Measurement configuration method and apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a measurement configuration method and apparatus. The method comprises: a first terminal device receives first configuration information, wherein the first configuration information is used by the first terminal device to perform first measurement on at least one neighboring cell, and the first measurement is measuring time domain information where a reference signal of the at least one neighboring cell is respectively located; then the first terminal device sends, to a corresponding access network device, target measurement information comprising the time domain information where the reference signal of the at least one neighboring cell is respectively located. Thus, on the basis of the target measurement information obtained by the first terminal device by means of measurement, the access network device can effectively and accurately configure, for served terminal devices (comprising the first terminal device), a timing configuration for measuring the reference signal of the neighboring cell.

Description

A measurement configuration method and device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on November 30, 2023, with application number 202311638445.8 and application name "A Measurement Configuration Method and Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a measurement configuration method and device. Background Art

[0004] In application scenarios such as handover and cell reselection, the selection of the target cell is generally based on the neighboring cell measurement results of the terminal device; common measurement methods may include: the terminal device performs measurements based on the frequency sent in the system message and the SSB-based measurement timing configuration (SMTC) based on the synchronization signal / physical broadcast channe block (SSB); or the base station first sends the SSB measurement timing configuration SMTC to the terminal device, and then the terminal device performs relevant measurements on the SSB according to the SMTC of the SSB, generates a measurement report, and then reports the measurement report to the base station. The SMTC includes measurement objects (including SSB frequency, SSB subcarrier spacing, SMTC configuration, whitelist and blacklist cells, etc.), report configuration (such as the method of triggering the measurement report and the format of the measurement report), etc. Regardless of which of the above measurement methods is used, the SMTC can be configured based on the frequency point or based on different cells on the frequency point.

[0005] Typically, two base stations, such as two new radio (NR) base stations (source base station and target base station), can exchange the SMTC of their respective serving cells and / or neighboring cells through the Xn interface. However, in the absence of the Xn interface, the two base stations cannot exchange their respective SMTCs, which will result in the source base station being unable to accurately send the SMTC for measuring neighboring cells or neighboring frequencies to the terminal device being served, thereby failing to ensure the accuracy of the SSB measurement performed by the terminal device.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application proposes a measurement configuration method and apparatus, which can enable a network device to effectively configure timing configuration information for a served terminal device for measuring a reference signal of a neighboring cell.

[0008] In the first aspect, the present application implements a measurement configuration method, which can be executed by a first terminal device, or by a chip or chip system corresponding to the first terminal device, without specific limitation. Taking the first terminal device as an example, the method may include: the first terminal device receives first configuration information, the first configuration information is used by the first terminal device to perform a first measurement on at least one neighboring cell, the first measurement is to measure the time domain information where the reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are respectively located; the first terminal device sends target measurement information to the first access network device, the target measurement information includes the time domain information where the reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are respectively located.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present application, a first access network device serves as an access network device serving a first terminal device. The first terminal device may receive first configuration information from the first access network device, where the first configuration information is used by the first terminal device to perform a first measurement on at least one neighboring cell, where the first measurement is to measure time domain information of reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell. The first terminal device then sends target measurement information including the time domain information of the reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell to the first access network device. The first access network device may then obtain the target measurement information based on the measurement of the first terminal device, and effectively and accurately configure the timing configuration for measuring the reference signals of the neighboring cells for each terminal device served (including the first terminal device).

[0010] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information includes information about the at least one neighboring cell and / or information about the adjacent frequency point corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell; the first configuration information is used to instruct the first terminal device to report target measurement information obtained by performing a first measurement on the at least one neighboring cell and / or the adjacent frequency point corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell.

[0011] Through this implementation, the first terminal device can flexibly perform the first measurement on the reference signal of the neighboring cell, or can effectively obtain the target measurement information by performing the first measurement on the corresponding frequency point of the neighboring cell.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first terminal device receives second configuration information from the first access network device, the second configuration information is determined by the first access network device based on the target measurement information, and the second configuration information is used to instruct the first terminal device to perform timing configuration for measuring the reference signal of the at least one neighboring cell.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present application, the reference signal may be, but is not limited to, a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block SSB; when the reference signal is SSB, the timing configuration may be a timing configuration SMTC measured by SSB.

[0014] In the embodiment of the present application, taking the first neighboring cell as an example, the first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell. When the time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell included in the target measurement information reported by the first terminal device is time slot information based on one or more timings, the following situations may be specifically included:

[0015] Case 1: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is the first time slot information with reference to the timing of the downlink reference signal of the serving cell received by the first terminal device.

[0016] Case 2: The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is the second time slot information with the timing of sending the downlink reference signal of the first neighboring cell as a reference.

[0017] Case 3: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is the third time slot information with reference to the timing of the service cell of the first terminal device sending the downlink reference signal.

[0018] In one possible implementation, when the target measurement information includes first time slot information, the target measurement information may also include, but is not limited to, at least one of the period of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, the number of reference signals, the type of the reference signal, the identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and the subcarrier spacing of the reference signal.

[0019] When the target measurement information includes the second time slot information, the target measurement information may also include, but is not limited to, at least one of a period of a reference signal of the first neighboring cell, third indication information, the number of reference signals, a pattern bitmap of the reference signal, a type of the reference signal, an identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and a subcarrier spacing of the reference signal; wherein the third indication information is used to indicate that the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located in the first half frame or the second half frame of the system radio frame of the first neighboring cell.

[0020] When the target measurement information includes the third time slot information, the target measurement information may also include but is not limited to at least one of the period of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, the number of reference signals, the type of the reference signal, the identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and the subcarrier spacing of the reference signal.

[0021] In the embodiment of the present application, taking the first neighboring cell as an example, the first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell. When the time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell included in the target measurement information reported by the first terminal device is time window information based on one or more timing references, the following situations may be specifically included:

[0022] Case 1: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is the first time window information with reference to the timing of the downlink reference signal of the serving cell received by the first terminal device.

[0023] Case 2: The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is second time window information with the timing of sending the downlink reference signal of the first neighboring cell as a reference.

[0024] Case 3: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is the third time window information with reference to the timing of the downlink reference signal sent by the serving cell of the first terminal device.

[0025] In the above, the first time window information, the second time window information, or the third time window information may include but is not limited to one or more of the length of the time window, the period of the time window, and the offset of the time window.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first terminal device sends one or more of the following to the first access network device: the timing difference between the timing of the reference signal of the service cell received by the first terminal device and the timing of the reference signal sent by the at least one neighboring cell, the first propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell of the first terminal device, the propagation delay corresponding to the first terminal device to at least one neighboring cell (the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell is referred to as the third propagation delay below, and the first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell), and the first propagation delay difference corresponding to at least one neighboring cell; wherein the first propagation delay difference corresponding to each neighboring cell is the difference between the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the corresponding neighboring cell and the first propagation delay.

[0027] In a second aspect, the present application implements a measurement configuration method, which can be executed by a first access network device, or by a chip or chip system corresponding to the first access network device, without specific limitation. Taking the first access network device as an example, the method may include: the first access network device sends first configuration information, the first configuration information is used by the first terminal device to perform a first measurement on at least one neighboring cell, the first measurement is to measure the time domain information where the reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are respectively located; the first access network device receives target measurement information from the first terminal device, the target measurement information includes the time domain information where the reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are respectively located.

[0028] In an embodiment of the present application, the first access network device serves as an access network device serving the first terminal device. The first access network device can send first configuration information to the first terminal device, and the first configuration information is used by the first terminal device to perform a first measurement on at least one neighboring cell. The first measurement is to measure the time domain information where the reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are respectively located; and then the first access network device receives target measurement information from the first terminal device, and the target measurement information includes the time domain information where the reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are respectively located. It can be seen that the first access network device can subsequently effectively and accurately configure the timing configuration for measuring the reference signals of the neighboring cells for each terminal device served (including the first terminal device) based on the target measurement information reported by the first terminal device.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information includes information about the at least one neighboring cell and / or information about the adjacent frequency point corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell; the first configuration information is used to instruct the first terminal device to report target measurement information obtained by performing a first measurement on the at least one neighboring cell and / or the adjacent frequency point corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, second configuration information of the target terminal device served by the first access network device, the second configuration information being used to indicate the timing configuration of the target terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the at least one neighboring cell, and the target terminal device includes the first terminal device; and the first access network device sends the second configuration information to the target terminal device.

[0031] Through this implementation, the first access network device can effectively configure the timing configuration of the reference signal of the measurement neighboring area for each terminal device served (including the first terminal device) based on the target measurement information measured and reported by the first terminal device, and send it down or instruct it to the corresponding terminal device.

[0032] In an embodiment of the present application, the reference signal may be, but is not limited to, a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block SSB; when the reference signal is SSB, the timing configuration may be a timing configuration SMTC measured by SSB.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first access network device may also receive one or more of the following sent by the first terminal device: the timing difference between the timing of the reference signal of the service cell received by the first terminal device and the timing of the reference signal sent by the at least one neighboring cell, the first propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell of the first terminal device, the propagation delay corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell, and the first propagation delay difference corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell; wherein the first propagation delay difference corresponding to each neighboring cell is the difference between the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the corresponding neighboring cell and the first propagation delay.

[0034] In an embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device sends target measurement information to the first access network device, so that the first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the target terminal device to perform measurement on a reference signal of at least one neighboring cell, including but not limited to the following implementations:

[0035] Implementation method 1: Taking the first neighboring cell as an example, the first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell, and the time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell sent by the first terminal device to the first access network device is the time slot information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The timing referenced by the time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell may exist in but is not limited to the following situations:

[0036] Case 1: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is the first time slot information with reference to the timing of the downlink reference signal of the serving cell received by the first terminal device.

[0037] In one possible implementation, for the above situation 1 (i.e., when the target measurement information includes the first time slot information), the target measurement information may also include at least one of the period of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, the number of reference signals, the type of the reference signal, the identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and the subcarrier spacing of the reference signal.

[0038] For case 1: the first access network device may determine the timing configuration performed by the first terminal device on the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information. The first access network device does not need to consider the propagation delay difference or the propagation delay difference value of the first terminal device.

[0039] In one possible implementation, if the target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, the method may further include: the first access network device may determine, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The second terminal device may be another terminal device served by the first access network device.

[0040] The first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, which may be implemented in the following manner:

[0041] Method 1: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay of the second terminal device, where the second propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the serving cell; the first access network device can determine the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first propagation delay, and the second propagation delay.

[0042] Method 1 takes into account the situation that the service cell is a non-terrestrial network NTN cell and the first neighboring cell is a terrestrial network TN cell. In this case, the distances between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and the service cell are large, and the propagation delay is large. However, the distances between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and the first neighboring cell are small, and the propagation delay is small and can be ignored. Therefore, the first access network device needs to consider the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell and the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the service cell to determine or configure the timing configuration for the second terminal device to measure the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. Method 1 is the same for the following situations.

[0043] Method 2: The first access network device obtains the fourth propagation delay of the second terminal device; the fourth propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell; the first access network device can determine the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the fourth propagation delay, and the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell (i.e., the third propagation delay).

[0044] Method 2 takes into account the situation that the service cell is a terrestrial network TN cell and the first neighboring cell is a non-terrestrial network NTN cell. In this case, the distance between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and the first neighboring cell is large, and the propagation delay is large. However, the distance between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and the service cell is small, and the propagation delay is small and can be ignored. Therefore, the first access network device needs to consider the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell and the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell to determine or configure the timing configuration for measuring the reference signal of the first neighboring cell for the second terminal device. Method 2 is the same for the following situations.

[0045] Method 3: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device, where the second propagation delay difference is the propagation delay difference between the second terminal device and the serving cell and the first neighboring cell (i.e., the difference between the above-mentioned second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay); the first access network device can determine the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first propagation delay difference corresponding to the first neighboring cell, and the second propagation delay difference.

[0046] Method 3 takes into account the situation where both the serving cell and the first neighboring cell are non-terrestrial network (NTN) cells. In this case, the first access network device needs to consider the propagation delays from the first terminal device to the serving cell and the first neighboring cell, respectively, to determine or configure the timing configuration for the second terminal device to measure the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. Method 3 applies similarly to the following situations.

[0047] It should be noted that, in addition to serving the first terminal device, the first access network device may also serve one or more other terminal devices. For any of these terminal devices, the first access network device can refer to the above-mentioned method for determining the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, and will not be described in detail here.

[0048] Case 2: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is second time slot information with reference to the timing of sending the downlink reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell.

[0049] In one possible implementation, for case 2, when the target measurement information includes the second time slot information, the target measurement information may also include, but is not limited to, at least one of the period of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, the third indication information, the number of reference signals, the pattern bitmap of the reference signal, the type of the reference signal, the identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and the subcarrier spacing of the reference signal; wherein the third indication information is used to indicate that the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located in the first half frame or the second half frame of the system radio frame of the first neighboring cell.

[0050] For case 2: the first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, the timing configuration executed by the first terminal device for the first neighboring cell. This may be implemented in the following manner:

[0051] Method 1: The first access network device determines the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the first propagation delay (i.e., the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell).

[0052] Method 2: The first access network device determines the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell (called the third propagation delay).

[0053] Method 3: The first access network device determines the timing configuration performed by the first terminal device on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the first propagation delay difference (that is, the difference between the above-mentioned first propagation delay and the third propagation delay).

[0054] In the above, the first timing difference is the difference between the timing at which the first terminal device receives the reference signal of the serving cell and the timing at which the first terminal device receives the reference signal of the first neighboring cell.

[0055] In one possible implementation, if the target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, the method may further include: the first access network device may determine, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration to be performed by the second terminal device on the first neighboring cell. The second terminal device may be another terminal device served by the first access network device.

[0056] The first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, which may be implemented in the following manner:

[0057] Method 1: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay of the second terminal device, where the second propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the service cell; the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the second propagation delay.

[0058] Method 2: The first access network device obtains the fourth propagation delay of the second terminal device, where the fourth propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell; the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the fourth propagation delay.

[0059] Method 3: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device, where the second propagation delay difference is the propagation delay difference between the second terminal device and the serving cell and the first neighboring cell (i.e., the difference between the above-mentioned second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay); the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the second propagation delay difference.

[0060] Case 3: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is the third time slot information with reference to the timing of the serving cell of the first terminal device sending the downlink reference signal. The first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell.

[0061] In one possible implementation, for case 3, when the target measurement information includes the third time slot information, the target measurement information may also include but is not limited to at least one of the period of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, the number of reference signals, the type of the reference signal, the identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and the subcarrier spacing of the reference signal.

[0062] For case 3: the first access network device determines the timing configuration executed by the first terminal device for the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information. This can be achieved in the following manner:

[0063] Method 1: The first access network device determines the timing configuration performed by the first terminal device on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information and the first propagation delay.

[0064] Method 2: The first access network device determines the timing configuration performed by the first terminal device on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information and the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell (i.e., the third propagation delay).

[0065] Method 3: The first access network device determines the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information and the first propagation delay difference (i.e., the difference between the above-mentioned first propagation delay and the third propagation delay).

[0066] In one possible implementation, if the target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, the method may further include: the first access network device may determine, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration to be performed by the second terminal device on the first neighboring cell. The second terminal device may be another terminal device served by the first access network device.

[0067] The first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, which may be implemented in the following manner:

[0068] Method 1: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay of the second terminal device, where the second propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the serving cell; the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information and the second propagation delay.

[0069] Method 2: The first access network device obtains the fourth propagation delay of the second terminal device, where the fourth propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell; the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information and the fourth propagation delay.

[0070] Method 3: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device, where the second propagation delay difference is the propagation delay difference between the second terminal device and the serving cell and the first neighboring cell (i.e., the difference between the above-mentioned second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay); the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information and the second propagation delay difference.

[0071] Implementation method 2: Taking the first neighboring cell as an example, the first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell, and the time domain information in which the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is sent by the first terminal device to the first access network device is the time window information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The timing referenced by the time window information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell may exist in but is not limited to the following situations:

[0072] Case 1: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is first time window information with reference to the timing of the first terminal device receiving the downlink reference signal of the serving cell. The first time window information may include but is not limited to at least one of the length of the time window, the period of the time window, and the offset of the time window.

[0073] For Case 1: The first access network device may determine the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the first time window information with reference to the timing at which the first terminal device receives the downlink reference signal of the serving cell. For example, the first access network device may use the first time window with reference to the timing at which the first terminal device receives the downlink reference signal of the serving cell as the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell.

[0074] In one possible implementation, if the target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, the method may further include: the first access network device may determine, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration to be performed by the second terminal device on the first neighboring cell. The second terminal device may be another terminal device served by the first access network device.

[0075] The first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, which may be implemented in the following manner:

[0076] Method 1: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay of the second terminal device; then determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the first time window information, the first timing difference, and the second propagation delay.

[0077] Method 2: The first access network device obtains the fourth propagation delay of the second terminal device, where the fourth propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell; and then determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the first time window information, the first timing difference, and the fourth propagation delay.

[0078] Method 3: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device (that is, the difference between the above-mentioned second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay); then determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the first time window information, the first timing difference, and the second propagation delay difference.

[0079] In the above, the first timing difference is the difference between the timing at which the first terminal device receives the reference signal of the serving cell and the timing at which the first neighboring cell sends the reference signal.

[0080] Case 2: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is second time window information with reference to the timing of the first neighboring cell sending the downlink reference signal. The second time window information may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the length of the time window, the period of the time window, and the offset of the time window.

[0081] For case 2: the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the second time window information, and the first propagation delay (i.e., the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell) or the third propagation delay (i.e., the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell) or the first propagation delay difference.

[0082] In one possible implementation, if the target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, the method may further include: the first access network device may determine, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The second terminal device may be another terminal device served by the first access network device.

[0083] The first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, which may be implemented in the following manner:

[0084] Method 1: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay of the second terminal device; the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the second time window information and the second propagation delay.

[0085] Method 2: The first access network device obtains the fourth propagation delay of the second terminal device (i.e., the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell); the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the second time window information and the fourth propagation delay.

[0086] Method 3: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device; the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the second time window information and the second propagation delay difference (i.e., the difference between the above-mentioned second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay).

[0087] Case 3: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is third time window information with reference to the timing of the downlink reference signal sent by the serving cell of the first terminal device. The third time window information includes one or more of the following: the length of the time window, the period of the time window, and the offset of the time window.

[0088] For case 3, the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the third time window information and the first propagation delay (i.e., the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell) or the third propagation delay (i.e., the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell).

[0089] In one possible implementation, if the target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, the method may further include: the first access network device may determine, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The second terminal device may be another terminal device served by the first access network device.

[0090] The first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, which may be implemented in the following manner:

[0091] Method 1: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay of the second terminal device (the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the service cell); then, based on the third time window information and the second propagation delay, determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell.

[0092] Method 2: The first access network device obtains the fourth propagation delay of the second terminal device (i.e., the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell); then, based on the third time window information and the fourth propagation delay, determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell.

[0093] Method 3: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay difference (i.e., the difference between the above-mentioned second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay); then, based on the third time window information and the second propagation delay difference, determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell.

[0094] The above is introduced using the first neighboring cell as an example. The timing configuration for measuring the reference signals of other neighboring cells determined by the first access network device for serving the terminal device can be implemented in accordance with the above method, which will not be described in detail here.

[0095] An embodiment of the present application also provides a measurement configuration method, which can be found in detail in the following third, fourth and fifth aspects.

[0096] In a third aspect, the present application provides a measurement configuration method, which can be executed by a first access network device or by a chip or chip system corresponding to the first access network device, without specific limitation. Taking the first access network device as an example, the method may include: the first access network device sends a first request message to a core network network element; the first request message is used to request first configuration information of a second access network device, and the first configuration information is used to indicate the time domain information of a reference signal of the second access network device; the first access network device receives the first configuration information from the core network element; the first configuration information is reported by the second access network device to the core network element.

[0097] In the scheme of the present application, the first access network device can obtain the time domain information of the reference signal of the adjacent access network device (the second access network device) through the core network network element, and then the first access network device can effectively and accurately obtain the timing configuration of measuring the reference signal of the adjacent access network device (the second access network device) based on the time domain information of the reference signal of the adjacent access network device (the second access network device).

[0098] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first access network device sending second configuration information to the first terminal device, where the second configuration information is determined based on the first configuration information, and the second configuration information is used to instruct the first terminal device on a timing configuration for performing measurements on a reference signal of at least one neighboring cell. Through this implementation, the first access network device can effectively configure the timing configuration for the served first terminal device for measuring a reference signal of a neighboring cell.

[0099] In one possible implementation, the first request information sent by the first access network device to the core network element includes indication information of the second access network device, or the first request information includes first location information, and the first location information is associated with the second access network device. Accordingly, the first configuration information sent by the core network element to the first access network device may include configuration information for all cells served by the second access network device.

[0100] In another possible implementation, the first request information sent by the first access network device to the core network element includes indication information of the second network device and indication information of the second cell served by the second network device. Accordingly, the first configuration information sent by the core network element to the first access network device may include configuration information of the second cell.

[0101] In an embodiment of the present application, the configuration information of the cell may include but is not limited to one or more of the frequency information of the cell, the subcarrier spacing of the reference signal of the cell, the timing configuration of the reference signal of the cell, the pattern bitmap of the reference signal, the physical cell identifier PCI, and the coverage information of the cell.

[0102] Fourthly, the present application implements a measurement configuration method, which can be executed by a core network element, or by a chip or chip system corresponding to the core network element, without specific limitation. Taking the core network element as an example, the method may include: the core network element receiving first request information from a first access network device; the first request information being used to request first configuration information from a second access network device; the first configuration information being used to indicate time domain information of a reference signal of the second access network device; and the core network element sending the first configuration information of the second access network device to the first network device based on the first request information.

[0103] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the core network element receiving first configuration information from at least one access network device; the first configuration information of the at least one access network device includes first configuration information of the second access network device.

[0104] In one possible implementation, the first request information sent by the first access network device to the core network element includes indication information of the second access network device, or the first request information includes first location information, and the first location information is associated with the second access network device. Accordingly, the first configuration information sent by the core network element to the first access network device may include configuration information for all cells served by the second access network device.

[0105] In another possible implementation, the first request information sent by the first access network device to the core network element includes indication information of the second network device and indication information of the second cell served by the second network device. Accordingly, the first configuration information sent by the core network element to the first access network device may include configuration information of the second cell.

[0106] In an embodiment of the present application, the configuration information of the cell may include but is not limited to one or more of the frequency information of the cell, the subcarrier spacing of the reference signal of the cell, the timing configuration of the reference signal of the cell, the pattern bitmap of the reference signal, the physical cell identifier PCI, and the coverage information of the cell.

[0107] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a measurement configuration method, which can be executed by a second access network device or by a chip or chip system corresponding to the second access network device, without specific limitation. Taking the second access network device as an example, the method may include: the second access network device generating first configuration information; the second access network device sending the first configuration information to a core network network element, where the first configuration information is used to indicate time domain information of a reference signal of the second access network device.

[0108] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information includes configuration information of at least one cell served by the second access network device, and the configuration information of each cell includes one or more of the following: frequency information of the cell, subcarrier spacing of the cell's reference signal, timing configuration of the cell's reference signal, pattern bitmap of the reference signal, physical cell identifier PCI, and cell coverage information.

[0109] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which may include a first terminal device and a first access network device; the first terminal device is configured to execute the method described in the first aspect or any possible embodiment thereof; and the first access network device is configured to execute the method described in the second aspect or any possible embodiment thereof. Optionally, the communication system further includes other access network devices (e.g., a second access network device) located adjacent to the first access network device.

[0110] In the seventh aspect, the present application also provides a communication system, which may include a first access network device, a core network network element and a second access network device; the first access network device is used to execute the method described in the third aspect or any possible implementation method thereof; the core network network element is used to execute the method described in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation method thereof; the second access network device is used to execute the method described in the fifth aspect or any possible implementation method thereof.

[0111] In the eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, which can be used to execute the method of the first aspect. The device can be a first terminal device, or the device can be a component in the first terminal device (for example, a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit), or it can be a device that can be used in conjunction with the first terminal device.

[0112] In one possible implementation, the device may include a module or unit corresponding to each of the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the first aspect. The module or unit may be a hardware circuit, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In one possible implementation, the device may include a processing unit (also referred to as a processing module) and a communication unit (also referred to as a communication module), wherein the communication unit may be used to perform the functions of receiving and / or sending, and the processing unit may be used to perform the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0113] In the ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, which can be used to execute the method of the second aspect or the third aspect. The device can be a first access network device, or the device can be a component in the first access network device (for example, a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit), or it can be a device that can be used in combination with the first access network device.

[0114] In one possible implementation, the device may include a module or unit corresponding to the method / operation / step / action described in the second aspect or the third aspect, and the module or unit may be a hardware circuit, or software, or a combination of a hardware circuit and software. In one possible implementation, the device may include a processing unit (also referred to as a processing module) and a communication unit (also referred to as a communication module), wherein the communication unit may be used to perform the functions of receiving and / or sending, and the processing unit may be used to perform the method described in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect, or the processing unit may be used to perform the method described in the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect.

[0115] In the tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, which can be used to execute the method of the fourth aspect. The device can be a core network element, or the device can be a component in the core network element (for example, a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit), or it can be a device that can be used in conjunction with the core network element.

[0116] In one possible implementation, the device may include a module or unit corresponding to each of the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the fourth aspect. The module or unit may be a hardware circuit, software, or a combination of a hardware circuit and software. In one possible implementation, the device may include a processing unit (also referred to as a processing module) and a communication unit (also referred to as a communication module), wherein the communication unit may be used to perform the functions of receiving and / or sending, and the processing unit may be used to perform the method described in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0117] In the eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, which can be used to execute the method of the fifth aspect. The device can be a second access network device, or the device can be a component in the second access network device (for example, a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit), or it can be a device that can be used in combination with the second access network device.

[0118] In one possible implementation, the device may include a module or unit corresponding to each of the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the fifth aspect. The module or unit may be a hardware circuit, software, or a combination of a hardware circuit and software. In one possible implementation, the device may include a processing unit (also referred to as a processing module) and a communication unit (also referred to as a communication module), wherein the communication unit may be used to perform the functions of receiving and / or sending, and the processing unit may be used to perform the method described in the fifth aspect or any possible implementation of the fifth aspect.

[0119] In the twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a device, which includes: at least one processor and a communication interface; wherein the communication interface is used to communicate with other devices; the processor is used to run a set of programs so that the device can implement the method provided by the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible implementation method thereof, or so that the device can implement the method provided by the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible implementation method thereof, or so that the device can implement the method provided by the above-mentioned third aspect or any possible implementation method thereof; or so that the device can implement the method provided by the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any possible implementation method thereof, or so that the device can implement the method provided by the above-mentioned fifth aspect or any possible implementation method thereof.

[0120] In the thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application also provides a computer storage medium, which stores a software program. When the software program is read and executed by one or more processors, it can implement the method provided by the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible implementation method thereof, or implement the method provided by the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible implementation method thereof, or implement the method provided by the above-mentioned third aspect or any possible implementation method thereof, or implement the method provided by the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any possible implementation method thereof, or implement the method provided by the above-mentioned fifth aspect or any possible implementation method thereof.

[0121] In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the method provided in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof to be executed, or enables the method provided in the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof to be executed, or enables the method provided in the third aspect or any possible implementation thereof to be executed, or enables the method provided in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation thereof to be executed, or enables the method provided in the fifth aspect or any possible implementation thereof to be executed.

[0122] In the fifteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application also provides a chip system, which includes a processor for supporting a first terminal device to implement the functions involved in the above-mentioned first aspect; or for supporting a first access network device to implement the functions involved in the above-mentioned second aspect or third aspect; or for supporting a core network network element to implement the functions involved in the above-mentioned fourth aspect; or for supporting a second access network device to implement the functions involved in the above-mentioned fifth aspect.

[0123] In one possible design, the chip system further includes a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data for execution by the loading device. The chip system can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0124] It should be noted that the technical effects that can be achieved by any possible implementation method of the above-mentioned sixth to fifteenth aspects or the sixth to fifteenth aspects can be correspondingly described with reference to the technical effects that can be achieved by any possible implementation method of the above-mentioned first to fifth aspects or the first to fifth aspects; they will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0125] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of timing and synchronization of NTN and TN base stations in an embodiment of the present application;

[0126] FIG2 is a possible, non-limiting communication system applicable to embodiments of the present application;

[0127] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a separate network structure applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0128] FIG4A is a communication system adapted by the method shown in an embodiment of the present application;

[0129] FIG4B is another communication system adapted by the method shown in an embodiment of the present application;

[0130] FIG4C is another communication system adapted by the method shown in the embodiment of the present application;

[0131] FIG4D is another communication system adapted by the method shown in the embodiment of the present application;

[0132] FIG5 is a flow chart of a measurement configuration method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0133] FIG6 is a flow chart of implementation mode 1 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0134] FIG7 is a flow chart of another measurement configuration method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0135] FIG8 is a flow chart of a second embodiment of the present application;

[0136] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0137] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0138] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of another chip device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0139] 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. The terms used in the following embodiments are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application. As used in the specification and claims of this application, the singular expressions "one", "a kind of", "said", "above", "the" and "this" are intended to also include expressions such as "one or more", unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the embodiments of the present application, for the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, it means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can 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 related objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c, where a, b, and c can be single or plural.

[0140] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" etc. described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of the present application include specific features, structures or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments", "in other embodiments", etc. that appear in different places in this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, but mean "one or more but not all embodiments", unless otherwise specifically emphasized in other ways, and the "implementation methods" in this specification are the same as above. The terms "including", "comprising", "having" and their variations all mean "including but not limited to", unless otherwise specifically emphasized in other ways. Words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or descriptions, and any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. The use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete way for easy understanding.

[0141] The multiple involved in the embodiments of the present application refers to greater than or equal to two. It should be noted that, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, the words "first", "second", "1", "2", etc. are used to distinguish the purpose of description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor can they be understood as indicating or implying order. In addition, the term "used for indication" mentioned in the description of the embodiments of the present application can include being used for direct indication and being used for indirect indication. When describing that a certain indication information is used to indicate A, it can include that the indication information directly indicates A or indirectly indicates A, and it does not mean that the indication information must carry A. In addition, the steps corresponding to the dotted boxes or dotted lines in the drawings of the specification are represented as optional steps.

[0142] This application provides a communication method. To better understand the embodiments of this application, the following first explains the names and related technical features involved in the embodiments of this application. It should be noted that these explanations are intended to make the embodiments of this application easier to understand and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of protection claimed by this application.

[0143] 1. SSB:

[0144] In 5G mobile communication systems, a synchronization signal block is generally sent together with a main information block (MIB) on a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) to form an SS / PBCH block. The SSB described below in the embodiments of the present application may also refer to an SS / PBCH block. The synchronization signal block (SS) may include a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS).

[0145] The PSS is used to transmit the cell ID, and the SSS is used to transmit the cell group ID. Together, the cell ID and cell group ID determine multiple physical cell identities (PCIs) in the 5G communication system. Once a terminal successfully searches for the PSS and SSS, it knows the physical cell ID of the 5G carrier and is able to parse the system information contained in the SSB.

[0146] 2. SSB-based measurement timing configuration (SMTC):

[0147] Each cell periodically sends one or more SSB beams in the time domain (i.e., SSB beam scanning), and the SSB beams of each cell are configured with the same frequency domain position in the frequency domain. In order to ensure that all SSB beams in each cell are measured accurately and completely, when the base station sends the measurement configuration, in addition to indicating the SSB frequency point to be measured, it also indicates the timing position and duration for starting the SSB measurement, thereby introducing the concept of SSB-based measurement time configuration (SMTC). SMTC information can be used to indicate the time window configured by the network device for the terminal device to perform SSB-based measurements. The configuration of SMTC can effectively indicate the time window for the terminal to search for SSB, reducing unnecessary measurement power consumption of the terminal.

[0148] Taking SSB-based measurement as an example, in an embodiment of the present application, the SMTC information can also be extended to indicate a window configured by a network device for a terminal device for performing measurements based on other downlink reference signals (e.g., channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), cell-specific reference signal (CS-RS), UE-specific reference signal (US-RS), demodulation reference signal (DMRS), etc.). The measurement window extended to other reference signals can be called other names, which is not limited to this.

[0149] The system frame number (SFN) where the measurement window is located satisfies the following formula: SFN mod T = floor(offset / 10). SFN is the system frame number where the measurement window is located, mod is the remainder operation, floor is the floor operation, offset is the offset, and T = ceil(periodicity / 10). Ceil is the ceiling operation, and periodicity is the period of the measurement window. If the period of the measurement window is greater than 5 subframes, the subframe number where the measurement window is located satisfies the following formula: subframe = offset mod 10. If the period of the measurement window is less than or equal to 5 subframes, the subframe number where the measurement window is located satisfies the following formula: subframe = offset, or, subframe = offset+5. subframe is the subframe number where the measurement window is located. The offset and the period of the measurement window are configured by the base station to the terminal.

[0150] Currently, the protocol defines three types of SMTCs: SMTC1, SMTC2, and SMTC3, among which SMTC1 is defined as the primary SMTC.

[0151] (1) SMTC1 mainly includes three parameters: measurement period (periodicity), offset (offset) and duration (duration). Among them, the measurement period indicates the frequency of the terminal to measure SSB; the offset indicates the time domain starting position of the measurement time window, and the maximum offset does not exceed the measurement period; the duration indicates the duration of the terminal to measure SSB, that is, the duration of the measurement time window. It can be understood that SMTC1 is not limited to a specific cell, that is, the terminal can measure the SSB of all possible cells (including the serving cell) within the measurement time window configured by SMTC1.

[0152] (2) SMTC2 mainly includes a cell list (pci-List) and a measurement period. Compared with SMTC1, SMTC2 only measures the SSBs of some specific cells, and the measurement period is generally shorter than the measurement period configured in SMTC1, but it will reuse the same offset and duration as SMTC1.

[0153] (3) SMTC3 not only configures the measurement period, offset, duration, and cell list separately, but also specifies the index of the SSB to be measured at the frequency to be measured. SMTC is generally used in integrated access backhaul (IAB) scenarios.

[0154] Compared to terrestrial communication systems, satellite communication systems may require hundreds or even thousands of SSB beams. Considering that the arrival delays of SSBs transmitted by the serving and neighboring satellites in satellite communication systems vary, using the same offset may prevent the SSBs transmitted by the neighboring satellite from being measured within the measurement window configured by the SMTC, leading to measurement failure. To address this issue, the protocol adds SMTC4 to address the varying delays between different satellites. SMTC4 includes a cell list and offsets. An offset can be configured for each cell list, and up to four cell lists can be configured. Compared to SMTC1, the network calculates the arrival delays of different satellites based on the location of each satellite and the terminal. The corresponding cell list and offset are then configured in SMTC4 to ensure that SSBs transmitted by neighboring satellites are detected by the terminal at the corresponding time. SMTC4 shares the measurement period and duration with SMTC1.

[0155] That is to say, for the satellite communication system, for each frequency point to be measured, the network device can configure SMTC1 for the terminal, and then the terminal can measure the SSB of at least one cell according to SMTC1, where at least one cell includes the service cell of the terminal; or, the network device can configure SMTC1 and SMTC4 for the terminal, and then the terminal can measure the SSB of at least one cell according to SMTC1, and measure the SSB of each cell in at least one cell list according to SMTC4.

[0156] In the following embodiments of the present application, the SMTC corresponding to one frequency point to be measured will be described as an example. When there are multiple frequency points to be measured, the implementation can be referred to.

[0157] 3. SSB measurement configuration:

[0158] In scenarios such as handover and cell reselection, the target cell is generally selected based on the terminal's neighboring cell measurement results.

[0159] (1) The idle terminal performs measurements based on the frequency, SMTC, etc. sent in the system message.

[0160] (2) The process of neighbor cell measurement performed by a connected terminal is mainly divided into the following steps: measurement sending, measurement result generation, and measurement result reporting. Measurement sending means that the source base station sends measurement configuration information to the UE. The measurement configuration information is generally transmitted through the RRCReconfiguration message. The UE performs relevant measurements based on the measurement configuration information and then reports the measurement results to the gNodeB through a measurement report. The measurement configuration information includes the measurement object (including SSB frequency, SSB subcarrier spacing, SMTC configuration (SSB-based measurement timing configuration), whitelist and blacklist cells, etc.), measurement GAP (the time period when the UE leaves the current frequency point and measures at other frequencies, which is only involved in inter-frequency measurement and inter-system measurement), report configuration (the method for triggering measurement reports and the format of measurement reports), trigger quantity (how to trigger event reporting), and measurement ID (joint measurement object and report configuration). The UE performs measurements based on the measurement configuration information sent by the gNodeB and reports the measurements when the conditions are met. Regardless of the aforementioned measurement method, the SMTC configuration can be based on the frequency point or on different cells on the frequency point.

[0161] Typically, two NR inter-station base stations can exchange the configuration of the SMTC of their respective service cells and / or neighboring cells on the Xn interface. The timing of the SMTC of the neighboring station received by the source station is based on the timing of the neighboring cell. For example, when station A sends SMTC to station B, the timing of SMTC is based on the timing of station A's cell. When station B sends SMTC to station A, the timing of SMTC is based on the timing of station B's cell. The SMTC that the source station configures the terminal it serves to measure the neighboring cell is based on the timing of the source cell. Therefore, the source cell needs to convert the SMTC of the neighboring station transmitted from the Xn interface into the SMTC configured for the terminal based on the timing of the source cell. When the two NR base stations are synchronized, the timing of the neighboring cell of the neighboring station is consistent with the timing of the source base station. When the two NR base stations are asynchronous, it is necessary to know the frame boundary difference (SFN and Frame Timing Difference, SFTD) between the two stations in order to convert the SMTC. It should be noted that the SMTC that the source station configures the terminal it serves to measure the neighboring cell may be the SMTC required to measure multiple neighboring cells. For example, the source station may obtain a new SMTC configuration according to the SMTC configurations sent to the source station by multiple neighboring cells, and the source station sends the new SMTC configuration to the terminal to perform measurements of multiple neighboring cells.

[0162] The terminal can report the SFN and frame timing difference (SFTD) of the PCell and NR cells. Correspondingly, the base station can configure the terminal to measure the SFTD of the PCell and NR cells (including NR neighbor cells and NR's PSCELL, etc.).

[0163] The following uses base stations of a non-terrestrial network NTN and a terrestrial network TN as examples to introduce the concepts of timing and synchronization involved in the embodiments of the present application:

[0164] As shown in FIG1 , the boundaries of the frame numbers and subframe numbers of the two cells between the stations are aligned, and it can be considered that the two cells are synchronized.

[0165] In Figure 1, the NTN cells in the first row and the TN cells in the second row are synchronous; the NTN cells in the first row / TN cells in the second row and the TN cells in the third row are asynchronous. The bold boxes indicate the location of the SSB in that cell, and the boxes at the bottom of each row indicate the SMTC.

[0166] The following examples use NTN cells as timing, asynchronous TN cells as timing, and SMTC1 configured from the UE's perspective to instruct the UE to measure the time domain position of the SSB in a neighboring cell:

[0167] Taking the timing of the NTN cell transmitter as a reference: from the perspective of the NTN cell transmitter, the measurement window is calculated using the frame number and subframe number of the source cell (equivalent to the serving cell in the solution of this application below).

[0168] Using the timing of the neighboring cell as a reference: From the perspective of the transmitter of the neighboring cell, the measurement window is calculated based on the frame number and subframe number of the neighboring cell.

[0169] The measurement window is calculated with reference to the UE timing: the frame number and subframe number of the serving cell received from the UE.

[0170] For example, as shown in Figure 1, the SSB transmitted by the asynchronous TN cell occurs in subframes 0 and 1 of its first half-frame. Therefore, based on its own timing, the offset of SMTC1 can be 0, and its duration can be two subframes. This SMTC can be sent to the NTN cell via the XN interface. The NTN cell learns that the SFTD of the NTN cell and the asynchronous TN cell differ by three subframes (see the first and third rows of Figure 1). Therefore, the offset of SMTC1 calculated based on the NTN cell's timing is 3, and its duration is two subframes. When the propagation delay between the UE and the NTN cell is 0 or approximately 0, the NTN cell can directly configure the SMTC1 offset for the UE to be 3, with a duration of 2 subframes. However, when the propagation delay between the UE and the NTN cell cannot be ignored (for example, when the propagation delay is large), the NTN cell (equivalent to the UE's serving cell) needs to consider the propagation delay between the UE and the NTN cell when configuring the SMTC1 sent to the UE. Assuming the propagation delay between the UE and the NTN cell is 11 subframes, the SMTC1 configured by the NTN cell for the UE is 2 with a duration of 2 subframes. In the above example, it is assumed that the propagation delay from the asynchronous TN cell to the UE is 0.

[0171] In the embodiment of the present application, if the serving cell is an NTN cell, the NTN network has a large coverage area, typically tens to hundreds of kilometers. Therefore, the transmission delay from the NTN network to the UE is very large. Therefore, when configuring SMTC for the UE, it is necessary to additionally consider the propagation delay between the UE and the serving cell. When configuring SMTC, the serving cell may also consider the propagation delay from the UE to the TN network, but the propagation delay from the UE to the TN network can also be considered as zero.

[0172] However, when there is no Xn interface between two base stations (for example, there is no Xn interface between an NTN base station and a TN base station), they cannot exchange their respective SMTCs. This will result in the source base station being unable to send accurate SMTCs for measuring neighboring cells or neighboring frequencies to the terminal device it serves, thereby failing to guarantee the accuracy of the SSB measurement performed by the terminal device.

[0173] In view of the above problems, the present application proposes a measurement configuration method, in which the access network equipment can effectively configure the timing configuration of the reference signal for measuring the neighboring cell for the served terminal device, thereby improving the measurement efficiency of the terminal device and reducing the measurement power of the terminal device.

[0174] The method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to a fourth generation (4G) communication system, such as a long term evolution (LTE) communication system, and can also be applied to a fifth generation (5G) communication system, such as a 5G new radio (NR) communication system, or to various future communication systems, such as a sixth generation (6G) communication system. The method provided in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to a narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) system. The method provided in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to a satellite communication system, wherein the satellite communication system can be integrated with the above-mentioned communication system. Of course, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to other communication systems as long as the communication system has measurement requirements. In addition, the communication system can also be applied to future-oriented communication technologies. The system described in the embodiment of the present application is to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application. It is known to those skilled in the art that with the evolution of network architecture, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0175] Figure 2 shows a possible, non-restrictive communication system architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, the communication system 2000 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. Optionally, the communication system 2000 may also include the Internet 300. The RAN 100 includes at least one access network device (such as 110a and 110b in Figure 2, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal device (such as 120a-120j in Figure 2, 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 2). The terminal device 120 is connected to the access network device via a wireless method. The access network device is connected to the core network 200 via a wireless or wired method. The core network device and the access network device in the core network 200 can be different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device that integrates the core network logical functions and the radio access network logical functions.

[0176] The RAN 100 may be a 3GPP-related cellular system, such as a 4G or 5G mobile communication system, or a system evolved beyond 5G (such as a 6G mobile communication system). The RAN 100 may also be an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a WiFi system. The RAN 100 may also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0177] It will be understood that FIG2 only illustrates one possible communication system architecture that may be applied in an embodiment of the present application. In other possible scenarios, the communication system architecture may also include other devices.

[0178] An access network device is a node in a radio access network (RAN), and can also be referred to as an access network device or a RAN node (or device). The access network device is used to help terminal devices achieve wireless access. The multiple access network devices in the communication system 2000 can be nodes of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of the access network device and the terminal device 120 are relative. For example, the network element 120i in Figure 2 can be a helicopter or a drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminal devices 120j that access the RAN 100 through the network element 120i, the network element 120i is a base station; but for the base station 110a, the network element 120i is a terminal device. The access network device and the terminal device 120 are sometimes referred to as communication devices. For example, the network elements 110a and 110b in Figure 2 can be understood as communication devices with base station functions, and the network elements 120a-120j can be understood as communication devices with terminal device functions.

[0179] In one possible scenario, an access network device can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmitting and receiving point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation base station in a sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, a satellite, an access point (AP) in a WiFi system, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, or an access network device in a mobile switching center non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system, i.e., it can be deployed on a high-altitude platform or satellite. The access network device can be a macro base station (such as 110a in Figure 2), a micro base station or an indoor station (such as 110b in Figure 2), a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. The access network device can also be a device that functions as a base station in device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, drone communication, or machine communication. Optionally, the access network device may also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or an onboard device, etc. For example, the access network device in vehicle to everything (V2X) technology may be a road side unit (RSU).

[0180] In one network architecture, access network equipment may include centralized unit (CU) nodes, distributed unit (DU) nodes, or both CU and DU nodes. RAN equipment including CU and DU nodes splits the protocol layers of the gNB in ​​the NR system, centrally controlling some protocol layer functions within the CU and distributing some or all of the remaining protocol layer functions within the DU, which is then centrally controlled by the CU, as shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, the CU can be divided into a control plane (CU-CP) and a user plane (CU-UP). The CU-CP is responsible for control plane functions, primarily including radio resource control (RRC) and the control plane's corresponding packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) (i.e., PDCP-C). PDCP-C is primarily responsible for encryption, decryption, integrity protection, and data transmission of control plane data. The CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions, primarily including the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) and the user plane's corresponding PDCP (i.e., PDCP-U). SDAP is primarily responsible for processing core network data and mapping flows to bearers. The PDCP-U is primarily responsible for data plane encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, and data transmission. The CU-CP and CU-UP are connected via the E1 interface. The CU-CP represents the gNB's connection to the core network via the NG interface and to the DU via the F1 interface control plane (i.e., F1-C). The CU-UP connects to the DU via the F1 interface user plane (i.e., F1-U). Alternatively, the PDCP-C may also reside in the CU-UP.

[0181] It can be understood that in different systems, CU (including CU-CP or CU-UP) or DU may have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open radio access network (O-RAN) system, CU may also be referred to as O-CU (open CU), DU may also be referred to as O-DU, CU-CP may also be referred to as O-CU-CP, and CU-UP may also be referred to as O-CU-UP. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP and DU as examples for description. Any of the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0182] In the embodiments of the present application, the form of the access network device is not limited. The device used to implement the functions of the access network device can be the access network device; it can also be a device that supports the access network device to implement the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the access network device or used in conjunction with the access network device.

[0183] The terminal device 120, which may also be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc., is a device used to provide voice or data connectivity to users, or an IoT device. For example, the terminal device includes a handheld device with wireless connection capabilities, an in-vehicle device, etc. Currently, terminal devices can include: mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices (such as smart watches, smart bracelets, pedometers, etc.), vehicle-mounted devices (such as cars, bicycles, electric vehicles, airplanes, ships, trains, high-speed trains, etc.), satellite terminals, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, smart point-of-sale (POS) machines, customer-premises equipment (CPE), wireless terminals in industrial control, smart home devices (such as refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners, electricity meters, etc.), intelligent robots, robotic arms, workshop equipment, wireless terminals in unmanned driving, wireless terminals in telemedicine, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, and flying devices (such as intelligent robots, hot air balloons, drones, airplanes). Terminal devices can also be other devices with terminal functions, for example, terminal devices can also be devices that function as terminals in D2D communication.

[0184] The access network equipment and the terminal equipment can be fixed or movable. The access network equipment and the terminal equipment can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on the water surface; they can also be deployed on airplanes, balloons and artificial satellites in the air, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this. In addition, the access network equipment and the terminal equipment, the access network equipment and the access network equipment, and the terminal equipment and the terminal equipment can communicate through the authorized spectrum, or through the unauthorized spectrum, or through the authorized spectrum and the unauthorized spectrum at the same time; they can communicate through the spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), or through the spectrum above 6 GHz, or through the spectrum below 6 GHz and the spectrum above 6 GHz at the same time. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communications.

[0185] Core network equipment refers to equipment in the core network that provides service support for terminal equipment. At present, some examples of core network equipment are: access and mobility management function (AMF) entity, session management function (SMF) entity, user plane function (UPF) entity, etc., which are not listed here one by one. Among them, the AMF entity can be responsible for access and mobility management in the mobile network, such as user registration management, connection management, and reachability management. The specific functions are non-access layer signaling termination, registration area management, access authentication, etc. The SMF entity can be responsible for session management, such as user session establishment, etc.; the UPF entity can be a functional entity of the user plane, mainly responsible for connecting to the external network. In this application, "entity" can also be referred to as a network element or a functional entity. For example, the AMF entity can also be referred to as an AMF network element or an AMF functional entity. For another example, the SMF entity can also be referred to as an SMF network element or an SMF functional entity, etc.

[0186] In the embodiments of the present application, the functions of the access network device may also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the access network device, or by a control subsystem that includes the functions of the access network device. The control subsystem that includes the functions of the access network device 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 device may also be performed by a module (such as a chip or modem) in the terminal device, or by a device that includes the functions of the terminal device.

[0187] Based on the system architecture shown in FIG2 , the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to an NTN communication system. The NTN communication system can include non-terrestrial network devices such as drones, high altitude platform stations (HAPS), and satellites to form a network and provide services such as data transmission and voice communication to terminal devices. Furthermore, the NTN system may also include other non-terrestrial network devices, which are not limited in this application.

[0188] The NTN communication system can also support various mobile communication systems, such as a new radio (NR) system, a long term evolution (LTE) system, or other communication systems such as future communication systems, and the specific ones are not limited here.

[0189] In NTN communications, NTN equipment can operate in two modes: transparent and regenerative. Based on the operating mode of the NTN equipment, NTN communication architectures can be categorized into two types: First, a transparent forwarding architecture, in which NTN equipment can act as relays or amplifiers, performing RF filtering, amplification, and regenerating physical layer signals. NTN equipment can be responsible for Layer 1 (L1) relaying, performing physical layer forwarding, and is invisible to higher layers. Second, a regenerative architecture, in which NTN equipment performs the processing functions of access network equipment. For example, satellites operating in regenerative mode can be categorized as regenerative satellites without inter-satellite links (ISLs) between satellites; regenerative satellites with ISLs, in which satellites have interfaces for direct data exchange, where the ISLs are Xn ports; or regenerative satellites with the processing functions of distributed units (DUs) of access network equipment, in which case the satellites act as DUs.

[0190] For example, Figure 4A shows a schematic diagram of an NTN communication architecture applicable to embodiments of the present application. This NTN scenario can be a transparent satellite communication architecture. In the communication architecture shown in Figure 4A, a terminal device can communicate with the 5G core network (CN) through the access network, and then connect to the data network (DN) through the 5G CN. Satellites and NTN gateways can serve as relay devices between terminal devices and access network devices or as remote radio units (RRUs) of access network devices.

[0191] Satellites perform radio frequency filtering, frequency conversion, and amplification. They primarily act as L1 relays, regenerating physical layer numbers and lacking any higher protocol layers. In a transparent satellite communications architecture, the link between the satellite and the terminal device is called the service link, while the link between the satellite and the NTN gateway or base station is called the feeder link.

[0192] 4B exemplarily shows another NTN communication architecture schematic diagram applicable to embodiments of the present application. This NTN communication architecture can be a regenerative communication architecture. In the communication architecture shown in FIG4B , the satellite can serve as an access network device, forming an access network with the NTN gateway, and communicating with the core network through the NTN gateway. In addition, the satellite can also provide wireless access services for terminal devices. FIG4B exemplarily shows a regenerative satellite architecture without an inter-satellite link, with base station processing functions. Regenerative satellite without ISL, gNB processed payload, where ISL refers to an inter-satellite link. In this architecture, the satellite serves as a base station.

[0193] Figure 4C illustrates another NTN communication architecture applicable to embodiments of the present application. This architecture features a regenerative satellite with ISLs (inter-satellite links) and gNB-processed payloads. In this scenario, the satellite also functions as a base station, and an ISL (inter-satellite link) is present. In this regenerative architecture, the link between the satellite and the terminal device is called a service link, and the link between the satellite and the NTN gateway is called a feeder link.

[0194] Exemplarily, Figure 4D shows another NTN communication architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application, which has a regenerative satellite with DU processing function of a base station (NG-RAN with a regenerative satellite based on gNB-DU); in this scenario, the satellite acts as a DU.

[0195] In addition, the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to scenarios where a base station with integrated access and backhaul IAB function (gNB processed payload based on relay-like architectures) is used, and the satellite serves as an integrated access and backhaul (IAB). However, this scenario requires further study, and a structural diagram is not provided here.

[0196] It should be noted that Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D illustrate only one satellite and one NTN gateway. In actual use, an architecture with multiple satellites and / or multiple NTN gateways may be employed as needed. Each satellite may provide services to one or more terminal devices, each NTN gateway may correspond to one or more satellites, and each satellite may correspond to one or more NTN gateways, although this embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this. Furthermore, Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are merely examples of an NTN communication architecture, which may also include other specific devices, and this application does not limit this.

[0197] The network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field will know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0198] In this application, the names of the messages in the following processes are merely examples. As communication technologies evolve, the names of the messages in the following processes may change. However, regardless of how the names change, as long as their meanings are the same as the functions or meanings of the messages in this application, they fall within the scope of protection of this application. For example, the first configuration information or the second configuration information in this application may also be replaced by SMTC information.

[0199] The technical solution of this application is introduced below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0200] The embodiment of the present application provides a measurement configuration method, which is applicable to but not limited to the communication system shown in Figure 2, and is applicable to but not limited to the specific communication scenarios of Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D above. The method can be executed by a terminal device or an access network device; or the method can be executed by components (modules, chips, etc.) corresponding to the terminal device or the access network device; or the method can be executed by a device corresponding to the terminal device or the access network device; it can be understood that the present application does not make specific restrictions on the specific structure of the execution subject of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application and the number of each execution subject. As long as it is possible to communicate according to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application by running a program that records the code of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the interaction between the first terminal device and the first access network device will be used as an example for explanation. The order of the steps in the following processes is only an example. In actual applications, the execution order of the steps in each process can be adjusted.

[0201] Please refer to Figure 5, the specific process of this method is as follows:

[0202] S501: A first access network device sends first configuration information to a first terminal device. The first configuration information is used by the first terminal device to perform a first measurement of at least one neighboring cell. The first measurement is to measure time domain information of reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell. Accordingly, the first terminal device receives the first configuration information.

[0203] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information includes information about at least one neighboring cell and / or information about a neighboring frequency point corresponding to at least one neighboring cell; the first configuration information is used to instruct the first terminal device to report target measurement information obtained by performing a first measurement on the at least one neighboring cell and / or the neighboring frequency point corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell.

[0204] In an embodiment of the present application, the at least one neighboring cell may be a cell served by an access network device adjacent to the first access network device. The neighboring cell information may be identification information of the neighboring cell (e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCI)) or location information of the neighboring cell, and the frequency information of the neighboring cell may be identification information or a frequency value of the frequency, without limitation.

[0205] S502: The first terminal device sends target measurement information to the first access network device, where the target measurement information includes time domain information of the reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell. Correspondingly, the first access network device receives the target measurement information.

[0206] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the first terminal device sending one or more of the following to the first access network device:

[0207] The timing difference between the timing of the reference signal of the service cell received by the first terminal device and the timing of the reference signal sent by the at least one neighboring cell, the first propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell of the first terminal device, the propagation delay corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell, and the first propagation delay difference corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell; wherein the first propagation delay difference corresponding to each neighboring cell is the difference between the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the corresponding neighboring cell and the first propagation delay.

[0208] For example, the neighboring cells of UE1 include cell 1 and cell 2. After UE1 performs the first measurement, it sends target measurement information to the serving base station (equivalent to the first access network device). The target measurement information includes the time domain information of the reference signal of cell 1 and the time domain information of the reference signal of cell 2. UE1 may also send to the serving base station the difference 1 (which may be referred to as timing difference 1) between the timing at which UE1 receives the reference signal of serving base station 1 (for example, the timing of the reference signal of UE1's current serving cell) and the timing at which cell 1 sends the reference signal, as well as the difference 2 (which may be referred to as timing difference 2) between the timing at which UE1 receives the reference signal of serving base station 1 and the timing at which cell 2 sends the reference signal. In addition, UE1 may also send to the serving base station the propagation delay 1 from UE1 to the serving base station, the propagation delay 2 from UE1 to cell 1, and the propagation delay 3 from UE1 to cell 2. UE1 may also send the difference between propagation delay 1 and propagation delay 2 (which may be referred to as the propagation delay difference corresponding to cell 1), as well as the difference between propagation delay 1 and propagation delay 3 (which may be referred to as the propagation delay difference corresponding to cell 2).

[0209] Optionally, in S502, when the first terminal device reports the first propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell of the first terminal device, the propagation delay corresponding to the first terminal device to the at least one neighboring cell, and the first propagation delay difference corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell, for the service cell or the neighboring cell being an NTN cell in transparent transmission mode, the propagation delay may include the delay of the feeder link, or may not include the delay of the feeder link, and the propagation delay difference may include the delay difference of the feeder link, or may not include the delay difference of the feeder link.

[0210] Optionally, the target measurement information may also be new time domain information obtained by the first terminal device based on the time domain information where the reference signals of at least one neighboring cell are located.

[0211] In one possible implementation, the method of the embodiment of the present application further includes: the first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, second configuration information of a target terminal device served by the first access network device, the second configuration information being used to instruct the target terminal device to perform a timing configuration for measuring a reference signal of at least one neighboring cell, the target terminal device including the first terminal device; then, the first access network device sends the second configuration information to the target terminal device; and accordingly, the target terminal device receives the second configuration information. Exemplarily, the reference signal is a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SSB); then, the above-mentioned timing configuration can be a timing configuration (SMTC) for SSB measurement.

[0212] In an embodiment of the present application, the first terminal device sends target measurement information to the first access network device, so that the first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the target terminal device to perform measurement on a reference signal of at least one neighboring cell. This may include, but is not limited to, the following implementations:

[0213] Implementation method 1: Taking the first neighboring cell as an example, the first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell, and the time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell sent by the first terminal device to the first access network device is the time slot information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The timing referenced by the time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell may exist in but is not limited to the following situations:

[0214] Case 1: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is the first time slot information with reference to the timing of the downlink reference signal of the serving cell received by the first terminal device (equivalent to the timing of the UE as described in FIG1 above).

[0215] In one possible implementation, for the above situation 1 (i.e., when the target measurement information includes the first time slot information), the target measurement information may also include at least one of the period of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, the number of reference signals, the type of the reference signal, the identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and the subcarrier spacing of the reference signal.

[0216] For case 1: the first access network device may determine the timing configuration performed by the first terminal device on the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information. The first access network device does not need to consider the propagation delay difference or the propagation delay difference value of the first terminal device.

[0217] In one possible implementation, if the target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, the method may further include: the first access network device may determine, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The second terminal device may be another terminal device served by the first access network device.

[0218] The first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, which may be implemented in the following manner:

[0219] Method 1: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay of the second terminal device, where the second propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the serving cell; the first access network device can determine the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first propagation delay, and the second propagation delay.

[0220] Method 1 takes into account the situation that the service cell is a non-terrestrial network NTN cell and the first neighboring cell is a terrestrial network TN cell. In this case, the distances between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and the service cell are large, and the propagation delay is large. However, the distances between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and the first neighboring cell are small, and the propagation delay is small and can be ignored. Therefore, the first access network device needs to consider the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell and the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the service cell to determine or configure the timing configuration for the second terminal device to measure the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The same applies to Method 1 in the following cases.

[0221] Method 2: The first access network device obtains the fourth propagation delay of the second terminal device; the fourth propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell; the first access network device can determine the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the fourth propagation delay, and the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell (i.e., the third propagation delay).

[0222] Method 2 takes into account the situation that the service cell is a terrestrial network TN cell and the first neighboring cell is a non-terrestrial network NTN cell. In this case, the distance between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and the first cell is large, and the propagation delay is large. However, the distance between the first terminal device and the second terminal device and the service cell is small, and the propagation delay is small and can be ignored. Therefore, the first access network device needs to consider the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell and the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell to determine or configure the timing configuration for measuring the reference signal of the first neighboring cell for the second terminal device. The same applies to Method 2 in the following cases.

[0223] Mode 3: The first access network device obtains a second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device, where the second propagation delay difference is the propagation delay difference between the second terminal device and the serving cell and the first neighboring cell (i.e., the difference between the second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay).

[0224] The first access network device can determine the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first propagation delay difference corresponding to the first neighboring cell (i.e., the difference between the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell and the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell), and the second propagation delay difference.

[0225] Method 3 takes into account the situation where both the serving cell and the first neighboring cell are non-terrestrial network (NTN) cells. In this case, the first access network device needs to consider the propagation delays from the first terminal device to the serving cell and the first neighboring cell, respectively, to determine or configure the timing configuration for the second terminal device to measure the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The same applies to Method 3 in the following situations.

[0226] It should be noted that, in addition to serving the first terminal device, the first access network device may also serve one or more other terminal devices. For any of these terminal devices, the first access network device can refer to the above-mentioned method for determining the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, and will not be described in detail here.

[0227] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, when the first access network device determines the first propagation delay (or third propagation delay), the second propagation delay (or the fourth propagation delay), the first propagation delay difference\the second propagation delay difference used when determining the timing configuration for the terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, when the serving cell or the neighboring cell is an NTN cell in transparent transmission mode, the propagation delay may include the delay of the feeder link, or may not include the delay of the feeder link, and the propagation delay difference may include the delay difference of the feeder link, or may not include the delay difference of the feeder link.

[0228] Case 2: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is second time slot information with reference to the timing of sending the downlink reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell.

[0229] In one possible implementation, for case 2, when the target measurement information includes the second time slot information, the target measurement information may also include, but is not limited to, at least one of the period of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, the third indication information, the number of reference signals, the pattern bitmap of the reference signal, the type of the reference signal, the identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and the subcarrier spacing of the reference signal; wherein the third indication information is used to indicate that the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located in the first half frame or the second half frame of the system radio frame of the first neighboring cell.

[0230] For case 2: the first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. This can be achieved by:

[0231] Method 1: The first access network device determines the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the first propagation delay (i.e., the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell).

[0232] Method 2: The first access network device determines the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell (which may be called the third propagation delay).

[0233] Method 3: The first access network device determines the timing configuration performed by the first terminal device on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the first propagation delay difference.

[0234] In the above, the first timing difference is the difference between the timing of the first terminal device receiving the reference signal of the service cell and the timing of receiving the reference signal sent by the first neighboring cell, and the first propagation delay difference is the difference between the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the access network device of the first neighboring cell (called the third propagation delay) and the first propagation delay.

[0235] In one possible implementation, if the target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, the method may further include: the first access network device may determine, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The second terminal device may be another terminal device served by the first access network device.

[0236] The first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, which may be implemented in the following manner:

[0237] Method 1: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay of the second terminal device, where the second propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the service cell; the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the second propagation delay.

[0238] Method 2: The first access network device obtains the fourth propagation delay of the second terminal device, where the fourth propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell; the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the fourth propagation delay.

[0239] Method 3: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device, where the second propagation delay difference is the propagation delay difference between the second terminal device and the serving cell and the first neighboring cell (i.e., the difference between the above-mentioned second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay); the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the second propagation delay difference.

[0240] Case 3: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is the third time slot information with reference to the timing of the serving cell of the first terminal device sending the downlink reference signal. The first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell.

[0241] In one possible implementation, for case 3, when the target measurement information includes the third time slot information, the target measurement information may also include but is not limited to at least one of the period of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, the number of reference signals, the type of the reference signal, the identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and the subcarrier spacing of the reference signal.

[0242] For case 3: the first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. This may be implemented in the following manner:

[0243] Method 1: The first access network device determines the timing configuration performed by the first terminal device on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information and the first propagation delay.

[0244] Method 2: The first access network device determines the timing configuration performed by the first terminal device on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information and the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell (i.e., the third propagation delay).

[0245] Method 3: The first access network device determines the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information and the first propagation delay difference (i.e., the difference between the above-mentioned first propagation delay and the third propagation delay).

[0246] In one possible implementation, if the target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, the method may further include: the first access network device may determine, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration to be performed by the second terminal device on the first neighboring cell. The second terminal device may be another terminal device served by the first access network device.

[0247] The first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, which may be implemented in the following manner:

[0248] Method 1: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay of the second terminal device, where the second propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the service cell; the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information and the second propagation delay.

[0249] Method 2: The first access network device obtains the fourth propagation delay of the second terminal device, where the fourth propagation delay is the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell; the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information and the fourth propagation delay.

[0250] Method 3: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device (that is, the difference between the above-mentioned second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay), where the second propagation delay difference is the propagation delay difference between the second terminal device and the serving cell and the first neighboring cell; the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the target measurement information and the second propagation delay difference.

[0251] Implementation method 2: Taking the first neighboring cell as an example, the first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell, and the time domain information in which the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is sent by the first terminal device to the first access network device is the time window information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The timing referenced by the time window information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell may exist in but is not limited to the following situations:

[0252] Case 1: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is first time window information with reference to the timing of the first terminal device receiving the downlink reference signal of the serving cell. The first time window information may include but is not limited to at least one of the length of the time window, the period of the time window, and the offset of the time window.

[0253] For Case 1: The first access network device may determine the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the first time window information with reference to the timing at which the first terminal device receives the downlink reference signal of the serving cell. For example, the first access network device may use the first time window with reference to the timing at which the first terminal device receives the downlink reference signal of the serving cell as the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell.

[0254] In one possible implementation, if the target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, the method may further include: the first access network device may determine, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The second terminal device may be another terminal device served by the first access network device.

[0255] The first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, which may be implemented in the following manner:

[0256] Method 1: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay of the second terminal device (i.e., the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the service cell); then determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the first time window information, the first timing difference, and the second propagation delay.

[0257] Method 2: The first access network device obtains the fourth propagation delay of the second terminal device (i.e., the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell); then determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the first time window information, the first timing difference, and the fourth propagation delay.

[0258] Method 3: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device (the difference between the above-mentioned second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay); then determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the first time window information, the first timing difference, and the second propagation delay difference.

[0259] In the above, the first timing difference is the difference between the timing at which the first terminal device receives the reference signal of the serving cell and the timing at which the first terminal device receives the reference signal of the first neighboring cell.

[0260] Case 2: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is second time window information with reference to the timing of the first neighboring cell sending the downlink reference signal. The second time window information may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the length of the time window, the period of the time window, and the offset of the time window.

[0261] For case 2: the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the second time window information, and the first propagation delay (i.e., the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell) or the third propagation delay (i.e., the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell) or the first propagation delay difference.

[0262] In one possible implementation, if the target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, the method may further include: the first access network device may determine, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The second terminal device may be another terminal device served by the first access network device.

[0263] The first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, which may be implemented in the following manner:

[0264] Method 1: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay of the second terminal device (i.e., the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the service cell); the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the second time window information and the second propagation delay.

[0265] Method 2: The first access network device obtains the fourth propagation delay of the second terminal device (i.e., the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell); the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the second time window information and the fourth propagation delay.

[0266] Method 3: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device (the difference between the above-mentioned second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay); the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the second time window information and the second propagation delay difference.

[0267] Case 3: The time domain information of the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is third time window information with reference to the timing of the downlink reference signal sent by the serving cell of the first terminal device. The third time window information includes one or more of the following: the length of the time window, the period of the time window, and the offset of the time window.

[0268] For case 3, the first access network device determines the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the third time window information and the first propagation delay (i.e., the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the service cell) or the third propagation delay (i.e., the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell).

[0269] In one possible implementation, if the target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, the method may further include: the first access network device may determine, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell. The second terminal device may be another terminal device served by the first access network device.

[0270] The first access network device determines, based on the target measurement information, a timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell, which may be implemented in the following manner:

[0271] Method 1: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay of the second terminal device (i.e., the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the service cell); then, based on the third time window information and the second propagation delay, determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell.

[0272] Method 2: The first access network device obtains the fourth propagation delay of the second terminal device (i.e., the propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell); then, based on the third time window information and the fourth propagation delay, determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell.

[0273] Method 3: The first access network device obtains the second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device (that is, the difference between the above-mentioned second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay); then determines the timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurements on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell based on the third time window information and the second propagation delay difference.

[0274] The above is introduced using the first neighboring cell as an example. The timing configuration for measuring the reference signals of other neighboring cells determined by the first access network device for serving the terminal device can be implemented in accordance with the above method, which will not be described in detail here.

[0275] To summarize, an embodiment of the present application provides a measurement configuration method, in which a first access network device serves as an access network device serving a first terminal device. The method includes: the first terminal device can receive first configuration information from the first access network device, and the first configuration information is used by the first terminal device to perform a first measurement on at least one neighboring cell, and the first measurement is to measure the time domain information of the reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell; then, the first terminal device sends target measurement information including the time domain information of the reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell to the first access network device; thereby, the first access network device can obtain the target measurement information based on the measurement of the first terminal device, and effectively and accurately configure the timing configuration for measuring the reference signals of the neighboring cells for each terminal device served (including the first terminal device).

[0276] Based on the measurement configuration method described in 5 above, the following is further elaborated in detail through a specific implementation method 1. In implementation method 1, the first terminal device is UE1 as an example, and the first access network device is base station 1 of a non-terrestrial network as an example. Base station 1 serves UE1, and base station 1 configures the timing configuration SMTC information for measuring SSB for UE1. Referring to Figure 6, the specific process of implementation method 1 is as follows:

[0277] S601: Base station 1 sends first measurement configuration information to UE1, where the first measurement configuration information is used to instruct UE1 to report SSB information or SMTC information.

[0278] In implementation mode 1, base station 1 sends first measurement configuration information to UE 1, which may include but is not limited to the following implementation modes:

[0279] Implementation method 1: The first measurement configuration information is used to instruct UE1 to report the SSB information of the adjacent frequency point or the SSB information of the adjacent cell.

[0280] In implementation mode 1, when base station 1 configures the first measurement configuration information, the following configuration modes may be included:

[0281] Method 1: The first measurement configuration information includes a measurement object and report configuration information, the measurement object includes information of at least one adjacent frequency point and / or information of at least one adjacent cell, and the report configuration information includes an indication to report SSB information.

[0282] For example, the first measurement configuration information includes information of frequency 1 and SMTC. The first measurement configuration information is used to instruct UE1 to perform measurement on the SSB received on frequency 1 based on SMTC, and report the measured SSB information to base station 1.

[0283] For example, the first measurement configuration information includes information of neighboring cell 1 (such as the identifier of neighboring cell 1) and SMTC. The first measurement configuration information is used to instruct UE1 to perform measurement on the SSB received by neighboring cell 1 based on SMTC and report the measured SSB information.

[0284] Method 2: The first measurement configuration information is the existing measurement configuration information, and the first indication information is newly added to the existing measurement configuration information. The first indication information is used to instruct UE1 to report the measured information based on the existing measurement configuration information, and also report the measured SSB information of at least one adjacent frequency point or the SSB information of at least one adjacent area.

[0285] For example, base station 1 sends measurement configuration information of wireless frame boundary difference SFTD to UE1, and the measurement configuration information of wireless frame boundary difference SFTD includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that UE1 should also report the measured SSB information of at least one adjacent frequency point or report the SSB information of at least one adjacent area when reporting the measured SFTD information.

[0286] In the embodiment of the present application, the existing measurement configuration information may also be measurement configuration information of measurement events such as A3, A4, and A5, and the specific measurement events are not limited.

[0287] Optionally, method 1 or method 2 is a connection state measurement. In the case of connection state measurement, the first measurement configuration information includes SMTC. Base station 1 can first configure the period of the SMTC to 5ms. The period can also be set to 5ms. This can ensure that after UE1 measures the SSB of the neighboring cell and reports the SSB information of the neighboring cell, base station 1 can promptly update the SMTC according to the SSB information reported by UE1.

[0288] Method 3: The first measurement configuration information is used to instruct UE1 to measure SSB in an idle state or an inactive state, and report the measured SSB information to base station 1 after UE1 enters a connected state from an idle state or an inactive state.

[0289] For example, base station 1 adds second indication information to the adjacent frequency point measurement configuration information carried in the system message, and the second indication information is used to instruct UE1 to measure SSB information of the adjacent cell or adjacent frequency point.

[0290] Implementation method 2: The first measurement configuration information is used to instruct UE1 to report the SMTC information of the adjacent frequency point or the SMTC information of the adjacent cell.

[0291] Exemplarily, the SMTC information includes one or more of the length of the SSB measurement window, the period of the SSB measurement window, and the offset. Among them, one or more of the period and the offset of the SSB measurement window can be used to determine the time domain starting position of the SSB measurement window, and the time domain starting position and the length of the SSB measurement window can be used to determine the time domain position of the SSB measurement window.

[0292] Method 1: The first measurement configuration information includes a measurement object and report configuration information, the measurement object includes information about at least one adjacent frequency point and / or information about at least one adjacent area, and the report configuration information includes an indication of reporting SSB measurement timing configuration information (i.e., SMTC).

[0293] For example, the first measurement configuration information includes information about frequency 1 and SMTC#1. The first measurement configuration information is used to instruct UE1 to perform measurement based on SMTC#1 and information about frequency 1, and to report the SMTC information of frequency 1.

[0294] For example, the first measurement configuration information includes information of neighboring cell 1 (such as the identifier of the neighboring cell) and SMTC#2. The first measurement configuration information is used to instruct UE1 to perform measurements based on SMTC#2 and information of neighboring cell 1, and report the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1.

[0295] Method 2: The first measurement configuration information is the existing measurement configuration information, and the first indication information is added to the existing measurement configuration information. The first indication information is used to instruct UE1 to report the measured information based on the existing measurement configuration information, and also report the SMTC information of at least one adjacent frequency point or the SMTC information of at least one adjacent area.

[0296] For example, base station 1 sends measurement configuration information of wireless frame boundary difference SFTD to UE1, and the measurement configuration information of wireless frame boundary difference SFTD includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that UE1 should also report the SMTC information of at least one adjacent frequency point or the SMTC information of at least one adjacent area when reporting the measured SFTD information.

[0297] In the embodiment of the present application, the existing measurement configuration information may also be measurement configuration information of measurement events such as A3, A4, and A5, and the specific measurement events are not limited.

[0298] Optionally, when UE1 is in a connected state, the above-mentioned method 1 or method 2 (i.e., method 1 or method 2 is a measurement in a connected state) can be adopted. When UE1 is in a connected state, the first measurement configuration information includes SMTC#1. Base station 1 can first configure the period of SMTC#1 to 5ms, and the period can also be set to 5ms. This ensures that after UE1 measures the SSB information of the neighboring cell and reports the SMTC information of the neighboring cell, base station 1 can subsequently configure SMTC for UE1 or other UEs based on the SMTC information of the neighboring cell reported by UE1.

[0299] Mode 3: The first measurement configuration information is used to instruct UE1 to measure SMTC in an idle state or an inactive state, and report the SMTC information obtained after the measurement to base station 1 after UE1 enters a connected state from the idle state or the inactive state.

[0300] For example, base station 1 adds second indication information to the adjacent frequency measurement configuration information carried in the system message, and the second indication information is used to instruct UE1 to measure the SMTC information of the adjacent cell or adjacent frequency point.

[0301] S602: UE1 measures the SSB of the neighboring cell based on the first measurement configuration information to obtain the SSB information or SMTC information of the neighboring cell.

[0302] That is, UE1 performs SSB measurement of the neighboring cell (or the frequency point of the neighboring cell) based on the first measurement configuration information to obtain SSB information or SMTC information of the neighboring cell.

[0303] Corresponding to the above-mentioned implementation method 1, UE1 performs SSB measurement of the neighboring cell (or SSB measurement of the adjacent frequency point) based on the first measurement configuration information to obtain the SSB information of the neighboring cell (or SSB information of the adjacent frequency point). The SSB information obtained after UE1 performs SSB measurement of the adjacent frequency point can be based on the granularity of the adjacent frequency point, or it can be based on the granularity of the cell measured on the adjacent frequency point, without limitation.

[0304] Corresponding to the second implementation mode, UE1 performs SMTC measurement of the neighboring cell (or SMTC measurement of the neighboring frequency point) based on the first measurement configuration information to obtain SMTC information of the neighboring cell (or SMTC information of the neighboring frequency point).

[0305] S603: UE1 sends SSB information or SMTC information of the neighboring cell to base station 1.

[0306] In a possible implementation, UE1 may also send SSB information or SMTC information of neighboring cells to other base stations.

[0307] Corresponding to the first implementation method in S601, UE1 sends the measured SSB information of the adjacent cell or the measured SSB information of the adjacent frequency point to the base station. The SSB information obtained after UE1 performs SSB measurement of the adjacent frequency point can be based on the granularity of the adjacent frequency point or the granularity of the cell measured on the adjacent frequency point, without limitation.

[0308] For example, in the following, taking the case where UE1 reports SSB information of neighboring cell 1 of terrestrial network TN to base station 1 as an example, the reference timing of SSB information of neighboring cell 1 may include the following situations:

[0309] Case 1: The SSB information of neighbor cell 1 is based on the timing of neighbor cell 1. The SSB information may include at least one of the following:

[0310] SSB period, third indication information, number of SSBs, SSB pattern (bitmap), SSB pattern type, identification ID of neighboring cell 1, SSB subcarrier spacing, and measured time domain position of SSB.

[0311] Among them, the third indication information is used to indicate the first half frame or the second half frame of the wireless frame of SSB in neighboring cell 1, or the third indication information is the first half frame information of the wireless frame of SSB in neighboring cell 1 or the second half frame information of SSB in neighboring cell 1.

[0312] The time domain position of the measured SSB may be the position of the index index of the first SSB measured by UE1, or may be the position of the index index of any SSB measured by UE1, without limitation.

[0313] For example, as shown in Figure 1, the frequency of the asynchronous TN cell (equivalent to the frequency of neighboring cell 1, or the frequency of neighboring cell 1) is frequency A. The SSB information of the asynchronous TN cell that UE1 can measure includes: the SSB (i.e., represented by a bold box in Figure 1) has a period of 10ms, the SSB pattern of the TN cell is type C, 8 SSB carriers, or the SSB bitmap is 11111111, and the SSB is distributed in the first half frame. UE1's serving cell is the NTN cell, and UE1 reports the SSB information of the TN cell (equivalent to the SSB information of neighboring cell 1) to the NTN cell (i.e., the serving cell). From the perspective of the asynchronous TN transmitter, the SSB information corresponding to the bold font (0, 1) in Figure 1 is reported. This SSB information can be equivalent to the SMTC information transmitted by the target cell to the source cell through the Xn interface in the prior art.

[0314] In the following S604, when the NTN cell (i.e., the serving cell) configures the SMTC of the asynchronous TN cell (equivalent to the SMTC of the neighboring cell 1) or the SMTC of the frequency point of the asynchronous TN cell (equivalent to the SMTC of the adjacent frequency point) for UE1, it needs to be converted according to the SSB information reported by UE1 and the SFTD between the NTN cell (i.e., the serving cell) and the asynchronous TN cell (equivalent to the neighboring cell 1) reported by UE1, and then sent to UE1.

[0315] For example, as shown in Figure 1, the offset reported by the UE of SMTC1 of the asynchronous TN cell (neighboring cell 1) is 0, and the SFTD between UE1 and the NTN cell (i.e., serving cell) and the asynchronous TN cell (i.e., neighboring cell 1) obtained by the NTN cell (i.e., serving cell) is a subframe deviation of 3 subframes. Then the offset in SMTC1 configured by the NTN cell (i.e., serving cell) is 3 subframes.

[0316] If the propagation delay difference between UE1 and the NTN cell (i.e., serving cell) and / or the asynchronous TN cell (i.e., neighboring cell 1) is not zero, then in S604, base station 1 needs to consider the propagation delay difference when configuring the SMTC for neighboring cell 1 for UE1. For example, if UE1's serving cell is an NTN cell, UE1's neighboring cell 1 is a TN cell, and the propagation delay between UE1 and the TN cell is zero, then in S604, when configuring the SMTC for neighboring cell 1 for UE1, base station 1 needs to consider the propagation delay from UE1 to the NTN cell (i.e., serving cell). Referring to Figure 1, if the offset in the original SMTC1 is 3 and the propagation delay is 11 subframes, the offset in the SMTC configured for UE1 is 2.

[0317] Case 2: The SSB information is based on the timing of UE1's serving cell. The SSB information may include at least one of the following:

[0318] SSB period, number of SSBs, SSB pattern type, neighboring cell ID, SSB subcarrier spacing, and measured SSB time domain position.

[0319] For example, referring to Figure 1, the SSB information of the asynchronous TN cell measured by UE1 (equivalent to the SSB information of the neighboring cell) is based on the timing of UE1's service cell (that is, the timing is based on the signal of the transmitting end). UE1 reports the SSB information of the asynchronous TN cell, including: the SSB period is 10ms, the SSB pattern is type C, and the measured time domain position of SSB 0 is subframe 3.

[0320] In the following S604, when base station 1 configures SMTC for each UE (including UE1) served, it needs to consider the propagation delay corresponding to each UE.

[0321] Case 3: The SSB information is based on the timing of UE1. The SSB information may include at least one of the following:

[0322] SSB period, number of SSBs, SSB pattern type, neighboring cell ID, SSB subcarrier spacing, and measured SSB time domain position;

[0323] The time domain position of the measured SSB may be the position of the index of the first SSB measured by UE1, or may be the position of the index of any SSB measured by UE1, without limitation.

[0324] For example, referring to Figure 1, the SSB information of the asynchronous TN cell measured by UE1 (equivalent to the SSB information of the neighboring cell) is based on the timing of UE1. The SSB information of the asynchronous TN cell reported by UE1 includes: the SSB period is 10ms, the SSB pattern is type C, and the measured time domain position of SSB 0 is frame number 0 subframe 2.

[0325] In the following S604, when base station 1 configures SMTC for UE1, it can be configured directly based on the SSB information reported by UE1. When base station 1 configures SMTC for other UEs served, it is necessary to consider the propagation delay between UE1 and the serving cell, or the propagation delay between UE1 and the neighboring cell, or the propagation delay difference between UE1 and the NTN cell (i.e., serving cell) and the non-synchronized TN cell (i.e., neighboring cell), as well as the propagation delay between other UEs and the NTN cell (i.e., serving cell), or the propagation delay between other UEs and the neighboring cell, or the propagation delay difference between other UEs and the NTN cell (i.e., serving cell) and the non-synchronized TN cell (i.e., neighboring cell) when UE1 reports the SSB information of the non-synchronized TN cell (i.e., neighboring cell), to configure the SMTC of each UE.

[0326] In the above description, UE1 accesses base station 1 through a serving cell. The serving cell is a cell managed by base station 1.

[0327] Based on the above implementation mode 2, UE1 sends the SMTC information measured at the adjacent frequency point or the SMTC information of the measured adjacent cell to the base station.

[0328] For example, in the following, taking the case where UE1 reports the SMTC information of the neighboring cell 1 of the terrestrial network TN to the base station 1 as an example, the reference timing of the SMTC information of the neighboring cell 1 may include the following situations:

[0329] Case 1: SMTC information is based on the timing of neighboring cells (also called SMTC information based on neighboring cell timing).

[0330] For case 1, before UE1 reports the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 to base station 1, UE1 also determines the SMTC information based on the neighboring cell timing based on the measured SMTC information. For example, UE1 calculates the SMTC information based on the neighboring cell timing based on the measured SMTC information, the first SFTD, and the first propagation delay T1 (or the first propagation delay difference).

[0331] The first transmission delay T1 is the propagation delay from UE1 to the neighboring cell (or the base station of the neighboring cell);

[0332] The first propagation delay difference is the delay difference between UE1 and the serving cell (or base station 1) and the neighboring cell (or neighboring cell base station). For example, the first propagation delay difference = T1-T2, where T2 is the propagation delay from UE1 to the serving cell (or base station 1).

[0333] Case 2: The SMTC information is based on the timing of the serving cell (also referred to as SMTC information based on the serving cell timing).

[0334] Case 3: The SMTC information is based on the timing of UE1 (also referred to as SMTC information based on the timing of UE1).

[0335] S604: Base station 1 configures updated SMTC information for UE1 according to the SSB information or SMTC information.

[0336] For case 1 in the above implementation method 1 (SSB information of neighboring cell 1 with the timing of neighboring cell 1 as a reference, hereinafter referred to as SSB information of neighboring cell 1 based on the timing of neighboring cell 1):

[0337] Base station 1 configures updated SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE1 according to the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 based on the timing of neighboring cell 1, including the following methods:

[0338] Method 1: Base station 1 determines the updated SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 based on the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 based on the timing of neighboring cell 1, the SFTD between UE1's serving cell and neighboring cell 1, and the propagation delay T1 from UE1 to base station 1.

[0339] Method 2: Base station 1 configures updated SMTC information for neighboring cell 1 for UE1 based on the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 based on the timing of neighboring cell 1, the SFTD between UE1's serving cell and neighboring cell 1, and the propagation delay difference between UE1 and base station 1 and the base station in neighboring cell 1 (propagation delay difference = T1 - T2). T1 is the propagation delay from UE1 to base station 1, and T2 is the propagation delay from UE1 to the base station in neighboring cell 1.

[0340] The SFTD between UE1's serving cell and neighboring cell 1 can be sent by UE1 to base station 1, or obtained by base station 1 through other means, without limitation. The propagation delay T1 from UE1 to base station 1, as well as the propagation delay difference between UE1 and base station 1 and the base station in neighboring cell 1 (propagation delay difference = T1 - T2), can be sent by UE1 to serving base station 1.

[0341] In the above description, the base station of neighboring cell 1 is a base station adjacent to base station 1.

[0342] In case 1, the SSB information reported by UE1 received by base station 1 is the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 with reference to the timing of neighboring cell 1. Therefore, base station 1 first converts the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 with reference to the timing of neighboring cell 1 into the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 with reference to the timing of the serving cell based on the SFTD between the serving cell of UE1 and neighboring cell 1. Subsequently, when base station 1 configures SMTC information for each UE (including UE1) it serves, it can configure corresponding SMTC information for each UE based on the propagation delay from each UE to the serving cell. For example, base station 1 configures the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE1 based on the converted SSB information of neighboring cell 1 with reference to the timing of the serving cell and the propagation delay from UE1 to the serving cell.

[0343] For example, if the serving cell serves not only UE1 but also UE2, then base station 1 can also configure the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE2 in the same way as UE1. That is, base station 1 can configure the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE2 based on the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 based on the timing of neighboring cell 1 reported by UE1, the SFTD between the serving cell and neighboring cell 1, and the propagation delay from UE2 to base station 1 (or the propagation delay difference between UE2 and base station 1 and the base station of neighboring cell 1).

[0344] For case 2 in the above implementation method 1 (SSB information of neighboring cell 1 with reference to the timing of UE1's serving cell, hereinafter referred to as SSB information of neighboring cell 1 based on serving cell timing):

[0345] Base station 1 configures updated SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE1 based on the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 based on serving cell timing, including the following methods:

[0346] Method 1: Base station 1 configures updated SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE1 based on the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 based on the serving cell timing and the propagation delay T1 from UE1 to base station 1.

[0347] Method 2: Base station 1 configures updated SMTC information for UE1 based on the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 based on the serving cell timing and the propagation delay difference between UE1 and base station 1 and the base station in neighboring cell 1 (propagation delay difference = T1-T2). T1 is the propagation delay from UE1 to base station 1, and T2 is the propagation delay from UE1 to the base station in neighboring cell 1. The base station in neighboring cell 1 is adjacent to base station 1.

[0348] In addition, if the serving cell serves other UEs besides UE1, such as UE2, then base station 1 can also configure the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE2 in the same way as UE1. That is, base station 1 can configure the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE2 based on the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 reported by UE1 based on the serving cell timing, and the propagation delay from UE2 to base station 1 (or the propagation delay difference between UE2 and base station 1 and the base station of neighboring cell 1).

[0349] For case 3 in the above implementation method 1 (SSB information of neighboring cell 1 with reference to the timing of UE1, hereinafter referred to as SSB information of neighboring cell 1 based on the timing of UE1):

[0350] Base station 1 configures updated SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE1 based on the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 based on UE1 timing, including the following methods:

[0351] Base station 1 may directly configure updated SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE1 based on the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 timing-based on UE1.

[0352] In addition, if the base station also serves other UEs, such as UE2, base station 1 configures the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE2 based on the SSB information of neighboring cell 1 based on UE1 timing, the propagation delay from UE1 to the service cell (or the propagation delay difference between UE1 to the service cell and neighboring cell 1), and the propagation delay between UE2 and the service cell (or the propagation delay difference between UE2 to the service cell and neighboring cell 1).

[0353] For Case 1 in the above implementation method 2 (SMTC information based on the timing of the neighboring cell, hereinafter referred to as SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 based on the timing of neighboring cell 1):

[0354] Base station 1 configures updated SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE1 based on the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1, including the following:

[0355] Method 1: Base station 1 determines updated SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 based on the SMTC information based on the timing of neighboring cell 1, the SFTD between UE1's serving cell and neighboring cell 1, and the propagation delay T1 from UE1 to base station 1.

[0356] Method 2: Base station 1 uses the SMTC information based on the timing of neighboring cell 1, the SFTD between UE1's service cell and neighboring cell 1, and the propagation delay difference between UE1 and base station 1 and the base station of neighboring cell 1 (propagation delay difference = T1-T2), where T2 is the propagation delay from UE1 to the base station of neighboring cell 1.

[0357] In scenario 1, the SMTC information reported by UE1 received by base station 1 is based on the timing of neighboring cell 1. Therefore, base station 1 first converts the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 based on the timing of neighboring cell 1 based on the SFTD between UE1's serving cell and neighboring cell 1 into the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 based on the timing of the serving cell. Subsequently, when base station 1 configures SMTC information for each UE it serves (including UE1), it can configure the corresponding SMTC information for each UE based on the propagation delay from each UE to the serving cell.

[0358] For example, if the serving cell serves not only UE1 but also UE2, then base station 1 can also configure the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE2 in the same way as UE1. That is, base station 1 can configure the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE2 based on the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 reported by UE1 based on the timing of neighboring cell 1, the SFTD between the serving cell and neighboring cell 1, and the propagation delay from UE2 to base station 1 (or the propagation delay difference between UE2 and base station 1 and the base station of neighboring cell 1).

[0359] For the case 2 in the above implementation mode 2 (SMTC information based on the timing of the serving cell, hereinafter referred to as SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 based on the timing of the serving cell):

[0360] Base station 1 configures updated SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE1 based on the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1, including the following methods:

[0361] Method 1: Base station 1 determines the updated SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 based on the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 timing and the propagation delay T1 from UE1 to base station 1;

[0362] Method 2: Base station 1 determines updated SMTC information based on the timing SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 and the propagation delay difference between UE1 and base station 1 and the base station in neighboring cell 1 (propagation delay difference = T1-T2). T1 is the propagation delay from UE1 to base station 1, and T2 is the propagation delay from UE1 to the base station in neighboring cell 1.

[0363] For case 3 in the above implementation method 2 (SMTC information based on the timing of UE1, hereinafter referred to as SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 based on the timing of UE1):

[0364] Base station 1 configures updated SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 for UE1 according to the SMTC information based on UE1 timing, including: base station 1 uses the SMTC information based on UE1 timing as the updated SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 configured for UE1.

[0365] In addition, if the service cell serves other UEs in addition to UE1, such as UE2, base station 1 can determine the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 based on the SMTC information of neighboring cell 1 reported by UE1 based on the service cell timing, and the propagation delay from UE2 to base station 1 (or the propagation delay difference between UE2 and base station 1 and the base station of neighboring cell 1), and then send the SMTC information of the neighboring cell to UE2.

[0366] S605: Base station 1 sends updated SMTC information to UE1.

[0367] In this embodiment one, when SMTC cannot be exchanged between the serving base station and the neighboring station, the serving base station can measure the SSB information or SMTC information of at least one neighboring cell / at least one neighboring frequency point through the connected UE and report it to the serving base station; then the serving base station can configure more accurate SMTC information for each UE served based on the SSB information or SMTC information reported by the UE, thereby improving the measurement efficiency of the UE and reducing the power consumption generated by the measurement.

[0368] The embodiment of the present application also provides another measurement configuration method, which is applicable to but not limited to the communication system shown in Figure 2, and is applicable to but not limited to the specific communication scenarios of Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D above. The method can be executed by a terminal device or an access network device; or the method can be executed by components (modules, chips, etc.) corresponding to the terminal device or the access network device; or the method can be executed by a device corresponding to the terminal device or the access network device; it can be understood that the present application does not make specific restrictions on the specific structure of the execution subject of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application and the number of each execution subject. As long as it is possible to communicate according to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application by running a program that records the code of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the interaction between the terminal device and the access network device will be used as an example for explanation. The order of the steps in the following processes is only an example. In actual applications, the execution order of the steps in each process can be adjusted.

[0369] Please refer to FIG7 , the specific process of the method is as follows:

[0370] S701: A first access network device sends a first request message to a core network element, the first request message being used to request first configuration information of a second access network device, the first configuration information being used to indicate time domain information of a reference signal of the second access network device. Accordingly, the core network element receives the first request message.

[0371] In an embodiment of the present application, the first request information sent by the first access network device to the core network element to request the first configuration information of the second access network device may be implemented including but not limited to the following methods:

[0372] Method 1: The first request information includes indication information of the second access network device.

[0373] For example, the indication information of the second access network device may be an identification ID of the second access network device, or location information of the second access network device, and the like.

[0374] Method 2: The first request includes the first location information. The first location information can be used by the core network element to determine the second access network device. The first location information can be associated with the second access network device, for example, the first location information corresponds to the identification information or location information of the second access network device.

[0375] Method 3: The first request information includes indication information of the second access network device and indication information of the second cell under the jurisdiction of the second access network device. The second cell may be any cell under the jurisdiction of the second access network device.

[0376] For example, the indication information of the second access network device may be an identification ID of the second access network device, or location information of the second access network device, etc. The indication information of the second cell may be a PCI of the second cell, or location information of the second cell, etc.

[0377] S702: The core network element sends the first configuration information of the second access network device to the first access network device according to the first request information. Correspondingly, the first access network device receives the first configuration information of the second access network device.

[0378] In a possible implementation, before S701 or S702, the method further includes: a core network element receiving first configuration information of at least one access network device, where the configuration information of the at least one access network device includes first configuration information of a second access network device.

[0379] Optionally, the core network element interacting with the first access network device (referred to as network element #1) and the core network element interacting with the at least one access network device (referred to as network element #2) may be the same core network element or different core network elements. If they are different core network elements, network element #1 sends the first request information to network element #2, network element #2 sends the first configuration information to network element #1, and network element #1 then sends the first configuration information to network element #2.

[0380] Optionally, the first configuration information is configuration information that uses the timing of a cell in the second access network device as a reference.

[0381] In the embodiment of the present application, the core network element may include the following situations when executing S702:

[0382] Case 1: Corresponding to method 1 in the above S701, the core network network element sends the first configuration information of the second access network device to the first access network device according to the instruction information of the second access network device. The first configuration information includes the configuration information of all cells under the jurisdiction of the second access network device.

[0383] Case 2: Corresponding to the second method in S701 above, the core network network element determines the second access network device based on the first location information; then the core network network element sends the first configuration information of the second access network device to the first access network device, and the first configuration information includes the configuration information of all cells under the jurisdiction of the second access network device.

[0384] Case 3: Corresponding to method three in S701 above, the core network network element sends the first configuration information of the second access network device to the first access network device based on the indication information of the second access network device and the indication information of the second cell, and the first configuration information includes the configuration information of the second cell.

[0385] In the above, the configuration information of the cell may include but is not limited to one or more of frequency information, subcarrier spacing of the reference signal, timing configuration of the reference signal, pattern bitmap of the reference signal, physical cell identifier PCI, and cell coverage information.

[0386] In a possible embodiment, the method also includes: the first access network device sends second configuration information to the first terminal device, the second configuration information is determined based on the first configuration information, and the second configuration information is used to instruct the first terminal device to perform timing configuration for measuring the reference signal of at least one neighboring cell.

[0387] Exemplarily, the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the second cell may be the timing configuration of the reference signal in the configuration information of the second cell.

[0388] In summary, an embodiment of the present application also provides a measurement configuration method, which includes: a first access network device sends a first request message to a core network network element; the first request message is used to request first configuration information of a second access network device, and the first configuration information is used to indicate the time domain information of a reference signal of the second access network device; then the first access network device receives the first configuration information from the core network network element; the first configuration information is reported by the second access network device to the core network network element. In this method, the first access network device can obtain the time domain information of the reference signal of the adjacent access network device (second access network device) through the core network network element, and then the first access network device can effectively and accurately obtain the timing configuration for measuring the reference signal of the adjacent access network device (second access network device) based on the time domain information of the reference signal of the adjacent access network device (second access network device).

[0389] Implementation method 2:

[0390] Based on the method described in 7 above, in implementation mode 2, the first terminal device is UE1 as an example, the first access network device is base station 1 as an example, base station 1 serves UE1, and the second access network device is base station 2 (or base station 3) as an example, base station 2 (or base station 3) is a base station adjacent to base station 1; referring to FIG8 , the specific process of implementation mode 2 is as follows:

[0391] S800: Base station 1, base station 2, and base station 3 respectively send their respective serving cell information (equivalent to the first configuration information in the solution described in FIG. 7 ) to the core network. The serving cell information includes time information used for measurement.

[0392] The serving cell information sent by each base station to the core network includes time information used to measure each cell. The time information used to measure any cell may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following:

[0393] Frequency, SSB subcarrier spacing, SMTC, SSB pattern, PCI, and cell coverage information.

[0394] Optionally, base station 1, base station 2 and base station 3 also send base station identification IDs to the core network respectively.

[0395] In this embodiment, base station 1, base station 2, and base station 3 are used as examples of access network devices to report their respective serving cell information to the core network. In practice, there may be more or fewer access network devices, and the same can be applied to S800 without limitation.

[0396] S800 is an optional step.

[0397] S801: Base station 1 sends a request message to the core network to request serving cell information of base station 2.

[0398] When base station 1 is unable to exchange information with a neighboring base station (such as base station 2 or base station 2), base station 1 may execute S801.

[0399] S802: The core network sends the serving cell information of base station 2 to base station 1.

[0400] If in S801 , the request information sent by base station 1 to the core network includes the identification ID of base station 2 , then in S802 , after receiving the request information, the core network sends the serving cell information of base station 2 to base station 1 .

[0401] Optionally, the request information includes the location information of UE1; after receiving the request information, the core network can determine that the neighboring base station of UE1 is base station 2 based on the location information of UE1, and then the core network can feedback the service cell information of base station 2 to base station 1.

[0402] Optionally, the service cell information of base station 2 sent by the core network to base station 1 can be all the information in the service cell information reported by base station 2 to the core network, or the time information used to measure each cell in the service cell information of base station 2, or part of the information in the time information used to measure each cell, and there is no limitation on this.

[0403] For example, the core network receives a request from base station 1, which carries the ID of base station 2 and requests to obtain the SMTC for measuring the serving cell of base station 2. The core network then sends the SMTC corresponding to all cells of base station 2 to base station 1 based on the request.

[0404] If in S801, the request information sent by the base station to the core network also includes the identification ID of a cell served by base station 2, such as the identification of cell 2; then in S802, after receiving the request information, the core network sends the information of cell 2 to base station 1.

[0405] Optionally, the information of cell 2 may be time information used for measuring cell 2 in the serving cell information of base station 2, or part of the time information used for measuring cell 2, which is not limited to this.

[0406] In a possible implementation, if base station 2 does not execute S800 above, the core network may request base station 2 for the serving cell information of base station 2 (or information about a cell of base station 2) after receiving the request information from base station 1. Base station 2 then sends the serving cell information of base station 2 (or information about a cell of base station 2) to the core network. The core network then sends the serving cell information of base station 2 (or information about a cell of base station 2) to base station 1.

[0407] It should be noted that in the above S801-S802, base station 1 is used as an example to request base station 2's serving cell information. Base station 1 may also request the core network to obtain the serving cell information of other neighboring base stations (such as base station 3), and the same method can be used to request base station 1 to obtain the serving cell information of base station 2. For other base stations (such as base station 2 or base station 3) to request the core network to obtain the serving cell information of neighboring base stations, the same method can be used to request base station 1 to obtain the serving cell information of neighboring base stations from the core network, and this will not be described in detail here.

[0408] After S802 , base station 1 may send information about the serving cell of a neighboring base station (base station 2 or base station 3 or other neighboring base stations) to at least one UE that performs neighboring cell measurement.

[0409] In the second embodiment, when SMTC cannot be exchanged between the serving base station and the neighboring station, each base station can report the serving cell information to the core network. When a base station with measurement requirements requests the serving cell information of a neighboring station from the core network, the core network can provide the base station with the SMTC of the neighboring station. Then, the base station can provide the UE it serves with accurate SMTC for measurement, thereby improving measurement efficiency and reducing power consumption generated by the measurement.

[0410] It should be noted that in the second embodiment, the core network is used as a transit node so that each base station can effectively obtain the service cell information of the adjacent base station. However, in the embodiment of the present application, other devices (or network elements) can also be used as transit nodes to implement the functions of the core network in the embodiment of the present application, and there is no limitation on this. For example, base station 1 needs to obtain the service cell information (such as SMTC) of base station 2, and base station 1 and base station 2 cannot exchange information. If there is a base station 3 among the adjacent base stations of base station 1 that can exchange information with base station 1 through the Xn interface, then base station 1 can also obtain the service cell information (such as SMTC) of base station 2 through base station 3.

[0411] In the embodiments provided in the present application above, the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application are introduced from the perspective of interaction between various devices. In order to implement the various functions in the methods provided in the embodiments or implementations of the present application above, the first terminal device or the first access network device or the second access network device or the core network element may include a hardware structure and / or a software module to implement the above functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. Whether one of the above functions is executed in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0412] The division of modules in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative and is merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. Furthermore, the functional modules in the various embodiments or implementations of the present application may be integrated into a single processor, or may exist physically separately, or two or more modules may be integrated into a single module. The aforementioned integrated modules may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional modules.

[0413] Similar to the above concept, as shown in FIG9 , an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device 900 for implementing the functions of the first terminal device, first access network device, second access network device, or core network element in the above method. For example, the communication device 900 may be a software module or a chip system. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete components. The communication device 900 may include: a communication unit 901 and a processing unit 902.

[0414] In the embodiments of the present application, the communication unit 901 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, and may include a transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit, respectively configured to execute the steps of transmitting and receiving by the first terminal device, the first access network device, the second access network device, or the core network element in the above method embodiments. The processing unit 902 may be configured to read instructions and / or data from the storage module to enable the communication device 900 to implement the above method embodiments.

[0415] Optionally, the communication device 900 may further include a storage unit 903 , which is equivalent to a storage module and may be used to store instructions and / or data.

[0416] The communication device provided in the embodiments of the present application is described in detail below in conjunction with Figures 9 and 10. It should be understood that the description of the device embodiment corresponds to the description of the method embodiment. Therefore, the content not described in detail can be implemented with reference to the methods shown in Figures 5 to 8 above, and for the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0417] The communication unit 901 may also be referred to as a transceiver, transceiver, or transceiver device. The processing unit may also be referred to as a processor, processing board, processing module, or processing device. Alternatively, the device in the communication unit 901 that implements the receiving function may be considered a receiving unit, and the device in the communication unit 901 that implements the transmitting function may be considered a transmitting unit. That is, the communication unit 901 includes both a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. A communication unit may also be referred to as a transceiver, transceiver, or transceiver circuit. A receiving unit may also be referred to as a receiver, receiver, or receiving circuit. A transmitting unit may also be referred to as a transmitter, transmitter, or transmitting circuit.

[0418] When the communication device 900 executes the process shown in Figure 5 of the above embodiment as the first terminal device: the communication unit 901 is used to receive first configuration information, where the first configuration information is used by the first terminal device to perform a first measurement on at least one neighboring cell, where the first measurement is to measure the time domain information where the reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are respectively located; the communication unit 901 is also used to send target measurement information to the first access network device, where the target measurement information includes the time domain information where the reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are respectively located. The processing unit 902 is used to control the communication unit 901 to perform sending and / or receiving functions, and to process data and / or information.

[0419] When the communication device 900 executes the first access network device of the process shown in Figure 5 of the above embodiment: the communication unit 901 and the processing unit 902 in the communication device 900 are both located in the first access network device; or the communication unit 901 is located in the DU of the first access network device, and the processing unit 902 is located in the CU of the first access network device; or in the O-RAN architecture, the communication unit 901 is located in the O-DU and / or O-RU of the first access network device, and the processing unit 902 is located in the O-CU and / or O-DU of the first access network device.

[0420] The communication unit 901 is configured to send first configuration information, where the first configuration information is used by a first terminal device to perform a first measurement on at least one neighboring cell, where the first measurement is to measure time domain information where reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are located. The communication unit 901 is further configured to receive target measurement information from the first terminal device, where the target measurement information includes time domain information where reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are located. The processing unit 902 is configured to control the communication unit 901 to perform sending and / or receiving functions, and to process data and / or information.

[0421] When the communication device 900 executes the process shown in FIG. 7 of the first access network device in the above embodiment: the communication unit 901 and processing unit 902 in the communication device 900 are both located within the first access network device; or the communication unit 901 is located within the DU of the first access network device, and the processing unit 902 is located within the CU of the first access network device; or in an O-RAN architecture, the communication unit 901 is located within the O-DU and / or O-RU of the first access network device, and the processing unit 902 is located within the O-CU and / or O-DU of the first access network device. The communication unit 901 is configured to send a first request message to a core network element; the first request message is used to request first configuration information of a second access network device, the first configuration information being used to indicate time domain information of a reference signal of the second access network device; the communication unit 901 is further configured to receive the first configuration information from the core network element; the first configuration information is reported by the second access network device to the core network element. The processing unit 902 is configured to control the communication unit 901 to perform sending and / or receiving functions, and to process data and / or information.

[0422] When the communication device 900 executes the core network network element in the process shown in Figure 7 of the above embodiment: the communication unit 901 is used to receive the first request information of the first access network device; the first request information is used to request the first configuration information of the second access network device; the first configuration information is used to indicate the time domain information of the reference signal of the second access network device; the communication unit 901 is also used to send the first configuration information of the second access network device to the first network device according to the first request information.

[0423] When the communication device 900 executes the second access network device in the process shown in FIG. 7 of the above embodiment: the communication unit 901 and the processing unit 902 in the communication device 900 are both located in the second access network device; or the communication unit 901 is located in the DU of the second access network device, and the processing unit 902 is located in the CU of the second access network device; or in the O-RAN architecture, the communication unit 901 is located in the O-DU and / or O-RU of the second access network device, and the processing unit 902 is located in the O-CU and / or O-DU of the second access network device. The processing unit 902 is used to generate first configuration information; the communication unit 901 is used to send the first configuration information to the core network element, and the first configuration information is used to indicate the time domain information of the reference signal of the second access network device.

[0424] The above are just examples. The processing unit 902 and the communication unit 901 can also perform other functions. For more detailed descriptions, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the method embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 8, which are not repeated here.

[0425] Figure 10 shows a communication device 1000 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device shown in Figure 10 can be a hardware circuit implementation of the communication device shown in Figure 9. The communication device 1000 can be used in the flowcharts shown above to perform the functions of the first terminal device, first access network device, second access network device, or core network element in the above-described method embodiments. For ease of illustration, Figure 10 only shows the main components of the communication device.

[0426] As shown in Figure 10, communication device 1000 includes a communication interface 1001 and a processor 1002. Communication interface 1001 and processor 1002 are coupled to each other. It is understood that communication interface 1001 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface, or an interface circuit such as a transceiver circuit. Optionally, communication device 1000 can also include a memory 1003 for storing instructions executed by processor 1002, input data required by processor 1002 to execute instructions, or data generated by processor 1002 after executing instructions.

[0427] When the communication device 1000 is used to implement the methods shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8 , the communication interface 1001 is used to implement the functions of the communication unit 901 , and the processor 1002 is used to implement the functions of the processing unit 902 .

[0428] The specific connection medium between the communication interface 1001, the processor 1002, and the memory 1003 is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. In Figure 10, the embodiment of the present application shows that the memory 1003, the processor 1002, and the communication interface 1001 are connected via a communication bus 1004. The communication bus 1004 is represented by a bold line in Figure 10. The connection method between other components is only for schematic illustration and is not intended to be limiting. The communication bus 1004 can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, only one bold line is used in Figure 10, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0429] When the communication device is a chip, FIG11 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the chip structure, wherein the chip 1100 includes an interface circuit 1101 and one or more processors 1102. Optionally, the chip 1100 may further include a bus.

[0430] The processor 1102 may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the above-mentioned service node information determination method can be completed by hardware integrated logic circuits or software instructions in the processor 1102. The above-mentioned processor 1102 can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute the various methods and steps disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or the processor can also be any conventional processor, etc.

[0431] The interface circuit 1101 can be used to send or receive data, instructions or information. The processor 1102 can use the data, instructions or other information received by the interface circuit 1101 to process it, and can send the processing completion information through the interface circuit 1101.

[0432] Optionally, the chip further includes a memory 1103, which may include a read-only memory and a random access memory, and provides operating instructions and data to the processor. A portion of the memory 1103 may also include a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM).

[0433] Optionally, the memory stores an executable software module or a data structure, and the processor can perform corresponding operations by calling an operation instruction stored in the memory (the operation instruction may be stored in an operating system).

[0434] Optionally, the chip can be used in the first terminal device, first access network device, second access network device, or core network element involved in the embodiments of this application. Optionally, the interface circuit 1101 can be used to output the execution result of the processor 1102. For the methods provided in one or more embodiments of this application, reference can be made to the aforementioned embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0435] It should be noted that the corresponding functions of the interface circuit 1101 and the processor 1102 can be implemented through hardware design, software design, or a combination of hardware and software, and there is no limitation here.

[0436] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium on which computer instructions are stored for implementing the method executed by the first terminal device or the first access network device or the second access network device or the core network element in the above method embodiment.

[0437] For example, when the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the method performed by the first terminal device or the first access network device or the second access network device or the core network element in the above method embodiment.

[0438] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to implement the method executed by the first terminal device or the first access network device or the second access network device or the core network element in the above method embodiment.

[0439] An embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, including a processor, configured to call a computer program or computer instruction stored in the memory, so that the processor executes the measurement configuration method of the implementation manner shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8 .

[0440] In one possible implementation, the input of the chip corresponds to the receiving operation in the implementation shown in Figures 5 to 8 above, and the output of the chip corresponds to the sending operation in the implementation shown in Figures 5 to 8 above.

[0441] Optionally, the processor is coupled to the memory via an interface.

[0442] Optionally, the chip further includes a memory in which computer programs or computer instructions are stored.

[0443] The processor mentioned in any of the above may be a general-purpose central processing unit, a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of a program of a measurement configuration method in the implementation of the above-mentioned Figures 5 to 8. The memory mentioned in any of the above may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM), etc.

[0444] It should be noted that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the explanation and beneficial effects of the relevant contents in any of the above-mentioned communication devices may refer to the corresponding service node information determination method embodiments provided above, which will not be repeated here.

[0445] In the present application, the communication devices may further include a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on top of the hardware layer, and an application layer running on the operating system layer. The hardware layer may include hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory management unit (MMU), and memory (also known as main memory). The operating system of the operating system layer may be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through processes, such as the Linux operating system, Unix operating system, Android operating system, iOS operating system, or Windows operating system. The application layer may include applications such as browsers, address books, word processing software, and instant messaging software.

[0446] The division of modules in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative and is merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. Furthermore, the functional modules in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processor, or may exist physically separately, or two or more modules may be integrated into a single module. The aforementioned integrated modules may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional modules.

[0447] Through the description of the above embodiments, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination thereof. When software is used for implementation, the above functions can be stored in a computer-readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or codes on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include computer storage media and communication media, wherein the communication media include any medium that facilitates the transmission of a computer program from one place to another. The storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access. For example, but not limited to: a computer-readable medium may include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store a desired program code in the form of an instruction or data structure and can be accessed by a computer. In addition, any connection can be appropriately a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of the medium. As used in the embodiments of the present application, disk and disc include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc, where disks typically reproduce data magnetically and discs use lasers to reproduce data optically. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of protection of computer-readable media.

[0448] In short, the above description is only an embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made based on the disclosure of the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A measurement configuration method, characterized in that: The method is applied to a first terminal device, comprising: Receive first configuration information, where the first configuration information is used by the first terminal device to perform a first measurement on at least one neighboring cell, where the first measurement is to measure time domain information where reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are respectively located; Send target measurement information to the first access network device, where the target measurement information includes time domain information where reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are respectively located.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first configuration information includes information of the at least one neighboring cell and / or information of a neighboring frequency point corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell; The first configuration information is used to instruct the first terminal device to report target measurement information obtained by performing the first measurement on the at least one neighboring cell and / or the neighboring frequency point corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Receive second configuration information from the first access network device, where the second configuration information is determined by the first access network device based on the target measurement information, and the second configuration information is used to indicate the timing configuration of the first terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the at least one neighboring cell.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is the first time slot information with the timing at which the first terminal device receives the downlink reference signal of the serving cell as a reference; or The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is second time slot information with the timing of sending the downlink reference signal of the first neighboring cell as reference; or The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is the third time slot information with reference to the timing of the serving cell of the first terminal device sending the downlink reference signal; The first neighboring area is any one of the at least one neighboring area.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that When the target measurement information includes the first time slot information, the target measurement information further includes at least one of a period of a reference signal of the first neighboring cell, the number of reference signals, a type of a reference signal, an identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and a subcarrier spacing of a reference signal; or When the target measurement information includes the second time slot information, the target measurement information also includes at least one of a period of a reference signal of the first neighboring cell, third indication information, the number of reference signals, a pattern bitmap of the reference signal, a type of the reference signal, an identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and a subcarrier spacing of the reference signal; wherein the third indication information is used to indicate that the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located in the first half frame or the second half frame of a system radio frame of the first neighboring cell; or When the target measurement information includes the third time slot information, the target measurement information also includes at least one of a period of a reference signal of the first neighboring cell, the number of reference signals, a type of reference signal, an identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and a subcarrier spacing of a reference signal.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is the first time window information with the timing at which the first terminal device receives the downlink reference signal of the serving cell as a reference; or The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is second time window information with the timing of sending the downlink reference signal of the first neighboring cell as a reference; or The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is third time window information with reference to the timing of the serving cell of the first terminal device sending the downlink reference signal; The first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell, and the first time window information, the second time window information, or the third time window information includes one or more of the following: The length of the time window, the period of the time window, and the offset of the time window.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send one or more of the following to the first access network device: The timing difference between the timing of the reference signal of the serving cell received by the first terminal device and the timing of the reference signal sent by the at least one neighboring cell, the first propagation delay from the first terminal device to the serving cell of the first terminal device, the propagation delay corresponding to the first terminal device to the at least one neighboring cell, and the first propagation delay difference corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell; Among them, the first propagation delay difference corresponding to each neighboring cell is the difference between the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the corresponding neighboring cell and the first propagation delay.

8. A measurement configuration method, characterized in that: The method is applied to a first access network device, comprising: Sending first configuration information, where the first configuration information is used by a first terminal device to perform a first measurement on at least one neighboring cell, where the first measurement is to measure time domain information where reference signals of the at least one neighboring cell are respectively located; Receive target measurement information from the first terminal device, where the target measurement information includes time domain information where reference signals of at least one neighboring cell are respectively located.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The first configuration information includes information of the at least one neighboring cell and / or information of a neighboring frequency point corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell; The first configuration information is used to instruct the first terminal device to report target measurement information obtained by performing the first measurement on the at least one neighboring cell and / or the neighboring frequency point corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Determine, according to the target measurement information, second configuration information of a target terminal device served by the first access network device, the second configuration information being used to indicate a timing configuration for the target terminal device to perform measurement on a reference signal of the at least one neighboring cell, the target terminal device including the first terminal device; Send the second configuration information to the target terminal device.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive one or more of the following sent by the first terminal device: The timing difference between the timing of the reference signal of the serving cell received by the first terminal device and the timing of the reference signal sent by the at least one neighboring cell, the first propagation delay from the first terminal device to the serving cell of the first terminal device, the propagation delay corresponding to the first terminal device to the at least one neighboring cell, and the first propagation delay difference corresponding to the at least one neighboring cell; Among them, the first propagation delay difference corresponding to each neighboring cell is the difference between the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the corresponding neighboring cell and the first propagation delay.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is the first time slot information with the timing at which the first terminal device receives the downlink reference signal of the serving cell as a reference; or The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is second time slot information with the timing of sending the downlink reference signal of the first neighboring cell as reference; or The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is the third time slot information with reference to the timing of the serving cell of the first terminal device sending the downlink reference signal; The first neighboring area is any one of the at least one neighboring area.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that When the target measurement information includes the first time slot information, the target measurement information further includes at least one of a period of a reference signal of the first neighboring cell, the number of reference signals, a type of a reference signal, an identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and a subcarrier spacing of a reference signal; or When the target measurement information includes the second time slot information, the target measurement information also includes at least one of a period of a reference signal of the first neighboring cell, third indication information, the number of reference signals, a pattern bitmap of the reference signal, a type of the reference signal, an identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and a subcarrier spacing of the reference signal; wherein the third indication information is used to indicate that the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located in the first half frame or the second half frame of a system radio frame of the first neighboring cell; or When the target measurement information includes the third time slot information, the target measurement information also includes at least one of a period of a reference signal of the first neighboring cell, the number of reference signals, a type of reference signal, an identification ID of the first neighboring cell, and a subcarrier spacing of a reference signal.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that When the target measurement information includes first time slot information, the timing configuration performed by the first terminal device on the first neighboring cell is determined by the first access network device according to the target measurement information.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The target terminal device also includes a second terminal device; the method further includes: obtaining a second propagation delay or a fourth propagation delay or a second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device; wherein the second propagation delay is a propagation delay from the second terminal device to the serving cell; the fourth propagation delay is a propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell, and the second propagation delay difference is a difference between the second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay; The timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is determined by the first access network device based on the target measurement information, the first propagation delay, and the second propagation delay or the fourth propagation delay or the second propagation delay difference.

16. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that When the target measurement information includes second time slot information; The timing configuration performed by the first terminal device on the first neighboring cell is determined by the first access network device according to the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the first propagation delay or the third propagation delay or the first propagation delay difference corresponding to the first neighboring cell; the third propagation delay is the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell; The first timing difference is the difference between the timing at which the first terminal device receives the reference signal of the serving cell and the timing at which the first terminal device receives the reference signal of the first neighboring cell.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The target terminal device also includes a second terminal device; the method further includes: obtaining a second propagation delay or a fourth propagation delay or a second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device; wherein the second propagation delay is a propagation delay from the second terminal device to the serving cell, the fourth propagation delay is a propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell, and the second propagation delay difference is a difference between the second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay; The timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is determined by the first access network device based on the target measurement information, the first timing difference, and the second propagation delay or the fourth propagation delay or the second propagation delay difference.

18. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that: When the target measurement information includes third time slot information; The timing configuration performed by the first terminal device on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is determined by the first access network device based on the target measurement information, and the first propagation delay or the third propagation delay or the first propagation delay difference corresponding to the first neighboring cell.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The target terminal device also includes a second terminal device; the method further includes: obtaining a second propagation delay or a fourth propagation delay or a second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device; wherein the second propagation delay is a propagation delay from the second terminal device to the serving cell, the fourth propagation delay is a propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell, and the second propagation delay difference is a difference between the second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay; The timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is determined by the first access network device based on the target measurement information and the second propagation delay or the second propagation delay difference.

20. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is the first time window information with the timing at which the first terminal device receives the downlink reference signal of the serving cell as a reference; or The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is second time window information with the timing of sending the downlink reference signal of the first neighboring cell as a reference; or The time domain information where the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is located is third time window information with reference to the timing of the serving cell of the first terminal device sending the downlink reference signal; The first neighboring cell is any one of the at least one neighboring cell, and the first time window information, the second time window information, or the third time window information includes one or more of the following: The length of the time window, the period of the time window, and the offset of the time window.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that When the target measurement information includes the first time window information; the timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is obtained by the first access network device based on the first time window information.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, and the method further includes: obtaining a second propagation delay or a fourth propagation delay or a second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device; wherein the second propagation delay is a propagation delay from the second terminal device to the serving cell, the fourth propagation delay is a propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell, and the second propagation delay difference is a difference between the second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay; The timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is determined by the first access network device according to the first time window information, the first timing difference, and the second propagation delay or the fourth propagation delay or the second propagation timing difference; The first timing difference is the difference between the timing at which the first terminal device receives the reference signal of the serving cell and the timing at which the first terminal device receives the reference signal of the first neighboring cell.

23. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that When the target measurement information includes the second time window information; The timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is determined by the first access network device based on the second time window information, and the first propagation delay or the third propagation delay or the first propagation delay difference corresponding to the first neighboring cell; wherein the third propagation delay is the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that The target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, and the method further includes: obtaining a second propagation delay or a fourth propagation delay or a second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device; wherein the second propagation delay is a propagation delay from the second terminal device to the serving cell, the fourth propagation delay is a propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell, and the second propagation delay difference is a difference between the second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay; The timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is determined by the first access network device according to the second time window information, and the second propagation delay or the fourth propagation delay or the second propagation delay difference.

25. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that When the target measurement information includes the third time window information; The timing configuration for the first terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is determined by the first access network device according to the third time window information, and the first propagation delay or the third propagation delay or the first propagation difference corresponding to the first neighboring cell; The third propagation delay is the propagation delay from the first terminal device to the first neighboring cell.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that The target terminal device also includes a second terminal device, and the method further includes: obtaining a second propagation delay or a fourth propagation delay or a second propagation delay difference of the second terminal device; wherein the second propagation delay is a propagation delay from the second terminal device to the serving cell, the fourth propagation delay is a propagation delay from the second terminal device to the first neighboring cell, and the second propagation delay difference is a difference between the second propagation delay and the fourth propagation delay; The timing configuration for the second terminal device to perform measurement on the reference signal of the first neighboring cell is determined by the first access network device based on the third time window information, and the second propagation delay or the fourth propagation delay or the second propagation delay difference.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: A method comprising a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or a method comprising a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 8 to 26.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: comprising a processor; the processor is used to execute one or more computer programs or instructions stored in the memory, so that the communication device executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or executes the method according to any one of claims 8 to 26.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: A computer program or instructions are stored, wherein the computer program or instructions are used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 26.

30. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 26.

Images