Information indication method, apparatus and system

Abstract

The embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of communications. Disclosed are an information indication method, apparatus and system, which can reduce signaling overheads. The method comprises: sending first indication information, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a plurality of scheduled sub-bands, the plurality of sub-bands are divided into a plurality of sub-band groups, and the number of the plurality of sub-band groups is less than the number of the plurality of sub-bands; and sending second indication information, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating a pre-coding matrix corresponding to each sub-band group among the plurality of sub-band groups, and the sub-bands in one sub-band group use the same pre-coding matrix.

Description

Information indication method, device and system

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on September 27, 2023, with application number 202311283790.4 and application name “Information Indication Method, Device and System”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

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

[0003] In an uplink multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU MIMO) system, to suppress interference, a terminal device typically uses an uplink precoding matrix to preprocess uplink data to be transmitted. Currently, the uplink precoding matrix used by the terminal device is indicated to the terminal device by the network side.

[0004] The current method for indicating the uplink precoding matrix can use a predefined indication field to indicate the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to uplink resources with wideband granularity. However, for uplink resources with subband granularity, if the current method for indicating the uplink precoding matrix with wideband granularity is continued, a corresponding indication field must be allocated for each subband to indicate the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to each subband. If the base station schedules multiple subbands, the indication overhead required to indicate the corresponding uplink precoding matrix for all scheduled subbands will be very large.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide an information indication method, device, and system, which can save signaling overhead.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0008] In a first aspect, an information indication method is provided. The method can be executed by a network device, or by a component of the network device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the network device. It can also be implemented by a logic module or software that implements all or part of the network device. The following description uses the method performed by the network device as an example. The information indication method includes: the network device sending first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate multiple scheduled subbands; the multiple subbands being divided into multiple subband groups, and the number of the multiple subband groups being less than the number of the multiple subbands; the network device sending second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate a precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups; wherein each subband within the subband group uses the same precoding matrix.

[0009] Based on the information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the scheduled multiple subbands can be grouped, and the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group can be indicated. Since the number of multiple subband groups is less than the number of multiple subbands, compared with the solution of directly extending the existing broadband granularity uplink precoding matrix indication solution to the subband granularity scenario, the indication overhead of the second indication information is greatly reduced.

[0010] In a possible implementation, all subbands in a subband group are continuous in the frequency domain.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the information indication method provided in an embodiment of the present application further includes: sending third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the first subband in each subband group other than the first subband group in multiple subband groups; or, the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the last subband in each subband group other than the last subband group in multiple subband groups.

[0012] This solution provides a method for indicating how to divide multiple subbands into multiple subband groups through third indication information.

[0013] In a possible implementation, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information is determined by the number of the multiple subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies the following relationship: X = (P-1) × log2N; where X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of multiple subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0015] Based on this solution, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information can be made a fixed value that can be calculated.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the number of subbands in each subband group is different.

[0017] Based on this solution, when the number of subbands in each subband group is different, the third indication information can be used to indicate the segmentation point after the subbands are grouped, so that the terminal device can determine how to group the multiple scheduled subbands.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application further includes: sending fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the number of the multiple subband groups.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the precoding matrix corresponding to the subband group is indicated by 6 bits.

[0020] In a second aspect, an information indication method is provided. The method can be executed by a terminal device, or by a component of the terminal device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the terminal device, or by a logic module or software that implements all or part of the terminal device. The following description uses the method executed by a terminal device as an example. The information indication method includes: receiving first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate multiple scheduled subbands; the multiple subbands being divided into multiple subband groups, where the number of the multiple subband groups is less than the number of subbands; receiving second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate a precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups; wherein each subband within the subband group uses the same precoding matrix; and determining a precoding matrix to be used for each of the multiple scheduled subbands based on the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0021] In a possible implementation, all subbands in a subband group are continuous in the frequency domain.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the information indication method provided in an embodiment of the present application further includes: receiving third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the first subband in each subband group other than the first subband group in multiple subband groups; or, the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the last subband in each subband group other than the last subband group in multiple subband groups.

[0023] In a possible implementation, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information is determined by the number of the multiple subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies the following relationship: X = (P-1) × log2N; where X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of multiple subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0025] In a possible implementation, the number of subbands in each subband group is different.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application further includes: receiving fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the number of the multiple subband groups.

[0027] In a possible implementation, the precoding matrix corresponding to the subband group is indicated by 6 bits.

[0028] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any implementation method in the second aspect can refer to the technical effects brought about by the corresponding implementation method in the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0029] In a third aspect, an information indication method is provided. The method can be executed by a network device, or by a component of the network device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the network device, or by a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the network device. The following description takes the method executed by a network device as an example. The information indication method includes: the network device sends first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate multiple scheduled subbands. The network device sends fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to indicate the number of layers corresponding to each subband in the multiple subbands; wherein the number of layers corresponding to the subband is used by the terminal device to determine the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband from the first precoding matrix; the second precoding matrix is ​​a submatrix of the first precoding matrix.

[0030] Based on the information indication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can determine the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to the subband by using the number of layers of the subband indicated by the fifth indication information. Since the indication overhead of the number of layers of a single subband is generally less than 6 bits (the number of layers of a single subband is generally small and can be indicated without 6 bits), the indication overhead of the fifth indication information is greatly reduced compared to a solution that directly expands the existing uplink precoding matrix indication solution at a wideband granularity to a scenario at a subband granularity.

[0031] In a possible implementation, the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband includes the first n columns of elements in the first precoding matrix; where n is the number of layers corresponding to the subband.

[0032] This solution provides a method for determining a second precoding matrix from a first precoding matrix.

[0033] In a possible implementation, the number of rows of the first precoding matrix is ​​the number of transmit antennas configured for the terminal device, and the number of columns of the first precoding matrix is ​​the maximum number of layers of the terminal device.

[0034] In a possible implementation, the number of layers corresponding to the subband is indicated by log2(q) bits, where q is the number of columns of the first precoding matrix.

[0035] Based on this solution, the indication overhead of the number of layers corresponding to the sub-band can be made a fixed value.

[0036] In one possible implementation, multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups, and the number of the multiple subband groups is less than the number of the multiple subbands; the fifth indication information is used to indicate the number of layers corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups; wherein the number of layers corresponding to each subband in the subband group is the same.

[0037] Based on this solution, the indication overhead of the fifth indication information can be further reduced by dividing multiple subbands into multiple subband groups.

[0038] In a possible implementation, each subband in a subband group is continuous in the frequency domain.

[0039] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the network device sending third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the first subband in each subband group other than the first subband group among the multiple subband groups; or, the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the last subband in each subband group other than the last subband group among the multiple subband groups.

[0040] This solution provides a method for indicating how to divide multiple subbands into multiple subband groups through third indication information.

[0041] In a possible implementation, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information is determined by the number of the multiple subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0042] In one possible implementation, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies the following relationship: X = (P-1) × log2N; where X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of multiple subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0043] Based on this solution, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information can be made a fixed value that can be calculated.

[0044] In a possible implementation, the number of subbands in each subband group is different.

[0045] Based on this solution, when the number of subbands in each subband group is different, the third indication information can be used to indicate the segmentation point after the subbands are grouped, so that the terminal device can determine how to group the multiple scheduled subbands.

[0046] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the network device sending fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the number of the multiple subband groups.

[0047] In a fourth aspect, an information indication method is provided. The method can be executed by a terminal device, or by a component of the terminal device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system of the terminal device, or by a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device. The following description takes the execution of the method by a terminal device as an example. The information indication method includes: the terminal device receives first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate multiple scheduled subbands. The terminal device receives fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to indicate the number of layers corresponding to each subband in the multiple subbands. The terminal device determines a second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband from the first precoding matrix based on the number of layers corresponding to each subband; the second precoding matrix is ​​a submatrix of the first precoding matrix.

[0048] In a possible implementation, the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband includes the first n columns of elements in the first precoding matrix; where n is the number of layers corresponding to the subband.

[0049] In a possible implementation, the number of rows of the first precoding matrix is ​​the number of transmit antennas configured for the terminal device, and the number of columns of the first precoding matrix is ​​the maximum number of layers of the terminal device.

[0050] In a possible implementation, the number of layers corresponding to the subband is indicated by log2(q) bits, where q is the number of columns of the first precoding matrix.

[0051] In one possible implementation, multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups, and the number of the multiple subband groups is less than the number of the multiple subbands; the fifth indication information is used to indicate the number of layers corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups; wherein the number of layers corresponding to each subband in the subband group is the same.

[0052] In a possible implementation, each subband in the subband group is continuous in the frequency domain.

[0053] In one possible implementation, the method also includes: the terminal device receives third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the first subband in each subband group other than the first subband group in multiple subband groups; or, the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the last subband in each subband group other than the last subband group in multiple subband groups.

[0054] In a possible implementation, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information is determined by the number of the multiple subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0055] In one possible implementation, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies the following relationship: X = (P-1) × log2N; where X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of multiple subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0056] In a possible implementation, the number of subbands in each subband group is different.

[0057] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the terminal device receiving fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the number of the multiple subband groups.

[0058] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any implementation method in the fourth aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought about by the corresponding implementation method in the third aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0059] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided for implementing the various methods described above. The communication device may be the network device described in the first aspect, or any implementation of the first aspect, or the third aspect, or any implementation of the third aspect, or a device including the network device described above, or a device included in the network device described above, such as a chip. Alternatively, the communication device may be the terminal device described in the second aspect, or any implementation of the second aspect, or the fourth aspect, or any implementation of the fourth aspect, or a device including the terminal device described above, or a device included in the terminal device described above, such as a chip. The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the implementation of the above methods, and the modules, units, or means may be implemented by hardware, software, or by executing corresponding software implementations through hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions.

[0060] In some possible designs, the communication device may include a transceiver module. The transceiver module, which may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, is configured to implement the sending and / or receiving functions described in the first, second, third, or fourth aspects and any possible implementations thereof. The transceiver module may be comprised of a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface. Optionally, the communication device may include a processing module, which may be configured to implement the processing functions described in the first, second, third, or fourth aspects and any possible implementations thereof.

[0061] In some possible designs, the transceiver module includes a sending module and a receiving module, which are respectively used to implement the sending and receiving functions in the above-mentioned first aspect, second aspect, third aspect or fourth aspect and any possible implementation methods.

[0062] In a sixth 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 performs the method of any of the above aspects. The communication device can be the network device of the above first aspect, or any implementation of the first aspect, or the above third aspect, or any implementation of the third aspect, or a device including the above network device, or a device included in the above network device, such as a chip. Alternatively, the communication device can be the terminal device of the above second aspect, or any implementation of the second aspect, or the above fourth aspect, or any implementation of the fourth aspect, or a device including the above terminal device, or a device included in the above terminal device, such as a chip.

[0063] In a seventh 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 to enable the communication device to perform the method of any of the above aspects. The communication device can be the network device of the above first aspect, or any implementation of the first aspect, or the above third aspect, or any implementation of the third aspect, or a device including the above network device, or a device included in the above network device, such as a chip. Alternatively, the communication device can be the terminal device of the above second aspect, or any implementation of the second aspect, or the above fourth aspect, or any implementation of the fourth aspect, or a device including the above terminal device, or a device included in the above terminal device, such as a chip.

[0064] In an eighth 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 of any of the above aspects. The memory may be coupled to the processor, or may be independent of the processor. The communication device may be the network device of the above-mentioned first aspect, or any implementation of the first aspect, or the above-mentioned third aspect, or any implementation of the third aspect, or a device including the above-mentioned network device, or a device included in the above-mentioned network device, such as a chip. Alternatively, the communication device may be the terminal device of the above-mentioned second aspect, or any implementation of the second aspect, or the above-mentioned fourth aspect, or any implementation of the fourth aspect, or a device including the above-mentioned terminal device, or a device included in the above-mentioned terminal device, such as a chip.

[0065] In the ninth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is run on a communication device, the communication device can execute any of the above aspects or any of its implementation methods.

[0066] In a tenth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a communication device, enables the communication device to execute the method of any of the above aspects or any of its implementations.

[0067] In the eleventh 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 of the above aspects or any of its implementation methods.

[0068] In some possible designs, the communication device includes a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data.

[0069] 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.

[0070] It can be understood that when the communication device provided in any one of the fifth to eighth aspects is a chip, the above-mentioned sending action / function can be understood as output, and the above-mentioned receiving action / function can be understood as input.

[0071] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any implementation method in the fifth to eleventh aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by the corresponding implementation methods in the first to fourth aspects, and will not be repeated here.

[0072] It should be noted that various possible implementations of any of the above aspects can be combined under the premise that there is no contradiction between the solutions.

[0073] In a twelfth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a network device executing the method of the first aspect and a terminal device executing the method of the second aspect. Alternatively, the communication system comprises a network device executing the method of the third aspect and a terminal device executing the method of the fourth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0074] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of possible signaling and data interaction between a network device and a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] FIG3 is a flow chart of an information indication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a segmentation point indicated by third indication information provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] FIG5 is a flow chart of another information indication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0079] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the hardware structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0081] 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.

[0082] 1. Uplink precoding:

[0083] With the advancement of communication technology, communication systems have placed higher demands on uplink system capacity and spectrum efficiency. For example, in uplink MU-MIMO systems, a base station needs to communicate with multiple users simultaneously. While this improves system performance, it also poses significant interference issues. To mitigate interference, terminal devices typically use an uplink precoding matrix to pre-process the uplink data to be transmitted.

[0084] At present, the uplink precoding matrix used by the terminal device is indicated by the base station. After the base station calculates the uplink precoding matrix of the terminal device based on the uplink channel information of the terminal device, it indicates the matrix to the terminal device. It can be understood that since the uplink data needs to be transmitted through uplink resources, the uplink coding matrix indicated by the base station to the terminal device also needs to correspond to the uplink resources. At present, when the base station schedules uplink resources for the terminal device through downlink control information (DCI), it can indicate the corresponding uplink precoding matrix for the uplink resources. On the terminal device side, the blind detection DCI method is used to obtain the scheduled uplink resources and the corresponding uplink precoding matrix, so that the corresponding uplink precoding matrix can be used to pre-process the data to be transmitted before transmitting the data through the uplink resources.

[0085] Currently, the frequency domain granularity of uplink resources scheduled by a base station for a terminal device can be either broadband or subband. Therefore, there should also be a method for indicating uplink precoding matrices at broadband granularity and a method for indicating uplink precoding at subband granularity.

[0086] In this document, "bandwidth" can be understood as a portion of bandwidth (BWP), which refers to a contiguous segment of spectrum resources allocated by the network to a terminal device. Bandwidth is a device-level concept. The network can configure different bandwidths for different terminal devices through higher-layer signaling. When scheduling uplink resources for a terminal device, the network can schedule uplink resources whose frequency domain locations fall within the configured bandwidth.

[0087] A subband is a portion of bandwidth within a broadband (it can also be understood as a portion of continuous spectrum resources within a broadband). When the network side schedules uplink resources for terminal devices, it can schedule in the frequency domain at a broadband or subband granularity. When scheduling at a subband granularity, a scheduled subband is the frequency domain resource occupied by a resource block group (RBG). Among them, RBG refers to a combination of several PRBs (physical resource blocks) within a BWP (i.e., the bandwidth in this article). PRB is the basic unit of data channel scheduling. Currently, an RBG can contain {2, 4, 8, 16} PRBs. The specific number is related to the number of resource blocks (RBs) in the BWP and related configuration options. Among them, RB is the basic unit of channel resource allocation in the frequency domain. In the long-term evolution (LTE) system and the fifth-generation mobile communication technology (5G) system, an RB contains 12 subcarriers in the frequency domain.

[0088] However, the existing 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) protocol only provides a specific scheme for indicating the uplink precoding matrix of broadband granularity: a DCI format is designed: DCI format 0_1, in which the maximum 6-bit Transmitted Precoding Matrix Indicator (TPMI) indication field is used to indicate to the terminal device the index of the codebook matrix required for the uplink resources of broadband granularity. However, since the number of scheduled subbands is not fixed when the base station schedules uplink resources of subband granularity, if the uplink precoding matrix indication scheme of broadband granularity is directly extended to the subband granularity scenario, a 6-bit TPMI indication subfield needs to be allocated to each subband to indicate the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to each subband. If the base station schedules a large number of subbands, the indication overhead of the corresponding uplink precoding matrix will be very large. Therefore, how to provide an uplink precoding matrix indication method of subband granularity that can reduce the indication overhead is an urgent problem to be solved. Based on this problem, embodiments of the present application provide an information indication method, apparatus, and system, which can reduce the indication overhead of the uplink precoding matrix at a sub-band granularity.

[0089] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the 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. "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.

[0090] 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.

[0091] 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.

[0092] 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.

[0093] 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.

[0094] 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.

[0095] 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.

[0096] The information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to 3GPP-related cellular systems, such as long term evolution (LTE) systems, fifth generation mobile communication technology (5G) systems, MU MIMO systems, or future-oriented evolution systems (such as 6G mobile communication systems). The information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to open access networks (open RAN, O-RAN or ORAN), cloud radio access networks (cloud radio access networks, CRAN), or wireless fidelity (WiFi) systems. The information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to communication systems in which two or more of the above systems are integrated. In addition, the term "system" can be interchangeably with "network".

[0097] 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.

[0098] Figure 1 is a possible, non-restrictive system diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, network device 1, network device 2 and terminal devices 1 to 5 form a communication system 10, wherein terminal devices 1 to 5 can send uplink data, and the uplink data sent by terminal devices 1 to 5 can be received by one of the network devices (such as terminal device 1, terminal device 2 and terminal device 5 in Figure 1), or can be jointly received by two network devices (such as terminal device 3 and terminal device 4 in Figure 1). At the same time, the network side (i.e., each network device in Figure 1) can send downlink information to terminal device 1 to terminal device 5. In the embodiment of the present application, the number of uplink transmission streams and the uplink precoding matrix of each terminal device can be calculated by the network side and indicated to each terminal device through downlink information.

[0099] Optionally, the communication system 10 may further include a core network (CN). Network devices may be connected to the core network via wireless or wired connections. The core network devices and network devices in the core network may be separate physical devices, or they may be a single physical device that integrates the logical functions of the core network and the logical functions of the radio access network.

[0100] Taking the interaction between any network device and any terminal device shown in Figure 1 as an example, in the information indication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the network device sends first indication information to the terminal device. The first indication information is used to indicate multiple scheduled subbands; the multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups, and the number of multiple subband groups is less than the number of multiple subbands. The network device also sends second indication information to the terminal device. The second indication information is used to indicate the precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups. Each subband within a subband group uses the same precoding matrix. The specific implementation and technical effects of this solution will be described in detail in subsequent method embodiments and will not be elaborated here.

[0101] The network device 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, which can also be called a base station. At present, some examples of network devices are: a continuously 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., home evolved NodeB, or home Node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU), or a wireless fidelity (Wifi) access point (AP), etc. In addition, in a network structure, the network device may include a CU node, a DU node, or 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).

[0102] Furthermore, the centralized unit (CU) can be further divided into the control plane (CP) (CU-CP) and the user plane (CU-UP). The CU-CP is responsible for control plane functions, primarily including radio resource control (RRC) and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer (PDCP-C), which corresponds to the control plane. PDCP-C is responsible for encryption, decryption, integrity protection, and data transmission of control plane data. The CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions, primarily including the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer and the user plane counterpart (PDCP), PDCP-U. SDAP is responsible for processing core network data and mapping flows to bearers. PDCP-U is responsible for encryption, 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 responsible for providing data segmentation and retransmission processing. The MAC layer is primarily responsible for controlling and connecting to the physical medium of the physical layer. The PHY layer is primarily 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.

[0103] 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.

[0104] 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.

[0105] The terminal device in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (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, tablet computers, 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 factor of the terminal device.

[0106] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a possible signaling and data interaction between a network device and a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG2 , the RRC signaling interaction module is used to transmit RRC signaling between the network device and the terminal device. The MAC signaling interaction module is used to transmit MAC control element (CE) signaling between the network device and the terminal device. The PHY signaling and data interaction module is used to transmit uplink / downlink control signaling and uplink / downlink data between the network device and the terminal device, such as the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

[0107] The following will combine Figures 1 and 2 and take the interaction between any network device and any terminal device shown in Figure 1 as an example to explain the information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0108] 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.

[0109] It should be noted that in the following embodiments of the present application, the indication overhead of the indication information is equivalent to the number of bits (or other information volume units, such as bytes) occupied by the indication information. The more bits the indication information occupies, the greater the indication overhead of the indication information.

[0110] As shown in Figure 3, an information indication method is provided for an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 takes a network device and a 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 network device in Figure 3 may also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the 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 3 may 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. As shown in Figure 3, the information indication method includes steps S301-S302:

[0111] S301: A network device sends first indication information to a terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate multiple scheduled subbands, where the multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first indication information.

[0112] In this step, the first indication information is used to indicate multiple scheduled subbands, which can also be understood as the first indication information being used to schedule multiple subbands. Each of the multiple subbands indicated by the first indication information corresponds to an uplink resource scheduled by the network device for the terminal device. In other words, the uplink resources scheduled by the network device for the terminal device are at a subband granularity in the frequency domain; the frequency domain resource of one uplink resource is one subband.

[0113] Exemplarily, the first indication information may be carried in the DCI, or the first indication information may be carried in other downlink information, and this embodiment of the present application does not impose any specific limitation on this.

[0114] Optionally, the first indication information may indicate an index of a scheduled subband to indicate the corresponding subband. The subband index may also be understood as a subband number or identifier. The terminal device may determine the corresponding subband (i.e., determine the frequency domain location of the subband) based on the subband index.

[0115] In one possible implementation, the subband index can be determined based on the broadband to which the subband belongs. Specifically, the broadband can be divided into multiple subbands. Each subband can be assigned a different index based on its order in the frequency domain, so that the corresponding subband can be identified by the subband index. For example, assuming that the broadband is divided into 100 subbands, these 100 subbands can be assigned indices from 0 to 99 based on their frequency domain positions.

[0116] Optionally, the total number of subbands included in the broadband (or the total number of subbands into which the broadband can be divided) can be pre-configured in the network device and the terminal device, or can be defined by a protocol, or can be pre-agreed upon by the network device and the terminal device, or can be indicated to the terminal device by the network device. For example, the network device can configure the total number of subbands included in the broadband to the terminal device through RRC configuration information.

[0117] In this embodiment of the present application, the multiple subbands scheduled by the first indication information may be divided into multiple subband groups. The number of the multiple subband groups is less than the number of the multiple subbands. In this case, a subband group includes one or more subbands, and there is at least one subband group including multiple subbands.

[0118] Optionally, the number of the multiple subband groups may be pre-configured in the network device and the terminal device, or may be defined by a protocol, or may be pre-agreed upon by the network device and the terminal device, or may be indicated by the network device to the terminal device. For example, the network device may indicate the number of the multiple subband groups to the terminal device via fourth indication information. Exemplarily, the fourth indication information may be carried in RRC configuration information or DCI.

[0119] Optionally, if the network device indicates the number of the plurality of subband groups to the terminal device through the fourth indication information, the indicated number of the plurality of subband groups may be fixed. Alternatively, the network device may update the number of the plurality of subband groups through new fourth indication information.

[0120] Optionally, the number of subbands in each subband group may be different or the same, and this embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0121] In one possible scenario, for a single subband group, all subbands within the subband group can be continuous in the frequency domain. For all subband groups, there may or may not be a gap between the previous and next subband groups in the frequency domain. In other words, the subbands of different subband groups can be discontinuous or continuous in the frequency domain. If all subbands scheduled this time (i.e., the multiple subbands indicated by the first indication information) are continuous in the frequency domain, then the different subband groups are continuous in the frequency domain, and there is no gap between the previous and next subband groups in the frequency domain. If all subbands scheduled this time are discontinuous in the frequency domain, then the different subband groups are discontinuous in the frequency domain. It can be understood that in this case, the gap between the previous and next subband groups in the frequency domain is the subband that is not scheduled in this scheduling.

[0122] For example, assuming that the first indication information is used to indicate 12 scheduled subbands, the positions of these 12 subbands in the frequency domain are shown in Figure 4. These 12 subbands are divided into three subband groups, where the first subband group and the second subband group are separated by two unscheduled subbands in the frequency domain, and the second subband group and the third subband group are separated by four unscheduled subbands in the frequency domain.

[0123] Optionally, the network device may send third indication information to the terminal device to indicate how the multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups. Exemplarily, the third indication information may be carried in the DCI, or may also be carried in other downlink information, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0124] If all subbands within a single subband group are continuous in the frequency domain, the third indication information may indicate the location of the subband splitting points (i.e., the subbands that can be used to split different subband groups) after the multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups. Optionally, the third indication information may indicate the index of the first subband in each subband group other than the first subband group in the multiple subband groups. Alternatively, the third indication information may indicate the index of the last subband in each subband group other than the last subband group in the multiple subband groups. Based on the third indication information, the terminal device may determine how the multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups.

[0125] Exemplarily, as shown in FIG4 , the third indication information may indicate the index of the first subband in the second subband group (ie, the index of partition point 1) and the index of the first subband in the third subband group (ie, the index of partition point 2).

[0126] Optionally, the network device may send third indication information to the terminal device to indicate the position of the subband division point when the number of subbands in each subband group is different. If the number of subbands in each subband group is the same, the network device may not send the third indication information indicating the position of the subband division point to the terminal device. In this case, the number of subbands in each subband group may be pre-configured in the network device and the terminal device, or may be defined by the protocol, or may be pre-agreed upon by the network device and the terminal device, or may be indicated by the network device to the terminal device. For example, the network device may indicate the number of subbands in each subband to the terminal device through RRC configuration information or DCI.

[0127] Since all subbands within a subband group use the same precoding matrix, in some cases, directly dividing the scheduled multiple subbands into multiple subband groups will result in certain performance losses. For example, evenly dividing the subbands may cause the channel characteristics within the subband group to vary greatly. For example, in a MU-MIMO system, when MU pairing (multiple terminal devices use the same time-frequency resources), evenly dividing the subbands may cause greater interference. Furthermore, based on the need for uneven subbanding, the location of the subband division point can be indicated by third indication information. In the uneven subbanding scenario, the terminal device can still determine the subbands included in each subband group.

[0128] Optionally, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information can be determined by the number of subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the wideband. The greater the number of subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the wideband, the greater the number of bits used in the third indication information. Conversely, the greater the number of bits used in the third indication information, the smaller the number of bits used. It is understood that in this case, if the number of subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the wideband are fixed, the number of bits used in the third indication information is also fixed, i.e., the indication overhead of the third indication information is fixed.

[0129] Exemplarily, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information may satisfy the following relationship: X = (P-1) x log2N; Formula (1)

[0130] Where X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of multiple subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the wideband. Based on formula (1), if P and N are fixed values, then X is also a fixed value that can be calculated.

[0131] In another possible scenario, for a single subband group, all subbands within the subband group may not be contiguous. In this scenario, the network device needs to indicate to the terminal device the subband group to which each scheduled subband belongs. For example, the network device may indicate to the terminal device the index of the subband group to which each scheduled subband belongs. The terminal device may then determine the subbands included in each subband group based on the subband group index.

[0132] S302: The network device sends second indication information to the terminal device, where the second indication information is used to indicate a precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group in a plurality of subband groups, wherein each subband in the subband group uses the same precoding matrix. In response, the terminal device receives the second indication information.

[0133] Optionally, after receiving the second indication information, the terminal device can determine the precoding matrix used for each subband in each subband group based on the precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group indicated by the second indication information, that is, determine the precoding matrix used for each subband in the multiple subbands indicated by the first indication information.

[0134] Based on the information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the scheduled multiple subbands can be grouped, and the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group can be indicated. Since the number of multiple subband groups is less than the number of multiple subbands, compared with the solution of directly extending the existing broadband granularity uplink precoding matrix indication solution to the subband granularity scenario, the indication overhead of the second indication information is greatly reduced.

[0135] Optionally, the second indication information may indicate an index of a precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group. Exemplarily, the second indication information may be a TPMI indication field, used to indicate an index of a codebook matrix corresponding to the subband group, where the codebook matrix corresponding to the subband group is a precoding matrix used by all subbands in the subband group.

[0136] Exemplarily, the second indication information may be carried in the DCI, or the second indication information may be carried in other downlink information, and this embodiment of the present application does not impose any specific limitation on this.

[0137] Optionally, the second indication information and the first indication information may be carried in the same signaling, or may be carried in different signalings.

[0138] It should be noted that the embodiment of the present application does not impose any specific restrictions on the indication overhead of the precoding matrix corresponding to a subband group. For example, the precoding matrix corresponding to a subband group can be indicated by 6 bits or other number of bits.

[0139] It can be understood that if the number of multiple subband groups is fixed and the indication overhead of the precoding matrix corresponding to a subband group is fixed, then the indication overhead of the precoding matrix corresponding to multiple subband groups (i.e., the indication overhead of the second indication information) is also a fixed value that can be calculated.

[0140] For example, assuming that the indication overhead of the precoding matrix corresponding to a subband group is 6 bits, and the number of subband groups is denoted as P, then the indication overhead of the precoding matrix corresponding to the multiple subband groups (i.e., the number of bits occupied by the second indication information) is 6×P. If P is a fixed value, then 6×P is also a fixed value.

[0141] Therefore, based on the information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, not only can the indication overhead required for the uplink precoding matrix indicating the sub-band granularity (i.e., the indication overhead of the second indication information) be reduced, but the indication overhead can also be made a fixed value, thereby reducing the pressure on blind detection of the terminal device.

[0142] Optionally, if the network device also sends a third indication message to the terminal device to indicate the position of the subband division point, then the network device indicates to the terminal device that the total indication overhead required for the precoding matrix corresponding to each subband in multiple subbands is the sum of the indication overhead of the second indication message and the indication overhead of the third indication message.

[0143] For example, assuming that the number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies formula (1), and the number of bits occupied by the second indication information is 6×P, then the total indication overhead is 6×P+(P-1)×log2N bits. It can be understood that if P and N are fixed values, then the total indication overhead is also a fixed value that can be calculated.

[0144] Therefore, based on the information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, not only can the indication overhead required for the uplink precoding matrix indicating the sub-band granularity be reduced, but the total indication overhead (the sum of the indication overhead of the second indication information and the third indication information) can also be made a fixed value, thereby reducing the pressure on blind detection of the terminal device.

[0145] In addition, an embodiment of the present application also provides another information indication method. Figure 5 uses a network device and a 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 network device in Figure 5 can also be a module such as a chip, a chip system, or a processor applied to the network device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the network device functions; 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, and can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the terminal functions. As shown in Figure 5, the information indication method includes steps S501-S502:

[0146] S501: A network device sends first indication information to a terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a plurality of scheduled subbands. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first indication information.

[0147] In S501, how the first indication information indicates the multiple scheduled subbands may be specifically described in the above description of S301, which will not be elaborated here.

[0148] S502. The network device sends fifth indication information to the terminal device. The fifth indication information is used to indicate the number of ranks corresponding to each subband in the plurality of subbands. The number of ranks corresponding to the subband is used to determine a second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband from the first precoding matrix. The second precoding matrix is ​​a submatrix of the first precoding matrix. In response, the terminal device receives the fifth indication information.

[0149] Optionally, after receiving the fifth indication information, the terminal device can determine the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband (ie, the uplink precoding matrix used by the subband) from the first precoding matrix according to the number of layers corresponding to the subband.

[0150] Based on the information indication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can determine the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to the subband by using the number of layers of the subband indicated by the fifth indication information. Since the indication overhead of the number of layers of a single subband is generally less than 6 bits (the number of layers of a single subband is generally small and can be indicated without 6 bits), the indication overhead of the fifth indication information is greatly reduced compared to a solution that directly expands the existing uplink precoding matrix indication solution at a wideband granularity to a scenario at a subband granularity.

[0151] In the embodiments of the present application, the rank, also known as the stream number, refers to the number of data streams that can be transmitted in parallel. The rank corresponding to the subband indicated by the fifth indication information is the number of layers scheduled by the network device for that subband. The value of the rank corresponding to the subband can be greater than or equal to 1. If the rank corresponding to the subband is greater than 1, then in the MU-MIMO system, multiple terminal devices can reuse the uplink resources corresponding to the subband and transmit data in parallel on the uplink resources corresponding to the subband.

[0152] Optionally, when the fifth indication information indicates the number of layers corresponding to each subband, it may be indicated at a subband granularity, or at a subband group granularity (a single subband group may include one or more subbands). The implementation of the fifth indication information indicating the number of layers corresponding to each subband at a subband group granularity is described in detail below and will not be further elaborated here.

[0153] The fifth indication information may indicate the value of the number of layers corresponding to each sub-band.

[0154] Exemplarily, the fifth indication information may be carried in the DCI, or the fifth indication information may be carried in other downlink information, and this embodiment of the present application does not impose any specific limitation on this.

[0155] Optionally, the fifth indication information and the first indication information may be carried in the same signaling, or may be carried in different signalings.

[0156] Optionally, the first precoding matrix may be pre-configured in the network device and the terminal device, or may be defined by a protocol, or may be pre-agreed upon by the network device and the terminal device, or may be indicated by the network device to the terminal device. For example, the network device may indicate the preconfigured first precoding matrix to the terminal device through downlink information (e.g., RRC configuration information). For another example, the network device may generate the first precoding matrix based on a preset algorithm and related information, and indicate the first precoding matrix to the terminal device through downlink information (e.g., RRC configuration information).

[0157] Optionally, the first precoding matrix may be obtained using a protocol codebook (i.e., a codebook matrix defined by a protocol) or a non-protocol codebook. A possible non-protocol codebook approach is a channel refinement precoding approach, such as a channel singular value decomposition (SBP) approach.

[0158] Optionally, the number of rows of the first precoding matrix can be the number of transmit antennas configured for the terminal device, and the number of columns of the first precoding matrix can be the maximum number of layers (maximum rank number) of the terminal device. The maximum number of layers of the terminal device refers to the rank of the spatial channel between the terminal device and the network device, that is, the maximum number of streams that can be transmitted in parallel on the spatial channel.

[0159] Optionally, the number of transmitting antennas configured for the terminal device and / or the maximum number of layers of the terminal device can be indicated to the network device by the terminal device through uplink information.

[0160] It should be noted that the number of rows or columns of the first precoding matrix may also be determined based on other methods, and the embodiment of the present application does not impose any specific limitation on this.

[0161] The following introduces a specific implementation of the terminal device determining the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband from the first precoding matrix according to the fifth indication information.

[0162] The terminal device can select some elements from the first precoding matrix as elements in the second precoding matrix based on the value of the number of layers corresponding to the subband. In one possible implementation, assuming that the value of the number of layers corresponding to a subband is recorded as n, the terminal device can select the first n columns of elements from the first precoding matrix (the number of rows corresponding to these n columns of elements remains unchanged) as the elements included in the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband. Alternatively, the terminal device can also select the last n columns of elements from the first precoding matrix as the elements included in the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband.

[0163] For example, assuming that the first precoding matrix is ​​a 4×4 matrix (with 4 rows and 4 columns). If the number of layers corresponding to a subband is 2, the terminal device can select the first two columns of elements (i.e., the first and second columns) from the first precoding matrix as the elements included in the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband. In this case, the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband is 4×2 (with 4 rows and 2 columns).

[0164] Optionally, for the number of layers corresponding to a single subband, the fifth indication information can be indicated by log2(q) bits; where q is the number of columns of the first precoding matrix. It can be understood that when the number of columns of the first precoding matrix is ​​a fixed value, the indication overhead of the number of layers corresponding to a single subband (equivalent to the indication overhead of the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to a single subband) is also a fixed value. For example, if q is 4, the indication overhead of the number of layers corresponding to a single subband is 2 bits.

[0165] Optionally, if the fifth indication information indicates the number of layers corresponding to each subband with subband granularity, the number of bits occupied by the fifth indication information may be log2(q)×M. Wherein, M is the number of multiple subbands indicated by the first indication information. It can be understood that when the number of columns of the first precoding matrix is ​​a fixed value, the total indication overhead of the number of layers corresponding to all subbands scheduled this time (i.e., the multiple subbands indicated by the first indication information) (equivalent to the indication overhead of the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to all subbands) is also a fixed value. For example, if q is 4 and M is 12, the indication overhead of the number of layers corresponding to all subbands scheduled this time is 24 bits.

[0166] Optionally, the information indication method shown in FIG3 and the information indication method shown in FIG5 can be applied in combination. In this scenario, in S501, the multiple subbands indicated by the first indication information can be divided into multiple subband groups, and the number of the multiple subband groups is less than the number of the multiple subbands. The specific implementation thereof can be referred to the above description of S301 and will not be repeated here.

[0167] Furthermore, if multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups, the fifth indication information may indicate the number of layers corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups. In this case, the terminal device may determine the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to the subband group from the first precoding matrix based on the number of layers corresponding to the subband group, and all subbands in the subband group use the same uplink precoding matrix (i.e., the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to the subband group). The specific implementation of the terminal device determining the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to the subband group from the first precoding matrix based on the number of layers corresponding to the subband group can be referred to the above introduction to the terminal device determining the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband from the first precoding matrix based on the number of layers corresponding to the subband in S302, which will not be expanded here.

[0168] In the above embodiment, the fifth indication information indicates the number of layers corresponding to the subband group, and the terminal device determines the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to the subband group from the first precoding matrix based on the number of layers corresponding to the subband group. It can also be understood that the number of layers corresponding to the subband group indicated by the fifth indication information is the number of layers corresponding to each subband in the subband group (that is, it can be considered that the number of layers corresponding to each subband in the subband group is the same. In this case, the network device can schedule the same number of layers for each subband in a single subband group), and the terminal device determines the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband from the first precoding matrix based on the number of layers corresponding to the subband.

[0169] Optionally, if the fifth indication information indicates the number of layers corresponding to the subband group (or, in other words, the fifth indication information indicates the number of layers corresponding to each subband at the subband group granularity), then the number of bits occupied by the fifth indication information may be log2(q)×P. Here, q is the number of columns of the first precoding matrix, and P is the number of subband groups. It will be understood that when q and P are fixed values, the number of bits occupied by the fifth indication information is also a fixed value that can be calculated.

[0170] Therefore, based on the information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, not only can the indication overhead required for the uplink precoding matrix indicating the sub-band granularity be reduced, but the indication overhead can also be made a fixed value, thereby reducing the pressure of blind detection of the terminal device.

[0171] Optionally, if the multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups, the network device may further send third indication information to the terminal device to indicate how to group the subbands. Specific implementation of the third indication information may refer to the above description of S302 and will not be elaborated here.

[0172] Optionally, if multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups, and the network device also sends a third indication message to the terminal device, then the network device indicates to the terminal device that the total indication overhead required for the uplink precoding matrix corresponding to each subband in the multiple subbands is the sum of the indication overhead of the third indication information and the indication overhead of the fifth indication information.

[0173] For example, assuming that the number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies formula (1), and the number of bits occupied by the fifth indication information is log2(q)×P, then the total indication overhead is log2(q)×P+P-1×log2N bits. It can be understood that if q, P, and N are fixed values, then the total indication overhead is also a fixed value that can be calculated.

[0174] Therefore, based on the information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, not only can the indication overhead required for the uplink precoding matrix indicating the sub-band granularity be reduced, but the indication overhead can also be made a fixed value, thereby reducing the pressure of blind detection of the terminal device.

[0175] The above primarily describes the solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application from the perspective of interaction between various network elements. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present application also provide a communication device for implementing the various methods described above. The communication device may be a network device in the above method embodiments, or a device including the above network device, or a component usable for a network device; alternatively, the communication device may be a terminal device in the above method embodiments, or a device including the above terminal device, or a component usable for a terminal device. It is understood that, to implement the aforementioned functions, the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the respective functions. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that, in conjunction with the various exemplary units and algorithm steps described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is implemented in hardware or in a hardware-driven manner by computer software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals and technicians may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0176] In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device can be divided into functional modules 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 understood 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.

[0177] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 600. The communication device 600 includes a transceiver module 602. Optionally, the communication device 600 may also include a processing module 601. Optionally, the communication device 600 may also include a storage module 603. The transceiver module 602, also known as a transceiver unit, is used to implement transceiver functions and may be, for example, a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0178] Taking the communication device 600 as the network device in the above embodiment as an example, in a possible implementation:

[0179] Processing module 601 is configured to determine first indication information. Transceiver module 602 is configured to send the first indication information, which indicates multiple scheduled subbands; the multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups, and the number of multiple subband groups is less than the number of subbands. Transceiver module 602 is also configured to send second indication information, which indicates a precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups; each subband within a subband group uses the same precoding matrix.

[0180] Optionally, all subbands in a subband group are continuous in the frequency domain.

[0181] Optionally, the processing module 601 is further configured to determine third indication information. The transceiver module 602 is further configured to send the third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the first subband in each subband group except the first subband group among the multiple subband groups; or the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the last subband in each subband group except the last subband group among the multiple subband groups.

[0182] Optionally, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information is determined by the number of the multiple subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0183] Optionally, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies the following relationship: X=(P-1)×log2N;

[0184] Wherein, X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of the plurality of subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0185] Optionally, the number of subbands in each subband group is different.

[0186] Optionally, the transceiver module 602 is further configured to send fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the number of the multiple subband groups.

[0187] Optionally, the precoding matrix corresponding to the subband group is indicated by 6 bits.

[0188] In another possible implementation, processing module 601 is configured to determine first indication information. Transceiver module 602 is configured to send the first indication information, where the first indication information indicates multiple scheduled subbands. Processing module 601 is further configured to determine fifth indication information. Transceiver module 602 is further configured to send fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information indicates the number of layers corresponding to each of the multiple subbands. The number of layers corresponding to the subband is used by the terminal device to determine a second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband from the first precoding matrix. The second precoding matrix is ​​a submatrix of the first precoding matrix.

[0189] Optionally, the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband includes the first n columns of elements in the first precoding matrix; where n is the value of the number of layers corresponding to the subband.

[0190] Optionally, the number of rows of the first precoding matrix is ​​the number of transmitting antennas configured for the terminal device, and the number of columns of the first precoding matrix is ​​the maximum number of layers of the terminal device.

[0191] Optionally, the number of layers corresponding to the subband is indicated by log2(q) bits; where q is the number of columns of the first precoding matrix.

[0192] Optionally, the multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups, and the number of the multiple subband groups is less than the number of the multiple subbands; the fifth indication information is used to indicate the number of layers corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups; wherein, the number of layers corresponding to each subband in the subband group is the same.

[0193] Optionally, each subband in the subband group is continuous in the frequency domain.

[0194] Optionally, the processing module 601 is further configured to determine third indication information. The transceiver module 602 is further configured to send the third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the first subband in each subband group except the first subband group among the multiple subband groups; or the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the last subband in each subband group except the last subband group among the multiple subband groups.

[0195] Optionally, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information is determined by the number of the multiple subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0196] Optionally, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies the following relationship: X = (P-1) × log2N; where X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of multiple subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0197] Optionally, the number of subbands in each subband group is different.

[0198] Optionally, the transceiver module 602 is further configured to send fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the number of the multiple subband groups.

[0199] Taking the communication device 600 as the terminal device in the above embodiment as an example, in a possible implementation manner:

[0200] The transceiver module 602 is configured to receive first indication information indicating multiple scheduled subbands, where the multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups, and the number of the multiple subband groups is less than the number of the multiple subbands. The transceiver module 602 is further configured to receive second indication information indicating a precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups, where each subband in the subband group uses the same precoding matrix. The processing module 601 is configured to determine a precoding matrix to be used for each of the multiple scheduled subbands based on the first indication information and the second indication information.

[0201] Optionally, all subbands in a subband group are continuous in the frequency domain.

[0202] Optionally, the transceiver module 602 is further used to receive third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the first subband in each subband group except the first subband group among the multiple subband groups; or, the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the last subband in each subband group except the last subband group among the multiple subband groups.

[0203] Optionally, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information is determined by the number of the multiple subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0204] Optionally, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies the following relationship: X = (P-1) × log2N; where X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of multiple subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0205] Optionally, the number of subbands in each subband group is different.

[0206] Optionally, the transceiver module 602 is further configured to receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the number of the multiple subband groups.

[0207] Optionally, the precoding matrix corresponding to the subband group is indicated by 6 bits.

[0208] In another possible implementation, the transceiver module 602 is configured to receive first indication information indicating multiple scheduled subbands. The transceiver module 602 is further configured to receive fourth indication information indicating the number of layers corresponding to each of the multiple subbands. The processing module 601 is configured to determine, from the first precoding matrix, a second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband based on the number of layers corresponding to each subband; the second precoding matrix is ​​a submatrix of the first precoding matrix.

[0209] Optionally, the second precoding matrix corresponding to the subband includes the first n columns of elements in the first precoding matrix; where n is the value of the number of layers corresponding to the subband.

[0210] Optionally, the number of rows of the first precoding matrix is ​​the number of transmitting antennas configured for the terminal device, and the number of columns of the first precoding matrix is ​​the maximum number of layers of the terminal device.

[0211] Optionally, the number of layers corresponding to the subband is indicated by log2(q) bits; where q is the number of columns of the first precoding matrix.

[0212] Optionally, the multiple subbands are divided into multiple subband groups, and the number of the multiple subband groups is less than the number of the multiple subbands; the fifth indication information is used to indicate the number of layers corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups; wherein, the number of layers corresponding to each subband in the subband group is the same.

[0213] Optionally, each subband in the subband group is continuous in the frequency domain.

[0214] Optionally, the transceiver module 602 is further used to receive third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the first subband in each subband group except the first subband group among the multiple subband groups; or, the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the last subband in each subband group except the last subband group among the multiple subband groups.

[0215] Optionally, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information is determined by the number of the multiple subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0216] Optionally, the number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies the following relationship: X = (P-1) × log2N; where X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of multiple subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

[0217] Optionally, the number of subbands in each subband group is different.

[0218] Optionally, the transceiver module 602 is further configured to receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the number of the multiple subband groups.

[0219] 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.

[0220] Alternatively, the modules in FIG6 may also be referred to as units. For example, the processing module may be referred to as a processing unit, and the transceiver module may be referred to as a transceiver unit. In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG6 , the names of the units may not be those shown in the figure. For example, the transceiver module may also be referred to as a communication module or a communication unit.

[0221] If the various units in Figure 6 are implemented in the form of software function modules and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions to enable a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor (processor) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The storage medium for storing computer software products includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0222] In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device 600 is presented in the form of various functional modules divided in an integrated manner. The "module" here can refer to a specific ASIC, circuit, processor and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuit, and / or other devices that can provide the above functions. In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art can imagine that the communication device 600 can take the form of the communication device shown in Figure 7.

[0223] As shown in Figure 7, the communication device 700 includes one or more processors 701, a communication line 702, and at least one communication interface (Figure 7 is only illustrative of the example of including a communication interface 704 and a processor 701), and may optionally also include a memory 703.

[0224] The processor 701 can be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits used to control the execution of the program of the present application.

[0225] The communication line 702 may include a path for connecting different components.

[0226] The communication interface 704 may be a transceiver module for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, RAN, terminals, and wireless local area networks (WLANs). For example, the transceiver module may be a device such as a transceiver or a transceiver. Alternatively, the communication interface 704 may be a transceiver circuit or input / output interface within the processor 701, for implementing signal input and output to the processor.

[0227] The memory 703 may be a device having a storage function. For example, it may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices 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, optical disc storage (including 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 702. The memory may also be integrated with the processor.

[0228] The memory 703 is used to store computer-executable instructions for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 701. The processor 701 is used to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 703, thereby implementing the information indication method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0229] Alternatively, optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the processor 701 may also perform processing-related functions in the information indication method provided in the following embodiments of the present application, and the communication interface 704 is responsible for communicating with other devices or communication networks, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0230] Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application code, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0231] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 701 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG. 7 .

[0232] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 700 may include multiple processors, such as the processor 701 and the processor 707 in FIG7 . Each of these processors may be a single-core processor or a multi-core processor. The processors herein may include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following: a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller unit (MCU), or an artificial intelligence processor, and other types of computing devices that run software. Each computing device may include one or more cores for executing software instructions to perform calculations or processing.

[0233] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 700 may further include an output device 705 and an input device 706. The output device 705 communicates with the processor 701 and can display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device 705 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 706 communicates with the processor 701 and can receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device 706 can be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device.

[0234] The communication device 700 described above may also sometimes be referred to as a communication device, which may be a general-purpose device or a dedicated device. For example, the communication device 700 may be a desktop computer, a portable computer, a network server, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal device, an embedded device, or a device having a similar structure to that shown in FIG1 . The embodiments of the present application do not limit the type of the communication device 700.

[0235] In addition, the composition structure shown in Figure 7 does not constitute a limitation on the communication device. In addition to the components shown in Figure 7, the communication device 700 may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

[0236] The processor 701 in the communication device 700 shown in FIG. 7 may call the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 403 to enable the communication device 700 to execute the information indication method in the above method embodiment.

[0237] Specifically, the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver module 602 and the processing module 601 in FIG6 can be implemented by the processor 701 in the communication device 700 shown in FIG7 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 703. Alternatively, the functions / implementation processes of the processing module 601 in FIG6 can be implemented by the processor 701 in the communication device 700 shown in FIG7 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 703, and the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver module 602 in FIG6 can be implemented by the communication interface 704 in the communication device 700 shown in FIG7.

[0238] It should be understood that one or more of the above modules or units can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of the two. When any of the above modules or units is implemented in software, the software exists in the form of computer program instructions and is stored in a memory, and a processor can be used to execute the program instructions and implement the above method flow. The processor can be built into an SoC or ASIC, or it can be an independent semiconductor chip. In addition to the core used to execute software instructions to perform calculations or processing within the processor, it can further include necessary hardware accelerators, such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or logic circuits that implement dedicated logic operations.

[0239] When the above modules or units are implemented in hardware, the hardware can be any one or any combination of a CPU, a microprocessor, a digital signal processing (DSP) chip, a microcontroller unit (MCU), an artificial intelligence processor, an ASIC, a SoC, an FPGA, a PLD, a dedicated digital circuit, a hardware accelerator or a non-integrated discrete device, which can run the necessary software or not rely on the software to execute the above method flow.

[0240] Optionally, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device (for example, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system), which includes a processor for implementing the method in any of the above method embodiments. In one possible design, the communication device also includes a memory. The memory is used to store necessary program instructions and data, and the processor can call the program code stored in the memory to instruct the communication device to execute the method in any of the above method embodiments. Of course, the memory may not be in the communication device. When the communication device is a chip system, it may be composed of a chip, or it may include a chip and other discrete devices, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0241] Optionally, an embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is run on a communication device, the communication device can execute the method described in any of the above method embodiments or any of its implementation methods.

[0242] Optionally, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, which includes the network device described in the above method embodiment and the terminal device described in the above method embodiment.

[0243] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, all or part of the embodiments can 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 according to the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more media integrated therein. The available media may be magnetic media (eg, floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (eg, DVDs), or semiconductor media (eg, solid state drives (SSDs)).

[0244] 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 may understand and implement other variations of 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 may 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.

[0245] 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 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 scope of the present application. Thus, the present application is intended to encompass such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An information indication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Sending first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a plurality of scheduled subbands; the plurality of subbands are divided into a plurality of subband groups, and the number of the plurality of subband groups is less than the number of the plurality of subbands; Sending second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate a precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups; wherein each subband in the subband group uses the same precoding matrix.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that All subbands in the subband group are continuous in the frequency domain.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The method further comprises: Sending third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate an index of a first subband in each subband group except the first subband group among the multiple subband groups; Alternatively, the third indication information is used to indicate an index of a last subband in each subband group except a last subband group among the multiple subband groups.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The number of bits occupied by the third indication information is determined by the number of the multiple subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies the following relationship: X=(P-1)×log2N; Wherein, X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of the multiple subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

6. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that: The number of subbands in each subband group is different.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Send fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the number of the multiple subband groups.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The precoding matrix corresponding to the subband group is indicated by 6 bits.

9. An information indication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: receiving first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a plurality of scheduled subbands; the plurality of subbands are divided into a plurality of subband groups, and the number of the plurality of subband groups is less than the number of the plurality of subbands; Second indication information is received, where the second indication information is used to indicate a precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups; wherein each subband in the subband group uses the same precoding matrix.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that All subbands in the subband group are continuous in the frequency domain.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate an index of a first subband in each subband group except a first subband group among the multiple subband groups; Alternatively, the third indication information is used to indicate an index of a last subband in each subband group except a last subband group among the multiple subband groups.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The number of bits occupied by the third indication information is determined by the number of the multiple subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies the following relationship: X=(P-1)×log2N; Wherein, X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of the multiple subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that: The number of subbands in each subband group is different.

15. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Fourth indication information is received, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the number of the plurality of subband groups.

16. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that: The precoding matrix corresponding to the subband group is indicated by 6 bits.

17. A communication device, characterized in that: The device comprises: a processing module and a transceiver module: The processing module is used to determine the first indication information and the second indication information; The transceiver module is used to send first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a plurality of scheduled subbands; the plurality of subbands are divided into a plurality of subband groups, and the number of the plurality of subband groups is less than the number of the plurality of subbands; The transceiver module is further used to send second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate a precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups; wherein each subband in the subband group uses the same precoding matrix.

18. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that All subbands in the subband group are continuous in the frequency domain.

19. The device according to claim 18, characterized in that The processing module is further used to determine third indication information; The transceiver module is further used to send the third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate the index of the first subband in each subband group except the first subband group among the multiple subband groups; Alternatively, the third indication information is used to indicate an index of a last subband in each subband group except a last subband group among the multiple subband groups.

20. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that The number of bits occupied by the third indication information is determined by the number of the multiple subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

21. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that The number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies the following relationship: X=(P-1)×log2N; Wherein, X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of the multiple subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

22. The device according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that The number of subbands in each subband group is different.

23. The device according to any one of claims 17 to 22, characterized in that The transceiver module is further used to send fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the number of the multiple subband groups.

24. The device according to any one of claims 17 to 23, characterized in that The precoding matrix corresponding to the subband group is indicated by 6 bits.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: The device comprises: a processing module and a transceiver module: The transceiver module is used to receive first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a plurality of scheduled subbands; the plurality of subbands are divided into a plurality of subband groups, and the number of the plurality of subband groups is less than the number of the plurality of subbands; The transceiver module is further used to receive second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate a precoding matrix corresponding to each subband group in the multiple subband groups; wherein each subband in the subband group uses the same precoding matrix; The processing module is used to determine a precoding matrix used by each subband in the multiple subbands according to the first indication information and the second indication information.

26. The device according to claim 25, characterized in that All subbands in the subband group are continuous in the frequency domain.

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that The transceiver module is further used to receive third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate an index of a first subband in each subband group except the first subband group among the multiple subband groups; Alternatively, the third indication information is used to indicate an index of a last subband in each subband group except a last subband group among the multiple subband groups.

28. The device according to claim 27, characterized in that The number of bits occupied by the third indication information is determined by the number of the multiple subband groups and the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

29. The device according to claim 28, characterized in that The number of bits occupied by the third indication information satisfies the following relationship: X=(P-1)×log2N; Wherein, X is the number of bits occupied by the third indication information; P is the number of the multiple subband groups; and N is the total number of subbands included in the preconfigured broadband.

30. The device according to any one of claims 27 to 29, characterized in that The number of subbands in each subband group is different.

31. The device according to any one of claims 25 to 30, characterized in that The transceiver module is further used to receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the number of the multiple subband groups.

32. The device according to any one of claims 25 to 31, characterized in that The precoding matrix corresponding to the subband group is indicated by 6 bits.

33. 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 as described in any one of claims 1-8, or the communication device executes the method as described in any one of claims 9-16.

34. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium includes a computer program or an instruction. When the computer program or the instruction is executed on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 9 to 16 is executed.

35. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises instructions, and when the instructions are executed on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 9 to 16 is executed.

36. A chip, characterized in that: The chip comprises: a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions so that a device comprising the chip executes a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, or so that a device comprising the chip executes a method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 16.

37. A communication system, characterized in that: The system includes a network device and a terminal device; wherein the network device is used to execute the method described in any one of claims 1 to 8, and the terminal device is used to execute the method described in any one of claims 9 to 16.

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