This problem is known as PCI confusion or PCI conflict. Alternatively, after determining the target cell based on the measurement report, the source base station can query neighbor relationships to determine the target base station. However, if the source base station searches for the base station corresponding to the cell with the same frequency and PCI as the target cell in the neighboring cell relationship, and there are multiple cells in the neighboring cell relationship that have the same PCI and frequency as the target cell, the source base station cannot uniquely determine the target base station. This problem can also be called PCI confusion or PCI conflict.

[0164] In terrestrial networks, TN cells have a small coverage area. Generally, cells with the same PCI are not neighbors. Therefore, the neighboring cell relationships configured by terrestrial base stations typically do not contain multiple cells with the same PCI. In contrast, in NTN networks, NTN cells have a large coverage area. Multiple TN cells with the same PCI but different CGIs may exist within or around an NTN cell's coverage area. Therefore, if the source cell is an NTN cell, when the source base station queries neighboring cell relationships based on the PCI reported by the UE, it is likely to query multiple cells, leading to PCI confusion. For example, as shown in Figure 3, cell A is an NTN cell, and cells B and C are its neighbors, with the same PCI. Suppose a UE is currently connected to cell A. The UE measures cell B and reports its PCI in a measurement report. The base station where cell A resides is the source base station. After receiving the measurement report, the source base station queries neighboring cell relationships based on the PCI in the measurement report and queries cells B and C. The source base station cannot determine which cell's PCI the UE reported, making it impossible to determine which cell to handover to.

[0165] Currently, after a UE reports a measurement report, if the base station determines that the PCI in the measurement report is confused or conflicting, the base station will issue a CGI measurement configuration. The CGI measurement configuration includes the frequency of the measurement object and the PCI corresponding to the cell for which the CGI needs to be reported (that is, the same PCI corresponding to multiple cells with confused PCIs). After receiving the CGI measurement configuration, the UE can attempt to obtain access-related information (hereinafter referred to as CGI information) of the relevant cell based on the CGI measurement configuration, such as the CGI, PCI, Tracking Area Code (TAI), PLMN, and other information of the relevant cell, and report it to the base station through a measurement report (hereinafter referred to as a CGI measurement report). For example, the UE can receive system information broadcast by one or more cells corresponding to the frequency in the CGI measurement configuration, thereby obtaining the CGI information of the cell. The UE can determine whether the PCI of the cell is the same as the PCI in the CGI measurement configuration based on the PCI included in the cell's CGI information. If it is determined that the PCI of a cell is the same as the PCI in the CGI measurement configuration, the UE reports the CGI information of the cell to the base station through a CGI measurement report. The base station may compare the CGI reported by the UE with the CGIs of multiple cells with PCI confusion. If the CGI of a cell among the multiple cells with PCI confusion is the same as any CGI reported by the UE, the cell may be determined as the target cell.

[0166] At present, in the scenario of PCI conflict, the terrestrial network can uniquely determine the target cell by triggering the CGI measurement process. However, the terrestrial network requires that ordinary terminals in frequency band 1 (Frequency range 1, FR1) take about 2 seconds to complete the above CGI measurement process, and in FR2, it takes about 16 seconds to complete the above CGI measurement process, which is relatively time-consuming. If the above CGI measurement process is to be applied to the NTN network, in the scenario of rapid satellite movement, the measurement action may not be completed before the satellite has moved away. Therefore, in the satellite scenario, if a PCI confusion problem occurs, it may not be suitable for some terminals (such as terminals located at the edge of the NTN cell) to use the above CGI measurement process to uniquely determine the target cell, and other methods are needed to determine the target cell. Based on this problem, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, device and system that can determine a unique target cell when a PCI confusion problem occurs.

[0167] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, " / " indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can represent A or B. The "and / or" in the present application is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. A and B can be singular or plural. In addition, in the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" refers to two or more than two. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, c can be single or multiple. In addition, in order to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between identical or similar items with substantially the same functions and effects. Those skilled in the art will understand that words such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and words such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily limit differences. At the same time, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or explanations. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a concrete way for easy understanding.

[0168] In the embodiment of the present application, "indication" may include direct indication and indirect indication, and may also include explicit indication and implicit indication. The information indicated by a certain information (such as the first indication information or the second indication information below) is called information to be indicated. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated, such as but not limited to, the information to be indicated can be directly indicated, such as the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, wherein the other information and the information to be indicated have an association relationship. It is also possible to indicate only a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of specific information can be achieved by means of the arrangement order of each piece of information agreed in advance (such as specified in the protocol), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. At the same time, the common parts of each piece of information can also be identified and indicated uniformly to reduce the indication overhead caused by indicating the same information separately.

[0169] In addition, the specific indication method can also be various existing indication methods, such as but not limited to the above-mentioned indication methods and various combinations thereof. The specific details of the various indication methods can be referred to the prior art and will not be repeated herein. As can be seen from the above, for example, when it is necessary to indicate multiple information of the same type, there may be a situation where the indication methods for different information are different. In the specific implementation process, the required indication method can be selected according to specific needs. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the selected indication method. In this way, the indication method involved in the embodiment of the present application should be understood to cover various methods that can enable the party to be indicated to obtain the information to be indicated.

[0170] It should be understood that the information to be indicated can be sent as a whole or divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately, and the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited in the embodiments of this application. The sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be predefined, for example, predefined according to a protocol, or can be configured by the transmitting device by sending configuration information to the receiving device.

[0171] In an embodiment of the present application, "pre-definition", "pre-defined", "pre-configured" or "pre-configured" can be implemented by pre-saving corresponding codes, tables or other methods that can be used to indicate relevant information in the device. For example, it can be burned into the device when the device leaves the factory. The embodiment of the present application does not limit its specific implementation method. Among them, "saving" can mean saving in one or more memories. The one or more memories can be set separately or integrated in an encoder or decoder, a processor, or a communication device. The one or more memories can also be partially set separately and partially integrated in a decoder, a processor, or a communication device. The type of memory can be any form of storage medium, which is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

[0172] The "protocol" involved in the embodiments of the present application may refer to a protocol family in the communication field, a standard protocol with a similar protocol family frame structure, or a related protocol used in future communication systems. The embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0173] In the embodiments of the present application, descriptions such as "when...", "in the case of...", "if" and "if" all mean that the device will perform corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances. It does not limit the time, nor does it require the device to perform judgment actions when implemented, nor does it mean that there are other limitations.

[0174] It should be noted that the network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0175] (1) in FIG4 is a possible, non-limiting system diagram provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in (1) in FIG4, the communication system 10 includes a RAN 100, which includes at least one network device (such as 110a and 110b in FIG4, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal device 120. The RAN 100 may also include other devices, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in (1) in FIG4). The terminal device 120 can be connected to the network device 110 via a wireless connection.

[0176] Optionally, the communication system 10 may further include a core network (CN) 200. The network device 110 may be connected to the core network 200 via a wireless or wired connection. The core network device in the core network 200 and the network device 110 in the RAN 100 may be different physical devices, or they may be the same physical device that integrates the core network logical functions and the radio access network logical functions.

[0177] The RAN 100 may be a cellular system related to the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, a 5G system, or a future-oriented evolution system (such as a 6G mobile communication system). The RAN 100 may also be an NTN network, an open access network (open RAN, O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. The RAN 100 may also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems. In addition, the term "system" and "network" may be used interchangeably.

[0178] Alternatively, if the RAN 100 is an NTN network, the architecture of the RAN 100 may refer to the above description of the RAN architecture based on the NTN network. The network device 110 may be a base station in the RAN architecture based on the NTN network, and the terminal device 120 may be a UE in the RAN architecture based on the NTN network.

[0179] It should be noted that the network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0180] Taking the interaction between any network device 110 (hereinafter referred to as the first network device 110) and any terminal device 120 shown in (1) in Figure 4 as an example, in the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the first network device 110 sends a handover request message to multiple candidate target cells, and the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same. The network device 110 receives handover request confirmation messages corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells respectively; wherein each handover request confirmation message includes the characteristic information and handover configuration of the candidate target cell. The network device 110 sends a first message to the terminal device 120, and the first message includes the handover configuration and characteristic information corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells respectively. Based on the characteristic information, the terminal device selects one of the candidate target cells from the multiple candidate target cells as the target cell. The terminal device 120 applies the handover configuration of the target cell to switch to the target cell. The specific implementation and technical effects of this scheme will be described in detail in the subsequent method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0181] The network device 110 in the embodiment of the present application refers to a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that connects a terminal to a wireless network, and may also be referred to as a base station. Currently, some examples of network devices include: a further evolved Node B (gNB), a transmission reception point (TRP), an evolved Node B (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., a home evolved Node B, or a home Node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU), or a wireless fidelity (Wifi) access point (AP). In addition, in a network structure, the network device may include a CU node, a DU node, or both a CU node and a DU node. The network equipment, including CU nodes and DU nodes, splits the protocol layer of the gNB in ​​the NR system. Some protocol layer functions are centrally controlled by the CU, while the remaining part or all of the protocol layer functions are distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU. The CU and DU can be set up separately or included in the same network element, such as the baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0182] Furthermore, (2) in FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a possible, non-restrictive CU-DU architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in (2) in FIG4, the centralized unit CU can also be divided into a control plane (CP) (CU-CP) and a user plane (CU-UP). The CU-CP is responsible for the control plane functions, mainly including RRC and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer corresponding to the control plane, namely PDCP-C. PDCP-C is mainly responsible for encryption and decryption, integrity protection, and data transmission of the control plane data. The CU-UP is responsible for the user plane functions, mainly including the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer and the PDCP corresponding to the user plane, namely PDCP-U. SDAP is mainly responsible for processing the data of the core network and mapping the flow to the bearer. PDCP-U is mainly responsible for encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, and data transmission of the data plane. The DU can also be divided into the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and the physical (PHY) layer. The RLC is primarily responsible for data segmentation and retransmission. The MAC is responsible for controlling the physical medium connected to the physical layer. The PHY layer is responsible for data transmission. The CU-CP and CU-UP are connected via the E1 interface. The CU-CP represents the gNB's connection to the core network via the NG interface and connects to the DU via the F1 interface control plane, or F1-C. The CU-UP connects to the DU via the F1 interface user plane, or F1-U. Alternatively, the PDCP-C may also be located within the CU-UP.

[0183] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0184] All or part of the functions of the network device in this application may also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform). The network device in this application may also be a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the network device functions.

[0185] The terminal device in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as a terminal, UE, mobile station (MS), mobile terminal, etc., and refers to a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user. The terminal device can be widely used in various scenarios, such as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical surgery, smart grid, smart home, smart office, smart bracelet, smart city, etc. Currently, some examples of terminal devices include: mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver functions, wearable devices, vehicles, drones, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the device form of the terminal device.

[0186] The core network device in the embodiment of the present application refers to the device in the core network that provides service support for the terminal device. At present, some examples of core network devices are: access and mobility management function (AMF) entity, session management function (SMF) entity, user plane function (UPF) entity, etc., which are not listed here one by one. Among them, the AMF entity can be responsible for the access management and mobility management of the terminal; the SMF entity can be responsible for session management, such as user session establishment, etc.; the UPF entity can be a functional entity of the user plane, mainly responsible for connecting to the external network. It should be noted that the entity in this application can also be referred to as a network element or a functional entity. For example, the AMF entity can also be referred to as an AMF network element or an AMF functional entity. For another example, the SMF entity can also be referred to as an SMF network element or an SMF functional entity, etc.

[0187] 1 to 4 , the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail by taking the interaction between the network device 110 shown in FIG. 4 and any terminal device 120 as an example.

[0188] It should be noted that the message names between network elements or the names of parameters in the messages in the following embodiments of the present application are only examples, and other names may be used in specific implementations. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0189] It should be noted that, in the following embodiments, “sending a message to a cell” and similar expressions refer to sending a message to the network device corresponding to the cell, and “receiving a message corresponding to the cell” and similar expressions refer to receiving a message sent by the network device corresponding to the cell.

[0190] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, "network equipment corresponding to a cell" may also be referred to as "network equipment where the cell is located." For example, in the following embodiments, the network equipment corresponding to a candidate target cell and the network equipment where the candidate target cell is located may be understood as the same concept and may be interchangeable.

[0191] As shown in Figure 5, a communication method is provided for an embodiment of the present application. In Figure 5, the first network device, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell, and the terminal device are used as the execution subjects of the interaction diagram to illustrate the method, but the present application does not limit the execution subjects of the interaction diagram. For example, the first network device in Figure 5 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the first network device, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the first network device; the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell in Figure 5 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell; the terminal device in Figure 5 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the terminal device, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that can realize all or part of the terminal functions.

[0192] The communication method shown in Figure 5 can be applied to a cell handover scenario. The first network device and the terminal device can execute the communication method shown in Figure 5. The first network device sends multiple candidate target cells with the same first identification information to the terminal device. The terminal device determines the target cell from the multiple candidate target cells with the same first identification information, so that the terminal device can switch from the currently connected source cell (or service cell) to the target cell. The first network device can be a network device corresponding to the source cell. Exemplarily, the first network device can be a service base station (or source base station) of the source cell.

[0193] Optionally, the first network device may be a network device providing NTN services (or referred to as a network device in an NTN network). The network device corresponding to the candidate target cell may be a network device providing TN services (or referred to as a network device in a TN network). Alternatively, the first network device may be a network device providing TN services. The network device corresponding to the candidate target cell is a network device that can provide NTN services.

[0194] As shown in FIG5 , the communication method includes steps S501 to S504:

[0195] S501: A first network device sends a handover request message to multiple candidate target cells, wherein the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same. The handover request message indicates that a terminal device may access the candidate target cells.

[0196] The first identification information is identification information that can be used to identify a cell. However, the first identification information cannot uniquely identify a cell, and the first identification information of different cells may be the same. For example, the first identification information may be the PCI of the cell.

[0197] In S501, the candidate target cell is a cell determined by the first network device based on the first identification information, and having the same first identification information as the target cell. In other words, when determining the target cell based on the first identification information of the target cell, the first network device identified multiple candidate target cells, and the first identification information of these multiple candidate target cells is the same as the first identification information of the target cell. The first network device is unable to determine a unique target cell from the multiple candidate target cells based solely on the first identification information. This situation can also be referred to as a problem of confusion / conflict of first identification information when determining the target cell.

[0198] In one possible implementation, the candidate target cell may be determined by the first network device based on the measurement report reported by the terminal device. In this implementation, before S501, the first network device instructs the terminal device to measure the neighboring area. After the terminal device completes the measurement, it sends a measurement report to the first network device to report the information of one or more neighboring areas measured by the terminal device, including information such as the first identification information of the neighboring area. The first network device selects a neighboring area as the target cell from the one or more neighboring areas measured by the terminal device based on the measurement report reported by the terminal device. Optionally, the first network device may also determine the target cell based on the neighboring area relationship, for example, querying the neighboring area relationship based on the first identification information of the target cell. The first network device queries the neighboring area relationship and finds multiple cells whose first identification information is the same as the first identification information of the target cell. It is impossible to determine which cell is the target cell measured by the terminal device. Therefore, the multiple cells queried can be called candidate target cells.

[0199] The neighboring cell relationship includes information about the neighboring cells stored by the first network device. The neighboring cell can be understood as the neighboring cell of the source cell stored by the first network device, or as the neighboring cell of all cells stored by the first network device. In this implementation, the neighboring cell relationship includes first identification information of the neighboring cell. Optionally, the neighboring cell relationship may also include frequency information of the neighboring cell, second identification information, device identification information of the network device where the neighboring cell is located (such as a base station identification), and other information. The second identification information is identification information that can uniquely identify a cell, such as the CGI of the cell.

[0200] It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, the neighbor relationship is an exemplary general term for the neighbor information stored by the first network device. In actual applications, the neighbor relationship can also be replaced by other names, such as neighbor information, etc., which does not affect the application of the embodiment of the present application.

[0201] Optionally, the neighbor relationship may be pre-configured in the first network device. For example, the neighbor relationship may be manually configured by a staff member. Alternatively, the first network device may obtain the neighbor relationship from an OAM network element. Alternatively, the first network device may generate the neighbor relationship based on a CGI measurement report reported by a terminal device. This embodiment of the present application does not limit the method for obtaining the neighbor relationship.

[0202] Optionally, in this implementation, the measurement report reported by the terminal device may also include the frequency of the neighboring cell, the signal quality of the neighboring cell, and / or the location information of the terminal device (such as the coarse location information and precise location information of the terminal device) and other information.

[0203] The coarse location information of a terminal device refers to the location where the error between the indicated location and the actual location of the terminal device is within a certain range. This can also be understood as the rough location information of the terminal device. Compared to the coarse location information, the precise location information of the terminal device indicates a location with a smaller error between the indicated location and the actual location of the terminal device.

[0204] Optionally, the frequencies of multiple candidate target cells may be the same. Accordingly, in the above implementation, the first network device determines the candidate target cell based on the first identification information, which can be replaced by the first network device determining the candidate target cell based on the first identification information and the frequency information. In this optional solution, the measurement report reported by the terminal device includes the frequency information and the first identification information of the neighboring cell. Exemplarily, the first network device can select a neighboring cell as the target cell from one or more neighboring cells reported by the terminal device based on the measurement report, and query the neighboring cell relationship based on the first identification information and the frequency of the target cell, and query multiple candidate target cells with the same first identification information and frequency as the target cell.

[0205] In the embodiment of the present application, the frequency information of the cell may indicate the frequency corresponding to the cell. For example, the frequency of the cell may be information such as the SSB frequency of the cell.

[0206] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the frequency information of the cell may explicitly indicate the frequency corresponding to the cell, for example, directly indicating the SSB frequency. Alternatively, the frequency corresponding to the cell may be implicitly indicated, for example, measurement identification information corresponding to the frequency to be measured issued by the network device.

[0207] In another possible implementation, the PCI confusion problem may also occur in a scenario using conditional handover (CHO). In this scenario, if the first network device decides to use conditional handover, it sends a handover request message to one or more neighboring cells. After receiving the handover request message, the network device where the neighboring cell is located performs access control. If it agrees to the conditional handover, it feeds back a handover confirmation message to the first network device. The handover confirmation message includes the handover configuration of the neighboring cell. After the first network device receives the handover configuration of the neighboring cell, the neighboring cell that agrees to the conditional handover in this implementation is referred to as a candidate target cell. The first network device sends a handover command to the terminal device. The handover command includes the handover execution conditions and handover configuration corresponding to each candidate target cell. In this scenario, if the first network device sends a handover request message to multiple neighboring cells, the first identification information of the multiple neighboring cells may be the same or different. If there are multiple neighboring cells with the same first identification information that agree to the conditional handover, there will be multiple candidate target cells with the same first identification information, that is, the problem of PCI confusion occurs.

[0208] Optionally, the conditional switching may be determined by the first network device based on a measurement report reported by the terminal device.

[0209] In an embodiment of the present application, relative to the source cell, the candidate target cell may be an intra-station neighboring cell, or may be an inter-station neighboring cell, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this. Among them, if a candidate target cell is an intra-station neighboring cell, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell is the first network device, then in an embodiment of the present application, the messages exchanged between the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell and the first network device, such as switching request messages, switching request confirmation messages, etc., may be non-explicit. Alternatively, it can also be understood that the "sending / receiving messages" between the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell and the first network device is an internal implementation of the first network device. Alternatively, it can also be understood that there is no step of "sending / receiving messages" between the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell and the first network device, but the first network device performs the corresponding function.

[0210] S502: After receiving the handover request message, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell sends a handover request confirmation message to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives handover request confirmation messages corresponding to multiple candidate target cells. Each handover request confirmation message includes feature information of the candidate target cell and a handover configuration corresponding to the candidate target cell.

[0211] Optionally, the handover request message may include first indication information, which is used to instruct the candidate target cell to feedback characteristic information. It can also be understood that, after receiving the handover request message, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell may determine, based on the first indication information, that it needs to feedback characteristic information of the candidate target cell. Optionally, the first indication information may be generated and carried in the handover request message by the first network device after determining that there are multiple candidate target cells with the same first identification information.

[0212] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific meaning of the first indication information. For example, the first indication information can be used to indicate that the first network device cannot determine the only target cell. Alternatively, the first indication information can be used to indicate that the neighboring cell reported by the terminal device has a problem of confusion of first identification information (such as PCI confusion). Alternatively, the first indication information can indicate that the target cell in the current switching process has a problem of confusion of first identification information (such as PCI confusion). Alternatively, the first indication information can indicate that the first network device has sent a switching request message to multiple candidate target cells and applied for a cell switching process. Alternatively, the first indication information can also have other meanings.

[0213] In the embodiments of the present application, the characteristic information of a candidate target cell is information in the relevant information of the candidate target cell that can distinguish the candidate target cell from other candidate target cells and can be used to uniquely identify the target cell. Optionally, the characteristic information of the candidate target cell can be the second identification information and / or area information of the candidate target cell. Alternatively, the characteristic information of the candidate target cell can be other information, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0214] Among them, optionally, the area information of the candidate target cell may indicate the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell (the coverage area refers to the geographical area / geographic range that the cell signal can cover). Exemplarily, if the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell is circular, the area information of the candidate target cell may include the location information of the center point of the coverage area (such as the latitude and longitude of the center point), and the radius length of the coverage area. In one possible case, the area information of the candidate target cell may be coarse location information, that is, the coverage area indicated by the area information of the candidate target cell may not completely overlap with the actual coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell, but may have a certain intersection. Alternatively, the area information of the candidate target cell may also be information related to the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell, such as the tracking area code (TAC) of the candidate target cell.

[0215] In an embodiment of the present application, the switching configuration corresponding to the candidate target cell includes relevant parameter information required for the terminal device to access the candidate target cell, such as the ID of the candidate target cell (e.g., PCI), the C-RNTI allocated by the candidate target cell to the terminal device, RACH resource information, etc. For details, please refer to the above introduction to the switching process shown in Figure 2, which will not be expanded here.

[0216] Optionally, the characteristic information of the candidate target cell can also be understood as a type of information required for the terminal device to access the candidate target cell. Therefore, the handover request confirmation message includes the handover configuration and characteristic information corresponding to the candidate target cell, which can also be understood as the handover request confirmation message including the handover configuration corresponding to the candidate target cell, and the handover configuration includes the characteristic information of the candidate target cell.

[0217] Optionally, after receiving the handover request message, the network devices corresponding to the candidate target cells may decide whether to allow the terminal device to access. If allowed, a handover request confirmation message is sent to the first network device. If not allowed, no handover request confirmation message is sent.

[0218] Optionally, the characteristic information of the candidate target cell may be carried in a transparent container included in the handover request confirmation message. The contents of the transparent container are transparently forwarded to the terminal device. That is, after receiving the handover request message, the first network device may transparently transmit the characteristic information of the candidate target cell carried in the message to the terminal device.

[0219] S503. The first network device sends a first message to the terminal device, where the first message includes handover configurations and feature information corresponding to a plurality of candidate target cells.

[0220] Optionally, the handover configuration and feature information of multiple candidate target cells may be carried in one first message, or may be carried in different first messages.

[0221] Optionally, the first message may further include other relevant information of the multiple candidate target cells, such as first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells and / or frequency information of the multiple candidate target cells.

[0222] Optionally, if conditional handover is used, the first message may further include a handover execution condition corresponding to each candidate target cell. In other words, the first message may be the handover command described above in the introduction to the conditional handover scenario.

[0223] Optionally, the first message may further include second indication information, which may instruct the terminal device to determine a target cell from multiple candidate target cells or instruct the terminal device to determine a target cell from multiple candidate target cells based on feature information. It can also be understood that after receiving the first message, the terminal device may determine, based on the second indication information therein, that it needs to independently determine a target cell from multiple candidate target cells. Optionally, the second indication information may be generated and carried in the first message after the first network device determines that there are multiple candidate target cells with the same first identification information.

[0224] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific meaning of the second indication information. For example, the second indication information may indicate that the target cell has experienced confusion with the first identification information. Alternatively, the second indication information may indicate that the first message includes handover configurations corresponding to multiple candidate target cells, and the terminal device is required to select the handover configuration of one of the target cells for handover. Alternatively, the second indication information may have other meanings.

[0225] Exemplarily, the first message may be an RRC reconfiguration message or other forms of signaling.

[0226] S504: The terminal device selects one of the candidate target cells as the target cell from the multiple candidate target cells according to the characteristic information corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells.

[0227] Optionally, the terminal device may determine that it needs to determine the target cell from the multiple candidate target cells when it determines that the first message contains switching configurations and feature information corresponding to multiple candidate target cells, and the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same.

[0228] Alternatively, if the first message includes the second indication information, the terminal device may determine, based on the second indication information, that it needs to determine the target cell from a plurality of candidate target cells on its own.

[0229] Optionally, if the first message includes the frequency and / or first identification information of the candidate target cell, then when determining the target cell, the terminal device may determine whether the frequency band and / or first identification information of the neighboring cell is the same as the frequency and / or first identification information of the candidate target cell included in the first message. If they are the same, the terminal device may further determine whether the neighboring cell is the target cell based on the characteristic information of the candidate target cell. In other words, the frequency and / or first identification information of the target cell is the same as the frequency and / or first identification information of the candidate target cell.

[0230] Taking the characteristic information of the candidate target cell included in the first message as the second identification information as an example, a specific implementation of the terminal device selecting a candidate target cell from multiple candidate target cells as the target cell according to the characteristic information of the multiple candidate target cells may be:

[0231] After receiving the first message, the terminal device obtains the second identification information of the neighboring area of ​​the currently accessed source cell. For example, the terminal device detects the current neighboring area and obtains the second identification information corresponding to the neighboring area. If the second identification information of a neighboring area obtained is different from the second identification information of any candidate target cell included in the first message, it is considered that the neighboring area is not the target cell. If the second identification information of a neighboring area obtained is the same as the second identification information of a candidate target cell included in the first message, it is considered that the neighboring area is the candidate target cell and also the target cell.

[0232] For the terminal device to obtain the second identification information of the neighboring cell, the terminal device can perform neighboring cell measurement, measure the neighboring cell and read the second identification information of the neighboring cell. One way is to read the master information block (MIB) and SIB1 of the neighboring cell to read the second identification information of the neighboring cell.

[0233] Optionally, if the first message also includes first identification information and / or frequency information of a candidate target cell, the terminal device may perform neighboring cell measurements based on the first identification information and / or frequency of the candidate target cell included in the first message. For example, after receiving the first message, the terminal device measures the frequency of the candidate target cell. After measuring a neighboring cell at the frequency, the terminal device determines whether the first identification information of the neighboring cell is the same as the first identification information of the candidate target cell. If the first identification information is the same, the terminal device continues to read the second identification information of the measured neighboring cell. If the second identification information of the neighboring cell is the same as the second identification information of a candidate target cell included in the first message, the neighboring cell is considered to be both the candidate target cell and the target cell. For another example, after receiving the first message, the terminal device first measures the surrounding neighboring cells. If there are one or more neighboring cells whose frequencies are the same as the candidate target cell and whose first identification information is the same as the frequency of the candidate target cell, the terminal device continues to obtain the second identification information of the neighboring cells. If the second identification information of a neighboring cell is the same as the second identification information of a candidate target cell included in the first message, the neighboring cell is considered to be both the candidate target cell and the target cell. For another example, the terminal device has reported a measurement report before receiving the first message. The frequency point and / or first identification information of a neighboring area measured in the measurement report is the same as the frequency point and / or first identification information of multiple candidate target cells included in the first message. After receiving the first message, the terminal device can read the second identification information of the neighboring area. If the second identification information of the neighboring area is the same as the second identification information of a candidate target cell included in the first message, the neighboring area is considered to be the candidate target cell and also the target cell.

[0234] Based on this optional solution, the terminal device can first obtain the first identification information of the neighboring cell and decide whether to further obtain the second identification information of the neighboring cell based on the first identification information of the neighboring cell. If the first identification information of the neighboring cell is different from the first identification information included in the first message, it means that the first identification information of the neighboring cell is different from the first identification information of the target cell. Therefore, the neighboring cell is not the target cell, and there is no need to further read the second identification information of the neighboring cell, thereby saving resources.

[0235] Taking the characteristic information of the candidate target cell included in the first message as area information as an example, a specific implementation of selecting a candidate target cell from multiple candidate target cells as a target cell for the terminal device based on the characteristic information of the multiple candidate target cells may be:

[0236] After receiving the first message, the terminal device determines whether it is located in the coverage area of ​​a candidate target cell based on its current location. If the terminal device determines that it is currently located in the coverage area of ​​a candidate target cell, it considers the candidate target cell to be the target cell.

[0237] Optionally, the terminal device can first obtain the first identification information of the measured neighboring area. If the first identification information of a measured neighboring area is the same as the first identification information of the candidate target cell, it is considered that the neighboring area may belong to the candidate target cell. The terminal device then further determines whether it is currently located in the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell. If so, the candidate target cell is considered to be the target cell.

[0238] Optionally, for a scenario using conditional handover, the terminal device may determine the target cell based on any of the following three possible methods:

[0239] Method 1: The first message contains the second identification information and the first identification information corresponding to multiple candidate target cells. Among them, the first identification information of multiple candidate target cells is the same. Optionally, the first identification information of multiple candidate target cells may be different. The terminal device evaluates whether the candidate target cell meets the switching execution condition based on the switching execution condition corresponding to the candidate target cell in the first message. When a candidate target cell meets the switching execution condition, and there are other candidate target cells in the first message that are the same as the first identification information of the candidate target cell, the terminal device first reads the second identification information of the candidate target cell, and then applies the second identification information to the switching configuration of the candidate target cell with the second identification information for switching.

[0240] Optionally, the corresponding switching execution conditions for candidate target cells with the same first identification information may be the same. For example, the second identification information is CGI, and the first message contains the PCI of candidate target cell 1 and candidate target cell 2, and the PCI of candidate target cells 1 and 2 are the same, but the CGI is different; wherein the first message also carries the CGI of candidate target cell 1 and candidate target cell 2 respectively. When the terminal device measures the PCI of a certain neighboring cell, which is the same as the PCI of candidate target cells 1 and 2, and the neighboring cell meets the switching execution conditions of candidate cells 1 and 2, the terminal device further determines whether the CGI of the neighboring cell is the same as the CGI of candidate target cell 1 or candidate target cell 2, and selects the switching configuration of the candidate target cell with the same CGI as the neighboring cell for switching. When a candidate target cell meets the switching conditions, and there is no other candidate target cell with the same PCI as the candidate target cell in the first message, the candidate target cell can be considered as the target cell and switched directly.

[0241] Method 2: The handover execution condition included in the first message carries the second identification information of the candidate target cell, which can also be understood as the terminal device evaluating whether the candidate target cell meets the handover condition based on the second identification information. It can also be understood as the terminal device needs to determine whether the second identification information of the candidate target cell meets the handover execution condition. Alternatively, Method 2 can also be: the handover configuration included in the first message includes the second identification information, and the terminal device needs to additionally determine the second identification information while evaluating whether a candidate target cell meets the handover execution condition.

[0242] Exemplarily, the terminal device determines the second identification information, or the terminal device determines whether the second identification information meets the switching execution condition as follows: the terminal device determines whether the measured second identification information of the neighboring cell is the same as the second identification information of a candidate target cell.

[0243] Method 3: The first message carries the area information of the candidate target cell. One method is to include the area information of the candidate target cell in the handover configuration of the candidate target cell. Another method is to include the area information of the candidate target cell in the handover execution conditions corresponding to the candidate target cell. When the terminal device is located within the area indicated by the area information, the handover execution conditions corresponding to the candidate target cell are considered to be met, and the candidate target cell can be considered as the target cell.

[0244] Optionally, in a conditional switching scenario, the switching request message may include an indication information, which may indicate that the candidate target cell carries its own characteristic information in the returned switching request confirmation message. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific meaning of the indication information. For example, the indication information may indicate that the first network device has sent a switching request message to multiple candidate target cells with the same first identification information. For another example, the indication information may be a first identification information. If the first identification information of the candidate target cell is the first identification information carried by the switching request message, the candidate target cell needs to carry its own characteristic information in the returned switching request confirmation message.

[0245] Furthermore, after the terminal device determines the target cell, it can apply the switching configuration corresponding to the target cell in the first message to switch to the target cell.

[0246] Optionally, after the terminal device determines the target cell, it can start downlink synchronization with the target cell and apply the switching configuration corresponding to the target cell.

[0247] Optionally, after successfully accessing the target cell, the terminal device may delete the handover configurations corresponding to other candidate target cells in the first message, except for the handover configuration of the target cell. Alternatively, the terminal device may retain the handover configurations corresponding to other candidate target cells in the first message, except for the handover configuration corresponding to the target cell. The retained handover configurations corresponding to other candidate target cells may be used in subsequent cell handover processes.

[0248] Optionally, after the terminal device switches to the target cell, the first network device may send a handover cancellation message to network devices corresponding to other candidate target cells other than the target cell among multiple candidate target cells, indicating the release of the prepared handover resources. After receiving the handover cancellation message, the network devices corresponding to the other candidate target cells release the handover resources prepared for the handover of the terminal device.

[0249] Alternatively, the network devices corresponding to other candidate target cells other than the target cell may also release the prepared switching resources on their own. For example, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell may maintain a timer, start the timer after receiving a switching request message, or start the timer when sending a switching request confirmation message, or start the timer at the starting time point according to the starting time point and duration carried in the switching request message. If the terminal device has not requested access to the candidate target cell until the timer expires, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell automatically releases the prepared switching resources. If the terminal device requests access to the candidate target cell before the timer expires, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell stops the timer.

[0250] Optionally, after the terminal device switches to the target cell, the network device corresponding to the target cell can send a message to the first network device indicating that the terminal device has switched successfully (which can be simply referred to as a switching success message), or a message instructing the first network device to release the terminal device context (which can be simply referred to as a context release message).

[0251] Optionally, the handover success message or the context release message may carry the second identification information of the target cell.

[0252] Optionally, after receiving the handover success message or context release message, the first network device may send a handover cancellation message to the network devices corresponding to other candidate target cells. In other words, the first network device may send a handover cancellation message triggered by receiving the handover success message or context release message.

[0253] Assuming that in the embodiment described above, in which the terminal device selects a target cell based on characteristic information of multiple candidate target cells, the first network device is a source base station, the terminal device is a UE, the network device corresponding to the target cell is a target base station, and the network devices corresponding to other candidate target cells are other base stations, a possible process of this embodiment is described below in conjunction with FIG6 . As shown in FIG6 , this embodiment may include the following steps:

[0254] S601. The UE sends a measurement report to a source base station, which includes information such as the PCI, cell signal quality, and measurement identifier of a neighboring cell measured by the UE.

[0255] After receiving the measurement report, the source base station can determine the measurement object sent by the source base station based on which the UE obtained the measurement result through the measurement identifier in the measurement report. The measurement object contains frequency information, so the source base station can determine the frequency of the cell measured by the UE through the measurement report.

[0256] After receiving the measurement report, the source base station can identify one of the neighboring cells as the target cell based on the measurement report (for example, based on cell signal quality). Based on the neighboring cell relationship, it queries the frequency and PCI of the target cell. If multiple candidate target cells are found to have the same PCI and frequency, the source base station cannot determine a unique target cell.

[0257] Step S601 is optional.

[0258] S602: The source base station sends a handover request message to base stations corresponding to multiple candidate target cells (including the target base station and other base stations), wherein the handover request message includes first indication information indicating that the source base station cannot determine a unique target cell.

[0259] For details of S601-S602, please refer to the above introduction to S501, which will not be elaborated here.

[0260] S603: The base stations corresponding to the candidate target cells respectively send a handover request confirmation message to the source base station, wherein the handover request confirmation message includes handover configuration and feature information corresponding to the candidate target cells.

[0261] The characteristic information of the candidate target cell may be CGI or area information.

[0262] For details of S603, please refer to the above introduction to S502, which will not be elaborated here.

[0263] S604: The source base station sends an RRC reconfiguration message to the UE, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message includes handover configurations and feature information corresponding to a plurality of candidate target cells, and first indication information instructing the UE to determine the target cell on its own.

[0264] S605. After receiving the RRC reconfiguration message, the UE determines the target cell based on the characteristic information of multiple candidate target cells, performs downlink synchronization with the target cell based on the switching configuration of the target cell, and sends a switching completion message to the target cell, that is, sends a switching completion message to the base station of the target cell (target base station).

[0265] S606: The target base station sends a handover success message to the source base station.

[0266] S607: The source base station sends a handover cancellation message to other base stations.

[0267] In addition, optionally, if the terminal device cannot uniquely determine a target cell from multiple candidate target cells, the terminal device may send indication information to the first network device indicating that the terminal device has failed to determine the target cell.

[0268] For example, if the second identification information of the neighboring cell obtained by the terminal device is different from the second identification information of any candidate target cell included in the first message, it can be considered that the determination of the target cell has failed. Optionally, in this case, the indication information sent by the terminal device to the first network device, indicating that the terminal device has failed to determine the target cell, can carry the second identification information of the neighboring cell obtained by the terminal device.

[0269] Optionally, if the first network device receives indication information indicating that the terminal device has failed to determine the target cell, the first network device may send a CGI measurement configuration to the terminal device, causing the terminal device to measure CGI-related information of the neighboring cell and report a CGI measurement report. The first network device may subsequently initiate the handover process again based on the CGI measurement report. It is understood that since the first network device can uniquely determine the target cell based on the CGI measurement report, the first network device only needs to initiate the handover process toward the target cell.

[0270] Optionally, if the indication information indicating that the terminal device has failed to determine the target cell includes the second identification information of the neighboring cell obtained by the terminal device, the first network device can use the neighboring cell as the target cell, send a switching request message to the target cell, and send the received switching configuration of the target cell to the terminal device so that the terminal device can switch to the target cell.

[0271] As shown in Figure 7, another communication method is provided for an embodiment of the present application. Figure 7 takes the first network device and the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell as an example of the execution subject of the interaction diagram to illustrate the method, but the present application does not limit the execution subject of the interaction diagram. For example, the first network device in Figure 7 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the first network device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the first network device. The network device corresponding to the candidate target cell in Figure 7 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell, and can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell.

[0272] The communication method shown in Figure 7 can be applied to a cell handover scenario. The first network device and the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell can execute the communication method shown in Figure 7 to determine the target cell from multiple candidate target cells with the same first identification information, so that the terminal device can switch from the currently connected source cell (or serving cell) to the target cell. The first network device can be the network device corresponding to the source cell. Exemplarily, the first network device can be the serving base station of the source cell (which can be called the source base station).

[0273] As shown in FIG7 , the communication method includes steps S701-S702:

[0274] S701: A first network device sends a handover request message to multiple candidate target cells, where the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same, wherein the handover request message includes location information associated with a terminal device.

[0275] In S701 , the definitions of the candidate target cell and the first identification information, as well as how the first network device determines the candidate target cell, can be found in the above description of S501 and will not be elaborated here.

[0276] Optionally, the frequencies of the multiple candidate target cells may also be the same. In this case, how the first network device determines the candidate target cell can be referred to the above description of S501 and will not be elaborated here.

[0277] The location information associated with the terminal device can be used to indicate the location of the terminal device. Exemplarily, the location information associated with the terminal device may include at least one of the following: area information of the beam where the terminal device is located, information about the geographical area where the terminal device is located, location information of the terminal device, etc.

[0278] Among them, the area information of the beam where the terminal device is located can indicate the geographical area of ​​the beam covering the terminal device. For example, assuming that the terminal device is covered by beam 0 of the source cell, the area information of the beam where the terminal device is located can refer to the coverage area information of beam 0, wherein the coverage area information of beam 0 can indicate the geographical area covered by the beam. The network device where the source cell is located (i.e., the first network device) has the coverage area information of each beam of the source cell. The terminal device feeds back to the first network device that it is covered by beam 0, then the first network device can carry the coverage area information of beam 0 as the area information of the beam where the terminal device is located in the switching request message.

[0279] Among them, the information of the geographical area where the terminal device is located can indicate the geographical area where the terminal device is currently located. For example, the source cell broadcasts information of multiple geographical areas, and these multiple geographical areas are respectively called area 1, area 2, and area 3. The terminal device determines the area in which it is located based on its own location, and feeds back the area in which it is located to the source cell (or is called feeding back to the network device where the source cell is located, that is, feeding back to the first network device). For example, assuming that the terminal device is currently located in area 1, the terminal device feeds back that it is located in area 1, and the first network device carries the information of area 1 as the information of the geographical area in which the terminal device is located in the switching request message.

[0280] The location information of the terminal device may indicate the geographical location of the terminal device. The location information of the terminal device may include precise location information or coarse location information of the terminal device (the specific meaning can be referred to above and will not be expanded here). For example, the first network device instructs the terminal device to report coarse location information, and the terminal device reports its own coarse location information to the first network device. The first network device then carries the coarse location information of the terminal device in the handover request message.

[0281] Optionally, the location information associated with the terminal device may indicate a point, such as longitude and latitude information, or may indicate an area, such as the location of the center point of a circular area and the radius of the circular area. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific form of the location information associated with the terminal device.

[0282] The embodiments of the present application do not limit how the first network device obtains the location information associated with the terminal device. For example, the terminal device may report information about its geographic area or its location information to the first network device. For another example, the first network device may locate the terminal device and obtain the location information of the terminal device.

[0283] Optionally, the first network device may simultaneously send a handover request message to the network devices corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells, or in other words, the first network device may send a handover request message to the network devices corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells for parallel processing. Alternatively, the first network device may separately send a handover request message to the network devices corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells, or in other words, the first network device may send a handover request message to the network devices corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells for serial processing. This embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0284] S702. The network device corresponding to the candidate target cell performs access control on the terminal device according to the location information associated with the terminal device.

[0285] If the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell determines that the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell based on the location information associated with the terminal device, the admission control succeeds. If the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell determines that the terminal device is not located within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell, the admission control fails.

[0286] Optionally, the network equipment corresponding to the candidate target cell may also perform admission control according to other information.

[0287] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, admission control is an exemplary name for the implementation by which a network device corresponding to a cell determines whether a terminal device can access the cell. The implementation by which a network device corresponding to a cell determines whether a terminal device can access the cell may also have other names, which do not affect the technical solutions protected by the embodiments of the present application. For example, admission control may also be referred to as admission control or handover request admission control, and performing admission control may also be referred to as performing admission control or performing handover request admission control.

[0288] Among them, the network equipment corresponding to the candidate target cell performs access control on the terminal device according to the location information associated with the terminal device. It can also be understood that the candidate target cell performs access control on the terminal device according to the location information associated with the terminal device.

[0289] If the admission control performed by the network device corresponding to a candidate target cell is successful, the candidate target cell is the target cell, that is, the target cell belongs to multiple candidate target cells, and the terminal device is located in the coverage area of ​​the target cell.

[0290] Optionally, if the handover request message also includes frequency information of the target cell, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell may determine whether the frequency of the candidate target cell is the same as the frequency of the target cell in the handover request message, based on determining whether the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell. If it is determined that the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell and the frequency of the candidate target cell is the same as the frequency of the target cell in the handover request message, the admission control is successful, and the candidate target cell is the target cell.

[0291] Optionally, if the handover request message also includes the frequency information and first identification information of the target cell, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell may determine whether the frequency and first identification information of the candidate target cell are the same as the frequency and first identification information of the target cell in the handover request message, based on determining whether the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell. If it is determined that the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell, and the frequency and first identification information of the candidate target cell are the same as the frequency and first identification information of the target cell in the handover request message, the admission control is successful, and the candidate target cell is the target cell.

[0292] Optionally, after S702, the following steps may be further included:

[0293] S703: After the network device corresponding to the target cell successfully performs admission control, it sends a handover request confirmation message to the first network device. In response, the first network device receives the handover request confirmation message corresponding to the target cell, indicating that the terminal device is allowed to handover to the target cell. The handover request confirmation message may include the handover configuration corresponding to the target cell.

[0294] Among them, the handover configuration corresponding to the target cell includes relevant configuration parameters required for accessing the target cell, such as the C-RNTI allocated by the target cell to the terminal device, information about the RACH resources required for accessing the target cell, etc. For details, please refer to the above introduction and will not be expanded here.

[0295] Optionally, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell that fails admission control may send a handover rejection message to the first network device, indicating that the terminal device is not allowed to switch to the candidate target cell, or may not send the message.

[0296] Optionally, the steps after S703 may further include:

[0297] S704. The first network device sends a first message to the terminal device, where the first message includes a handover configuration corresponding to the target cell.

[0298] Optionally, the first message may further include other relevant information of the target cell, such as first identification information of the target cell and / or frequency information of the target cell.

[0299] Exemplarily, the first message may be an RRC reconfiguration message or other forms of signaling.

[0300] Correspondingly, after receiving the first message, the terminal device can apply the switching configuration corresponding to the target cell in the first message and switch to the target cell.

[0301] Assuming that in the embodiment in which the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell performs admission control based on the location information associated with the terminal device, the first network device is the source base station, the terminal device is the UE, the network device corresponding to the target cell is the target base station, and the network devices corresponding to other candidate target cells are other base stations, a possible process of this embodiment is described below in conjunction with Figure 8. As shown in Figure 8, this embodiment may include the following steps:

[0302] S801. The UE sends a measurement report to a source base station, which includes information such as the PCI, cell signal quality, and measurement identifier of a neighboring cell measured by the UE.

[0303] After receiving the measurement report, the source base station can identify one of the neighboring cells as the target cell based on the measurement report (for example, based on cell signal quality). Based on the neighboring cell relationship, it queries the frequency and PCI of the target cell. If multiple candidate target cells are found to have the same PCI and frequency, the source base station cannot determine a unique target cell.

[0304] Among them, step S801 is optional.

[0305] S802: The source base station sends a handover request message to base stations corresponding to multiple candidate target cells (including the target base station and other base stations), wherein the handover request message includes location information associated with the terminal device.

[0306] For details of S802, please refer to the above introduction to S702, which will not be elaborated here.

[0307] S803. The base stations corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells perform admission control according to the location information associated with the terminal device.

[0308] The target base station determines that the terminal device is located in the coverage area of ​​the target cell, and the admission control succeeds. Other base stations determine that the terminal device is not in the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell, and the admission control fails.

[0309] For details of S803, please refer to the above introduction to S702, which will not be elaborated here.

[0310] S804: The target base station sends a handover request confirmation message to the source base station, wherein the handover request confirmation message includes the handover configuration corresponding to the target cell. Other base stations send a handover rejection message to the source base station.

[0311] S805. The source base station sends a handover command to the UE, where the handover command includes a handover configuration corresponding to the target cell.

[0312] Optionally, after receiving the handover command, the UE may handover to the target cell based on the handover configuration corresponding to the target cell.

[0313] For details of S804-S805, please refer to the above introduction to S703-S704, which will not be elaborated here.

[0314] As shown in Figure 9, another communication method is provided for an embodiment of the present application. Figure 9 takes the first network device and the terminal device as an example of the execution subject of the interaction diagram to illustrate the method, but the present application does not limit the execution subject of the interaction diagram. For example, the first network device in Figure 9 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the first network device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the first network device. The terminal device in Figure 9 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the terminal device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the terminal device.

[0315] The communication method shown in Figure 9 can be applied to a cell handover scenario. The first network device can execute the communication method shown in Figure 9 to determine a target cell from multiple candidate target cells with the same first identification information, so that the terminal device can switch from the currently connected source cell (or serving cell) to the target cell. The first network device can be a network device corresponding to the source cell. Exemplarily, the first network device can be a serving base station (can be called a source base station) of the source cell.

[0316] As shown in FIG9 , the communication method includes steps S901 to S903:

[0317] S901. A first network device obtains location information associated with a terminal device and area information of multiple candidate target cells, wherein the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same.

[0318] In S901 , the definitions of the candidate target cell and the first identification information, as well as how the first network device determines the candidate target cell, can be found in the above description of S501 and will not be elaborated here.

[0319] In S901, the area information of the candidate target cell may be used to indicate the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell. For details, please refer to the above introduction to the area information of the candidate target cell in S501, which will not be elaborated here.

[0320] In S901, the location information associated with the terminal device and how the first network device obtains the location information associated with the terminal device can be described in the above description of S701 and will not be expanded here.

[0321] The embodiments of the present application do not limit how the first network device obtains the respective area information of the multiple candidate target cells. For example, the first network device can obtain the respective area information of the multiple candidate target cells from other network devices. For example, the first network device can receive the area information of the candidate target cells from an adjacent network device, or the first network device can receive the area information of the candidate target cells from the network device corresponding to the candidate target cells. For another example, the first network device can obtain the respective area information of the multiple candidate target cells from an OAM network element.

[0322] S902: The first network device determines a target cell based on the location information associated with the terminal device and the area information of multiple candidate target cells. The target cell belongs to the multiple candidate target cells, and the terminal device is located in the coverage area of ​​the target cell.

[0323] In S902, the first network device determines whether the terminal device is located in the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell based on the location information associated with the terminal device and the area information of each of the plurality of candidate target cells. If it is determined that the terminal device is located in the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell, the candidate target cell is considered to be the target cell; otherwise, the candidate cell is considered not to be the target cell.

[0324] Optionally, after determining the target cell, the first network device may further send a handover request message to the target cell. Further, after receiving the handover request message, the target cell may send a handover request confirmation message to the first network device. The handover request confirmation message may include a handover configuration corresponding to the target cell.

[0325] S903: The first network device sends a first message to the terminal device, the first message including the handover configuration corresponding to the target cell. Correspondingly, after receiving the first message, the terminal device can apply the handover configuration corresponding to the target cell in the first message and switch to the target cell.

[0326] For details of S903, please refer to the above introduction to S704, which will not be elaborated here.

[0327] As shown in Figure 10, another communication method is provided for an embodiment of the present application. Figure 10 takes the first network device and the third network device as an example of the execution subject of the interaction diagram to illustrate the method, but the present application does not limit the execution subject of the interaction diagram. For example, the first network device in Figure 10 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the first network device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the first network device; the third network device in Figure 10 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the third network device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the third network device.

[0328] Based on the communication method shown in Figure 10, it is possible to transmit neighbor relationships between network devices and collect neighbor relationships through network devices, thus resolving the issue of network devices being unable to successfully complete cell handover due to lack of neighbor relationships in scenarios where manual configuration of neighbor relationships is not possible. For example, if the communication method shown in Figure 10 is applied to an NTN network, the first network device and / or the third network device may be a regenerative satellite in space. For another example, the first network device may be a network device in the NTN network, such as a satellite, and the third network device may be a network device in the TN network, such as a ground base station.

[0329] As shown in FIG10 , the communication method includes steps S1001-S1002:

[0330] S1001. A first network device obtains a neighboring cell relationship, where the neighboring cell relationship includes first identification information, second identification information, and first location information of a first cell; wherein the first location information includes at least one of area information of the first cell and location information of a terminal device located within a coverage area of ​​the first cell.

[0331] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the first cell. The first cell can be any cell, for example, a neighboring cell of the serving cell of the first network device. In the embodiment of the present application, the serving cell of the network device can also be referred to as a cell served or managed by the network device or a cell under the network device.

[0332] The first identification information and the second identification information of the first cell may be specifically referred to the above introduction and will not be elaborated here.

[0333] The first location information may include area information of the first cell and / or location information of the terminal device, wherein the area information of the first cell may indicate the coverage area of ​​the first cell. For details, please refer to the above introduction to the area information of the candidate target cell, which will not be elaborated here.

[0334] The location information of the terminal device may indicate the geographical location of the terminal device. For example, the location information of the terminal device may be latitude and longitude information. For details about the location information of the terminal device, reference may be made to the above description of the location information associated with the terminal device in S701, such as the above description of the area information of the beam in which the terminal device is located, the information about the geographical area in which the terminal device is located, and the location information of the terminal device. This description will not be expanded upon here.

[0335] Optionally, the neighboring cell relationship may further include an identifier of a network device where the first cell is located, such as a base station identifier of a base station where the first cell is located.

[0336] Optionally, the neighbor cell relationship may also include one or more of the following: frequency information of the first cell, subcarrier spacing of the first cell, SSB measurement timing configuration (SSB measurement timing configuration, SMTC) of the first cell and other information.

[0337] In the embodiment of the present application, the information of the first cell stored in the neighboring cell relationship, such as the first identification information, the second identification information, the first location information, the identification of the network device where the first cell is located, the frequency information of the first cell, and other information, can be collectively referred to as the relevant information of the first cell. Optionally, the neighboring cell relationship may include relevant information of one or more first cells.

[0338] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the manner in which the first network device obtains the neighbor relationship. The following describes several possible manners for obtaining the neighbor relationship:

[0339] Method 1: The first network device receives the first identification information and the second identification information of the first cell reported by the terminal device, as well as the location information of the terminal device when the first cell is measured. In this method, the first cell is a cell measured by the terminal device, and the terminal device obtains the first identification information and the second identification information of the first cell when measuring the first cell. The terminal device can save the first identification information and the second identification information of the first cell and the location information of the terminal device when measuring the first cell, and report them to the first network device. It can be understood that the fact that the terminal device can measure the first cell means that the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the first cell.

[0340] Optionally, in this manner, the terminal device may also report other information of the first cell, such as frequency information of the first cell.

[0341] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the process by which the terminal device measures the first cell, nor do they limit the process by which the terminal device reports the information of the first cell and the location information of the terminal device. For example, the terminal device may measure the first cell based on the CGI measurement process, and report the first identification information, second identification information of the first cell, and the location information of the terminal device when the first cell is measured through a CGI measurement report. For another example, the terminal device may periodically measure the first cell. For another example, the terminal device may measure the first cell during a cell handover process, and report the first identification information, second identification information of the first cell, and the location information of the terminal device when the first cell is measured through a measurement report. For another example, when accessing the first network device, the terminal device may report the first identification information, second identification information of the first cell that was measured, and the location information of the terminal device when the first cell was measured. For another example, the terminal device performs frequency measurement in an idle state or an inactive state and measures the second identification information of the first cell. When the terminal device accesses the first cell, i.e., enters a connected state, it reports the measured first identification information, second identification information of the first cell, and the location information of the terminal device to the network device where the first cell is located. For another example, a network device (such as a first network device, or a network device where a first cell is located, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this network device) indicates in a system message the frequency point that the terminal device needs to measure in an idle state or an inactive state, and instructs the terminal device to measure the relevant information of the neighboring area (i.e., the first cell) under the frequency point, and instructs the terminal device to report the obtained relevant information of the first cell to the network device after entering the connected state.

[0342] Method 2: The first network device receives handover confirmation information corresponding to the first cell, where the handover confirmation information includes area information of the first cell, first identification information and / or second identification information.

[0343] In this manner, the first cell may be a target cell in a cell handover process, and the first network device may be a network device corresponding to a source cell, for example, a source base station. During the cell handover process, the network device corresponding to the first cell may carry at least one of the area information of the first cell, the first identification information, or the second identification information in a handover request confirmation message and send the message to the first network device.

[0344] Optionally, in this manner, the handover request confirmation message may further include other information of the first cell, such as frequency information of the first cell.

[0345] Optionally, in this method, the handover request confirmation message may further include information about neighboring cells of the first cell, for example, at least one of the neighboring cell's area information, first identification information, second identification information, or frequency information. For example, assume that the first cell is cell A, and cell A is adjacent to cell B and cell C. During the cell handover process, the handover request confirmation message sent by the network device corresponding to cell A to the first network device may include cell A's area information, cell B's frequency information, PCI, and CGI, and cell C's frequency information, PCI, and CGI.

[0346] Optionally, the first network device may estimate the coverage area of ​​the neighboring cells of the first cell based on the coverage area of ​​the first cell. For example, the coverage area of ​​the first cell may be expanded outward by 1 kilometer to obtain the estimated possible coverage area of ​​the neighboring cells of the first cell.

[0347] Method 3: The first network device receives a neighbor relationship from the second network device. The second network device is a network device different from the first network device, and this embodiment of the application does not impose any specific restrictions on the second network device. For example, the second network device may be a network device adjacent to the first network device. For another example, if the first network device and the second network device are network devices in an NTN network, the second network device may be a network device that previously served the first network device's current service area. For example, the first network device currently serves area 1, and the second network device was a network device that previously served area 1.

[0348] S1002. The first network device sends a neighbor relationship to the third network device.

[0349] The third network device is a network device different from the first network device. This embodiment of the present application does not impose any specific limitations on the third network device. For example, the third network device may be a network device adjacent to the first network device. For another example, if the first network device and the third network device are network devices in an NTN network, the third network device may be the next network device to serve the first network device's current service area.

[0350] S1002 is optional.

[0351] Optionally, if the first network device and the third network device are network devices in an NTN network, for example, the first network device and the second network device are regenerative satellites, the neighbor relationship between the first network device and the third network device may be transmitted via an intersatellite link.

[0352] Optionally, the first network device may periodically send neighbor relations to other network devices.

[0353] Optionally, the first network device and the third network device may transmit the neighbor relationship via an XN link. For example, the first network device may send the neighbor relationship to the third network device via an XN configuration update process.

[0354] Optionally, the first network device may send an updated neighbor relationship to the third network device when the information in the stored neighbor relationship changes (or when the neighbor relationship is updated). In this case, the first network device may only send the information in the updated neighbor relationship that has changed compared to the original neighbor relationship to the third network device, and the information that has not changed does not need to be sent. Alternatively, the network device may also send all the information included in the updated neighbor relationship to the third network device.

[0355] It should be noted that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the timing relationship between S1001 and S1002. S1001 may occur before S1002. For example, after the first network device obtains the neighbor relationship, it sends the neighbor relationship to the third network device. Alternatively, S1002 may also occur before S1001. For example, the first network device sends the neighbor relationship 1 (the neighbor relationship 1 may be pre-configured or obtained in any of the ways in S1001) to the third network device, and then obtains the new neighbor relationship 2. Alternatively, S1001 and S1002 may also occur simultaneously.

[0356] Optionally, the neighboring cell relationship obtained by the first network device can be used for cell switching, or for sending neighboring frequency points during reselection, or for redirection, etc. Exemplarily, if the neighboring cell relationship obtained by the first network device is used for cell switching, the measurement report reported by the terminal device may include the location information of the terminal device and the measured neighboring cell information (such as the second identification information and / or frequency information of the neighboring cell). After receiving the measurement report, the first network device can query the neighboring cell relationship to determine the target cell based on the location information of the terminal device and the neighboring cell information included in the measurement report. This allows the terminal device to switch to the target cell.

[0357] For example, the measurement report reported by the terminal device may include the location information of the terminal device and the measured PCI of the neighboring cell. The first network device can query the neighboring cell relationship based on the location information of the terminal device and the PCI of the neighboring cell, find the CGI of the corresponding cell, and thus determine the unique target cell.

[0358] Optionally, the embodiment shown in FIG10 can be applied in combination with the embodiment shown in FIG9 . For example, the first network device can determine, based on the neighboring cell relationship and the location information associated with the terminal device, which candidate target cell the terminal device is located in, thereby determining the target cell. If the terminal device is located in the coverage area of ​​a candidate target cell, the candidate target cell can be considered the target cell; otherwise, it is not.

[0359] As shown in Figure 11, another communication method is provided for an embodiment of the present application. Figure 11 takes the core network device, the fourth network device and the fifth network device as examples of the execution subjects of the interaction diagram to illustrate the method, but the present application does not limit the execution subjects of the interaction diagram. For example, the core network device in Figure 11 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the core network device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the core network device; the fourth network device in Figure 11 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the fourth network device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the fourth network device; the fifth network device in Figure 11 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the fifth network device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the fifth network device.

[0360] Based on the communication method shown in FIG11 , the core network device can determine the target cell based on the cell information, thereby resolving the problem of the network device being unable to determine the target cell and thus unable to complete cell handover in scenarios where the network device has no neighboring cell relationship. For example, the fourth network device can be a network device in a TN network, and the fifth network device can be a network device in an NTN network.

[0361] As shown in FIG11 , the communication method includes steps S1101 to S1104:

[0362] S1101. A fourth network device sends cell information to a core network device. Correspondingly, the core network device receives the cell information from the fourth network device. The cell information includes information about a serving cell of the fourth network device. Optionally, the cell information may also include information about cells under adjacent network devices (referred to as neighboring cells). The serving cell information includes first identification information and second identification information of the serving cell, and the neighboring cell information includes second identification information of the neighboring cell.

[0363] The first identification information and the second identification information may be specifically described above and will not be elaborated here.

[0364] Optionally, the cell information may further include other information about the serving cell and / or other information about the neighboring cell. For example, the cell information may further include at least one of the frequency information of the serving cell, the first identification information of the neighboring cell, or the frequency information of the neighboring cell. For another example, the cell information may further include information such as the tracking area code (TAC) of the tracking area to which the serving cell and / or the neighboring cell belong, and the public land mobile network (PLMN) to which the serving cell and / or the neighboring cell belong.

[0365] Optionally, the fourth network device may send the cell information to the core network device through the NG interface.

[0366] Optionally, the core network device may also receive cell information from other network devices, including information about serving cells and neighboring cells of other network devices. For details, please refer to the above introduction and will not be elaborated here.

[0367] Optionally, the core network may obtain the device identification of the fourth network device. For example, the fourth network device may send the device identification of the fourth network device to the core network device.

[0368] S1102: The fifth network device sends a handover request message to the core network device. In response, the core network device receives the handover request message from the fifth network device. The handover request message includes first identification information of a target cell and second identification information of one or more cells measured by the terminal device. The handover request message is used to request the target cell to prepare handover resources.

[0369] Among them, the cell measured by the terminal device may be the target cell, or the cell measured by the terminal device may also be a neighboring cell of the target cell, or the distance between the cell measured by the terminal device and the target cell is not particularly large, so that the core network device can determine the network device serving the target cell based on the first identification information of the target cell and the second identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device, which is specifically introduced in S1103 below.

[0370] Before S1102 , the fifth network device determines a target cell, and obtains first identification information of the target cell and second identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device.

[0371] Taking the second identification information as CGI as an example, in a possible implementation, before the fifth network device determines that the terminal device needs to switch from the current cell to the target cell, the fifth network device can send a CGI measurement configuration based on the PCI corresponding to the cell measured by the terminal device, so that the CGI of the cell measured by the terminal device can be obtained based on the CGI measurement process. For example, when the signal quality of the neighboring area #1 of the terminal device is higher than the signal quality of the terminal device's service cell by a threshold 1, the fifth network device triggers the terminal device to measure the CGI of the neighboring area #1. When the signal quality of the neighboring area #2 of the terminal device is higher than the signal quality of the terminal device's service cell by a threshold 2 (threshold 2 is greater than threshold 1), the fifth network device determines the neighboring area #2 as the target cell. For another example, after the terminal device accesses the fifth network device, the fifth network device can send a CGI measurement configuration to the terminal device. After receiving the CGI measurement configuration, the terminal device obtains the CGI of the neighboring area (that is, the CGI of the cell measured by the terminal device), and reports the CGI of the neighboring area to the fifth network device through a CGI measurement report. The fifth network device obtains the CGI of the cell measured by the terminal device according to the CGI measurement report.

[0372] Taking the first identification information as PCI as an example, in one possible implementation, the fifth network device can determine the target cell and the PCI of the target cell based on the measurement process of the terminal device. In this implementation, the fifth network device can be the serving base station of the source cell currently accessed by the terminal device, that is, the source base station. The terminal device measures the neighboring cell, obtains the PCI of the neighboring cell, and reports it to the fifth network device through a measurement report. After receiving the measurement report, the fifth network device selects a neighboring cell as the target cell and obtains the PCI of the target cell accordingly. Optionally, the measurement report may also include other information about the neighboring cell, such as frequency information.

[0373] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the manner in which the fifth network device obtains the first identification information of the target cell and the second identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device. In addition to the implementation described above, the fifth network device may also obtain the first identification information of the target cell and the second identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device through other methods.

[0374] S1103. The core network device determines, based on the switching request message, that the first identification information of the target cell is the same as the first identification information of the service cell of the fourth network device, and that the second identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device is the same as the second identification information of the service cell or the neighboring cell of the fourth network device.

[0375] For example, the core network device can determine, based on the cell information obtained in S1101, that the first identification information of the target cell is the same as the first identification information of the service cell of the fourth network device, and that the second identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device is the same as the second identification information of the service cell or neighboring cell of the fourth network device.

[0376] It should be noted that the core network devices in S1101, S1102, and S1103 may be the same device or different devices. For example, the core network devices in S1101 and S1103 may be core network devices connected to the fourth network device, and the core network device in S1102 may be core network devices connected to the fifth network device. These two core network devices can communicate with each other.

[0377] In S1103, if the core network device determines that the first identification information of the target cell is the same as the first identification information of the service cell of the fourth network device, it means that the service cell of the fourth network device may be the target cell. If it is also determined that the second identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device is the same as the second identification information of the service cell of the fourth network device, it means that the service cell of the fourth network device is a neighboring cell of the source cell currently accessed by the terminal device. Therefore, it can be considered that the service cell of the fourth network device is the only target cell.

[0378] In S1103, if the core network device determines that the first identification information of the target cell is the same as the first identification information of the service cell of the fourth network device, it means that the service cell of the fourth network device may be the target cell. If it is also determined that the second identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device is the same as the second identification information of the neighboring area of ​​the service cell, it means that the neighboring area of ​​the service cell of the fourth network device is the neighboring area of ​​the source cell currently accessed by the terminal device. At this time, it can be considered that the service cell of the fourth network device is also the neighboring area of ​​the source cell currently accessed by the terminal device. Therefore, it can be considered that the service cell of the fourth network device is the only target cell.

[0379] Optionally, the frequency of the serving cell of the fourth network device may be the same as the frequency of the target cell. That is, the core network device determines, based on the cell information and the handover request message, that the serving cell and the target cell have the same first identification information and frequency, and that the second identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device is the same as the second identification information of the serving cell or a neighboring cell, and then determines that the serving cell is the target cell requested for handover by the terminal device.

[0380] Optionally, the handover request message may also include identification information of a sixth network device. This embodiment of the present application does not limit the sixth network device; it may be any network device determined by the fifth network device. For example, the sixth network device may be the fourth network device, or it may not be the fourth network device. Furthermore, the core network device may ignore the identification information of the sixth network device in the handover request message and continue to determine the target cell based on the cell information.

[0381] S1104: The core network device determines that the target cell belongs to the fourth network device (ie, the target cell is a serving cell of the fourth network device), and sends a second message to the fourth network device, where the second message is used to request the target cell to prepare for handover resources.

[0382] Correspondingly, after receiving the second message, the fourth network device prepares switching resources for the access of the terminal device.

[0383] Optionally, after receiving the second message, the fourth network device may send a switching request confirmation message to the core network device, indicating that access of the terminal device is allowed.

[0384] Furthermore, after the core network device receives the handover request confirmation message from the fourth network device, it can send a first message to the terminal device through the fifth network device, where the first message includes the handover configuration of the target cell. After the terminal device receives the first message, it can switch to the target cell according to the handover configuration therein. Among them, one possible implementation of sending the first message to the terminal device through the fifth network device is: after the core network device receives the handover request confirmation message from the fourth network device, it sends a handover confirmation command to the fifth network device indicating that the target cell agrees to the handover. After receiving the handover confirmation command, the fifth network device sends a first message to the terminal device (for example, the handover confirmation command includes the first message), and both the handover confirmation command and the first message include the handover configuration of the target cell. Among them, the handover confirmation command is used to trigger the fifth network device to send the first message to the terminal device. The handover confirmation command can indicate that the fourth network device allows the terminal device to access, or that the target cell allows the terminal device to access, or that the target cell has prepared handover resources, etc. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific meaning of the handover confirmation command.

[0385] Exemplarily, the second message may be a handover request (Handover Request) message.

[0386] Exemplarily, the first message may be an RRC reconfiguration message. That is, the fifth network device triggers the terminal device to switch to the target cell through the RRC reconfiguration message.

[0387] For example, assume that in the communication method shown in Figure 11, the fourth network device is a network device in a TN network. The serving cell of the fourth network device is a TN cell. The fifth network device is a network device in an NTN network. The first identification information is the PCI, and the second identification information is the CGI. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a possible application scenario. As shown in Figure 12, the coverage area of ​​the NTN cell currently served by the fifth network device includes multiple TN cells. Among these multiple TN cells, two TN cells have a PCI of 1 and a frequency of f2. The cell on the left with a PCI of 1 is the serving cell of the fourth network device. This cell has neighboring cells with CGIs of 1 and 2. The cell on the right with a PCI of 1 has neighboring cells with CGIs of 3, 4, and 15. Therefore, if it is impossible to determine which of the two cells is being served based on a PCI of 1, the CGI of one of the neighboring cells surrounding the two cells can be used to confirm whether it is the cell on the left with a PCI of 1 or the cell on the right with a PCI of 1.

[0388] Furthermore, the following describes a possible process for the embodiment of the above-mentioned core network device determining the target cell based on cell information in conjunction with the application scenario shown in Figure 12. For example, the fourth network device may be a TN base station. The terminal device may be a UE. The fifth network device may be the base station where the NTN cell currently accessed by the UE is located, i.e., the source base station. The core network device may be an AMF network element. As shown in Figure 13, the possible process of this embodiment may include the following steps:

[0389] S1301. The TN base station sends cell information to the AMF network element.

[0390] The cell information stored by the TN base station includes the CGI and PCI of the serving cell, as well as the CGI of the serving cell's neighboring cells. The TN base station can send the stored cell information to the AMF network element. For example, in the application scenario shown in Figure 12, the serving cell can be the cell with a PCI of 1 on the left.

[0391] S1302: The source base station and the UE perform CGI measurement and reporting.

[0392] When the UE accesses the source base station, the source base station issues a CGI measurement process. The UE reports the measured cell's CGI to the source base station. For example, in the application scenario shown in Figure 12, the UE is located near a cell on the left with a PCI of 1. Therefore, the UE can measure the CGI of the cell on the left with a PCI of 1 and the CGI of neighboring cells near the cell, and report the measured CGI to the fifth network device.

[0393] S1303: The source base station and the UE perform a measurement process and report for handover.

[0394] The source base station sends the frequency points to be measured. After the UE performs measurements based on the frequency points, it reports a measurement report to the source base station. The measurement report includes the PCI of the cell measured by the UE. Based on the measurement report, the source base station selects a cell as the target cell.

[0395] For example, in the application scenario shown in Figure 12, the UE can measure the PCI of the cell on the left with a PCI of 1 and the PCI of the neighboring cells near the cell, and report them to the source base station through a measurement report. The source base station selects the cell on the left with a PCI of 1 as the target cell from the cells measured by the UE.

[0396] S1304: The source base station sends a handover request message to the AMF network element. The handover request message includes the PCI of the target cell and the CGI of the cell measured by the UE.

[0397] For example, in the application scenario shown in Figure 12, the switching request message sent by the source base station may include the PCI of the target cell (i.e., the cell with PCI 1 on the left) and the CGI of the neighboring cell measured by the UE (i.e., the CGI of the neighboring cell near the cell with PCI 1 on the left: CGI1 and CGI2).

[0398] S1305. The AMF network element determines the target cell.

[0399] The AMF network element can match the PCI of the target cell sent by the AMF network element and the CGI of the cell measured by the UE with the cell information to determine that the target cell is the serving cell of the TN base station. In other words, the TN base station is the target base station.

[0400] For example, in the application scenario shown in Figure 12, since the AMF network element obtains the cell information sent by the TN base station, it knows the PCI and CGI of the cell with PCI 1 on the left, as well as the CGI of the neighboring cell near the cell with PCI 1 on the left. Therefore, the AMF network element can determine based on the PCI of the target cell (i.e., the cell with PCI 1 on the left) sent by the source base station and the CGI of the neighboring cell measured by the UE (i.e., the CGI of the neighboring cell near the cell with PCI 1 on the left: CGI1 and CGI2) that the target cell is the cell with PCI 1 on the left.

[0401] S1306. The AMF network element sends a switching request message to the TN base station.

[0402] S1307. The TN base station sends a handover request confirmation message to the AMF network element, where the handover request confirmation message includes the handover configuration corresponding to the target cell.

[0403] S1308. The AMF network element sends a handover confirmation command to the source base station.

[0404] S1309. The source base station sends a handover command to the UE, where the handover command includes a handover configuration corresponding to the target cell.

[0405] For details of S1306-S1309, please refer to the above introduction to S1104, which will not be elaborated here.

[0406] As shown in Figure 14, another communication method is provided for an embodiment of the present application. In Figure 14, the core network device, the seventh network device, and the eighth network device are used as examples of the execution subjects of the interaction diagram to illustrate the method, but the present application does not limit the execution subjects of the interaction diagram. For example, the core network device in Figure 14 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the core network device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the core network device; the seventh network device in Figure 14 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the seventh network device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the seventh network device; the eighth network device in Figure 14 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the eighth network device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the eighth network device.

[0407] Based on the communication method shown in FIG14 , the core network device can determine the target cell based on the cell area information and the terminal device's location information, thereby resolving the problem of the network device being unable to determine the target cell and thus unable to complete cell handover in scenarios where the network device has no neighboring cell relationship. For example, the seventh network device can be a network device in a TN network, and the eighth network device can be a network device in an NTN network.

[0408] As shown in FIG14 , the communication method includes steps S1401-1404:

[0409] S1401: The seventh network device sends cell information to the core network device, and correspondingly, the core network device receives the cell information from the seventh network device, wherein the cell information includes first identification information and area information of the serving cell of the seventh network device.

[0410] The first identification information may be specifically described above and will not be elaborated here.

[0411] The area information of the serving cell may indicate the coverage area of ​​the serving cell. For details, please refer to the above introduction to the area information of the candidate target cell, which will not be elaborated here.

[0412] Optionally, the cell information may further include other information of the serving cell, such as at least one of the second identification information or frequency information of the serving cell.

[0413] Optionally, the cell information may further include information of neighboring cells of the serving cell, such as at least one of first identification information, second identification information, frequency information or area information of the neighboring cells of the serving cell.

[0414] Optionally, the seventh network device may send the cell information to the core network device via the NG interface.

[0415] Optionally, the core network device may also receive cell information from other network devices, including information about serving cells of other network devices. For details, please refer to the above introduction and will not be elaborated here.

[0416] Optionally, if the seventh network device serves multiple cells (or the seventh network device has multiple serving cells), the area information in the cell information may be common to each serving cell of the seventh network device. For example, the area information may indicate the coverage area of ​​the seventh network device.

[0417] S1402: The eighth network device sends a handover request message to the core network device, and correspondingly, the core network device receives the handover request message from the eighth network device, wherein the handover request message includes first identification information of the target cell to which the terminal device requests handover.

[0418] Before S1402 , the eighth network device obtains the first identification information of the target cell.

[0419] Taking the first identification information as PCI as an example, in one possible implementation, the eighth network device can obtain the PCI of the target cell based on the cell handover process. In this implementation, the eighth network device can be the serving base station of the source cell currently accessed by the terminal device, that is, the source base station. The terminal device measures the neighboring cell, obtains the PCI of the neighboring cell, and reports it to the eighth network device through a measurement report. After receiving the measurement report, the eighth network device selects a neighboring cell as the target cell and obtains the PCI of the target cell accordingly. Optionally, the measurement report may also include other information about the neighboring cell, such as frequency information.

[0420] It should be noted that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the manner in which the eighth network device obtains the first identification information of the target cell. In addition to the implementation described above, the eighth network device may also obtain the first identification information of the target cell through other means.

[0421] Optionally, the handover request message may further include location information of the terminal device. The location information of the terminal device and how the eighth network device obtains the location information of the terminal device can be specifically described above and will not be expanded here.

[0422] S1403. The core network device determines, based on the cell information and the location information of the terminal device, that the service cell of the seventh network device is identical to the first identification information of the target cell, and that the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the service cell of the seventh network device. The core network device then determines that the service cell is the target cell to which the terminal device requests switching, or determines that the network device corresponding to the target cell is the seventh network device.

[0423] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the manner in which the core network device obtains the location information of the terminal device. For example, the location information of the terminal device may be reported by the terminal device to the core network device. For example, the terminal device reports its own location information to the location client function (LCF) network element of the core network, and the LCF network element sends the location information of the terminal device to the AMF network element. Alternatively, the location information of the terminal device may be sent by the eighth network device to the core network device, for example, the location information of the terminal device may be carried in a handover request message.

[0424] Optionally, the frequency of the serving cell may be the same as the frequency of the target cell. That is, the core network device determines, based on the cell information and the location information of the terminal device, that the serving cell and the target cell have the same first identification information and frequency, and that the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the serving cell, that the serving cell is the target cell to which the terminal device requests handover.

[0425] Optionally, if the cell information includes the second identification information of the serving cell, the core network device may also determine the second identification information of the target cell according to the cell information.

[0426] Optionally, the handover request message may also include identification information of a ninth network device. This embodiment of the present application does not limit the ninth network device; it may be any network device determined by the eighth network device. For example, the ninth network device may be the seventh network device or not. Furthermore, the core network device may ignore the identification information of the ninth network device in the handover request message and continue to determine the target cell based on the cell information.

[0427] S1404: The core network device determines that the target cell belongs to the seventh network device (ie, the target cell is a serving cell of the seventh network device). The core network device sends a second message to the seventh network device, where the second message is used to request the target cell to prepare for handover resources.

[0428] Correspondingly, after receiving the second message, the seventh network device prepares switching resources for the access of the terminal device.

[0429] Optionally, after receiving the second message, the seventh network device may send a switching request confirmation message to the core network device, indicating that access of the terminal device is allowed.

[0430] Furthermore, after the core network device receives the handover request confirmation message from the seventh network device, it can send a first message to the terminal device through the eighth network device (for example, the handover request confirmation message includes the first message), where the first message includes the handover configuration of the target cell. After receiving the first message, the terminal device can switch to the target cell according to the handover configuration therein.

[0431] As shown in Figure 15, another communication method is provided for an embodiment of the present application. Figure 15 illustrates the method by taking the first network device and the terminal as the execution subjects of the interaction diagram as an example, but the present application does not limit the execution subjects of the interaction diagram. For example, the first network device in Figure 15 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the first network device, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the network device; the terminal device in Figure 15 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the terminal device, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that can realize all or part of the terminal functions.

[0432] The communication method shown in Figure 15 can be applied to a cell switching scenario. In a cell switching scenario, if the terminal device decides to deactivate (in this article, deactivation can also be referred to as disabling, and similarly, activation can also be referred to as enabling) the measurement gap (GAP) in the measurement configuration, and the network device still activates the GAP, the GAP status of the terminal device and the network device are inconsistent. Based on this problem, the first network device and the terminal device can execute the communication method shown in Figure 15 to align the deactivated / activated GAP, thereby increasing the data transmission rate and reducing the GAP scheduling overhead. Among them, the first network device can be the network device corresponding to the source cell currently accessed by the terminal device. Exemplarily, the first network device can be the service base station (or source base station) of the source cell.

[0433] As shown in FIG15 , the communication method includes steps S1501-S1502:

[0434] S1501: A first network device sends a third message to a terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the third message, wherein the third message includes one or more GAP configurations.

[0435] S1502. The terminal device sends third indication information to the first network device. In response, the first network device receives the third indication information. The third indication information is used to indicate activation or deactivation of one or more GAPs. That is, the GAPs activated or deactivated by the third indication information may be all or some of the GAPs included in the third message.

[0436] Optionally, one piece of third indication information may indicate activation / deactivation of a certain GAP, that is, if multiple GAPs are activated / deactivated, the terminal device needs to send multiple pieces of third indication information. Alternatively, one piece of third indication information may indicate all GAPs that need to be activated / deactivated.

[0437] The embodiment of the present application does not limit how the terminal device determines whether to activate or deactivate the GAP. A possible method for determining whether to activate or deactivate the GAP is described below.

[0438] It should be noted that, due to the movement of network devices or terminal devices, the first network devices in S1501 and S1502 may be the same network device or different network devices.

[0439] In a possible implementation, the third message may further include information on one or more frequency points associated with one or more GAPs, or the third message may further include information on one or more frequency bands associated with one or more GAPs. The one or more frequency points may be the frequency points configured by the first network device for performing measurements on the terminal device, that is, the frequency points of the cell to be measured, and may also be referred to as measurement objects. A GAP may be associated with one or more frequency points. The one or more frequency bands may be the frequency bands corresponding to the frequency points configured by the first network device for performing measurements on the terminal device, that is, the frequency bands of the frequency points of the cell to be measured. Since a frequency point belongs to a frequency band, one or more frequency points associated with a certain GAP in the following description may also be referred to as one or more frequency bands associated with a certain GAP. Information on an area associated with a frequency point may also be referred to as information on an area associated with a frequency band.

[0440] In this implementation, the terminal device can determine whether to measure one or more frequencies and, based on whether the frequencies need to be measured, determine whether to activate or deactivate the GAP associated with the frequencies. For example, if the terminal device determines that one or more frequencies associated with a GAP need to be measured, the terminal device determines to activate the GAP. If the terminal device determines that all frequencies associated with a GAP do not need to be measured, the terminal device determines to deactivate the GAP.

[0441] Optionally, in this implementation, the terminal device may determine whether to measure the frequency point based on the information of the area associated with the frequency point. In this optional scheme, the first network device may send information of the area associated with the frequency point (which may include the frequency point associated with the GAP configuration in the third message, and optionally, other frequencies) to the terminal device. The information of the area associated with the frequency point is used to indicate the geographical location of the area associated with the frequency point. It should be noted that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific form of the information of the area associated with the frequency point. For example, if the area associated with the frequency point is circular, the information of the area associated with the frequency point may include information indicating the geographical location of the center point and information of the radius. For another example, the information of the area associated with the frequency point may indicate the boundary line of the area associated with the frequency point.

[0442] For example, as shown in Figure 16, assuming the first network device is an NTN network device, the first network device sends information about four frequencies and three TN regions to a terminal device. The four frequencies are F1, F2, F3, and F4, and the three TN regions are TN region 1, TN region 2, and TN region 3. Frequency F1 is associated with TN region 1, frequency F2 is associated with both TN region 1 and TN region 2, and frequencies F3 and F4 are associated with TN region 3. In this case, when the terminal device is within the range of TN region 1, since frequencies F1 and F2 exist within TN region 1, the terminal device can only measure frequencies F1 and F2, ignoring frequency F3. When the terminal device is within the range of TN region 3, since frequencies F3 and F4 exist within TN region 3, the terminal device can only measure frequencies F3 and F4, ignoring frequency F1 and F2.

[0443] Optionally, the information of the area associated with the frequency point may be carried in a third message (i.e., the third message carries the GAP configuration and information about the area associated with the frequency point corresponding to the GAP configuration). Alternatively, the information of the area associated with the frequency point may be carried in a message different from the third message, for example, in a system message or dedicated signaling.

[0444] After receiving information about the area associated with a frequency point, the terminal device can determine whether it is within the area associated with the frequency point based on its own location. If it is determined that it is within the area associated with the frequency point, it can determine that it is necessary to measure the frequency point and thus determine that it is necessary to activate the GAP corresponding to the frequency point. If it is determined that it is not within the area associated with the frequency point, it can determine that it is not necessary to measure the frequency point and thus determine that it is not necessary to activate the GAP corresponding to the frequency point.

[0445] Optionally, when the terminal device determines that a certain GAP does not need to be activated, the network device may schedule uplink and downlink data for the terminal device in the time slot corresponding to the GAP.

[0446] Exemplarily, the third message sent by the first network device includes information about frequencies f1, f2, f3, and f4, as well as GAP1 configuration and GAP2 configuration. Among them, f1 is associated with GAP1, and f2, f3, and f4 are associated with GAP2. Furthermore, the first network device also sends information about the area associated with f1, the area associated with f2, the area associated with f3, and the area associated with f4 to the terminal device. Based on its own location, the terminal device determines that it is located in the area associated with f1, and then determines that it needs to measure f1, but does not need to measure f3, f4, and f5. Therefore, GAP2 associated with f3, f4, and f5 does not need to be used. The third indication information sent by the terminal device to the first network device may indicate deactivation of GAP2. Subsequently, if the terminal device moves to an area associated with any of the frequencies f2, f3, or f4, the terminal device may further send a third indication information to the first network device indicating activation of GAP2.

[0447] Optionally, the third message may also include other information used for the terminal device to perform measurements, such as report configuration, measurement identification and other information. For details, please refer to the information included in the RRC reconfiguration message sent by the source base station to the terminal device in the existing cell switching process.

[0448] Optionally, the first network device may further send fourth indication information to the terminal device, where the fourth indication information indicates that the terminal device may determine whether to measure the frequency point based on information about the area associated with the frequency point. The fourth indication information may be carried in the third message. Alternatively, it may be carried in a message different from the third message, for example, in an RRC reconfiguration message different from the third message.

[0449] The fourth indication information may be at a frequency granularity (per-frequency). In this case, the fourth indication information may indicate to the terminal device whether to measure a certain frequency sent by the third message based on the area information associated with the frequency. Alternatively, the fourth indication information may be at a terminal device granularity (per-UE). In this case, the fourth indication information may indicate to the terminal device whether to measure each frequency sent by the third message based on the information of the area associated with the frequency.

[0450] Optionally, the third indication information may be carried in a Media Access Control (MAC) layer control element (CE) and sent directly to the MAC layer of the first network device. The MAC layer of the first network device directly determines whether the GAP needs to be activated based on the third indication information. Alternatively, the third indication information may be carried in dedicated signaling, for example, in an RRC message and sent to the RRC layer of the first network device. The RRC layer may send a message indicating activation or deactivation of the GAP to the MAC layer, or the RRC layer may instruct the MAC layer to activate or deactivate the GAP.

[0451] Optionally, in the above embodiment, the third indication information indicating the activation or deactivation of the GAP may be replaced by indicating the first network device base station to add or delete the GAP. After receiving the third indication information, the first network device may send a fifth message to the terminal device, and the fifth message includes the configuration of the deleted GAP, or includes the configuration of the added GAP. Specifically, when the third indication information indicates the deactivation of one or more GAPs, the fifth message sent by the first network device may include the configuration of the deleted one or more GAPs. When the third indication information indicates the activation of one or more GAPs, the fifth message sent by the first network device may include the configuration of the added one or more GAPs.

[0452] Optionally, the third indication information can also be used to indicate the frequency that the terminal device does not measure or is going to measure, and the first network device updates the GAP configuration according to the frequency that the terminal device does not measure or measures. For example, the configuration sent by the first network device includes: measuring frequency F1, frequency F2, and frequency F3, wherein frequency F1 and frequency F2 correspond to GAP1, and frequency F3 corresponds to GAP2. After receiving the configuration, the terminal device decides not to measure frequency F3 and sends the third indication information to the first network device. The third indication information indicates that the terminal device is not going to measure frequency F3. After receiving the third indication information, the first network device can send a fifth message to the terminal device. The fifth message indicates the deletion of the configuration of GAP2. If the terminal device subsequently sends a new third indication information to the first network device, indicating that the measurement of frequency F3 needs to be re-performed, the first network device can send a new fifth message to the terminal device. The fifth message includes the configuration of GAP2.

[0453] 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.

[0454] It can be understood that in the above embodiments, the methods and / or steps implemented by each device can also be implemented by components that can be used for the device (such as a processor, chip, chip system, circuit, logic module, or software such as a chip or circuit).

[0455] The above mainly introduces the solution provided by this application from the perspective of interaction between various devices. Accordingly, this application also provides a communication device, which is used to implement the various methods described above. The communication device can be the first network device, terminal device, network device or core network device corresponding to the candidate target cell in the above method embodiment, or a device including the above devices, or a component that can be used for the above devices.

[0456] It is understandable that, in order to realize the above functions, the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. It should be easily appreciated by those skilled in the art that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0457] The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of the communication device according to the above method embodiment. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0458] Figure 17 provides a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 170. Exemplarily, as shown in Figure 17, the communication device 170 includes a transceiver module 1702 and a processing module 1701. For ease of illustration, Figure 17 only shows the main components of the communication device.

[0459] In some embodiments, the communication device 170 may further include a storage module (not shown in FIG. 17 ) for storing program instructions and data.

[0460] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1702, which may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, is configured to implement a transmitting and / or receiving function. The transceiver module 1702 may be composed of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0461] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1702 may include a receiving module and a sending module, which are respectively used to execute the receiving and sending steps performed by the first network device, the terminal device, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell, or the core network device in the above-mentioned method embodiment, and / or other processes for supporting the technology described herein; the processing module 1701 may be used to execute the processing steps (such as determination, generation, etc.) performed by the first network device, the terminal device, the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell, or the core network device in the above-mentioned method embodiment, and / or other processes for supporting the technology described herein.

[0462] When the communication device 170 is used to implement the function of the first network device:

[0463] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1702 is used to send a handover request message to multiple candidate target cells, and the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same. The transceiver module 1702 is also used to receive handover request confirmation messages corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells respectively; wherein each handover request confirmation message includes characteristic information and handover configuration of the candidate target cell. The transceiver module 1702 is also used to send a first message to the terminal device, and the first message includes handover configuration and characteristic information corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells respectively; the characteristic information is used by the terminal device to select one of the candidate target cells from the multiple candidate target cells as the target cell.

[0464] Optionally, the transceiver module 1702 is further configured to receive a measurement report from a terminal device, where the measurement report includes first identification information of multiple candidate target cells.

[0465] In another possible design, the transceiver module 1702 is used to send a handover request message to multiple candidate target cells, and the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same; wherein the handover request message includes location information associated with the terminal device, and the location information associated with the terminal device is used by the candidate target cell to perform access control on the terminal device. The transceiver module 1702 is also used to receive a handover request confirmation message corresponding to the target cell, and the handover confirmation message includes a handover configuration corresponding to the target cell; the target cell is a candidate target cell among multiple candidate target cells that has successfully performed access control on the terminal device. The transceiver module 1702 is also used to send a first message to the terminal device, and the first message includes the handover configuration corresponding to the target cell; the first message is used for the terminal device to switch to the target cell.

[0466] Optionally, the transceiver module 1702 is further configured to receive a measurement report from a terminal device, where the measurement report includes first identification information of multiple candidate target cells.

[0467] In another possible design, processing module 1701 is used to obtain location information associated with a terminal device and area information of multiple candidate target cells; wherein the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same. Processing module 1701 is also used to determine a target cell based on the location information associated with the terminal device and the area information of the multiple candidate target cells, where the target cell belongs to the multiple candidate target cells and the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the target cell. Transceiver module 1702 is used to send a first message to the terminal device, the first message including a handover configuration of the target cell; the first message is used for the terminal device to handover to the target cell.

[0468] Optionally, the processing module 1701 obtaining the respective area information of the multiple candidate target cells includes: the processing module 1701 receiving the respective area information of the multiple candidate target cells through the transceiver module 1702. Alternatively, the processing module 1701 obtains the respective area information of the multiple candidate target cells from network devices corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells; or the processing module 1701 obtains the respective area information of the multiple candidate target cells from a network management network element.

[0469] Optionally, the processing module 1701 obtains location information associated with the terminal device and area information of multiple candidate target cells, including: the processing module 1701 obtains the neighboring cell relationship, the neighboring cell relationship includes the first identification information, second identification information and first location information of the candidate target cell; wherein the first location information includes the area information of the candidate target cell and the location information of the terminal device located in the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell.

[0470] Optionally, the processing module 1701 obtains the neighboring cell relationship, including: the processing module 1701 receives, through the transceiver module 1702, the first identification information and the second identification information of the candidate target cell reported by the terminal device, and the location information of the terminal device measured to the candidate target cell. Alternatively, the processing module 1701 receives, through the transceiver module 1702, handover confirmation information corresponding to the candidate target cell, the handover confirmation information including the area information, the first identification information, and / or the second identification information of the candidate target cell. Alternatively, the processing module 1701 receives, through the transceiver module 1702, the neighboring cell relationship from the second network device.

[0471] Optionally, the transceiver module 1702 is further configured to send the neighboring cell relationship to a third network device.

[0472] Optionally, the transceiver module 1702 is further configured to receive a measurement report from a terminal device, where the measurement report includes first identification information of multiple candidate target cells.

[0473] In another possible design, transceiver module 1702 is configured to send a third message to the terminal device, where the third message includes one or more measurement gap (GAP) configurations. Transceiver module 1702 is further configured to receive third indication information from the terminal device, where the third indication information is used to indicate activation or deactivation of one or more GAPs among the one or more GAPs included in the third message.

[0474] Optionally, the transceiver module 1702 is also used to send information about the area associated with the frequency point to the terminal device; the information about the area associated with the frequency point is used by the terminal device to determine the measured frequency point and / or the unmeasured frequency point based on whether it is located in the area associated with the frequency point; wherein, the GAP associated with the unmeasured frequency point is the GAP that is deactivated as indicated by the third message; the GAP associated with the measured frequency point is the GAP that is activated as indicated by the third message.

[0475] Optionally, the transceiver module 1702 is further used to send fourth indication information to the terminal device, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to determine whether to measure the frequency point based on information about the area associated with the frequency point.

[0476] When the communication device 170 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned terminal device:

[0477] In one possible design, transceiver module 1702 is configured to receive a first message from a first network device, the first message including handover configurations and feature information corresponding to multiple candidate target cells, wherein the multiple candidate target cells have the same first identification information. Processing module 1701 is configured to select one of the multiple candidate target cells as the target cell based on the feature information. Processing module 1701 is further configured to apply the handover configuration of the target cell to cause communication device 170 to switch to the target cell.

[0478] Optionally, the processing module 1701 is further configured to measure the second identification information of one or more cells. The processing module 1701 is further configured to compare the second identification information of each candidate target cell in the plurality of candidate target cells with the second identification information of the measured cell.

[0479] Optionally, the transceiver module 1702 is further configured to send a measurement report to the first network device, where the measurement report includes first identification information of the target cell, and the first identification information of the target cell is the same as first identification information of multiple candidate target cells.

[0480] Optionally, the processing module 1701 is further configured to retain the handover configurations of other candidate target cells in the first message except the handover configuration of the target cell.

[0481] In another possible design, transceiver module 1702 is configured to receive a third message from the first network device, where the third message includes one or more measurement gap (GAP) configurations. Transceiver module 1702 is further configured to send third indication information to the first network device, where the third indication information indicates activation or deactivation of one or more GAPs included in the third message.

[0482] Optionally, processing module 1701 is configured to obtain information about an area associated with a frequency point. Processing module 1701 is further configured to determine, based on the information about the area associated with the frequency point, whether the user is located within the area associated with the frequency point; if so, determine to measure the frequency point; and if not, determine not to measure the frequency point. The GAP associated with the frequency point not to be measured is the GAP deactivated as indicated by the third message; the GAP associated with the frequency point to be measured is the GAP activated as indicated by the third message.

[0483] Optionally, the transceiver module 1702 is further used to receive fourth indication information from the first network device, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to determine whether to measure the frequency point based on information about the area associated with the frequency point.

[0484] When the communication device 170 is used to implement the functions of the network device corresponding to the candidate target cell:

[0485] In one possible design, the transceiver module 1702 is configured to receive a handover request message from the first network device, the handover request message including location information associated with the terminal device. The processing module 1701 is configured to perform access control on the terminal device based on the location information associated with the terminal device.

[0486] Optionally, the processing module 1701 performs admission control on the terminal device, including: determining that the terminal device is located in the coverage area and the admission control is successful; or determining that the terminal device is not located in the coverage area and the admission control fails.

[0487] Optionally, the transceiver module 1702 is further configured to send a switching request confirmation message to the first network device, where the switching confirmation message includes a switching configuration.

[0488] Optionally, the transceiver module 1702 is further configured to send a handover rejection message to the first network device.

[0489] When the communication device 170 is used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned core network device:

[0490] In one possible design, transceiver module 1702 is configured to receive cell information from a fourth network device; the cell information includes information about the fourth network device's serving cell and information about neighboring cells of the serving cell; the serving cell information includes first identification information and second identification information of the serving cell, and the neighboring cell information includes second identification information of the neighboring cell; the first identification information is used to identify one or more cells, and the second identification information is used to uniquely identify a cell. Transceiver module 1702 is further configured to receive a handover request message from a fifth network device; the handover request message includes first identification information of a target cell to which the terminal device requests handover and second identification information of a cell measured by the terminal device; the handover request message is used to request the target cell to prepare handover resources. Processing module 1701 is configured to determine, based on the cell information and the handover request message, that the first identification information of the target cell is identical to the first identification information of the serving cell, and that the second identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device is identical to the second identification information of the serving cell or a neighboring cell. Transceiver module 1702 is further configured to send a second message to the fourth network device, the second message being used to request the target cell to prepare handover resources.

[0491] Optionally, the switching request message further includes identification information of a sixth network device; and the processing module 1701 is further configured to ignore the identification information of the sixth network device.

[0492] In another possible design, transceiver module 1702 is configured to receive cell information from a seventh network device; the cell information includes first identification information and area information of the serving cell of the seventh network device. Transceiver module 1702 is further configured to receive a handover request message from an eighth network device; the handover request message includes first identification information of the target cell to which the terminal device requests handover. Processing module 1701 is configured to determine, based on the cell information and the location information of the terminal device, that the first identification information of the serving cell and the target cell are identical, and that the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the serving cell. Transceiver module 1702 is configured to send a second message to the seventh network device, the second message being configured to request the target cell to prepare handover resources.

[0493] Optionally, the handover request message further includes identification information of a ninth network device; and the processing module 1701 is further configured to ignore the identification information of the ninth network device.

[0494] Optionally, the processing module 1701 obtains the location information of the terminal device, including: the processing module 1701 receives the location information of the terminal device from the terminal device via the transceiver module 1702. Alternatively, the handover request message includes the location information of the terminal device.

[0495] Among them, all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module and will not be repeated here.

[0496] In this application, the communication device 170 is presented in the form of various functional modules divided in an integrated manner. The "module" here can refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit, a processor and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and / or other devices that can provide the above functions.

[0497] In some embodiments, when the communication device 170 in Figure 17 is a chip or a chip system, the function / implementation process of the transceiver module 1702 can be implemented through the input and output interface (or communication interface) of the chip or chip system, and the function / implementation process of the processing module 1701 can be implemented through the processor (or processing circuit) of the chip or chip system.

[0498] Since the communication device 170 provided in this embodiment can execute the above method, the technical effects that can be obtained can refer to the above method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0499] As a possible product form, the above-mentioned communication device 170 can be implemented using the following: one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuits, or any combination of circuits that can perform the various functions described throughout this application.

[0500] It should be noted that the structure shown in FIG17 does not constitute a specific limitation on the device structure. For example, in other embodiments of the present application, the above-mentioned devices may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or combine or separate certain components, or arrange the components differently. The components shown in the figure may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0501] In some embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, which includes a processor for implementing the method in any of the above method embodiments.

[0502] As a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a memory. The memory is used to store necessary computer programs and data. The computer program may include instructions, and the processor may invoke the instructions in the computer program stored in the memory to instruct the communication device to execute any of the above-described method embodiments. Of course, the memory may not be located in the communication device.

[0503] As another possible implementation, the communication device also includes an interface circuit, which is a code / data read / write interface circuit, and the interface circuit is used to receive computer execution instructions (computer execution instructions are stored in a memory, may be read directly from the memory, or may pass through other devices) and transmit them to the processor.

[0504] As another possible implementation, the communication device further includes a communication interface, where the communication interface is used to communicate with a module outside the communication device.

[0505] It can be understood that the communication device can be a chip or a chip system. When the communication device is a chip system, it can be composed of chips or include chips and other discrete devices. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0506] Exemplarily, the communication device may employ the structure of the communication device 180 shown in FIG18 . As shown in FIG18 , the communication device 180 includes a processor 1801, a communication circuit 1802, and at least one communication interface ( FIG18 is merely exemplary, using the communication interface 1804 as an example). Optionally, the communication device 180 may further include a memory 1803.

[0507] The processor 1801 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the present application.

[0508] Communication link 1802 may include a pathway for transmitting information between the aforementioned components.

[0509] The communication interface 1804 uses any transceiver or other device for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, wireless access network, wireless local area network (WLAN), etc.

[0510] The memory 1803 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, an optical disc storage (including a compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory may exist independently and be connected to the processor via a communication line 1802. The memory may also be integrated with the processor.

[0511] The memory 1803 is used to store computer-executable instructions for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 1801. The processor 1801 is used to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1803, thereby implementing the method provided by the above embodiment of the present application.

[0512] Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application code or computer program code, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0513] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 1801 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in Figure 18.

[0514] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 120 may include multiple processors, such as processors 1801 and 1808 in Figure 18. Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. The processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0515] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 180 may further include an output device 1805 and an input device 1806. The output device 1805 communicates with the processor 1801 and can display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device 1805 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector. The input device 1806 communicates with the processor 1801 and can receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device 1806 can be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device.

[0516] It should be understood that the structure shown in FIG18 does not constitute a specific limitation on the communication device 180. For example, in other embodiments of the present application, the communication device 180 may include more or fewer components than shown, or may combine or separate certain components, or arrange the components differently. The components shown in the figure may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0517] Since the communication device 180 provided in this embodiment can execute the above communication method, the technical effects that can be obtained can refer to the above method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0518] In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the communication device 170 may take the form of the communication device 180 shown in FIG. 18 .

[0519] Specifically, the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver module 1702 and the processing module 1701 in FIG17 can be implemented by the processor 1801 shown in FIG18 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1803. Alternatively, the functions / implementation processes of the processing module 1701 in FIG17 can be implemented by the processor 1801 shown in FIG18 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1803, and the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver module 1702 in FIG17 can be implemented by the communication interface 1804 shown in FIG18.

[0520] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program or instruction stored thereon, which implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0521] The present application also provides a computer program product, which implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0522] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, for the sake of convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, devices, and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0523] It is understood that the systems, devices, and methods described in this application may also be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interface, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0524] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, i.e., they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Components shown as units may or may not be physical units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the objectives of this embodiment as needed.

[0525] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0526] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded 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 media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid state disk (SSD)). In the embodiment of the present application, the computer may include the aforementioned device.

[0527] Although the present application is described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, in the process of implementing the claimed application, those skilled in the art can understand and implement other changes to the disclosed embodiments by reviewing the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude multiple situations. A single processor or other unit can implement several functions listed in the claims. Certain measures are recorded in different dependent claims, but this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce good results.

[0528] Although the present application has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is apparent that various modifications and combinations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings are merely illustrative of the present application as defined by the appended claims and are deemed to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents within the scope of the present application. Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Thus, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Sending a handover request message to a plurality of candidate target cells, wherein the first identification information of the plurality of candidate target cells is the same; Receiving handover request confirmation messages corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells respectively; wherein each of the handover request confirmation messages includes feature information and handover configuration of the candidate target cell; A first message is sent to a terminal device, wherein the first message includes switching configurations and feature information respectively corresponding to the multiple candidate target cells; the feature information is used by the terminal device to select one of the candidate target cells from the multiple candidate target cells as the target cell.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The handover request message includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to instruct the candidate target cell to feed back the characteristic information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first message includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to determine the target cell from the multiple candidate target cells.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The characteristic information is second identification information or area information, wherein the second identification information is used to uniquely identify a cell.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A measurement report is received from the terminal device, wherein the measurement report includes first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The frequencies of the multiple candidate target cells are the same.

7. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: receiving a first message from a first network device, wherein the first message includes handover configurations and feature information respectively corresponding to a plurality of candidate target cells; wherein the first identification information of the plurality of candidate target cells is the same; Selecting one of the candidate target cells from the multiple candidate target cells as the target cell according to the characteristic information; Apply the handover configuration of the target cell to switch to the target cell.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The characteristic information includes second identification information or area information, where the second identification information is used to uniquely identify a cell; The second identification information of the target cell is the same as the second identification information of any measured cell; or, the terminal device is located in the area indicated by the area information corresponding to the target cell.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that In the case where the characteristic information includes second identification information, the method further includes: measuring second identification information of one or more cells; The second identification information of each candidate target cell among the multiple candidate target cells is compared with the second identification information of the measured cell.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A measurement report is sent to the first network device, where the measurement report includes first identification information of the target cell, and the first identification information of the target cell is the same as the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells.

11. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The handover configurations of other candidate target cells except the handover configuration of the target cell in the first message are retained.

12. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that: The first message also includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to determine the target cell from the multiple candidate target cells.

13. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that: The frequencies of the multiple candidate target cells are the same.

14. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Sending a handover request message to multiple candidate target cells, wherein the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same; wherein the handover request message includes location information associated with the terminal device, and the location information associated with the terminal device is used by the candidate target cell to perform admission control on the terminal device; Receiving a handover request confirmation message corresponding to a target cell, wherein the handover confirmation message includes a handover configuration corresponding to the target cell; the target cell is a candidate target cell among the multiple candidate target cells for which admission control of the terminal device is successful; A first message is sent to the terminal device, where the first message includes a switching configuration corresponding to the target cell; the first message is used for the terminal device to switch to the target cell.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The admission control success includes: determining that the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell; The admission control failure includes: determining that the terminal device is not located in the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The location information associated with the terminal device includes at least one of the following: area information of the beam where the terminal device is located, location information of the terminal device, and information of the geographical area where the terminal device is located.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A measurement report is received from the terminal device, where the measurement report includes first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells.

18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that: The frequencies of the multiple candidate target cells are the same.

19. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Receiving a handover request message from a first network device, wherein the handover request message includes location information associated with the terminal device; Access control is performed on the terminal device according to location information associated with the terminal device.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The performing access control on the terminal device includes: It is determined that the terminal device is located in the coverage area and the admission control is successful; or, It is determined that the terminal device is not located in the coverage area and the admission control fails.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that After the admission control is successfully performed, the method further includes: A switching request confirmation message is sent to the first network device, where the switching confirmation message includes a switching configuration.

22. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that If the admission control fails, the method further includes: Send a handover rejection message to the first network device.

23. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that: The location information associated with the terminal device includes at least one of the following: area information of the beam where the terminal device is located, location information of the terminal device, and information of the geographical area where the terminal device is located.

24. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Acquire location information associated with the terminal device and area information of multiple candidate target cells respectively; wherein the first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells is the same; Determine a target cell according to the location information associated with the terminal device and the respective area information of the multiple candidate target cells, the target cell belongs to the multiple candidate target cells, and the terminal device is located in the coverage area of ​​the target cell; A first message is sent to the terminal device, where the first message includes the switching configuration of the target cell; the first message is used for the terminal device to switch to the target cell.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that The obtaining of area information of multiple candidate target cells includes: Receiving area information of the plurality of candidate target cells; Acquire area information of the plurality of candidate target cells respectively from network devices respectively corresponding to the plurality of candidate target cells; Alternatively, the area information of the multiple candidate target cells is obtained from a network management element.

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that The obtaining of location information associated with the terminal device and area information of the plurality of candidate target cells includes: Obtain a neighboring cell relationship, wherein the neighboring cell relationship includes first identification information, second identification information, and first location information of the candidate target cell; wherein the first location information includes area information of the candidate target cell and location information of a terminal device located within the coverage area of ​​the candidate target cell.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that The obtaining of neighboring cell relations includes: Receiving the first identification information and the second identification information of the candidate target cell and the location information of the terminal device measured to the candidate target cell reported by the terminal device; or, Receive handover confirmation information corresponding to the candidate target cell, the handover confirmation information including the area of ​​the candidate target cell domain information, first identification information and / or second identification information; or, The neighbor relationship is received from a second network device.

28. The method according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that The method further comprises: The neighbor relationship is sent to a third network device.

29. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 28, characterized in that: The location information associated with the terminal device includes at least one of the following: area information of the beam where the terminal device is located, location information of the terminal device, and information of the geographical area where the terminal device is located.

30. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 29, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A measurement report is received from the terminal device, where the measurement report includes first identification information of the multiple candidate target cells.

31. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 30, characterized in that: The frequencies of the multiple candidate target cells are the same.

32. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: receiving cell information from a fourth network device; the cell information includes information of a serving cell of the fourth network device and information of a neighboring cell of the serving cell; the serving cell information includes first identification information and second identification information of the serving cell, and the neighboring cell information includes second identification information of the neighboring cell; wherein the first identification information is used to identify one or more cells, and the second identification information is used to uniquely identify a cell; receiving a handover request message from a fifth network device; the handover request message including first identification information of a target cell to which the terminal device requests handover and second identification information of a cell measured by the terminal device; the handover request message is used to request the target cell to prepare handover resources; Determine, according to the cell information and the handover request message, that the first identification information of the target cell is the same as the first identification information of the serving cell, and that the second identification information of the cell measured by the terminal device is the same as the second identification information of the serving cell or the neighboring cell; A second message is sent to the fourth network device, where the second message is used to request the target cell to prepare handover resources.

33. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that The switching request message further includes identification information of the sixth network device; The method further comprises: The identification information of the sixth network device is ignored.

34. The method according to claim 32 or 33, characterized in that The information of the serving cell also includes at least one of the frequency information of the serving cell, the first identification information of the neighboring cell, and the frequency information of the neighboring cell.

35. The method according to any one of claims 32 to 34, characterized in that: The frequency of the serving cell is the same as the frequency of the target cell.

36. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Receiving cell information from a seventh network device; the cell information includes first identification information and area information of a serving cell of the seventh network device; Receiving a handover request message from an eighth network device; the handover request message includes first identification information of a target cell to which the terminal device requests handover; Determine, according to the cell information and the location information of the terminal device, that the first identification information of the serving cell is the same as that of the target cell, and that the terminal device is located within the coverage area of ​​the serving cell; A second message is sent to the seventh network device, where the second message is used to request the target cell to prepare switching resources.

37. The method according to claim 36, characterized in that The switching request message further includes identification information of a ninth network device; The method further comprises: The identification information of the ninth network device is ignored.

38. The method according to claim 36 or 37, characterized in that The obtaining the location information of the terminal device includes: receiving location information of the terminal device from the terminal device; or, The switching request message includes the location information of the terminal device.

39. The method according to any one of claims 36 to 38, characterized in that: The cell information also includes at least one of the frequency information of the serving cell, first identification information of a neighboring cell of the serving cell, second identification information of the neighboring cell, and frequency information of the neighboring cell.

40. The method according to any one of claims 36 to 39, characterized in that: The frequency of the serving cell is the same as the frequency of the target cell.

41. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Sending a third message to the terminal device, where the third message includes one or more measurement gap GAP configurations; Receive third indication information from the terminal device, where the third indication information is used to indicate activation or deactivation of one or more GAPs among the one or more GAPs.

42. The method according to claim 41, characterized in that The third message also includes information about one or more frequency points associated with the one or more GAP configurations; the one or more frequency points are frequency points configured for the terminal device to perform measurement.

43. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that The method further comprises: Information about the area associated with the frequency point is sent to the terminal device; the information about the area associated with the frequency point is used by the terminal device to determine the measured frequency point and / or the unmeasured frequency point according to whether it is located in the area associated with the frequency point; wherein the GAP associated with the unmeasured frequency point is the GAP deactivated as indicated by the third message; and the GAP associated with the measured frequency point is the GAP activated as indicated by the third message.

44. The method according to claim 43, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send fourth indication information to the terminal device, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to determine whether to measure the frequency point based on information about an area associated with the frequency point.

45. The method according to any one of claims 41 to 44, characterized in that The third indication information is carried in a media access control layer control element MAC CE or a radio resource control RRC message.

46. ​​A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: receiving a third message from the first network device, wherein the third message includes one or more measurement gap GAP configurations; Send third indication information to the first network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate activation or deactivation of one or more GAPs among the one or more GAPs.

47. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that The second message also includes information about one or more frequency points associated with the one or more GAP configurations; the one or more frequency points are frequency points configured for the terminal device to perform measurement.

48. The method according to claim 47, characterized in that The method further comprises: Acquire information of a region associated with the frequency point; Determine, according to information of an area associated with the frequency point, whether the area is located in the area associated with the frequency point, if it is located in the area associated with the frequency point, determine to measure the frequency point, and if it is not located in the area associated with the frequency point, determine not to measure the frequency point; The GAP associated with the frequency point not to be measured is the GAP to be deactivated as indicated by the third message; and the GAP associated with the frequency point to be measured is the GAP to be activated as indicated by the third message.

49. The method according to claim 48, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive fourth indication information from the first network device, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to determine whether to measure the frequency point based on information about an area associated with the frequency point.

50. The method according to any one of claims 46 to 49, characterized in that The third indication information is carried in a media access control layer control element MAC CE or a radio resource control RRC message.

51. A communication device, characterized in that: The apparatus comprises: a module for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-50.

52. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device comprises: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions, and when the processor executes the instructions, the communication device executes the method according to any one of claims 1-50.

53. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium comprises a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, the method of any one of claims 1 to 50 is executed.

54. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises instructions, and when the instructions are run on a computer, the method of any one of claims 1 to 50 is executed.

55. A chip, characterized in that: The chip includes: a processor, and the processor is used to execute instructions so that a device including the chip performs the method according to any one of claims 1-50.

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