Sounding reference signal sending method, resource configuration method, and related device

Abstract

The present application discloses a sounding reference signal (SRS) sending method, a resource configuration method, and a related device, which can be applied to a scenario where uplink and downlink antenna structures of a terminal device are different. In the method, the terminal device sends a first SRS by means of a first SRS resource configured by a network device, and sends a second SRS by means of a second SRS resource configured thereby, and a transmitting beam of the first SRS resource is different from a transmitting beam of the second SRS resource, so that a measurement requirement for downlink channel state information under the condition that the uplink and downlink antenna structures of the terminal device are different is met. Therefore, a downlink sending data weighted value is calculated, SRS-based downlink transmission is implemented, and the cell or user-level capacity is increased.

Description

A sounding reference signal sending method, resource configuration method and related equipment

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on October 31, 2023, with application number 202311443034.3 and invention name “A detection reference signal sending method, resource allocation method and related equipment”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of wireless technology, and in particular to a method for sending a sounding reference signal, a resource configuration method, and related equipment. Background Art

[0003] Wireless communication can be the transmission of information between two or more communication nodes without using conductors or cables, or over the air. For example, communication nodes include network devices and terminal devices. Generally, terminal devices can access network devices and receive scheduling and instruction information from them to achieve wireless communication.

[0004] In the new radio (NR) protocol, downlink channel measurement information can be obtained in two ways. Method 1: The base station side sends a downlink channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), and the terminal side performs channel estimation based on the CSI-RS to obtain the channel eigenvector, and quantizes the channel eigenvector obtained based on the predefined codebook, and feeds it back to the base station in the form of a precoding matrix indicator (PMI). Due to the feedback overhead, the quantized PMI has a quantization loss compared to the actual channel eigenvector. Method 2: Assuming that the uplink and downlink channels are reciprocal, the base station side configures an uplink sounding reference signal (SRS) resource for the user, receives and measures the uplink SRS, performs uplink channel estimation, and equates the estimated uplink receiving channel to the downlink transmitting channel, and calculates the downlink transmitting weight.

[0005] However, with the current surge in communication demand, one trend is to increase the number of physical antennas to achieve higher array gain to improve user coverage or capacity requirements. Limited by the cost constraints of terminal devices and the maximum uplink power limit, an effective implementation method is to increase the number of physical antennas and the number of downlink receive digital channels without increasing the number of uplink transmit digital channels, thereby achieving high-rank and high-capacity transmission in the downlink and high-coverage transmission in the uplink. In this case, the uplink and downlink antenna structures of the terminal device differ, that is, the number of physical antennas corresponding to each transmit antenna port is not equal to the number of physical antennas corresponding to each receive antenna port. However, current standard protocols do not support this antenna structure.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides an SRS transmission method and related equipment, which are used to provide an SRS transmission method when the uplink antenna architecture and downlink antenna architecture of a terminal device are asymmetric, and then calculate the downlink transmission data weighted value based on the SRS to realize downlink transmission based on the SRS, thereby improving the cell or user-level capacity.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides an SRS sending method, which is executed by a terminal device (or terminal), or the method is executed by some components in the terminal device (such as a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.), or the method can also be implemented by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the terminal device functions. In the first aspect and its possible implementation, the method is described as being executed by a terminal device. In the method, the terminal device receives first configuration information from a network device, and the first configuration information indicates a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource; the first configuration information is used for downlink channel state information measurement or for instructing the terminal device to send an SRS by antenna switching; the terminal device sends the first SRS and the second SRS to the network device, the first SRS resource is used to carry the first SRS, the second SRS resource is used to carry the second SRS, the first SRS resource is different from the second SRS resource, and the transmission beam of the first SRS resource is different from the transmission beam of the second SRS resource.

[0009] Based on the above technical solution, the terminal device transmits a first SRS using a first SRS resource configured by the network device and a second SRS using a second SRS resource. The transmit beams of the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are different, thereby meeting the requirement for measuring downlink channel state information even when the uplink and downlink antenna structures of the terminal device differ. This allows the calculation of downlink transmission data weights, enabling SRS-based downlink transmission and improving cell or user-level capacity.

[0010] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the method further includes: determining the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource according to the first configuration information.

[0011] In this possible implementation, the terminal device determines the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource through the first configuration information sent by the network device, and can then use different beams to send SRS on the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource.

[0012] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first SRS resource includes a first SRS port and a second SRS port, and the SRS resource includes a third SRS port and a fourth SRS port.

[0013] In this possible implementation, by configuring port resources, the terminal device can use the port resources to transmit the SRS, which facilitates the terminal device to normally use the antenna port.

[0014] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource further satisfy at least one of the following:

[0015] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with the same transmitting antenna; or

[0016] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with different transmit beams; or

[0017] The transmitting antenna associated with at least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource is the same; or

[0018] At least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource are associated with different transmission beams.

[0019] In this possible implementation, by limiting the conditions of the above resources, it is possible to obtain downlink channel information based on the minimum SRS resource requirements. For example, different SRS resources use the same antenna's orthogonal beam to send SRS. When estimating the downlink channel weight, the base station offsets the influence of the SRS transmission weight by obtaining the channel autocorrelation matrix of the downlink transmitting base station side, thereby ensuring that the network equipment can correctly estimate the downlink channel information even if it does not perceive the antenna structure of the terminal device. For another example, in the case where the above antenna ports are the same, the SRS beam can be sent by using different weights of the same antenna port to improve the transmission signal strength of the SRS.

[0020] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first configuration information further includes a third SRS resource, and the third SRS resource is associated with a different transmitting antenna than the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource.

[0021] In this possible implementation, the terminal device can send SRS through the first SRS resource, the second SRS resource and the third SRS resource, using a combination of antenna switching and beam switching, thereby achieving downlink channel information acquisition in a scenario where the number of uplink transmitting antennas is less than the number of downlink receiving antennas.

[0022] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, protection symbols are configured between the different SRS resources, and at least one of the following conditions is met:

[0023] The first SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; or

[0024] The second SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; where Y is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0025] In this possible implementation, different SRS resources are spaced at least Y symbols apart, which complies with the restrictions on guard intervals in existing protocols, thereby being compatible with existing protocols and improving the adaptability of the solution.

[0026] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the value of the above-mentioned Y is related to the subcarrier spacing.

[0027] In this possible implementation, the value of Y complies with the existing protocol, thereby being compatible with the existing protocol and improving the adaptability of the solution.

[0028] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, before the above step: receiving the first configuration information from the network device, the method further includes: sending capability information related to the antenna port of the terminal device.

[0029] In this possible implementation, the terminal device may report capability information so that the network device can better understand the terminal device, thereby facilitating the terminal device to obtain an SRS resource configuration that is more suitable for itself.

[0030] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the capability information includes at least one of the following:

[0031] The beamforming mode of the terminal device's receiving antenna port is different from the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port; or

[0032] The number of transmit antennas associated with an uplink pilot port of the terminal device is not equal to the number of receive antennas associated with a downlink pilot port; or

[0033] The number of antenna ports for downlink reception of the terminal device is different from the number of antenna ports for uplink transmission; or

[0034] The number of physical antennas associated with each receive RF chain and each transmit RF chain of the terminal device is different; or

[0035] The downlink receiving antenna structure of the terminal device is different from the uplink transmitting antenna structure.

[0036] In this possible implementation, the terminal device can report specific antenna port-related capability information, such as the number of uplink and downlink antenna ports, whether the number of physical antennas mapped to the receive and transmit RF chains is the same, and other parameters. This facilitates network equipment to identify terminal device capabilities and improve the accuracy and efficiency of resource allocation.

[0037] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the above-mentioned beamforming manner includes one or more of the following: digital domain beamforming, analog domain beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

[0038] In this possible implementation, the scenarios of each beamforming can be improved, thereby increasing the applicability of the solution.

[0039] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the number of protection symbols of the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource is less than Y symbols.

[0040] Furthermore, the guard interval between different SRS resources configured when the network device perceives the terminal device capability information is less than Y symbols. The guard interval between different SRS resources configured when the network device does not perceive the terminal device capability information is greater than or equal to Y symbols.

[0041] In this possible implementation, by limiting the guard interval to less than Y symbols, redundant resource configuration and resource waste are reduced. Furthermore, network devices can use terminal devices to report capability information related to the terminal device's antenna port, improving the network device's perception capabilities and the accuracy of resource configuration.

[0042] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the terminal device receives or sends a signal within a protection symbol.

[0043] In this possible implementation, different SRS signals are transmitted using different beams using the same antenna set. Since switching between different beams within the same antenna set does not require the introduction of symbol-level guard intervals, if the time domain resources occupied by the different SRS resources configured by the network device have a guard interval, the terminal device can perform normal uplink transmission and / or downlink reception within the guard interval, thereby improving resource utilization and the terminal device's communication capabilities.

[0044] The second aspect of the present application provides a resource configuration method, which is executed by a network device, or the method is executed by some components in the network device (such as a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.), or the method can also be implemented by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the network device functions. In the second aspect and its possible implementation, the method is described as being executed by a network device. In this method, first configuration information is sent to a terminal device, the first configuration information indicates a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource, and the first configuration information is used to configure downlink channel state information measurement; the first SRS and the second SRS sent by the terminal device are received, the first SRS resource is used to carry the first SRS, the second SRS resource is used to carry the second SRS, and the transmit beam of the first SRS resource is different from the transmit beam of the second SRS resource.

[0045] Based on the above technical solution, network equipment can configure first and second SRS resources for terminal devices, thereby meeting the downlink channel state information measurement requirements when the terminal device's uplink and downlink antenna structures differ. This can then calculate downlink transmission data weights, enabling SRS-based downlink transmission and improving cell or user-level capacity.

[0046] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the method further includes: determining first configuration information.

[0047] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the above steps further include: receiving capability information from the terminal device, where the capability information is related to an antenna port of the terminal device.

[0048] In this possible implementation, network equipment can sense the capabilities of terminal devices and subsequently configure SRS resources for users. This can meet the need for downlink channel state information measurement even when the uplink and downlink antenna structures of terminal devices differ. It can then calculate downlink transmission data weights, enabling SRS-based downlink transmission and improving cell or user-level capacity.

[0049] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the second aspect, the capability information includes at least one of the following:

[0050] The beamforming mode of the terminal device's receiving antenna port is different from the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port; or

[0051] The number of transmit antennas associated with an uplink pilot port of the terminal device is not equal to the number of receive antennas associated with a downlink pilot port; or

[0052] The number of antenna ports for downlink reception of the terminal device is different from the number of antenna ports for uplink transmission; or

[0053] The number of physical antennas associated with each receive RF chain and each transmit RF chain of the terminal device is different; or

[0054] The downlink receiving antenna structure of the terminal device is different from the uplink transmitting antenna structure.

[0055] In this possible implementation, the terminal device can report specific antenna port-related capability information, such as the number of uplink and downlink antenna ports, whether the number of physical antennas mapped to the receive and transmit RF chains is the same, and other parameters. This facilitates network equipment to identify terminal device capabilities and improve the accuracy and efficiency of resource allocation.

[0056] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the above-mentioned beamforming manner includes one or more of the following: digital domain beamforming, analog domain beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

[0057] In this possible implementation, the scenarios of each beamforming can be improved, thereby increasing the applicability of the solution.

[0058] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the above step of determining the first configuration information includes determining the first configuration information according to capability information of the terminal device.

[0059] In this possible implementation, the network device specifies the capabilities of the terminal device, and thus can match the first configuration information related to the capabilities of the terminal device, thereby improving the accuracy of resource configuration and improving the efficiency of resource configuration.

[0060] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the above steps further include: configuring pilot resources for beam management or quasi-co-location type QCL-typeD reference signals to the terminal device based on the capability information.

[0061] In this possible implementation, the network device may configure corresponding pilot resources for the terminal device according to the capability information reported by the terminal device, so that the configured pilot resources can meet the antenna system architecture of the terminal device.

[0062] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the above steps configure pilot resources and / or quasi-co-location type QCL-type D reference signals for beam management to the terminal device based on the capability information, including:

[0063] When the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port of the terminal device is hybrid beamforming, and when the beamforming mode of the receiving antenna port of the terminal device is digital domain beamforming, only the pilot resources and / or QCL-typeD reference signals for beam management are configured for uplink transmission, and the pilot resources and / or QCL-typeD reference signals for beam management are not configured for downlink transmission.

[0064] In this possible implementation, when hybrid beamforming is used for uplink transmission and digital domain beamforming is used for downlink transmission, pilot resources and / or QCL-type D reference signals for beam management are configured only for uplink transmission, while pilot resources and / or QCL-type D reference signals for beam management are not configured for downlink transmission. This reduces resource waste and improves resource utilization.

[0065] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the number of protection symbols of the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource is less than Y symbols.

[0066] In this possible implementation, by limiting the guard interval to less than Y symbols, redundant resource configuration and resource waste are reduced. Furthermore, network devices can use terminal devices to report capability information related to the terminal device's antenna port, improving the network device's perception capabilities and the accuracy of resource configuration.

[0067] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the above-mentioned protection symbol is used for a terminal device to receive or send a signal.

[0068] In this possible implementation, different SRS signals are transmitted using different beams via the same antenna set. Since switching between different beams within the same antenna set does not require the introduction of symbol-level guard intervals, the time domain resources occupied by the different SRS resources configured by the network device have guard intervals. During these guard intervals, the terminal device can perform normal uplink transmission and / or downlink reception, thereby improving resource utilization and the terminal device's communication capabilities.

[0069] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first SRS resource includes a first SRS port and a second SRS port, and the second SRS resource includes a third SRS port and a fourth SRS port.

[0070] In this possible implementation, the network device configures the port resources according to the terminal device capability information, so that the terminal device can use the port resources to transmit the SRS, facilitating the terminal device to use the antenna port normally.

[0071] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource further satisfy at least one of the following:

[0072] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with the same transmitting antenna; or

[0073] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with different transmit beams; or

[0074] The transmitting antenna associated with at least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource is the same; or

[0075] At least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource are associated with different transmission beams.

[0076] In this possible implementation, by limiting the conditions of the above resources, it is possible to obtain downlink channel information based on the minimum SRS resource requirements. For example, different SRS resources use the same antenna's orthogonal beam to send SRS. When estimating the downlink channel weight, the base station offsets the influence of the SRS transmission weight by obtaining the channel autocorrelation matrix of the downlink transmitting base station side, thereby ensuring that the network equipment can correctly estimate the downlink channel information even if it does not perceive the antenna structure of the terminal device. For another example, in the case where the above antenna ports are the same, the SRS beam can be sent by using different weights of the same antenna port to improve the transmission signal strength of the SRS.

[0077] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first configuration information further includes a third SRS resource, and the third SRS resource is associated with a different transmitting antenna than the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource.

[0078] In this possible implementation, the terminal device can send SRS through the first SRS resource, the second SRS resource and the third SRS resource configured by the network device, using a combination of antenna switching and beam switching, thereby achieving downlink channel information acquisition in a scenario where the number of uplink co-transmitting antennas is less than the number of downlink receiving antennas.

[0079] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, protection symbols are configured between the different SRS resources, and at least one of the following conditions is met:

[0080] The first SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; or

[0081] The second SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; where Y is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0082] In this possible implementation, different SRS resources are spaced at least Y symbols apart, which complies with the restrictions on guard intervals in existing protocols, thereby being compatible with existing protocols and improving the adaptability of the solution.

[0083] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the second aspect, the value of the above Y is related to the subcarrier spacing.

[0084] In this possible implementation, the value of Y complies with the existing protocol, thereby being compatible with the existing protocol and improving the adaptability of the solution.

[0085] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which is a terminal device, or a component of a terminal device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device functions. The communication device includes a transceiver unit.

[0086] The transceiver unit is configured to receive first configuration information from a network device, where the first configuration information indicates a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource; the first configuration information is used for downlink channel state information measurement or for instructing a terminal device to send an SRS by antenna switching;

[0087] The transceiver unit is further used to send a first SRS and a second SRS to the network device. The first SRS resource is used to carry the first SRS, the second SRS resource is used to carry the second SRS, and the transmission beam of the first SRS resource is different from the transmission beam of the second SRS resource.

[0088] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the terminal device further includes: a processing unit, configured to determine the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource according to the first configuration information.

[0089] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the first SRS resource includes a first SRS port and a second SRS port, and the second SRS resource includes a third SRS port and a fourth SRS port.

[0090] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource further satisfy at least one of the following:

[0091] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with the same transmitting antenna; or

[0092] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with different transmit beams; or

[0093] The transmitting antenna associated with at least one antenna port of the first SRS resource and at least one antenna port of the second SRS resource is the same; or

[0094] At least one antenna port of the first SRS resource and at least one antenna port of the second SRS resource are associated with different transmission beams.

[0095] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the first configuration information further includes a third SRS resource, and the third SRS resource is associated with a different transmitting antenna than the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource.

[0096] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, protection symbols are configured between the different SRS resources, and at least one of the following conditions is met:

[0097] The first SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; or

[0098] The second SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; where Y is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0099] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the value of the above-mentioned Y is related to the subcarrier spacing.

[0100] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the above-mentioned transceiver unit is further used to send capability information related to the antenna port of the terminal device.

[0101] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the capability information includes at least one of the following:

[0102] The beamforming mode of the terminal device's receiving antenna port is different from the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port; or

[0103] The number of transmit antennas associated with an uplink pilot port of the terminal device is not equal to the number of receive antennas associated with a downlink pilot port; or

[0104] The downlink transmission capability of the terminal device is different from the uplink reception capability; or

[0105] The number of antenna ports for downlink reception of the terminal device is different from the number of antenna ports for uplink transmission; or

[0106] The number of physical antennas associated with each receive RF chain and each transmit RF chain of the terminal device is different; or

[0107] The downlink receiving antenna structure of the terminal device is different from the uplink transmitting antenna structure.

[0108] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the above-mentioned beamforming manner includes one or more of the following: digital domain beamforming, analog domain beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

[0109] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the number of protection symbols of the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource is less than Y symbols.

[0110] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the above-mentioned transceiver unit is further used to receive or send a signal within a protection symbol.

[0111] A fourth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, which is a network device, or a component of a network device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the network device functions. The communication device includes a transceiver unit.

[0112] Among them, the transceiver unit is used to send first configuration information to the terminal device, the first configuration information indicates the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource, and the first configuration information is used to configure the downlink channel state information measurement; the transceiver unit is also used to receive the first SRS and the second SRS sent by the terminal device, the first SRS resource is used to carry the first SRS, the second SRS resource is used to carry the second SRS, and the transmission beam of the first SRS resource is different from the transmission beam of the second SRS resource.

[0113] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the above-mentioned transceiver unit is further used to receive capability information from the terminal device, where the capability information is related to the antenna port of the terminal device.

[0114] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the capability information includes at least one of the following:

[0115] The beamforming mode of the terminal device's receiving antenna port is different from the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port; or

[0116] The number of transmit antennas associated with an uplink pilot port of the terminal device is not equal to the number of receive antennas associated with a downlink pilot port; or

[0117] The number of antenna ports for downlink reception of the terminal device is different from the number of antenna ports for uplink transmission; or

[0118] The number of physical antennas associated with each receive RF chain and each transmit RF chain of the terminal device is different; or

[0119] The downlink receiving antenna structure of the terminal device is different from the uplink transmitting antenna structure.

[0120] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the above-mentioned beamforming manner includes one or more of the following: digital domain beamforming, analog domain beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

[0121] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the above-mentioned transceiver unit is also used to configure pilot resources for beam management or quasi-co-location type QCL-typeD reference signals to the terminal device based on capability information.

[0122] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the above-mentioned transceiver unit is specifically used to configure pilot resources and / or QCL-typeD reference signals for beam management only for uplink transmission when the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port of the terminal device is hybrid beamforming, and when the beamforming mode of the receiving antenna port of the terminal device is digital domain beamforming, and the pilot resources and / or QCL-typeD reference signals for beam management are not configured for downlink transmission.

[0123] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the number of protection symbols of the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource is less than Y symbols.

[0124] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the above-mentioned protection symbol is used for a terminal device to receive or send a signal.

[0125] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the first SRS resource includes a first SRS port and a second SRS port, and the second SRS resource includes a third SRS port and a fourth SRS port.

[0126] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource further satisfy at least one of the following:

[0127] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with the same transmitting antenna; or

[0128] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with different transmit beams; or

[0129] The transmitting antenna associated with at least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource is the same; or

[0130] At least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource are associated with different transmission beams.

[0131] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the first configuration information further includes a third SRS resource, and the third SRS resource is associated with a different transmitting antenna than the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource.

[0132] Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, protection symbols are configured between the different SRS resources, and at least one of the following conditions is met:

[0133] The first SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; or

[0134] The second SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; where Y is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0135] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the value of the above Y is related to the subcarrier spacing.

[0136] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising at least one processor coupled to a memory; the memory is used to store programs or instructions; and the at least one processor is used to execute the program or instructions so that the device implements a method of any possible implementation of the first aspect described above.

[0137] In a sixth aspect of the present application, a communication device is provided, comprising at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is coupled to a memory; the memory is used to store programs or instructions; and the at least one processor is used to execute the program or instructions so that the device implements a method of any possible implementation method of the aforementioned second aspect.

[0138] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising at least one logic circuit and an input / output interface; the logic circuit is used to execute the method described in any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0139] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising at least one logic circuit and an input / output interface; the logic circuit is used to execute a method as any possible implementation method in the aforementioned second aspect.

[0140] The ninth aspect of the present application provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device of any possible implementation method of the fifth aspect and a network device of any possible implementation method of the sixth aspect, or includes a terminal device of any possible implementation method of the seventh aspect and a network device of any possible implementation method of the eighth aspect.

[0141] In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing one or more computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the processor executes the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first or second aspects above.

[0142] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product (or computer program). When the computer program in the computer program product is executed by the processor, the processor executes the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first or second aspects above.

[0143] A twelfth aspect of the present application provides a chip system, which includes at least one processor for supporting a communication device to implement the method described in any possible implementation method of any aspect of the first or second aspect.

[0144] In one possible design, the chip system may further include a memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. The chip system may be composed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete components. Optionally, the chip system may also include an interface circuit that provides program instructions and / or data to at least one processor.

[0145] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the third aspect to the twelfth aspect can refer to the technical effects brought about by the different design methods in the above-mentioned first aspect and second aspect, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0146] FIG1A is a schematic diagram of a communication system involved in this application;

[0147] FIG1B is another schematic diagram of the communication system involved in this application;

[0148] FIG1C is another schematic diagram of the communication system involved in this application;

[0149] FIG2 is another schematic diagram of the communication system involved in this application;

[0150] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the transmission of the SRS signal involved in this application;

[0151] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of an SRS sending method provided in this application;

[0152] Figures 5 to 8 are several schematic diagrams of resource configuration provided by this application;

[0153] Figures 9 to 12 are several schematic diagrams of a terminal device sending an SRS provided in this application;

[0154] 13 to 16 are several schematic diagrams of the communication device provided in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0155] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0156] First, some of the terms used in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0157] 1. Beam

[0158] Beam can be referred to as spatial domain filter, spatial filter, spatial domain parameter, spatial parameter, spatial parameter, spatial domain setting, spatial setting, quasi-colocation (QCL) information, QCL assumption, or QCL indication in the NR protocol. The beam can be indicated by a transmission configuration indicator state (TCI-state) parameter or by a spatial relation parameter. Therefore, in this application, beam can be replaced by spatial filter, spatial filter, spatial parameter, spatial parameter, spatial setting, spatial setting, quasi-colocation (QCL) information, QCL assumption, QCL indication, TCI-state (including uplink (UL) TCI state, downlink TCI state, DL TCI state), or spatial relationship. The above terms are also equivalent to each other. Beam can also be replaced by other terms representing beam, which is not limited in this application.

[0159] A beam used to transmit a signal may be referred to as a transmission beam (Tx beam), a spatial domain transmission filter, a spatial transmission filter, a spatial domain transmission parameter, a spatial transmission parameter, a spatial domain transmission setting, or a spatial transmission setting. A downlink transmit beam may be indicated by a TCI-state. An uplink transmit beam may be indicated by any of a spatial relation, a TCI-state, and an SRS resource (indicating a transmit beam using the SRS). Therefore, an uplink transmit beam may also be replaced by an SRS resource.

[0160] A beam used to receive a signal may be referred to as a reception beam (Rx beam), a spatial domain reception filter, a spatial reception filter, a spatial domain reception parameter, or a spatial reception parameter, a spatial domain reception setting, or a spatial reception setting.

[0161] For example, a transmit beam may refer to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space after a signal is transmitted from an antenna, and a receive beam may refer to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space of a wireless signal received from an antenna. It is understood that a beam can be associated with one or more physical antennas, corresponding to one or more antenna ports. For example, for a CSI-RS resource used for beam management, a CSI-RS resource may contain one or more ports, and a CSI-RS resource corresponds to one beam, i.e., all ports within the same CSI-RS resource correspond to the same beam.

[0162] When using low- or medium-frequency bands, the transmitter can send signals omnidirectionally or across a wide angle. When using high-frequency bands, thanks to the shorter carrier wavelength of high-frequency communication systems, antenna arrays consisting of multiple antenna elements can be deployed at both the transmitter and receiver ends. The transmitter transmits signals with specific beamforming weights, forming a spatially directional beam. Simultaneously, the receiver receives the signals using an antenna array with specific beamforming weights. This helps improve the received signal power at the receiver and combats path loss.

[0163] Beams generally correspond to resources. For example, during beam measurement, network equipment uses different beams to transmit signals on different resources. The terminal device then provides feedback on the measured signal quality of each resource, allowing the network equipment to determine the quality of the corresponding beam. During data transmission, beam information is also indicated by its corresponding resource. For example, the network equipment uses the TCI field in the downlink control information (DCI) to indicate the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) beam information to the terminal device.

[0164] Optionally, a beam may include one or more antenna ports for transmitting data channels, control channels, and sounding signals, etc. The one or more antenna ports forming a beam may also be regarded as an antenna port set.

[0165] A beam is a communication resource. It can be wide, narrow, or any other type of beam. Beam formation can be achieved through beamforming or other techniques. Beamforming techniques include digital beamforming, analog beamforming, and hybrid digital / analog beamforming. Different beams can be considered different resources.

[0166] 2. Antenna port

[0167] An antenna port can correspond to one physical antenna or multiple physical antennas. Different antenna ports can correspond to different beams of the same physical antenna, or to different physical antennas, or to different parts of the physical antenna, or to different pilot signals.

[0168] According to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specification, antenna ports are defined so that the channel on which a symbol on the same antenna port is transmitted can be inferred from the channel on which another symbol on the same antenna port is transmitted.

[0169] The “antenna port” in the embodiments of the present application refers to the “logical antenna port” unless the “physical antenna port” is specified.

[0170] In addition, the number of physical antenna ports mapped to different antenna architectures is different.

[0171] 3. Antenna structure

[0172] The antenna structure, also known as the antenna architecture, is mainly used to characterize the mapping relationship between antenna ports and physical antennas. This mapping relationship can be one or more of the following:

[0173] The correspondence between antenna ports and physical antennas is fixed;

[0174] The correspondence between antenna ports and physical antennas is variable;

[0175] One antenna port is associated with multiple physical antennas;

[0176] One antenna port is associated with one physical antenna;

[0177] The number of physical antennas associated with one antenna port can be switched dynamically;

[0178] Digital beam forming (DBF) architecture: DBF architecture can be understood as beamforming by weighting the signal in the baseband digital domain.

[0179] Analog beam forming (ABF) architecture: ABF architecture can be understood as weighting the RF signal through phase shifters and gain controllers at the antenna end (or signal delay can also be used) to achieve beamforming;

[0180] Hybrid beamforming (HBF) architecture: The HBF architecture can be understood as a combination of the above-mentioned DBF architecture and the ABF architecture.

[0181] 4. Antenna port switching method

[0182] Switching methods for antenna ports on a terminal device include antenna switching, beam switching, and a combination of antenna switching and beam switching. Antenna switching involves switching a switch to control different physical antennas to transmit signals. Beam switching involves adjusting the weights of the physical antennas, and can also be understood as using different weights to transmit signals on the same physical antenna. Generally, the switches used for antenna switching are physical switches (also called hard switches), so antenna switching requires latency. Typically, a processing latency of Y symbols is set between the time-frequency resources used by different physical antennas (the value of Y will be described later and will not be elaborated on here). However, the weight switching used in beam switching is a non-physical switch, resulting in a much smaller processing latency than that introduced by physical switching. Therefore, the required guard interval for beam switching is much smaller than Y symbols. The current 3GPP protocol defaults to completing beam switching within the cyclic prefix (CP) of each orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, so beam switching does not require additional symbol resources for a guard interval.

[0183] In the embodiment of the present application, the DBF architecture for downlink and the HBF architecture for uplink can be applied. Alternatively, the HBF architecture for downlink and the HBF architecture for uplink can be applied. However, the mapping relationship between antenna ports and physical antennas in the uplink HBF architecture and the downlink HBF architecture is different.

[0184] 5. Configuration and pre-configuration

[0185] In this application, configuration and pre-configuration are used simultaneously. Configuration refers to the network device / server sending some parameter configuration information or parameter values ​​to the terminal through messages or signaling, so that the terminal can determine the communication parameters or resources during transmission based on these values ​​or information. Pre-configuration is similar to configuration and can be parameter information or parameter values ​​pre-negotiated between the network device / server and the terminal device, parameter information or parameter values ​​used by the base station / network device or terminal device as specified in the standard protocol, or parameter information or parameter values ​​pre-stored in the base station / server or terminal device. This application does not limit this.

[0186] Furthermore, these values ​​and parameters can be changed or updated.

[0187] 6. The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application can be used interchangeably. "At least one" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" 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 and C" includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC. And, unless otherwise specified, the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects.

[0188] Please refer to Figure 1A, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system 1000 used in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1A, the communication system includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may also include the Internet 300. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (such as 110a and 110b in Figure 1A, collectively referred to as 110), and may also include at least one terminal (such as 120a-120j in Figure 1A, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1A). The terminal 120 is connected to the RAN node 110 via a wireless connection, and the RAN node 110 is connected to the core network 200 via a wireless or wired connection. The core network equipment in the core network 200 and the RAN node 110 in the RAN 100 can be independent and different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device that integrates the logical functions of the core network equipment and the logical functions of the RAN node. Terminals and RAN nodes may be connected to each other via wired or wireless means.

[0189] RAN 100 may be an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) system, a NR system, or a future radio access system defined in 3GPP. RAN 100 may also include two or more of the aforementioned different radio access systems. RAN 100 may also be an open RAN (O-RAN).

[0190] A RAN node, also known as a radio access network device, RAN entity, or access node, is used to help terminals access a communication system wirelessly. In one application scenario, a RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication system, a next-generation base station in a sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system. A RAN node can be a macro base station (such as 110a in Figure 1A), a micro base station, or an indoor station (such as 110b in Figure 1A), or a relay node or a donor node.

[0191] In another application scenario, multiple RAN nodes can collaborate to help terminals achieve wireless access, with different RAN nodes implementing portions of the base station's functions. For example, a RAN node can be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU). The CU implements the base station's radio resource control protocol and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) functions, as well as the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) functions. The DU implements the base station's radio link control layer and medium access control (MAC) layer functions, as well as some or all of the physical layer functions. For detailed descriptions of each of the above protocol layers, please refer to the relevant 3GPP technical specifications. The RU can be used to implement the transmission and reception of radio frequency signals. The CU and DU can be two independent RAN nodes, or they can be integrated into the same RAN node, such as in a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in radio frequency equipment, such as a remote radio unit (RRU) or an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU can be further divided into two types of RAN nodes: CU-control plane and CU-user plane.

[0192] In different systems, RAN nodes may have different names. For example, in an O-RAN system, the CU may be called an open CU (O-CU), the DU may be called an open DU (O-DU), and the RU may be called an open RU (O-RU). The RAN nodes in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software modules and hardware modules. For example, the RAN node may be a server loaded with the corresponding software module. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form used by the RAN node.

[0193] In addition, a RAN node can also be referred to as a network device. A network device is a device deployed in a radio access network to provide wireless communication functions for terminal devices. Network devices may include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small stations), relay stations, access points, etc. In systems using different radio access technologies, the names of network devices may vary, such as eNB or eNodeB (Evolutional NodeB) in Long Term Evolution (LTE). A network device may also be a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. A network device may also be a base station device in a future 5G network or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network. A network device may also be a wearable device or an in-vehicle device. A network device may also be a transmission and reception point (TRP). In addition, in a network structure, a network device may include a centralized unit (CU) node, a distributed unit (DU) node, or a RAN device including a CU node and a DU node. For ease of description, the following description uses a base station as an example of a RAN node.

[0194] A terminal is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities that can send signals to a base station or receive signals from a base station. A terminal may also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. Terminals can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, etc. A terminal can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable device, vehicle, airplane, ship, robot, robotic arm, smart home device, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal.

[0195] Base stations and terminals can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; on water; or on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of base stations and terminals.

[0196] The roles of base stations and terminals can be relative. For example, the helicopter or drone 120i in Figure 1A can be configured as a mobile base station. To terminals 120j accessing the wireless access network 100 via 120i, terminal 120i is a base station. However, to base station 110a, 120i is a terminal, meaning that communication between 110a and 120i occurs via a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, communication between 110a and 120i can also occur via a base station-to-base station interface protocol. In this case, 120i is also a base station relative to 110a. Therefore, base stations and terminals can be collectively referred to as communication devices. 110a and 110b in Figure 1A can be referred to as communication devices with base station functionality, while 120a-120j in Figure 1A can be referred to as communication devices with terminal functionality.

[0197] Communication between base stations and terminals, between base stations, and between terminals can be carried out through authorized spectrum, unauthorized spectrum, or both; communication can be carried out through spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), spectrum above 6 GHz, or spectrum below 6 GHz and spectrum above 6 GHz. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0198] In the embodiments of the present application, the functions of the base station may also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the base station, or by a control subsystem that includes the base station functions. The control subsystem that includes the base station functions here may be a control center in the above-mentioned application scenarios such as smart grid, industrial control, smart transportation, and smart city. The functions of the terminal may also be performed by a module (such as a chip or modem) in the terminal, or by a device that includes the terminal functions.

[0199] It can be understood that the RAN 100 described above includes at least one RAN node (such as 110 a and 110 b in FIG. 1A , collectively referred to as 110 ), and may also include at least one terminal (such as 120 a - 120 j in FIG. 1A , collectively referred to as 120 ).

[0200] In one possible implementation, the communication system shown in FIG1A may also be as shown in FIG1B , that is, including a RAN node 110 and multiple terminals (such as 120A and 120B in FIG1B ). In this case, a single RAN node can transmit data or control signaling to a single terminal or multiple terminals.

[0201] In another possible implementation, the communication system shown in FIG1A may also be shown in FIG1C , that is, include multiple RAN nodes (such as 110A, 110B, and 110C in FIG1C ) 110 and a terminal 120. In this case, multiple RAN nodes may also simultaneously transmit data or control signaling for a single terminal.

[0202] The communication between each network device and each terminal device in the communication system shown in Figures 1A to 1C can also be represented in another form. As shown in Figure 2, terminal device 10 includes a processor 101, a memory 102, and a transceiver 103. Transceiver 103 includes a transmitter 1031, a receiver 1032, and an antenna 1033. Network device 20 includes a processor 201, a memory 202, and a transceiver 203. Transceiver 203 includes a transmitter 2031, a receiver 2032, and an antenna 2033. Receiver 1032 can be configured to receive transmission control information via antenna 1033, and transmitter 1031 can be configured to send transmission feedback information to network device 20 via antenna 1033. Transmitter 2031 can be configured to send transmission control information to terminal device 10 via antenna 2033, and receiver 2032 can be configured to receive transmission feedback information sent by terminal device 10 via antenna 2033.

[0203] Currently, in the NR protocol, downlink channel measurement information can be obtained in the following two ways:

[0204] Method 1: The base station sends downlink CSI-RS, and the terminal side performs channel estimation based on the CSI-RS to obtain the channel feature vector. The obtained channel feature vector is quantized and fed back based on a predefined codebook, and is fed back to the base station in the form of PMI. Limited by the feedback overhead, the quantized PMI has a quantization loss compared to the actual channel feature vector.

[0205] Method 2: Assume that the uplink and downlink channels are reciprocal. The base station configures uplink SRS resources for the user, performs uplink channel estimation through uplink SRS reception measurement, and equivalent the estimated uplink reception channel to the downlink transmission channel.

[0206] Compared with Method 1, the downlink channel obtained by Method 2 based on SRS has no quantization loss. Without considering the uplink-downlink reciprocity error, its performance is better than the PMI based on CSI-RS feedback.

[0207] The following is a more detailed description of Method 2 above:

[0208] In the prior art, the correspondence between the uplink and downlink antenna ports is determined by the UE capability reporting parameter "supportedSRS-xTyR"; where y >= x, y represents the total number of UE receiving antennas or a subset of y antenna ports, and y can also be referred to as the number of antenna ports that can be simultaneously received in the downlink; x represents that SRS can be transmitted on x antenna ports selected from y antenna ports, and x can also be referred to as the number of antenna ports that can be simultaneously transmitted in the uplink. Among them, x can also be understood as the number of antenna ports that can simultaneously perform uplink transmission behavior, and y can also be understood as the total number of antenna ports that can perform uplink transmission behavior.

[0209] When x = y, it is considered that the same antenna ports are used for uplink transmission and downlink reception; when x < y, it is considered that the uplink transmission antenna ports are a subset of the downlink reception antenna ports. At this time, (ceil(y / x)) SRS resources need to be configured for the user, and multiple SRS resources will be configured for the user. Different SRS resources use different antenna ports to send SRS signals. The base station side obtains the uplink channel measurement information based on the SRS signals sent by multiple SRS resources, and equivalent the estimated uplink reception channel to the downlink transmission channel based on the uplink-downlink channel reciprocity assumption.

[0210] For example, for the 2T4R scenario shown in Figure 3, an SRS resource set (resource set or resourceSet) with usage = antennaSwitching is configured for the user. This set includes two SRS resources, each of which includes two SRS ports. The time-frequency resources allocated by the first SRS resource use antenna port 1 and antenna port 2 to transmit SRS signals, while the time-frequency resources allocated by the second SRS resource use antenna port 3 and antenna port 4 to transmit SRS signals. The base station performs SRS reception measurements on the time-frequency resources allocated by these two SRS resources, estimates the downlink transmission channel, and calculates the downlink data transmission weight vector.

[0211] Taking into account the antenna switching processing time of the terminal device, a protection interval of Y symbols will be configured between the SRS resources sent by different antennas, where Y is an integer greater than or equal to 1. Specifically, if the two SRS resources or SRS resource sets used for antenna switching are allocated for transmission in the same time slot, it is necessary to space Y protection symbols between the time slot resources occupied by the two SRS resources for the user. If the two SRS resources or SRS resource sets used for antenna switching are allocated for transmission in different time slots, it is required that the last symbol occupied by the first SRS resource and the first symbol occupied by the second SRS resource be spaced by Y protection symbols. On the Y protection symbols, the user does not transmit any signal.

[0212] Specifically, the value of Y is related to the subcarrier spacing, and the protocol definition is shown in Table 1 below:

[0213] Table 1

[0214] Wherein, Δf represents the subcarrier spacing, and μ represents the parameter set, which is used to describe the subcarrier spacing type.

[0215] Multiple SRS resources are configured for users for antenna switching. Each SRS resource corresponds to a specific subset of antenna ports for transmission. The protocol does not restrict this, and users can make their own decisions. For example, in a 2T4R scenario, the first SRS resource can correspond to antenna ports 1 and 2 for SRS signals, and the second SRS resource can correspond to antenna ports 3 and 4 for SRS signals. Alternatively, the first SRS resource can correspond to antenna ports 1 and 3 for SRS signals, and the second SRS resource can correspond to antenna ports 2 and 4 for SRS signals.

[0216] However, with the current surge in communication demand, the trend is to meet communication needs by increasing the number of physical antennas. Since the number or cost of increasing antennas in terminal devices is limited, it is more reasonable for the terminal and the base station to use methods such as HBF for uplink and DBF for downlink. However, this will lead to differences (or be understood as differences) in the uplink and downlink antenna structures of the terminal device, that is, the number of physical antennas corresponding to each uplink transmit port is not equal to the number of physical antennas corresponding to each downlink receive port. The current protocol does not support this situation. Therefore, how to perform downlink channel quality measurement when there are differences in the uplink and downlink antenna structures of the terminal device is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently.

[0217] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application provides an SRS transmission method. When the uplink antenna architecture and downlink antenna architecture of a terminal device are asymmetric, the terminal device transmits a first SRS and a second SRS through a first SRS resource configured by a network device, and the transmission beam of the first SRS resource is different from the transmission beam of the second SRS resource, thereby meeting the need to measure downlink channel state information when the uplink and downlink antenna structures of the terminal device are different. Then, a weighted value of the downlink transmission data is calculated to implement downlink transmission based on SRS, thereby improving cell or user-level capacity.

[0218] The following describes the SRS transmission method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The method can be executed by a terminal device / cloud device, or by a component of the terminal device / cloud device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system, etc.). Of course, the method can also be executed by a system consisting of a cloud device and a terminal device.

[0219] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a flowchart of a method for sending an SRS according to an embodiment of the present application. The method may include step 401 and step 402. Step 401 and step 402 are described in detail below.

[0220] Step 401: The network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first configuration information from the network device.

[0221] The network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device for downlink channel state information measurement. The first configuration information is used to configure the uplink SRS resources of the terminal device. That is, the first configuration information is used for downlink channel state information measurement or instructs the terminal device to send SRS by antenna switching. The uplink SRS resources include the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource.

[0222] This step can also be understood as the network device configuring uplink SRS resources for the terminal device, thereby facilitating subsequent network devices to perform uplink channel estimation through uplink SRS reception measurement, equating or fine-tuning the estimated uplink reception channel to obtain a downlink transmission channel, and then calculating the downlink transmission weight.

[0223] Optionally, the first SRS resource includes a first SRS port and a second SRS port, and the second SRS resource includes a third SRS port and a fourth SRS port. Alternatively, different resources may be configured for the same SRS antenna port, so that the same SRS antenna port transmits different SRSs via different beams on different resources, i.e., different weighting values ​​are used to transmit SRSs on the same physical antenna.

[0224] Optionally, the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource further satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0225] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with the same transmitting antenna; or

[0226] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with different transmit beams; or

[0227] The transmitting antenna associated with at least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource is the same; or

[0228] At least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource are associated with different transmission beams.

[0229] Optionally, the first configuration information further indicates a third SRS resource, where the third SRS resource is associated with a different transmit antenna than the first and second SRS resources. Alternatively, because the first and third SRS resources may involve antenna switching, the first and third SRS resources have different transmit antennas. Similarly, because the second and third SRS resources may involve antenna switching, the second and third SRS resources have different transmit antennas.

[0230] It is understood that different transmit beams include mutually orthogonal transmit beams and non-orthogonal transmit beams. Alternatively, beam orthogonality is a special case of different beams. Generally, beam orthogonality can be understood as the inner product of the weight vectors between the beams being equal to 0.

[0231] Optionally, the same transmitting antenna means using the same physical antenna with different or same weights to send SRS; different transmitting antennas means using completely different or partially different physical antennas with different or same weights to send SRS; different transmitting beams means using the same physical antenna with different weights to send SRS.

[0232] It is understood that because antenna switching can introduce processing latency, the network device can configure guard symbols between each SRS resource sent by the terminal device. Typically, at least Y guard symbols are configured as a guard interval. This means that the first SRS resource is separated from the third SRS resource by at least Y symbols; and / or the second SRS resource is separated from the third SRS resource by at least Y symbols.

[0233] Furthermore, when the first configuration information includes a first SRS resource, a second SRS resource, and a third SRS resource, the network device may configure guard symbols between different SRS resources, and at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: the first SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; and the second SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain. Where Y is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the value of Y is related to the subcarrier spacing. For details, please refer to the corresponding description in Table 1 above and will not be repeated here.

[0234] In one possible implementation, the SRS transmission method estimated by the network device to be used by the terminal device may differ from the terminal device's actual transmission method. For example, the network device may estimate that the terminal device uses antenna switching to transmit the SRS, while the terminal device actually uses beam switching, or a combination of antenna switching and beam switching to transmit the SRS. In this case, the network device is unaware of the terminal device's specific antenna port capabilities related to transmission or reception. The antenna port capabilities of the terminal device for uplink transmission and downlink reception may be the same or different.

[0235] In another possible implementation, the SRS transmission method estimated by the network device to be used by the terminal device is the same as the actual transmission method used by the terminal device. For example, the network device estimates that the terminal device uses antenna switching, beam switching, or a combination of antenna switching and beam switching to transmit the SRS, and the terminal device actually uses the corresponding method to transmit the SRS. In this case, the network device may optionally need to perceive the specific antenna port capabilities of the terminal device related to transmission or reception.

[0236] It should be noted that how the network device perceives the actual SRS sending method of the terminal device can be pre-negotiated between the network device and the terminal device, or it can be determined by receiving capability information related to the terminal device antenna port reported by the terminal device, or other methods, which are not limited here.

[0237] Optionally, the terminal device reports capability information related to the antenna port of the terminal device to the network device. Accordingly, the network device receives the capability information from the terminal device. The capability information includes at least one of the following:

[0238] The beamforming mode of the terminal device's receiving antenna port is different from the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port; or

[0239] The number of transmit antennas associated with an uplink pilot port of the terminal device is not equal to the number of receive antennas associated with a downlink pilot port; or

[0240] The number of antenna ports for downlink reception of the terminal device is different from the number of antenna ports for uplink transmission; or

[0241] The number of physical antennas associated with each receive RF chain and each transmit RF chain of the terminal device is different; or

[0242] The downlink receiving antenna structure of the terminal device is different from the uplink transmitting antenna structure.

[0243] The beamforming methods include one or more of the following: digital beamforming, analog beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

[0244] In the embodiment of the present application, there are multiple situations for the first configuration information, which are described below respectively:

[0245] The first type is that the guard interval between each SRS resource configured by the network device for the terminal device is greater than or equal to Y guard symbols.

[0246] The network device configures (y / x) SRS resources for the terminal device, and the interval between the time domain resources occupied by different SRS resources is greater than or equal to Y protection symbols. The description of x and y can refer to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0247] For ease of understanding, the following example illustrates SRS resource.

[0248] Example 1, x=2, y=4. The SRS resource in Example 1 can be shown in Figure 5. The network device configures an SRS resource set for the terminal device. The SRS resource set contains two SRS resources, namely SRS resource#0 and SRS resource#1. Each SRS resource contains two SRS ports, namely port#1 and port#2. The time domain symbol occupied by SRS resource#0 and the time domain symbol occupied by SRS resource#1 are separated by Y protection symbols, that is, the interval between the end symbol in the time domain resource occupied by SRS resource#0 and the start symbol in the time domain resource occupied by SRS resource#1 is Y symbols.

[0249] Example 2, x = 2, y = 8. The SRS resource in Example 2 can be shown in Figure 6. The network device configures an SRS resource set for the terminal device. The SRS resource set contains four SRS resources, namely SRS resource#0, SRS resource#1, SRS resource#2, and SRS resource#3. Each SRS resource contains two SRS ports, namely port#1 and port#2. The time domain symbols occupied by SRS resource#0 and the time domain symbols occupied by SRS resource#1 are separated by Y guard symbols. The time domain symbols occupied by SRS resource#1 and the time domain symbols occupied by SRS resource#2 are separated by Y guard symbols. The time domain symbols occupied by SRS resource#2 and the time domain symbols occupied by SRS resource#3 are separated by Y guard symbols.

[0250] Optionally, this method can be applicable to situations where the network device is unaware of the asymmetry between the uplink and downlink antenna architectures of the terminal device. Since the network device still configures resources according to the antenna switching method, and the antenna switching method requires processing delays caused by switching, the network device still configures the guard interval between each SRS resource for the terminal device according to the existing method to be greater than or equal to Y protection symbols. The description of the above-mentioned "perception" will be described after the subsequent step 402 and will not be expanded here.

[0251] The second type is that the guard interval between each SRS resource configured by the network device for the terminal device is less than Y guard symbols.

[0252] The network device configures (y / x) SRS resources for the terminal device, and the time domain resource interval occupied by different SRS resources is less than Y protection symbols. The description of x and y can refer to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0253] Optionally, in this manner, time domain symbols occupied by different SRS resources in the same SRS resource set are adjacent to each other.

[0254] For ease of understanding, the following example illustrates SRS resource.

[0255] Example 3, x=2, y=4, Y=1. The SRS resource in Example 3 can be shown in Figure 7. The network device configures an SRS resource set for the terminal device. The SRS resource set contains two SRS resources, namely SRS resource#0 and SRS resource#1. Each SRS resource contains two SRS ports, namely port#1 and port#2. The time domain symbol occupied by SRS resource#0 is adjacent to the time domain symbol occupied by SRS resource#1, that is, the end symbol in the time domain resource occupied by SRS resource#0 is adjacent to the starting symbol in the time domain resource occupied by SRS resource#1.

[0256] Optionally, this method can be applied to situations where the network device perceives that the uplink antenna architecture and downlink antenna architecture of the terminal device are asymmetric. Since the network device can configure resources according to the beam switching method, and since the beam switching method does not require the processing delay caused by switching, only the weighting vector needs to be changed, the processing delay is low. This allows the network device to configure each SRS resource for the terminal device with a time domain protection interval of less than Y protection symbols, that is, the time domain protection symbols of the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are less than Y symbols. The terminal device can receive or send signals within this protection interval, thereby making full use of resources and reducing resource waste.

[0257] The third type is that the network device configures some SRS resources for the terminal device with a time domain guard interval greater than or equal to Y guard symbols, and some SRS resources with a time domain guard interval less than Y guard symbols.

[0258] The network device configures (y / x) SRS resources for the terminal device, the time domain resource intervals occupied by some SRS resources are less than Y guard symbols, and the time domain resource intervals occupied by some SRS resources are greater than or equal to Y guard symbols. The description of x and y can be referred to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0259] Example 4, x=2, y=8. The SRS resource in Example 4 can be shown in Figure 8. The network device configures 1 SRS resource set for the terminal device. The SRS resource set contains 4 SRS resources, namely SRS resource#0, SRS resource#1, SRS resource#2 and SRS resource#3. Each SRS resource contains 2 SRS ports, namely port#1 and port#2. The time domain symbol occupied by SRS resource#0 is adjacent to the time domain symbol occupied by SRS resource#1. The time domain symbol occupied by SRS resource#1 and the time domain symbol occupied by SRS resource#2 are separated by Y protection symbols. The time domain symbol occupied by SRS resource#2 is adjacent to the time domain symbol occupied by SRS resource#3.

[0260] Optionally, this method can be applicable to a situation where the network device senses that the uplink antenna architecture and the downlink antenna architecture of the terminal device are asymmetric.

[0261] It is understood that the above scenarios are merely examples. In actual applications, other scenarios are possible. For example, multiple SRS resources may belong to different SRS resource sets. For another example, the number of configured SRS resources may not be (y / x), but may be another value specified in the new protocol. For another example, the number of Y protection symbols may be another value specified in the new protocol, and the specifics are not limited here.

[0262] In step 402, the terminal device sends a first SRS and a second SRS to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the first SRS and the second SRS from the terminal device.

[0263] The terminal device sends the first SRS and the second SRS to the network device according to the first configuration information. The first SRS resource is used to carry the first SRS, the second SRS resource is used to carry the second SRS, and the transmission beam of the first SRS resource is different from the transmission beam of the second SRS resource.

[0264] Optionally, corresponding to the case where the first SRS resource includes the first SRS port and the second SRS port, and the second SRS resource includes the third SRS port and the fourth SRS port, the terminal device transmits the corresponding beam using the first SRS port and the second SRS port.

[0265] Optionally, the physical antenna associated with the first SRS port of the first SRS resource is the same as the physical antenna associated with the third SRS port of the second SRS resource; the physical antenna associated with the second SRS port of the first SRS resource is the same as the physical antenna associated with the fourth SRS port of the second SRS resource; the physical antenna associated with the first SRS port of the first SRS resource is different from the physical antenna associated with the fourth SRS port of the second SRS resource.

[0266] Optionally, the transmit beams of the first SRS port of the first SRS resource and the third SRS port of the second SRS resource are orthogonal; and the transmit beams of the second SRS port of the first SRS resource and the fourth SRS port of the second SRS resource are orthogonal. Beam orthogonality means that the inner product of the weight vectors between the beams is equal to 0.

[0267] Optionally, when the network device perceives capability information related to the antenna port of the terminal device, the network device configures corresponding pilot resources for uplink and downlink transmission, including: for the terminal device using the DBF architecture, it is not necessary to configure beam scanning and / or QCL-type D (typeD) indication ('typeD': {Spatial Rx parameter}, used to indicate the spatial reception parameters of the receiving end), and / or for the terminal device using the HBF architecture, it is necessary to configure beam scanning and / or configure QCL-typeD indication for the receiving and transmitting behavior.

[0268] Optionally, the network device configures pilot resources and / or quasi-co-location type QCL-typeD reference signals for beam management to the terminal device based on capability information related to the antenna port of the terminal device. Exemplarily, when the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port of the terminal device is hybrid beamforming, and the beamforming mode of the receiving antenna port of the terminal device is digital domain beamforming, the network device configures the pilot resources and / or the QCL-typeD reference signals for beam management for uplink transmission, and does not configure the pilot resources and / or the QCL-typeD reference signals for beam management for downlink transmission.

[0269] In the embodiments of the present application, in addition to the aforementioned beam switching method for transmitting SRS, the terminal device may also transmit SRS by combining beam switching with antenna switching, etc., the specifics of which are not limited herein. It is understood that, in order to match the existing technology, the terminal device may also transmit SRS by antenna switching. The following describes the aforementioned SRS transmission methods.

[0270] The first method is to send SRS using beam switching.

[0271] In this manner, the terminal device transmits the SRS corresponding to the first SRS port of the first SRS resource based on the first beam, transmits the SRS corresponding to the second SRS port of the first SRS resource based on the second beam, transmits the SRS corresponding to the third SRS port of the second SRS resource based on the third beam, and transmits the SRS corresponding to the fourth SRS port of the second SRS resource based on the fourth beam. It should be noted that the first SRS port of the first SRS resource and the third SRS port of the second SRS resource can be the same or different; similarly, the second SRS port of the first SRS resource and the fourth SRS port of the second SRS resource can be the same or different.

[0272] Optionally, the weighting vector of the first beam is different from or orthogonal to the weighting vector of the third beam, and the weighting vectors of the second beam and the fourth beam are different from or orthogonal to each other.

[0273] This approach can also be understood as using the same physical antenna set between different SRS resources and sending SRS signals in different beams.

[0274] For example, assuming x=2 and y=4, the terminal device may use beam switching to send SRS as shown in FIG9 . The terminal device uses four antenna ports for downlink reception and two antenna ports for uplink transmission. Each downlink antenna port is associated with one physical antenna, and each uplink antenna port is associated with two physical antennas. Physical antennas 1 and 2 are used to send SRS signals based on weighting vector W1 on the time-frequency domain resources allocated to SRS port #0 of SRS resource #0. Physical antennas 3 and 4 are used to send SRS signals based on weighting vector W2 on the time-frequency domain resources allocated to SRS port #1 of SRS resource #0. Physical antennas 1 and 2 are used to send SRS signals based on weighting vector W3 on the time-frequency domain resources allocated to SRS port #0 of SRS resource #1. Physical antennas 3 and 4 are used to send SRS signals based on weighting vector W4 on the time-frequency domain resources allocated to SRS port #1 of SRS resource #1.

[0275] Optionally, weight vectors W1 and W3 are orthogonal, and weight vectors W2 and W4 are orthogonal.

[0276] Optionally, one of W3 and W1 is the same as one of the weight vectors of W2 and W4.

[0277] Optionally, the RF channel (RF chain) corresponding to SRS port #0 is simultaneously associated with physical antenna 1 and physical antenna 2, and the RF channel corresponding to SRS port #0 is simultaneously associated with physical antenna 3 and physical antenna 4. Different SRS signals are sent through the same antenna set (i.e., physical antenna 1, physical antenna 2, physical antenna 3 and physical antenna 4) using different weighting values. Since the switching of different weighting values ​​of the same antenna set does not require the introduction of symbol-level protection intervals, if there is a protection interval for the time domain resources occupied by different SRS resources configured by the network device, the terminal device can perform normal uplink transmission and / or downlink reception within the protection interval, thereby improving resource utilization.

[0278] The second method is to send SRS by combining beam switching with antenna switching.

[0279] In this manner, the terminal device transmits the SRS corresponding to the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource based on the first antenna set, and transmits the SRS corresponding to the third SRS resource based on the second antenna set. Exemplarily, the terminal device transmits the SRS corresponding to the first SRS port of the first SRS resource and the third SRS port of the second SRS resource based on the first antenna subset of the first antenna set, transmits the SRS corresponding to the second SRS port of the first SRS resource and the fourth SRS port of the second SRS resource based on the second antenna subset of the first antenna set, transmits the SRS corresponding to the first SRS port of the third SRS resource based on the first antenna subset of the second antenna set, and transmits the SRS corresponding to the second SRS port of the third SRS resource based on the second antenna subset of the second antenna set. The physical antennas associated with the first antenna set and the physical antennas associated with the second antenna set are partially different or completely different.

[0280] This method can also be understood as using different antennas + the same weighting or the same antenna + different weighting to send the SRS signal.

[0281] For example, assuming x=2, y=8, the terminal device sends SRS by combining beam switching and antenna switching as shown in Figure 10. The terminal device uses 8 antenna ports for downlink reception and 2 antenna ports for uplink transmission; each downlink antenna port is associated with 1 physical antenna, and each uplink antenna port is associated with 2 physical antennas. On the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #0 of SRS resource#0, physical antennas 1 and 2 are used to send SRS signals based on weighting vector W1; on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #1 of SRS resource#0, physical antennas 3 and 4 are used to send SRS signals based on weighting vector W2; on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #0 of SRS resource#1, physical antennas 1 and 2 are used to send SRS signals based on weighting vector W3; on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #1 of SRS resource#1, physical antennas 3 and 4 are used to send SRS signals based on weighting vector W4; on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #0 of SRS resource#2, physical antennas 5 and 6 are used to send SRS signals based on weighting vector W5; on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #1 of SRS resource#2, physical antennas 7 and 8 are used to send SRS signals based on weighting vector W6; The SRS signal is sent using physical antennas 5 and 6 based on weighting vector W7 on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #0 of resource#3; and using physical antennas 7 and 8 based on weighting vector W8 on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #1 of SRS resource#3.

[0282] Optionally, weighted vectors W1 and W3 are orthogonal, weighted vectors W2 and W4 are orthogonal, weighted vectors W5 and W7 are orthogonal, weighted vectors W6 and W8 are orthogonal, and weighted vectors W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, W6, W7, and W8 are partially identical.

[0283] Optionally, the radio frequency channel corresponding to the first SRS port of SRS resource#0 is associated with both physical antenna 1 and physical antenna 2, the radio frequency channel corresponding to the second SRS port of SRS resource#0 is associated with both physical antenna 3 and physical antenna 4, and so on.

[0284] Optionally, SRS resource#0 and SRS resource#1 use the same antenna set and different weighting values ​​to send SRS signals. And / or SRS resource#2 and SRS resource#3 use the same antenna set and different weighting values ​​to send SRS signals. Since the switching of different weighting values ​​of the same antenna set does not require the introduction of symbol-level protection intervals, if the time domain resources occupied by SRS resource#0 and SRS resource#1 configured by the network device have a protection interval, or if the time domain resources occupied by SRS resource#2 and SRS resource#3 have a protection interval, the terminal device can perform normal uplink transmission or downlink reception within the above-mentioned protection interval, thereby improving resource utilization.

[0285] For example, SRS resource #0 and SRS resource #2 or SRS resource #3 use different antennas to transmit SRS signals, and the antenna for transmitting the SRS signal is dynamically selected by switching. Switching the antenna associated with the transmission channel requires a processing delay of Y symbols. If there is a protection interval in the time domain resources occupied by SRS resource #0 and SRS resource #2, SRS resource #0 and SRS resource #3, SRS resource #1 and SRS resource #2, or SRS resource #1 and SRS resource #3 configured by the network device, the terminal device does not perform any uplink transmission or downlink reception within the protection interval.

[0286] The third method is to send SRS by switching antennas.

[0287] This is to increase the completeness of the solution, or to facilitate the adaptation of existing technologies.

[0288] In this manner, the terminal device sends the SRS corresponding to the first SRS port and the second SRS port of the first SRS resource based on the first antenna set, and sends the SRS corresponding to the third SRS port and the fourth SRS port of the second SRS resource based on the second antenna set.

[0289] This approach can also be understood as using different antennas to send SRS signals.

[0290] For example, assuming x=2, y=4, the terminal device can use antenna switching to send SRS as shown in Figure 11. The terminal device uses 4 antenna ports for downlink reception and 2 antenna ports for uplink transmission; each antenna port can be associated with 1 physical antenna, and physical antenna 1 is used to send SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated to SRS port #0 of SRS resource#0, and physical antenna 3 is used to send SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated to SRS port #1 of SRS resource#0, and physical antenna 2 is used to send SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated to SRS port #0 of SRS resource#1, and physical antenna 4 is used to send SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated to SRS port #1 of SRS resource#1.

[0291] Optionally, physical antenna 1 and physical antenna 2 are connected to the same RF channel, and a switch is used to dynamically select whether the transmission channel uses physical antenna 1 to send signals or physical antenna 2 to send signals. Physical antenna 3 and physical antenna 4 are connected to the same RF channel, and a switch is used to dynamically select whether the transmission channel uses physical antenna 3 to send signals or physical antenna 4 to send signals. Switching the antennas associated with the transmission channel requires a processing delay of Y symbols, during which the terminal device does not perform any uplink transmission or downlink reception.

[0292] For example, assuming that x=2, y=8, the terminal device can use antenna switching to send SRS as shown in Figure 12. The terminal device uses 8 antenna ports for downlink reception and 2 antenna ports for uplink transmission; each antenna port can be associated with 1 physical antenna, and physical antenna 1 is used to send SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #0 of SRS resource#0, physical antenna 3 is used to send SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #1 of SRS resource#0, physical antenna 2 is used to send SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #0 of SRS resource#1, physical antenna 4 is used to send SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #1 of SRS resource#1, physical antenna 5 is used to send SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #0 of SRS resource#2, physical antenna 7 is used to send SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #1 of SRS resource#2, and physical antenna 8 is used to send SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated by SRS port #1 of SRS resource#2. Physical antenna 6 is used to transmit SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated to SRS port #0 of resource #3, and physical antenna 8 is used to transmit SRS signals on the time-frequency domain resources allocated to SRS port #1 of SRS resource #3. Optionally, physical antenna 1 and physical antenna 2 are connected to the same RF channel, and a switch is used to dynamically select whether to use physical antenna 1 or physical antenna 2 for signal transmission. Physical antenna 3 and physical antenna 4 are connected to the same RF channel, and a switch is used to dynamically select whether to use physical antenna 3 or physical antenna 4 for signal transmission, and so on. Switching the antennas associated with the transmission channel requires a processing delay of Y symbols, during which the terminal device does not perform any uplink transmission or downlink reception.

[0293] It is understandable that, in the above example, each antenna port may also be associated with multiple physical antennas, x may also be other values, y may also be other values, etc., and the specific values ​​are not limited here.

[0294] In an embodiment of the present application, on the one hand, when the uplink antenna architecture and downlink antenna architecture of a terminal device are asymmetric, a first SRS is transmitted through a first SRS resource configured by a network device, and a second SRS is transmitted through a second SRS resource, and the transmission beam of the first SRS resource is different from the transmission beam of the second SRS resource, thereby meeting the requirement for measuring downlink channel state information when the uplink and downlink antenna structures of the terminal device are different. Then, a weighted value of downlink transmission data is calculated to implement SRS-based downlink transmission, thereby improving cell or user-level capacity.

[0295] On the other hand, different SRS signals are sent using different weighting values ​​through the same antenna set. Since switching between different weighting values ​​within the same antenna set does not require the introduction of symbol-level guard intervals, if the time domain resources occupied by different SRS resources configured by the network device have guard intervals, the terminal device can perform normal uplink transmission and / or downlink reception within the guard interval, thereby improving resource utilization and the communication capabilities of the terminal device.

[0296] On the other hand, network devices can improve the perception capabilities of network devices and the accuracy of resource configuration through terminal devices reporting capability information related to terminal device antenna ports, thereby reducing redundant resource configuration and reducing resource waste.

[0297] On the other hand, for terminal devices using the DBF architecture, there is no need to configure beam scanning and QCL-typeD indication, thereby reducing the configuration information content.

[0298] On the other hand, the method provided in this application can also combine antenna switching with beam antennas to send SRS in a variety of possible ways, thereby making subsequent downlink calculations based on SRS more comprehensive and improving communication quality.

[0299] The above describes the SRS sending method in the embodiment of the present application. The following describes the communication device in the embodiment of the present application. Please refer to Figure 13, which is an embodiment of a communication device 1300 in the embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1300 can implement the functions of the communication device in the above method embodiment (the communication device is a terminal device), and therefore can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiment. In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device 1300 can be a communication device, or it can be an integrated circuit or component inside the communication device, such as a chip. The communication device 1300 includes: a transceiver unit 1301 and a processing unit 1302.

[0300] In one possible implementation, the communication device 1300 is the terminal device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 1A to FIG. 12 . In this case, the functions of each unit are as follows:

[0301] The transceiver unit 1301 is configured to receive first configuration information from a network device, where the first configuration information indicates a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource; the first configuration information is used to configure an uplink SRS resource of a terminal device, where the uplink SRS resource is used for downlink channel state information measurement or for instructing the terminal device to send an SRS by antenna switching;

[0302] The processing unit 1302 is configured to generate a first SRS and a second SRS.

[0303] The transceiver unit 1301 is also used to send the first SRS and the second SRS to the network device. The first SRS resource is used to carry the first SRS, and the second SRS resource is used to carry the second SRS. The first SRS resource is different from the second SRS resource, and the transmission beam of the first SRS resource is different from the transmission beam of the second SRS resource.

[0304] Optionally, the first SRS resource includes a first SRS port and a second SRS port, and the second SRS resource includes a third SRS port and a fourth SRS port.

[0305] Optionally, the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource further satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0306] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with the same transmitting antenna; or

[0307] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with different transmit beams; or

[0308] The transmitting antenna associated with at least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource is the same; or

[0309] At least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource are associated with different transmission beams.

[0310] Optionally, the first configuration information is further used to indicate a third SRS resource, where the third SRS resource is associated with a different transmitting antenna than the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource.

[0311] Optionally, protection symbols are configured between different SRS resources, and at least one of the following conditions is met:

[0312] The first SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; or

[0313] The second SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain;

[0314] Wherein, Y is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0315] Optionally, the value of Y is related to the subcarrier spacing.

[0316] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1301 is further used to send capability information related to the antenna port of the terminal device.

[0317] Optionally, the capability information includes at least one of the following:

[0318] The beamforming mode of the receiving antenna port of the communication device is different from the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port; or

[0319] The number of transmit antennas associated with an uplink pilot port of the communication device is not equal to the number of receive antennas associated with a downlink pilot port; or

[0320] The downlink transmission capability and uplink reception capability of the communication device are different; or

[0321] The number of antenna ports for downlink reception of the communication device is different from the number of antenna ports for uplink transmission; or

[0322] The number of physical antennas associated with each receiving radio frequency chain and each transmitting radio frequency chain of the communication device is different; or

[0323] The downlink receiving antenna structure of the communication device is different from the uplink transmitting antenna structure.

[0324] Optionally, the beamforming method includes one or more of the following: digital domain beamforming, analog domain beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

[0325] Optionally, the number of protection symbols of the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource is less than Y symbols.

[0326] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1301 is further configured to receive or send a signal within a protection symbol.

[0327] In this embodiment, the operations performed by each unit in the communication device are similar to the description of the terminal device in the embodiments shown in Figures 1A to 12 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0328] In this embodiment, when the uplink antenna architecture and downlink antenna architecture of the terminal device are asymmetric, the first SRS is sent through the first SRS resource configured by the network device, and the second SRS is sent through the second SRS resource. The transmission spatial domain filtering of the first SRS resource is different from the transmission spatial domain filtering of the second SRS resource, thereby meeting the measurement requirements of downlink channel state information when the uplink and downlink antenna structures of the terminal device are different. Then, the downlink transmission data weighting value is calculated to achieve downlink transmission based on SRS, thereby improving cell or user-level capacity. On the other hand, different SRS signals are sent using different weighting values ​​through the same antenna set. Since the switching of different weighting values ​​of the same antenna set does not require the introduction of symbol-level guard intervals, if the time domain resources occupied by different SRS resources configured by the network device have a guard interval, the terminal device can perform normal uplink transmission and / or downlink reception within the guard interval, thereby improving resource utilization and the communication capability of the terminal device. On the other hand, the network device can improve the perception capability of the network device and the accuracy of resource configuration by reporting capability information related to the terminal device antenna port through the terminal device, thereby reducing redundant resource configuration and reducing resource waste. On the other hand, for terminal devices using the DBF architecture, there is no need to configure beam scanning and QCL-typeD indication, thereby reducing the configuration information content. On the other hand, the method provided in this application can also combine antenna switching with beam antennas to send SRS in multiple possible ways, making subsequent downlink calculations based on SRS more comprehensive and improving communication quality.

[0329] In another possible implementation, the communication device 1300 is the network device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 1A to FIG. 12 . In this case, the functions of the various units are as follows:

[0330] The transceiver unit 1301 is configured to send first configuration information to a terminal device, where the first configuration information indicates a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource, and the first configuration information is used to configure downlink channel state information measurement;

[0331] The transceiver unit 1301 is further used to receive the first SRS and the second SRS sent by the terminal device. The first SRS resource is used to carry the first SRS, and the second SRS resource is used to carry the second SRS. The transmission beam of the first SRS resource is different from the transmission beam of the second SRS resource.

[0332] The processing unit 1302 is configured to determine first configuration information.

[0333] Optionally, the above-mentioned transceiver unit 1301 is further used to receive capability information from the terminal device, where the capability information is related to the antenna port of the terminal device.

[0334] Optionally, the capability information includes at least one of the following:

[0335] The beamforming mode of the terminal device's receiving antenna port is different from the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port; or

[0336] The number of transmit antennas associated with an uplink pilot port of the terminal device is not equal to the number of receive antennas associated with a downlink pilot port; or

[0337] The number of antenna ports for downlink reception of the terminal device is different from the number of antenna ports for uplink transmission; or

[0338] The number of physical antennas associated with each receive RF chain and each transmit RF chain of the terminal device is different; or

[0339] The downlink receiving antenna structure of the terminal device is different from the uplink transmitting antenna structure.

[0340] Optionally, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to determine the first configuration information according to capability information of the terminal device.

[0341] Optionally, the above-mentioned beamforming methods include one or more of the following: digital domain beamforming, analog domain beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

[0342] Optionally, the above-mentioned transceiver unit 1301 is further used to configure pilot resources for beam management or quasi-co-location type QCL-type D reference signals to the terminal device based on the capability information.

[0343] Optionally, the above-mentioned transceiver unit 1301 is specifically used to configure pilot resources and / or QCL-typeD reference signals for beam management only for uplink transmission when the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port of the terminal device is hybrid beamforming, and when the beamforming mode of the receiving antenna port of the terminal device is digital domain beamforming, and the pilot resources and / or QCL-typeD reference signals for beam management are not configured for downlink transmission.

[0344] Optionally, the number of protection symbols of the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource is less than Y symbols.

[0345] Optionally, the above protection symbol is used for a terminal device to receive or send a signal.

[0346] Optionally, the first SRS resource includes a first SRS port and a second SRS port, and the second SRS resource includes a third SRS port and a fourth SRS port.

[0347] Optionally, the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource further satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0348] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with the same transmitting antenna; or

[0349] The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with different transmit beams; or

[0350] The transmitting antenna associated with at least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource is the same; or

[0351] At least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource are associated with different transmission beams.

[0352] Optionally, the first configuration information further includes a third SRS resource, and the third SRS resource is associated with a different transmitting antenna than the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource.

[0353] Optionally, protection symbols are configured between the different SRS resources, and at least one of the following conditions is met:

[0354] The first SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; or

[0355] The second SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; where Y is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0356] Optionally, the value of the above Y is related to the subcarrier spacing.

[0357] In this embodiment, the operations performed by each unit in the communication device are similar to the description of the network device in the embodiments shown in Figures 1A to 12 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0358] In this embodiment, the network device can determine the terminal device's antenna port-related information based on the capability information reported by the terminal device. Based on the capability information, the network device can configure the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource for the terminal device, thereby meeting the downlink channel state information measurement requirements when the terminal device has different uplink and downlink antenna structures. The network device then calculates the downlink transmission data weighting value, implements SRS-based downlink transmission, and improves cell or user-level capacity.

[0359] Please refer to Figure 14, which is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1400 provided in this application. The communication device 1400 includes a logic circuit 1401 and an input / output interface 1402. The communication device 1400 may be a chip or an integrated circuit.

[0360] The transceiver unit 1301 shown in FIG13 may be a communication interface, which may be the input / output interface 1402 in FIG14 , which may include an input interface and an output interface. Alternatively, the communication interface may be a transceiver circuit, which may include an input interface circuit and an output interface circuit. The processing unit 1302 shown in FIG13 may be the logic circuit 1401 in FIG14 .

[0361] Optionally, when the communication device is a terminal device in the aforementioned embodiment, the logic circuit 1401 is used to determine the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource based on the first configuration information. The input and output interface 1402 is used to receive the configuration information and send the first SRS and the second SRS. The configuration information includes the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource; the first configuration information is used for downlink channel state information measurement or antenna switching. The first SRS resource is used to carry the first SRS, and the second SRS resource is used to carry the second SRS. The first SRS resource is different from the second SRS resource, and the transmit beam of the first SRS resource is different from the transmit beam of the second SRS resource.

[0362] Optionally, when the communication apparatus is the network device in the aforementioned embodiment, the logic circuit 1401 is used to determine the first configuration information. The input / output interface 1402 is used to receive capability information, send the first configuration information, and receive the first SRS and the second SRS.

[0363] The logic circuit 1401 and the input / output interface 1402 may also execute other steps executed by the terminal device or the network device in any embodiment and achieve corresponding beneficial effects, which will not be described in detail here.

[0364] Optionally, the logic circuit 1401 may be a processing device, and the functions of the processing device may be partially or entirely implemented by software. The functions of the processing device may be partially or entirely implemented by software.

[0365] Optionally, the processing device may include a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor reads and executes the computer program stored in the memory to perform corresponding processing and / or steps in any one of the method embodiments.

[0366] Alternatively, the processing device may include only a processor. A memory for storing the computer program is located outside the processing device, and the processor is connected to the memory via circuits / wires to read and execute the computer program stored in the memory. The memory and processor may be integrated or physically separate.

[0367] Optionally, the processing device may be one or more chips, or one or more integrated circuits. For example, the processing device may be one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), system-on-chips (SoCs), central processor units (CPUs), network processors (NPs), digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontroller units (MCUs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or other integrated chips, or any combination of the above chips or processors.

[0368] Please refer to FIG. 15 , which shows a communication device 1500 involved in the above embodiments provided in an embodiment of the present application. Specifically, the communication device 1500 may be a communication device serving as a terminal device in the above embodiments.

[0369] Herein, a possible logical structure diagram of the communication device 1500 is shown. The communication device 1500 may include but is not limited to at least one processor 1501 and a communication port 1502 .

[0370] The transceiver unit 1301 shown in FIG13 may be a communication interface, which may be the communication port 1502 in FIG15 , which may include an input interface and an output interface. Alternatively, the communication port 1502 may be a transceiver circuit, which may include an input interface circuit and an output interface circuit.

[0371] It is understandable that the communication port 1502 in FIG. 15 may transmit the SRS signal by beam switching and / or antenna switching.

[0372] Further optionally, the device may also include at least one of a memory 1503 and a bus. In an embodiment of the present application, the at least one processor 1501 is used to control and process the actions of the communication device 1500.

[0373] In addition, processor 1501 can be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of this application. The processor can also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, and so on. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that for the sake of convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0374] It should be noted that the communication device 1500 shown in Figure 15 can be specifically used to implement the steps implemented by the terminal device in the aforementioned method embodiment and achieve the corresponding technical effects of the terminal device. The specific implementation methods of the communication device shown in Figure 15 can refer to the description in the aforementioned method embodiment and will not be repeated here.

[0375] Please refer to Figure 16, which is a structural diagram of the communication device 1600 involved in the above-mentioned embodiments provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1600 can specifically be a communication device serving as a network device in the above-mentioned embodiments, wherein the structure of the communication device can refer to the structure shown in Figure 16.

[0376] The communication device 1600 includes at least one processor 1611 and at least one network interface 1614. Further optionally, the communication device also includes at least one memory 1612, at least one transceiver 1613 and one or more antennas 1615. The processor 1611, the memory 1612, the transceiver 1613 and the network interface 1614 are connected, for example, via a bus. In an embodiment of the present application, the connection may include various interfaces, transmission lines or buses, etc., which are not limited in this embodiment. The antenna 1615 is connected to the transceiver 1613. The network interface 1614 is used to enable the communication device to communicate with other communication devices through a communication link. For example, the network interface 1614 may include a network interface between the communication device and the core network device, such as an S1 interface, and the network interface may include a network interface between the communication device and other communication devices (such as other network devices or core network devices), such as an X2 or Xn interface.

[0377] The transceiver unit 1301 shown in FIG13 may be a communication interface, which may be the network interface 1614 in FIG16 , which may include an input interface and an output interface. Alternatively, the network interface 1614 may be a transceiver circuit, which may include an input interface circuit and an output interface circuit.

[0378] Processor 1611 is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process software program data, for example, to support the communication device in performing the actions described in the embodiments. A communication device may include a baseband processor and a central processing unit. The baseband processor is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the central processing unit is primarily used to control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process software program data. Processor 1611 in Figure 16 may integrate the functions of both a baseband processor and a central processing unit. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the baseband processor and the central processing unit may also be independent processors interconnected via a bus or other technology. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a communication device may include multiple baseband processors to accommodate different network standards, multiple central processing units to enhance processing capabilities, and various components of the communication device may be connected via various buses. The baseband processor may also be referred to as a baseband processing circuit or a baseband processing chip. The central processing unit may also be referred to as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip. The functionality for processing communication protocols and communication data may be built into the processor or stored in memory as a software program, which is executed by the processor to implement the baseband processing functionality.

[0379] The memory is primarily used to store software programs and data. Memory 1612 can exist independently and be connected to processor 1611. Alternatively, memory 1612 can be integrated with processor 1611, for example, within a single chip. Memory 1612 can store program code for executing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and execution is controlled by processor 1611. The various computer program codes executed can also be considered drivers for processor 1611.

[0380] Figure 16 shows only one memory and one processor. In an actual communication device, there may be multiple processors and multiple memories. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or storage device. The memory may be a storage element on the same chip as the processor, i.e., an on-chip storage element, or an independent storage element, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0381] The transceiver 1613 can be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency signals between the communication device and the terminal. The transceiver 1613 can be connected to the antenna 1615. The transceiver 1613 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx. Specifically, one or more antennas 1615 can receive radio frequency signals. The receiver Rx of the transceiver 1613 is used to receive the radio frequency signal from the antenna, convert the radio frequency signal into a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal, and provide the digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal to the processor 1611 so that the processor 1611 can further process the digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal, such as demodulation and decoding. In addition, the transmitter Tx in the transceiver 1613 is also used to receive a modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal from the processor 1611, convert the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal into a radio frequency signal, and transmit the radio frequency signal through one or more antennas 1615. Specifically, the receiver Rx can selectively perform one or more stages of down-mixing and analog-to-digital conversion on the RF signal to obtain a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal. The order of the down-mixing and analog-to-digital conversion processes is adjustable. The transmitter Tx can selectively perform one or more stages of up-mixing and digital-to-analog conversion on the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal to obtain a RF signal. The order of the up-mixing and digital-to-analog conversion processes is adjustable. The digital baseband signal and the digital intermediate frequency signal may be collectively referred to as digital signals.

[0382] The transceiver 1613 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver device, etc. Optionally, a device in the transceiver unit that implements a receiving function may be referred to as a receiving unit, and a device in the transceiver unit that implements a transmitting function may be referred to as a transmitting unit. That is, the transceiver unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit may also be referred to as a receiver, an input port, a receiving circuit, etc., and the transmitting unit may be referred to as a transmitter, a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

[0383] It should be noted that the communication device 1600 shown in Figure 16 can be specifically used to implement the steps implemented by the network device in the aforementioned method embodiment, and to achieve the corresponding technical effects of the network device. The specific implementation method of the communication device 1600 shown in Figure 16 can refer to the description in the aforementioned method embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0384] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used to store one or more computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the processor executes the method described in the possible implementation methods of the terminal device or network device in the above embodiments.

[0385] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product (or computer program). When the computer program product is executed by the processor, the processor executes the method of the possible implementation mode of the above-mentioned terminal device or network device.

[0386] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip system, which includes at least one processor for supporting a communication device to implement the functions involved in the possible implementation methods of the above-mentioned communication device. Optionally, the chip system also includes an interface circuit, which provides program instructions and / or data to the at least one processor. In one possible design, the chip system may also include a memory, which is used to store the necessary program instructions and data for the communication device. The chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices, wherein the communication device can specifically be a terminal device or a network device in the aforementioned method embodiment.

[0387] An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, which includes the terminal device and network device in any of the above embodiments.

[0388] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0389] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0390] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0391] When the above-mentioned communication device is a chip applied to a terminal, the terminal chip implements the functions of the terminal in the above-mentioned method embodiment. When the terminal chip receives information from the base station, it can be understood that the information is first received by other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or antenna) and then sent to the terminal chip by these modules. When the terminal chip sends information to the base station, it can be understood that the information is first sent to other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or antenna) and then sent to the base station by these modules.

[0392] When the above-mentioned communication device is a chip applied to a base station, the base station chip implements the functions of the base station in the above-mentioned method embodiment. When the base station chip receives information from the terminal, it can be understood that the information is first received by other modules in the base station (such as a radio frequency module or antenna) and then sent to the base station chip by these modules. When the base station chip sends information to the terminal, it can be understood that the information is sent to other modules in the base station (such as a radio frequency module or antenna) and then sent to the terminal by these modules.

[0393] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0394] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions that can be executed by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disk, mobile hard disk, CD-ROM or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. The processor and storage medium can also exist in a base station or a terminal as discrete components.

[0395] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions may be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; an optical medium, such as a digital video disk; or a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0396] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0397] It is understood that the various numbers used in the embodiments of this application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not necessarily imply a specific order of execution; the order of execution of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic.

Claims

1. A method for sending a sounding reference signal (SRS), characterized in that: The method is applied to a terminal device, and the method comprises: Receive first configuration information from a network device, where the first configuration information indicates a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource; the first configuration information is used for downlink channel state information measurement or for instructing the terminal device to send an SRS by antenna switching; A first SRS and a second SRS are sent to the network device, wherein the first SRS resource is used to carry the first SRS, the second SRS resource is used to carry the second SRS, and a transmission beam of the first SRS resource is different from a transmission beam of the second SRS resource.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first SRS resource includes a first SRS port and a second SRS port, and the second SRS resource includes a third SRS port and a fourth SRS port.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource also satisfy at least one of the following: The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with the same transmitting antenna; or The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with different transmission beams; or The transmitting antenna associated with at least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource is the same; or At least one SRS port of the first SRS resource and at least one SRS port of the second SRS resource are associated with different transmission beams.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The first configuration information further includes a third SRS resource, and the third SRS resource is associated with a different transmitting antenna than the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that Protection symbols are configured between different SRS resources and at least one of the following conditions is met: The first SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; or The second SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least the Y symbols in the time domain; Wherein, Y is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The value of Y is related to the subcarrier spacing.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that Before receiving the first configuration information from the network device, the method further includes: Send capability information related to the antenna port of the terminal device.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The capability information includes at least one of the following: The beamforming mode of the receiving antenna port of the terminal device is different from the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port; or The number of transmitting antennas associated with an uplink pilot port of the terminal device is not equal to the number of receiving antennas associated with a downlink pilot port; or The number of antenna ports for downlink reception of the terminal device is different from the number of antenna ports for uplink transmission; or The number of physical antennas associated with each receiving radio frequency chain and each transmitting radio frequency chain of the terminal device is different; or The downlink receiving antenna structure and the uplink transmitting antenna structure of the terminal device are different.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The beamforming method includes one or more of the following: digital domain beamforming, analog domain beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that The number of guard symbols of the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource is less than Y symbols.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The terminal device receives or sends a signal within the protection symbol.

12. A resource configuration method, characterized in that: The method is applied to a network device, and the method comprises: Sending first configuration information to a terminal device, where the first configuration information indicates a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource, and the first configuration information is used for downlink channel state information measurement or for instructing the terminal device to send an SRS by antenna switching; A first SRS and a second SRS are received from the terminal device, wherein the first SRS resource is used to carry the first SRS, the second SRS resource is used to carry the second SRS, and a transmission beam of the first SRS resource is different from a transmission beam of the second SRS resource.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The method further comprises: Capability information is received from the terminal device, where the capability information is related to an antenna port of the terminal device.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The capability information includes at least one of the following: The beamforming mode of the receiving antenna port of the terminal device is different from the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port; or The number of transmitting antennas associated with an uplink pilot port of the terminal device is not equal to the number of receiving antennas associated with a downlink pilot port; or The number of antenna ports for downlink reception of the terminal device is different from the number of antenna ports for uplink transmission; or The number of physical antennas associated with each receiving radio frequency chain and each transmitting radio frequency chain of the terminal device is different; or The downlink receiving antenna structure and the uplink transmitting antenna structure of the terminal device are different.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The beamforming method includes one or more of the following: digital domain beamforming, analog domain beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: Based on the capability information, pilot resources for beam management and / or quasi-co-location type QCL-type D reference signals are configured to the terminal device.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The configuring, to the terminal device based on the capability information, a pilot resource or a quasi co-location type QCL-typeD reference signal for beam management, comprises: When the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port of the terminal device is hybrid beamforming, and when the beamforming mode of the receiving antenna port of the terminal device is digital domain beamforming, the pilot resources for beam management and / or the QCL-typeD reference signal are configured for uplink transmission, and the pilot resources for beam management and / or the QCL-typeD reference signal are not configured for downlink transmission.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that The number of guard symbols of the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource is less than Y symbols.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The protection symbol is used by the terminal device to receive or send a signal.

20. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device comprises: A transceiver unit, configured to receive first configuration information from a network device, wherein the first configuration information indicates a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource; the first configuration information is used for downlink channel state information measurement or for instructing the terminal device to send an SRS by antenna switching; A processing unit, configured to generate a first SRS and a second SRS; The transceiver unit is further used to send the first SRS and the second SRS to the network device, the first SRS resource is used to carry the first SRS, the second SRS resource is used to carry the second SRS, and the transmission beam of the first SRS resource is different from the transmission beam of the second SRS resource.

21. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that The first SRS resource includes a first SRS port and a second SRS port, and the second SRS resource includes a third SRS port and a fourth SRS port.

22. The device according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource also satisfy at least one of the following: The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with the same transmitting antenna; or The first SRS resource and the second SRS resource are associated with different transmission beams; or The at least one antenna port of the first SRS resource is associated with the same transmitting antenna as the at least one antenna port of the second SRS resource; or The transmission beam associated with at least one antenna port of the first SRS resource and at least one antenna port of the second SRS resource is different.

23. The device according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that The first configuration information further includes a third SRS resource, and the third SRS resource is associated with a different transmitting antenna than the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource.

24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that Protection symbols are configured between different SRS resources and at least one of the following conditions is met: The first SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least Y symbols in the time domain; or The second SRS resource and the third SRS resource are separated by at least the Y symbols in the time domain; Wherein, Y is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

25. The device according to claim 24, characterized in that The value of Y is related to the subcarrier spacing.

26. The device according to any one of claims 20 to 25, characterized in that The transceiver unit is also used to send capability information related to the antenna port of the communication device.

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that The capability information includes at least one of the following: The beamforming mode of the receiving antenna port of the communication device is different from the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port; or The number of transmitting antennas associated with an uplink pilot port of the communication device is not equal to the number of receiving antennas associated with a downlink pilot port; or The downlink transmission capability and uplink reception capability of the communication device are different; or The number of antenna ports for downlink reception of the communication device is different from the number of antenna ports for uplink transmission; or The number of physical antennas associated with each receiving radio frequency chain and each transmitting radio frequency chain of the communication device is different; or The downlink receiving antenna structure of the communication device is different from the uplink transmitting antenna structure.

28. The device according to claim 27, characterized in that The beamforming method includes one or more of the following: digital domain beamforming, analog domain beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

29. The device according to any one of claims 26 to 28, characterized in that The number of guard symbols of the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource is less than Y symbols.

30. The device according to claim 29, characterized in that The transceiver unit is further configured to receive or send a signal within the protection symbol.

31. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device comprises: A processing unit, configured to determine first configuration information, where the first configuration information indicates a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource, and the first configuration information is used for downlink channel state information measurement or for instructing the terminal device to send an SRS by antenna switching; A transceiver unit, configured to send the first configuration information to a terminal device; The transceiver unit is also used to receive a first SRS and a second SRS from the terminal device, the first SRS resource is used to carry the first SRS, the second SRS resource is used to carry the second SRS, and a transmission beam of the first SRS resource is different from a transmission beam of the second SRS resource.

32. The communication device according to claim 31, characterized in that The transceiver unit is further used to receive capability information from the terminal device, where the capability information is related to an antenna port of the terminal device.

33. The communication device according to claim 32, characterized in that: The capability information includes at least one of the following: The beamforming mode of the receiving antenna port of the terminal device is different from the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port; or The number of transmitting antennas associated with an uplink pilot port of the terminal device is not equal to the number of receiving antennas associated with a downlink pilot port; or The number of antenna ports for downlink reception of the terminal device is different from the number of antenna ports for uplink transmission; or The number of physical antennas associated with each receiving radio frequency chain and each transmitting radio frequency chain of the terminal device is different; or The downlink receiving antenna structure and the uplink transmitting antenna structure of the terminal device are different.

34. The communication device according to claim 33, characterized in that The beamforming method includes one or more of the following: digital domain beamforming, analog domain beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

35. The communication device according to any one of claims 32 to 34, characterized in that: The processing unit is further configured to determine a pilot resource and / or a quasi co-location type QCL-typeD reference signal for beam management based on the capability information; The transceiver unit is also used to configure the pilot resources used for beam management and / or quasi-co-location type QCL-type D reference signal to the terminal device.

36. The communication device according to claim 35, characterized in that The transceiver unit is also used to configure the pilot resources for beam management and / or the QCL-typeD reference signal for uplink transmission when the beamforming mode of the transmitting antenna port of the terminal device is hybrid beamforming and the beamforming mode of the receiving antenna port of the terminal device is digital domain beamforming, and the pilot resources for beam management and / or the QCL-typeD reference signal are not configured for downlink transmission.

37. The communication device according to any one of claims 31 to 36, characterized in that: The number of guard symbols of the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource is less than Y symbols.

38. The communication device according to claim 37, characterized in that: The protection symbol is used by the terminal device to receive or send a signal.

39. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises at least one processor coupled to a memory; the at least one processor is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

40. The communication device according to claim 39, characterized in that The communication device is a chip.

41. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises at least one processor coupled to a memory; the at least one processor is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 12 to 19.

42. The communication device according to claim 40, characterized in that The communication device is a chip.

43. A communication system, characterized in that: Comprises the communication device as claimed in claim 40 and the communication device as claimed in claim 41.

44. A readable storage medium, characterized in that The storage medium stores a computer program or an instruction, and when the computer program or the instruction is executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 19 is implemented.

45. A computer program product, characterized in that The method comprises instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

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