Communication method and related device

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and a related device, which are used for reducing waste of PRACH time slot resources and belong to the technical field of communications. The present application introduces a PRACH time slot group for PRACH resource configuration, such that ROs can be configured continuously across time slots in the PRACH time slot group, so as to reduce waste of idle symbols in PRACH time slots and increase random access resources which can be used by terminals, thus enabling random access requests of more terminals to be received, and increasing the terminal access capacity of network devices; moreover, when repeated transmission of PRACHs is used to enhance uplink coverage, the processing complexity increased due to idle symbols in PRACH time slots can be reduced, thus facilitating repeated transmission and reception of PRACHs.

Description

A communication method and related equipment

[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 December 6, 2023, with application number 202311665403.3 and application name "A Communication Method and Related Equipment", 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 communication method and related equipment. Background Art

[0004] In a mobile communication network, a terminal can perform random access by sending a random access request to a network device on a random access resource indicated by the network device. The random access resource can be a random access opportunity (RO) in a physical random access channel (PRACH) time slot.

[0005] Currently, any RO is located within a PRACH slot. For example, a subframe has two PRACH slots, both of which have the same RO pattern. Each PRACH slot contains 14 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. Each RO occupies four consecutive OFDM symbols, and each slot can contain three ROs, leaving two idle symbols.

[0006] Because unusable idle symbols may exist in a PRACH timeslot, the PRACH timeslot resources cannot be fully utilized, resulting in a certain degree of resource waste. In addition, when repeatedly transmitting PRACH to enhance uplink coverage, the idle symbols in the PRACH timeslot will increase processing complexity, which is not conducive to repeated transmission of PRACH. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides a communication method and related equipment to reduce the waste of PRACH time slot resources.

[0008] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be performed by a terminal or a chip, chip system, or circuit located in the terminal. For example, taking the terminal as the performing entity, the method may be implemented by the following steps: the terminal receives indication information from a network device, wherein the indication information is used to indicate that a first resource includes a PRACH time slot group, and each PRACH time slot group includes multiple PRACH time slots; and some ROs in each PRACH time slot group span multiple PRACH time slots, and the first resource may include some or all radio frames. The terminal sends a random access request based on the RO in the first resource.

[0009] The communication method provided by the present application introduces a PRACH time slot group for PRACH resource configuration. The RO can be configured continuously across time slots within the PRACH time slot group, thereby making full use of the tail idle symbols in adjacent time slots, thereby reducing the waste of idle symbols in the PRACH time slot, increasing the random access resources available to the terminal, and thus having the opportunity to receive random access requests from more terminals, thereby improving the terminal access capacity of the network device. At the same time, when enhancing uplink coverage by repeatedly sending PRACH, the processing complexity increased by the idle symbols in the PRACH time slot can be reduced, which is conducive to the repeated sending and receiving of PRACH.

[0010] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information carries a time slot group configuration identifier, and the time slot group configuration identifier is used to indicate that the first resource includes a PRACH time slot group.

[0011] In the above implementation, the first resource may include part or all of the radio frames, some radio frames may include PRACH time slot groups, and some radio frames may not include PRACH time slot groups. PRACH resource configuration is performed in a traditional manner. That is, some radio frames may contain tail symbols in which ROs occupy part or all of the time slots. The time slot group configuration identifier can be used to distinguish radio frames that include PRACH time slot groups from radio frames that do not include PRACH time slot groups.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the indication information carries first configuration information, where the first configuration information is used to indicate the starting position and / or ending position of each RO in the first resource. After receiving the indication information, the terminal may send a random access request based on the starting position and / or ending position of each RO in the first resource.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the starting position and / or ending position of the first RO in the first resource is related to the following parameters: the starting symbol index and / or ending symbol index of the first RO in the first PRACH time slot group where the first RO is located, the sequence number of the first RO in the multiple ROs included in the first PRACH time slot group, and the length of the first RO; the first RO is any RO among the multiple ROs included in the first PRACH time slot group, and the first PRACH time slot group is any PRACH time slot group among the multiple PRACH time slot groups included in the first resource.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the first configuration information is used to indicate a first parameter; the first parameter includes the following parameters: a start symbol index and / or an end symbol index of the first RO in the first resource.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the first parameter may further include at least one of the following:

[0016] The length of each RO in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource;

[0017] the number of PRACH time slots included in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource;

[0018] The number of ROs included in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource;

[0019] A random access preamble format of the first resource;

[0020] The resource number of the first resource.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes at least two PRACH time slot groups, and the indication information carries first configuration information corresponding to each of the at least two PRACH time slot groups. In other words, the first configuration information corresponding to the at least two PRACH time slot groups included in the first resource is different. This indication method is more suitable for situations where the first configuration information corresponding to different PRACH time slot groups is different.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the above-mentioned indication information is used to indicate that the first resource contains at least two PRACH time slot groups, and any two adjacent PRACH time slot groups in the at least two PRACH time slot groups are adjacent in the time domain or separated by a specified time length. Accordingly, the above-mentioned indication information carries second configuration information. The second configuration information is used to indicate the second parameters used by the at least two PRACH time slot groups contained in the first resource; the second parameters include the following parameters: the starting symbol index and / or the ending symbol index of the first RO in the first resource. In other words, the first configuration information corresponding to the at least two PRACH time slot groups contained in the first resource is the same, so it is sufficient to directly indicate the second parameters used by each PRACH time slot group once. This indication method can be better applied to the situation where the first configuration information corresponding to different PRACH time slot groups is the same, and can reduce the indication amount of the indication information.

[0023] In another possible implementation, the second parameter further includes at least one of the following:

[0024] The length of each RO in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource;

[0025] the number of PRACH time slots included in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource;

[0026] The number of ROs included in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource;

[0027] A random access preamble format of the first resource;

[0028] The resource number of the first resource;

[0029] The number of PRACH time slot groups included in the first resource;

[0030] The specified duration of the interval between adjacent PRACH time slot groups in the first resource.

[0031] In the above implementation, the second configuration information can be used to indicate the number of PRACH time slot groups with the same configuration contained in the first resource, or the second configuration information can be used to indicate the number of PRACH time slot groups with the same configuration contained in the first resource and the specified duration of the interval between adjacent PRACH time slot groups. This can reduce the amount of information carried in the indication information and save signaling space for the indication information.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the indication information may be carried in a broadcast message. Exemplarily, the broadcast message may be a system information block (SIB) or a master information block (MIB).

[0033] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method may be performed by a terminal or a chip, chip system, or circuit located in the terminal. Taking a network device as the performing entity, the method may be implemented by the following steps: the network device sends indication information and receives a random access request sent by the terminal based on a random access request (RO) in a first resource. The indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes a physical random access channel (PRACH) time slot group, each PRACH time slot group includes multiple PRACH time slots; and some random access opportunities (ROs) in each PRACH time slot group span multiple PRACH time slots; and the first resource includes part or all of a radio frame.

[0034] In a possible implementation manner, the above indication information carries a time slot group configuration identifier; the time slot group configuration identifier is used to indicate that the first resource includes a PRACH time slot group.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the indication information carries first configuration information, and the first configuration information is used to indicate the starting position and / or ending position of each RO in the first resource.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the starting position and / or ending position of the first RO in the first resource is related to the following parameters: the starting symbol index and / or ending symbol index of the first RO in the first PRACH time slot group where the first RO is located, the sequence number of the first RO in the multiple ROs included in the first PRACH time slot group, and the length of the first RO; the first RO is any RO among the multiple ROs included in the first PRACH time slot group, and the first PRACH time slot group is any PRACH time slot group among the multiple PRACH time slot groups included in the first resource.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the first configuration information is used to indicate a first parameter; the first parameter includes the following parameters: a start symbol index and / or an end symbol index of the first RO in the first resource.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the first parameter may further include at least one of the following:

[0039] The length of each RO in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource;

[0040] the number of PRACH time slots included in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource;

[0041] The number of ROs included in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource;

[0042] A random access preamble format of the first resource;

[0043] The resource number of the first resource.

[0044] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes at least two PRACH time slot groups, and the indication information carries first configuration information corresponding to each of the at least two PRACH time slot groups.

[0045] In a possible implementation, the indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes at least two PRACH time slot groups, and any two adjacent PRACH time slot groups in the at least two PRACH time slot groups are adjacent in the time domain or separated by a specified time length.

[0046] In one possible implementation, the indication information carries second configuration information. The second configuration information is used to indicate second parameters used by at least two PRACH time slot groups included in the first resource, respectively; the second parameters include the following parameters: the starting symbol index and / or the ending symbol index of the first RO in the first resource.

[0047] In another possible implementation, the second parameter further includes at least one of the following:

[0048] The length of each RO in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource;

[0049] the number of PRACH time slots included in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource;

[0050] The number of ROs included in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource;

[0051] A random access preamble format of the first resource;

[0052] The resource number of the first resource;

[0053] The number of PRACH time slot groups included in the first resource;

[0054] The specified duration of the interval between adjacent PRACH time slot groups in the first resource.

[0055] In the above implementation, the second configuration information can be used to indicate the number of PRACH time slot groups with the same configuration contained in the first resource, or the second configuration information can be used to indicate the number of PRACH time slot groups with the same configuration contained in the first resource and the specified duration of the interval between adjacent PRACH time slot groups. This can reduce the amount of information carried in the indication information and save signaling space for the indication information.

[0056] In a possible implementation, the above-mentioned indication information is carried in a broadcast message. Exemplarily, the broadcast message may be a system information block SIB or a master information block MIB.

[0057] In a third aspect, a communication device is provided, which may include a module for executing any one of the methods provided in the first aspect.

[0058] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, which may include a module for executing any method provided in the second aspect.

[0059] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a terminal comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, the processor implements any one of the methods provided in the first aspect.

[0060] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a network device comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, the processor implements any one of the methods provided in the second aspect.

[0061] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, and the computer-executable instructions are used to enable a computer to execute any one of the methods provided in the first or second aspect above.

[0062] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions, which are used to enable a computer to execute any one of the methods provided in the first or second aspect above.

[0063] The technical effects that can be achieved in any of the third to eighth aspects mentioned above can refer to the description of the beneficial effects in the first aspect mentioned above, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of an RO pattern in a subframe;

[0067] FIG4 is a diagram of interaction between a terminal and a network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an RO pattern in a subframe provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of another RO pattern in a subframe provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG7 is a structural block diagram of a terminal provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] FIG8 is a structural block diagram of a network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0073] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0074] Before introducing the specific solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application, some of the terms in the present application are generally explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art, and the terms in the present application are not limited.

[0075] (1) Non-terrestrial networks (NTN): networks that use transmission equipment on airborne or satellite-borne aircraft as relay nodes or base stations.

[0076] (2) Random Access Opportunity: A terminal device can access a communication network through a random access procedure. The random access procedure generally refers to the process from when the terminal device sends a random access request to when a basic signaling connection is established between the terminal device and the network device. The terminal device can send a random access request to the network device on a resource indicated by the network device as a resource where a random access request can be sent. The resource where a random access request can be sent is called a random access opportunity.

[0077] In the embodiments of the present application, "multiple" refers to two or more. In view of this, in the embodiments of the present application, "multiple" can also be understood as "at least two". "At least one" can be understood as one or more, for example, one, two or more. For example, including at least one means including one, two or more, and does not limit which ones are included. For example, including at least one of A, B and C, then the included ones may be A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A, B and C. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / ", unless otherwise specified, generally indicates that the previous and subsequent associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0078] Unless otherwise specified, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects.

[0079] The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to a communication system, which may be a wireless local area network, a long term evolution (LTE) or a fifth generation (5G) communication system, or a universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA), evolved UTRA (E-UTRAN), a new radio technology (NR), a GSM / EDGE radio access network-circuit switched (GERAN-CS), a GSM / EDGE radio access network-data switched (GSM EDGE radio access network-packetswitched, GERAN-PS), code division multiple access (CDMA) 2000-1XRTT, and multi-radio access technology dual connectivity (Multi-RAT Dual-Connectivity, MR-DC), etc. It can also be a hybrid architecture of multiple communication systems, such as an LTE and 5G hybrid architecture.

[0080] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system, which may include at least one network device and at least one terminal device. Figure 1 shows a network device 100 and three terminal devices, namely terminal device 101, terminal device 102, and terminal device 103. The three terminal devices are connected to the network device 100 and access the communication network through the network device 100. In Figure 1, there are three terminal devices connected to the network device 100. In actual applications, the number of terminal devices can be more than 3 or less than 3, and this application does not limit this. In addition, Figure 1 is only a schematic diagram. The communication system in actual applications may also include other network devices, such as wireless relay devices and wireless backhaul devices.

[0081] Among them, the network device 100 can be a relay node in a communication network, which is used to transmit data or information between various devices. Exemplarily, the network device 100 can be an ordinary base station (such as Node B or eNB), a new radio controller (NR controller), a gNode B (gNB) or en-gNB in ​​a 5G system, a centralized network element (centralized unit), a new wireless base station, a radio frequency remote module, a micro base station, a relay, a distributed network element (DU), a transmission reception point (TRP) or a transmission point (TP) or any other wireless access device, such as a switch, a router, a bridge, etc., which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. The terminal device can communicate with multiple base stations of different technologies. For example, the terminal device can communicate with a base station supporting an LTE network, or with a base station supporting a 5G network, and can also support dual connections with a base station of an LTE network and a base station of a 5G network.

[0082] The terminal device can be user equipment (UE), or an access terminal, or a subscriber unit, or a subscriber station, or a mobile station, or a mobile station, or a remote station, or a remote terminal, or a mobile device, or a wireless terminal, or a user agent, or a user device. The terminal device may also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, an in-vehicle terminal, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical care, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, a wearable terminal, a terminal in a future 5G network, or a terminal in a future evolved PLMN, etc. The terminal device may also be fixed or mobile, and may be deployed on land, in water, or in the air.

[0083] In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can also be a terminal in the Internet of Things (IoT) system. IoT is an important part of the future development of information technology. Its main technical feature is to connect objects to the network through communication technology, thereby realizing human-machine interconnection and intelligent network of object-to-object interconnection. The terminal in the embodiment of the present application can also be a terminal in machine type communication (MTC). The terminal of the present application can also be an on-board module, on-board module, on-board component, on-board chip or on-board unit built into the vehicle as one or more components or units. The vehicle can implement the method of the present application through the built-in on-board module, on-board module, on-board component, on-board chip or on-board unit. Therefore, the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the Internet of Vehicles, such as vehicle to everything (V2X), long-term evolution-vehicle (LTE-V), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), etc. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the application scenario of the terminal device.

[0084] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of another communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application. This communication system can be understood as an NTN communication scenario. As shown in Figure 2, the communication system may include at least one network device (such as 110a, 110b, and 110c in Figure 2) and may also include at least one terminal device (such as 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 120e, and 120f in Figure 2). Network devices may be connected to each other via wired or wireless means. Figure 2 is merely a schematic diagram, and the communication system may also include other network devices, such as wireless relay devices and wireless backhaul devices.

[0085] A network device is a device that connects a terminal device to a wireless network in a mobile communication system. In one possible scenario, a network device may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system. A network device may also be a macro base station, a micro base station or an indoor station, a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, a network device may also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or an on-board device. For example, the access network device in vehicle to everything (V2X) technology may be a road side unit (RSU).

[0086] In another possible scenario, multiple radio access network (RAN) nodes collaborate to assist terminals in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes implementing portions of the base station's functionality. For example, a RAN node can be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU implements portions of network equipment functionality, while the DU implements portions of network equipment functionality. For example, the CU is responsible for processing non-real-time protocols and services, implementing the functions of the radio resource control (RRC) and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers. The DU is responsible for processing physical layer protocols and real-time services, implementing the functions of the radio link control (RLC), media access control (MAC), and physical (PHY) layers. Information at the RRC layer ultimately becomes information at the PHY layer, or is converted from information at the PHY layer. Therefore, under this architecture, high-level signaling (such as RRC layer signaling) can also be considered to be sent by DU. It is understandable that the network device can be a device including one or more of a CU node, a DU node, and an AAU node. In addition, the CU can be divided into a network device in the RAN, or the CU can be divided into a network device in the core network (CN), and this application does not limit this. The CU and DU can be set separately, or they can be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU) or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0087] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0088] In the communication systems shown in Figures 1 and 2, both terminal devices and network devices may be referred to as communication devices, or network elements. In the following description, terminal devices are referred to as terminals for short.

[0089] It should be noted that the network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems, that is, the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to communication systems of various standards.

[0090] In addition, it should be noted that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the names of the network elements in the communication system. For example, in communication systems of different standards, each network element may have other names; for example, when multiple network elements are integrated into the same physical device, the physical device may also have other names.

[0091] During the communication process, the terminal can send a random access request to the network device on the random access resource indicated by the network device to perform random access. The random access resource can be an RO. In the related art, any RO is located within a PRACH time slot. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the number of PRACH time slots in a subframe is 2, namely, PRACH1 time slot and PRACH2 time slot. The two PRACH time slots have the same RO pattern. Taking the PRACH1 time slot as an example, the PRACH1 time slot includes 14 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, and each OFDM symbol includes a cyclic prefix (CP). Each RO occupies 4 consecutive OFDM symbols, so the PRACH1 time slot can include 3 ROs, and finally there are two idle OFDM symbols.

[0092] In the above example, because there are unused idle OFDM symbols at the end of each PRACH timeslot, the resources in the PRACH timeslot cannot be fully utilized, resulting in a certain degree of resource waste. In addition, when repeatedly transmitting PRACH to enhance uplink coverage, the idle symbols in the PRACH timeslot will increase processing complexity, which is not conducive to repeated PRACH transmission and reception.

[0093] Based on this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which introduces the concept of a PRACH time slot group. An RO can span multiple PRACH time slots within a time slot group, that is, in a PRACH time slot group, one or more ROs can occupy the tail OFDM symbols in two or more consecutive time slots, which is beneficial for RO to fully utilize PRACH time slot resources, provide more random access resources for terminals, improve the access capacity of network equipment, and be more conducive to repeated transmission and reception of PRACH.

[0094] Figure 4 illustrates an interaction process between a terminal and a network device during communication. While Figure 4 illustrates the interaction between a terminal and a network device, it can also be described as a chip or module in a terminal interacting with a chip or module in a network device. This application does not limit this process. The process may include the following steps:

[0095] S401: The network device sends instruction information to the terminal.

[0096] In some embodiments, the indication information may be carried in a broadcast message, and the broadcast message may be a system information block (SIB) or a master information block (MIB). For example, the network device may broadcast the indication information, and multiple terminals connected to the network device may receive the indication information broadcast by the network device. Of course, the indication message may also be carried in a multicast message, or the network device may directly send the indication information to the terminal point-to-point, which is not limited in this application. The indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes a PRACH time slot group, and each PRACH time slot group includes multiple PRACH time slots, and some random access opportunities RO in each PRACH time slot group span multiple PRACH time slots. The first resource may include part or all of a radio frame, and a radio frame may include multiple subframes.

[0097] In an optional embodiment, the indication information may carry a time slot group configuration identifier (prachslotgroupflag), which is used to indicate that the first resource includes a PRACH time slot group; or, the time slot group configuration identifier is used to indicate that the first resource currently adopts the configuration of the PRACH time slot group.

[0098] In another optional embodiment, the PRACH timeslot group identifier can also be implicitly indicated. For example, in a given communication scenario, the PRACH timeslot group configuration can be used by default, without requiring the prachslotgroupflag to be included in the indication information. The given communication scenario can be, but is not limited to, an NTN scenario, such as an NTN scenario that uses ephemeris information that meets specified conditions. For example, in an NTN scenario, the PRACH timeslot group configuration is used; or, in an NTN scenario, if a terminal receives satellite ephemeris information and the orbital altitude in the ephemeris information is greater than or equal to a set distance threshold or the communication elevation angle is less than or equal to a set angle threshold, the PRACH timeslot group configuration is used. In an NTN scenario, the farther the satellite is from the ground and the smaller the communication elevation angle, the more repetitions are required. The higher the satellite's orbital altitude, the greater the coverage area, the greater the number of terminals accommodated, and the more RO resources required. Using the PRACH timeslot group configuration can provide more RO resources.

[0099] S402: The terminal sends a random access request to the network device. The terminal may send the random access request to the network device based on the RO in the first resource.

[0100] Exemplarily, the indication information carries first configuration information, and the first configuration information is used to indicate the starting position and / or ending position of each RO in the first resource. In some embodiments, the first configuration information is used to indicate a first parameter. Exemplarily, the first parameter may include the starting symbol index and / or ending symbol index of the first RO in the first resource. The first parameter may also include one or more of the following parameters: the number of PRACH time slots included in the PRACH time slot group corresponding to the first configuration information; the number of ROs included in the PRACH time slot group corresponding to the first configuration information; the length of each RO in the PRACH time slot group corresponding to the first configuration information; the random access preamble format corresponding to the first configuration information; and the resource number corresponding to the first configuration information.

[0101] For example, a resource configuration table may be pre-set, and the resource configuration table may be referred to as an RO time domain resource configuration table for a PRACH time slot group. The resource configuration table is used to store parameters corresponding to multiple configuration information. The first configuration information may be any one of the multiple configuration information in the resource configuration table. Exemplarily, the first configuration information may be understood as a PRACH configuration index in the resource configuration table.

[0102] In an optional embodiment, when using PRACH time slot groups, the RO time domain resource configuration parameters can reuse or extend the table in the 3GPP published protocol standard. For example, Table 6.3.3.2-3: Random access configurations for FR1 and unpaired spectrum in the 3GPP TS 38.211 protocol has an index of 0 to 262, represented by 9 bits, with 2 9 = 512 possibilities, which can accommodate 512 indexes. Currently, only 263 indexes are used. The remaining idle indexes do not represent any meaning. In this scenario, the idle indexes can be reused to indicate the configuration information of the PRACH time slot group. For example, the idle indexes can be used to replace the PRACH configuration indexes N1 and N2 in Table 1 below. In other scenarios, the table index can be expanded.

[0103] In another optional embodiment, when a PRACH time slot group is used, a new RO time domain resource configuration table of the PRACH time slot group may be used. Table 1 shows an RO time domain resource configuration table. As shown in Table 1, the parameters corresponding to each configuration information may include: random access preamble format; n f x and y in mod x = y; resource number, also known as subframe number; starting symbol index of the first RO; number of PRACH slots within a PRACH slot group; number of time-domain PRACH occasions within a PRACH slot group; PRACH duration of each RO in the PRACH slot group. In some other embodiments, the starting symbol index of the first RO in Table 1 may be replaced with the ending symbol index of the first RO.

[0104] Table 1

[0105] A2, B2, A3, and B3 in Table 1 refer to random channel formats. The specific content corresponding to each format is shown in Table 2.

[0106] Table 2

[0107] As can be seen from Table 1, the random access preamble format corresponding to the PRACH configuration index N1 is A2 / B2, where the number of PRACH time slots contained in each PRACH time slot group is 2. Within the time slot group, the RO pattern can exist continuously across time slots between PRACH time slots.

[0108] In some embodiments, the number of PRACH time slot groups in a subframe defaults to 1. As shown in Figure 5, a subframe contains one PRACH time slot group, and the number of PRACH time slots contained in the PRACH time slot group is 2. Each PRACH time slot includes 14 OFDM symbols, so the two PRACH time slots in a time slot group contain a total of 28 OFDM symbols, and each OFDM symbol includes a CP. Each RO occupies 4 OFDM symbols, and each RO includes a CP and a sequence (Seq), where Seq is composed of repeated PRACH sequences. The two PRACH time slots in a time slot group can include 7 ROs, where the fourth RO occupies two OFDM symbols of the first PRACH time slot in the PRACH time slot group and two OFDM symbols of the second PRACH time slot in the PRACH time slot group, that is, the fourth RO in the PRACH time slot group spans two adjacent PRACH time slots.

[0109] It should be noted that in the above embodiment, the fourth RO spans two adjacent PRACH time slots and continuously occupies OFDM symbols in the two adjacent PRACH time slots. In other embodiments, the length of some ROs may be longer than the length of one PRACH time slot, that is, one RO may span three or more PRACH time slots and continuously occupy OFDM symbols in three or more PRACH time slots.

[0110] Compared with the subframe shown in Figure 3, the random access preamble format corresponding to the subframe shown in Figure 3 is also A2 / B2, and a maximum of 6 ROs can be configured in the two PRACH time slots of a subframe. In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in Figure 5, a subframe contains one PRACH time slot group, and a maximum of 7 ROs can be configured in the two PRACH time slots within the PRACH time slot group. It can be seen that within the same PRACH time slot resources, compared with the traditional solution, the embodiment of the present application can add one RO, thereby increasing access resources, providing more random access opportunities for terminals, and thus improving access capacity.

[0111] The random access preamble format corresponding to the PRACH configuration index N2 in Table 1 is A3 / B3, wherein the number of PRACH time slots contained in each PRACH time slot group is 3. Within the time slot group, the RO pattern can exist continuously across time slots between PRACH time slots.

[0112] In other embodiments, as shown in Figure 6, a subframe includes one PRACH slot group, and the number of PRACH slots included in the PRACH slot group is three. "Symbol" in Figure 6 refers to an OFDM symbol, each of which includes a CP and an OFDM part. Each PRACH slot includes 14 OFDM symbols, so the three PRACH slots in a slot group contain a total of 42 OFDM symbols, each of which includes a CP. Each RO occupies 6 OFDM symbols, and each RO includes a CP and a Seq. The three PRACH time slots within a time slot group may include 7 ROs, wherein the 3rd RO occupies one OFDM symbol of the first PRACH time slot in the PRACH time slot group and three OFDM symbols of the second PRACH time slot in the PRACH time slot group, and the 5th RO occupies three OFDM symbols of the second PRACH time slot in the PRACH time slot group and one OFDM symbol of the third PRACH time slot in the PRACH time slot group, that is, the 3rd RO and the 5th RO in the PRACH time slot group span multiple PRACH time slots.

[0113] After receiving the instruction information from the network device, the terminal can determine the first parameter corresponding to the first configuration information, and can determine the starting position of each RO included in each PRACH time slot group based on the first parameter, select the target RO based on the starting position of each RO, and send a random access request on the target RO. For example, the terminal determines the starting position of each RO in the PRACH time slot group. The starting position l of an RO can conform to the following formula:

[0114] Among them, l0 represents the starting symbol index corresponding to the first RO in a PRACH time slot group indicated by the first configuration information. The length of each RO in the corresponding PRACH time slot group can be obtained by querying the above Table 1 through the first configuration information (PRACH Configuration Index). For the The sequence number of the RO in the multiple ROs included in the current PRACH time slot group, The value range is Indicates the number of ROs contained in the current PRACH time slot group obtained by querying the above Table 1 through the first configuration information (PRACH Configuration Index). In the above embodiment, if the first configuration information is N1, querying the above Table 1, you can get is 4, If the first configuration information is N2, query the above table 1, you can get is 6, is 7.

[0115] It can be seen from the above formula 1 that the first The starting position of each RO is related to the following parameters: The starting symbol index of the first RO in the PRACH time slot group where the RO is located, The sequence number of the RO in the multiple ROs included in the PRACH time slot group, the length of each RO included in the PRACH time slot group (ie the number of OFDM symbols continuously occupied by one RO). Of course, this method is applicable to the case where any two adjacent ROs continuously occupy OFDM symbols.

[0116] Based on the above formula 1, after the terminal determines the starting position of each RO in each PRACH time slot group, it can select an appropriate RO to send a random access request based on the starting position of each RO in each PRACH time slot group.

[0117] In the above embodiment, l0 represents the starting symbol index corresponding to the first RO in a PRACH time slot group indicated by the first configuration information. In other embodiments, l0 may also represent the ending symbol index corresponding to the first RO in a PRACH time slot group indicated by the first configuration information. The terminal may determine the ending position of each RO according to the ending symbol index of the first RO in each PRACH time slot group, and select a suitable RO to send a random access request according to the ending position of each RO.

[0118] In the above embodiment, the first resource includes one PRACH time slot group. In other embodiments, the first resource may include at least two PRACH time slot groups. Any two adjacent PRACH time slot groups in the at least two PRACH time slot groups in the first resource may be adjacent in the time domain or separated by a specified time interval.

[0119] In an optional embodiment, the indication information may carry first configuration information corresponding to each of the at least two PRACH time slot groups. Each first configuration information corresponds to a PRACH time slot group and is used to indicate the parameter configuration of the PRACH time slot group. The parameter configurations of different PRACH time slot groups may differ only in 10 parameters, while other parameters are the same, i.e., the RO patterns of different PRACH time slot groups are the same. Different PRACH time slot groups may also have multiple different parameter configurations, i.e., the RO patterns of different PRACH time slot groups are also different.

[0120] For example, assuming that the first resource includes two PRACH time slot groups, the indication information can carry two first configuration information N1 and N2, indicating that in the two PRACH time slot groups, the PRACH configuration index of one PRACH time slot group is N1, and the PRACH configuration index of the other PRACH time slot group is N2. By querying Table 1, the parameter configurations corresponding to the two PRACH time slot groups can be determined respectively.

[0121] In another optional embodiment, if any two adjacent PRACH time slot groups in at least two PRACH time slot groups in the first resource are adjacent in the time domain, the indication information may carry second configuration information, and the second configuration information may be used to indicate the second parameters used by the PRACH time slot groups with the same configuration in the first resource, and may also indicate the number of PRACH time slot groups with the same configuration; wherein the second parameter may include the following parameters: the starting symbol index of the first RO in each PRACH time slot group. The second parameter also includes at least one of the following: random access preamble format; n f mod x=y in x and y; resource number, also known as subframe number; number of PRACH slots within a PRACH slot group; number of time-domain PRACH occasions within a PRACH slot group; length of each RO in the PRACH slot group (PRACH duration). For example, as shown in Table 3, a column can be added to the RO time-domain resource configuration parameter table to set the parameter N group In some embodiments, the starting symbol index of the first RO in Table 3 may also be replaced by the ending symbol index of the first RO.

[0122] Table 3

[0123] Assume that the second configuration information is PRACH configuration index N3. PRACH configuration index N3 is used to indicate that the number of PRACH time slot groups containing the same configuration information in the first resource is 2, that is, the RO patterns in the two PRACH time slot groups are the same. Both PRACH time slot groups use random access preamble format A2 / B2. Each PRACH time slot group contains 2 PRACH time slots and 7 ROs. The length of each RO is 4, that is, it occupies 4 consecutive OFDM symbols.

[0124] In this case, the terminal determines the first The starting position l of an RO can conform to the following formula:

[0125] Compared with the above formula 1, the new parameter N in formula 2 is slot,group Indicates the number of PRACH time slots contained in a PRACH time slot group, n group The value range is 0~N group -1, N group Indicates the number of PRACH time slot groups contained in a subframe.

[0126] Similar to Formula 1, l0 in the above Formula 2 can also represent the end symbol index corresponding to the first RO in a PRACH time slot group indicated by the first configuration information. The terminal can determine the end position of each RO according to the end symbol index of the first RO in each PRACH time slot group, and select an appropriate RO to send a random access request based on the end position of each RO.

[0127] In another optional embodiment, if any two adjacent PRACH time slot groups in the at least two PRACH time slot groups in the first resource are separated by a specified duration in the time domain, the indication information may carry second configuration information, and the second configuration information is used to indicate the second parameters used by the at least two PRACH time slot groups contained in the first resource, and may also indicate the number of PRACH time slot groups in the first resource that contain the same configuration information and the above-mentioned specified duration. The second parameter may include the following parameters: the starting symbol index of the first RO in each PRACH time slot group. The second parameter also includes at least one of the following: random access preamble format; n fmod x=y in x and y; resource number, also known as subframe number; number of PRACH slots within a PRACH slot group; number of time-domain PRACH occasions within a PRACH slot group; length of each RO in the PRACH slot group (PRACH duration). For example, as shown in Table 4, two columns can be added to the RO time-domain resource configuration parameter table. The first column sets the parameter N. group To indicate the number of PRACH time slot groups contained in a subframe, the second column sets the parameter T m In some embodiments, the starting symbol index of the first RO in Table 4 may also be replaced by the ending symbol index of the first RO.

[0128] Table 4

[0129] Assume that the second configuration information is PRACH configuration index N4. PRACH configuration index N4 is used to indicate that the number of PRACH time slot groups containing the same configuration information in the first resource is 2, and the interval between two PRACH time slot groups is 5 time units, where the time unit can be a time slot. The RO patterns in the two PRACH time slot groups are the same. Both PRACH time slot groups use random access preamble format A2 / B2. Each PRACH time slot group contains 2 PRACH time slots and 7 ROs. The length of each RO is 4, that is, it occupies 4 consecutive OFDM symbols.

[0130] In this case, the terminal may consider the interval between the time slot groups when determining the starting position or the ending position of the RO.

[0131] The embodiment of the present application introduces a PRACH time slot group for PRACH resource configuration. The RO can be configured continuously across time slots within the PRACH time slot group, thereby making full use of the tail idle symbols in adjacent time slots, thereby reducing the waste of idle symbols in the PRACH time slot, increasing the random access resources available to the terminal, and thus having the opportunity to receive random access requests from more terminals, thereby improving the terminal access capacity of the network device. At the same time, when enhancing uplink coverage by repeatedly sending PRACH, the processing complexity increased by the idle symbols in the PRACH time slot can be reduced, which is conducive to the repeated sending and receiving of PRACH.

[0132] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first configuration information corresponding to at least two PRACH time slot groups included in the first resource is the same. Thus, the second parameter used by each PRACH time slot group may be directly indicated once. This indication method is more suitable for situations where the first configuration information corresponding to different PRACH time slot groups is the same, and can reduce the amount of indication information.

[0133] In the above embodiment, the steps performed by the terminal may include: receiving indication information from the network device, and sending a random access request based on the indication information. The indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes a PRACH time slot group, each PRACH time slot group includes multiple PRACH time slots, and some ROs in each PRACH time slot group span multiple PRACH time slots. The first resource may be a partial or full radio frame. The random access request is sent based on the RO in the first resource.

[0134] In the above embodiment, the steps performed by the network device may include: sending indication information and receiving a random access request sent by a terminal. The indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes a physical random access channel (PRACH) time slot group, each PRACH time slot group includes multiple PRACH time slots, some random access opportunities (ROs) in each PRACH time slot group span multiple PRACH time slots, and the first resource is part or all of a radio frame.

[0135] Based on the same design concept as the above-mentioned method embodiment, this embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, applied to a terminal. This communication device can be used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned method embodiment, thereby achieving the beneficial effects of the above-mentioned method embodiment. As shown in Figure 7, the communication device 700 may include an information receiving module 701 and a request sending module 702.

[0136] The information receiving module 701 may be configured to receive indication information from a network device; the indication information may be configured to indicate that a first resource includes a PRACH time slot group, each PRACH time slot group includes multiple PRACH time slots; some ROs in each PRACH time slot group span multiple PRACH time slots, and the first resource may be a partial or complete radio frame. The request sending module 702 may be configured to send a random access request based on the RO in the first resource.

[0137] In some embodiments, the indication information carries a time slot group configuration identifier, and the time slot group configuration identifier is used to indicate that the first resource includes a PRACH time slot group.

[0138] In some embodiments, the indication information includes first configuration information; the first configuration information is used to indicate the starting position and / or ending position of each RO in the first resource. The request sending module 702 can be specifically configured to send a random access request based on the starting position and / or ending position of each RO in the first resource.

[0139] In some embodiments, the first configuration information is used to indicate a first parameter, and the first parameter includes one or more of the following parameters: the number of PRACH time slots included in the PRACH time slot group corresponding to the first configuration information; the number of ROs included in the PRACH time slot group corresponding to the first configuration information; the length of each RO in the PRACH time slot group corresponding to the first configuration information; the random access preamble format corresponding to the first configuration information; the resource number corresponding to the first configuration information; and the starting symbol index corresponding to the first configuration information.

[0140] In some embodiments, the indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes at least two PRACH time slot groups, and any two adjacent PRACH time slot groups in the at least two PRACH time slot groups are adjacent in the time domain or separated by a specified time length.

[0141] In some embodiments, the above indication information carries first configuration information of each PRACH time slot group in at least two PRACH time slot groups.

[0142] In other embodiments, the above-mentioned indication information carries second configuration information; the second configuration information is used to indicate the number of PRACH time slot groups containing the same configuration information in the first resource; or, the second configuration information is used to indicate the number and specified duration of PRACH time slot groups containing the same configuration information in the first resource.

[0143] In some embodiments, the above indication information may be carried in a broadcast message.

[0144] In some embodiments, the broadcast message may be a system information block SIB or a master information block MIB.

[0145] The functional modules in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a processor, or each module may exist physically separately, or two or more modules may be integrated into a single module. The above-mentioned integrated modules may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0146] Based on the same design concept as the above-mentioned method embodiment, this embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device for use in a network device. This network device can be used to implement the functions of the above-mentioned method embodiment, thereby achieving the beneficial effects of the above-mentioned method embodiment. As shown in Figure 8, the communication device 800 may include an information sending module 801 and a request receiving module 802.

[0147] The information sending module 801 may be configured to send indication information, wherein the indication information is configured to indicate that the first resource includes a PRACH time slot group, each PRACH time slot group includes multiple PRACH time slots, and that some ROs in each PRACH time slot group span multiple PRACH time slots, and the first resource may be a partial or complete radio frame. The request receiving module 802 may be configured to receive a random access request sent by a terminal based on the RO in the first resource.

[0148] In some embodiments, the indication information carries a time slot group configuration identifier, and the time slot group configuration identifier is used to indicate that the first resource includes a PRACH time slot group.

[0149] In some embodiments, the indication information carries first configuration information. The first configuration information is used to indicate the starting position and / or ending position of each RO in the first resource.

[0150] In some embodiments, the first configuration information is used to indicate a first parameter, and the first parameter includes one or more of the following parameters: the number of PRACH time slots included in the PRACH time slot group corresponding to the first configuration information; the number of ROs included in the PRACH time slot group corresponding to the first configuration information; the length of each RO in the PRACH time slot group corresponding to the first configuration information; the random access preamble format corresponding to the first configuration information; the resource number corresponding to the first configuration information; and the starting symbol index corresponding to the first configuration information.

[0151] In some embodiments, the indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes at least two PRACH time slot groups, and any two adjacent PRACH time slot groups in the at least two PRACH time slot groups are adjacent in the time domain or separated by a specified time length.

[0152] In some embodiments, the above indication information carries first configuration information of each PRACH time slot group in at least two PRACH time slot groups.

[0153] In other embodiments, the above-mentioned indication information carries second configuration information; the second configuration information is used to indicate the number of PRACH time slot groups containing the same configuration information in the first resource; or, the second configuration information is used to indicate the number and specified duration of PRACH time slot groups containing the same configuration information in the first resource.

[0154] In some embodiments, the above indication information may be carried in a broadcast message.

[0155] In some embodiments, the broadcast message may be a system information block SIB or a master information block MIB.

[0156] The functional modules in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a processor, or each module may exist physically separately, or two or more modules may be integrated into a single module. The above-mentioned integrated modules may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0157] Based on the same technical concept as the above-mentioned method embodiment, the present application also provides a terminal. The terminal can be any of the terminals shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2. The terminal can be used to implement the functions of the terminal in the above-mentioned method embodiment, thereby achieving the beneficial effects of the above-mentioned method embodiment.

[0158] In some embodiments, the structure of the terminal 900 can be as shown in Figure 9, including a processor 901 and a memory 902 connected to the processor 901. The processor 901 and the memory 902 can be connected to each other via a bus. The processor 901 can be a general-purpose processor, such as a microprocessor, or other conventional processors. The bus can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc.

[0159] Among them, the memory 902 can be used to store software programs and modules, and the processor 901 executes various functional applications and data processing of the terminal 900 by running the software programs and modules stored in the memory 902, such as the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0160] The memory 902 may primarily include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store an operating system, at least one application program, and the like; the data storage area may be used to store user data, etc. Furthermore, the memory 902 may include high-speed random access memory and non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, a flash memory device, or other volatile solid-state memory device.

[0161] The processor 901 in the terminal 900 is used to run the computer instructions or programs stored in the memory 902 to perform the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0162] In some embodiments, the processor 901 may include one or more processing units. Different processing units may be independent devices or integrated into one or more processors. The processor 901 may also include a controller that can generate operation control signals based on instruction opcodes and timing signals to control instruction fetching and execution.

[0163] In one embodiment, the terminal 900 may further include a communication module, and the communication module is used to communicate with other devices in the network.

[0164] It is understood that the structures illustrated in the embodiments of this application do not constitute specific limitations on network devices. In other embodiments of this application, the chip may include more or fewer components than shown, or may combine or separate certain components, or arrange the components differently. The illustrated components may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0165] Based on the same technical concept as the above-mentioned method embodiment, the present application also provides a network device in the embodiment. The network device can be any of the network devices shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2. The network device can be used to implement the functions of the terminal in the above-mentioned method embodiment, thereby achieving the beneficial effects of the above-mentioned method embodiment.

[0166] In some embodiments, the structure of the network device 1000 can be as shown in Figure 10, including a processor 1001 and a memory 1002 connected to the processor 1001. The processor 1001 and the memory 1002 can be connected to each other via a bus. The processor 1001 can be a general-purpose processor, such as a microprocessor, or other conventional processor. The bus can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc.

[0167] Among them, the memory 1002 can be used to store software programs and modules, and the processor 1001 executes various functional applications and data processing of the network device 1000 by running the software programs and modules stored in the memory 1002, such as the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0168] The memory 1002 may primarily include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store an operating system, at least one application program, and the like; the data storage area may be used to store user data, etc. Furthermore, the memory 1002 may include high-speed random access memory and non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, a flash memory device, or other volatile solid-state memory device.

[0169] The processor 1001 in the network device 1000 is used to run the computer instructions or programs stored in the memory 1002 to perform the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0170] In some embodiments, the processor 1001 may include one or more processing units. Different processing units may be independent devices or integrated into one or more processors. The processor 1001 may also include a controller that can generate operation control signals based on instruction opcodes and timing signals to control instruction fetching and execution.

[0171] In one embodiment, the network device 1000 may further include a communication module, and the communication module is used to communicate with other devices in the network.

[0172] It is understood that the structures illustrated in the embodiments of this application do not constitute specific limitations on network devices. In other embodiments of this application, the chip may include more or fewer components than shown, or may combine or separate certain components, or arrange the components differently. The illustrated components may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0173] Based on the same technical concept as the above-mentioned method embodiment, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system. The communication system may be the communication system shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2, and the communication system may include a terminal and a network device. The terminal may be terminal 900 shown in Figure 9, and the network device may be network device 1000 shown in Figure 10.

[0174] The present application also provides a computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions. In one embodiment, the computer-executable instructions are used to enable a computer to perform the functions of the above method embodiment.

[0175] Computer-executable instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium having executable instructions stored therein. In one embodiment, the computer-executable instructions are used to cause a computer to perform the functions of the above method embodiment.

[0176] The computer-readable storage medium provided in the embodiments of the present application may be a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readable storage medium known in the art.

[0177] Computer-executable instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; an optical medium such as a digital video disc (DVD); or a semiconductor medium such as a solid-state drive.

[0178] In the various embodiments of the present application, if there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, including a series of steps or units. The method, system, product or device is not necessarily limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0179] Although the present application has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is apparent that various modifications and combinations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings are intended to be illustrative only of the solutions defined by the appended claims and are to be construed as covering any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents within the scope of the present application.

[0180] Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the embodiments of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a terminal, the method comprises: Receive indication information from a network device; the indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes a physical random access channel PRACH time slot group, each PRACH time slot group includes multiple PRACH time slots, and some random access opportunities RO in each PRACH time slot group span multiple PRACH time slots; the first resource includes part or all of the radio frame; A random access request is sent based on the RO in the first resource.

2. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a network device, the method comprises: Sending indication information; the indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes a physical random access channel PRACH time slot group, and each PRACH time slot group includes multiple PRACH time slots, and some random access opportunities RO in each PRACH time slot group span multiple PRACH time slots; the first resource includes part or all of the radio frame; Based on the RO in the first resource, a random access request sent by a terminal is received.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The indication information carries a time slot group configuration identifier; the time slot group configuration identifier is used to indicate that the first resource includes a PRACH time slot group.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The indication information carries first configuration information; the first configuration information is used to indicate the starting position and / or ending position of each RO in the first resource; the terminal sends a random access request based on the starting position and / or ending position of each RO in the first resource.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The starting position and / or ending position of the first RO in the first resource is related to the following parameters: a start symbol index and / or an end symbol index of a first RO in a first PRACH time slot group where the first RO is located, a sequence number of the first RO in a plurality of ROs included in the first PRACH time slot group, and a length of the first RO; The first RO is any RO among multiple ROs included in the first PRACH time slot group, and the first PRACH time slot group is any PRACH time slot group among the multiple PRACH time slot groups included in the first resource.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The first configuration information is used to indicate a first parameter; the first parameter includes the following parameters: a starting symbol index and / or an ending symbol index of the first RO in the first resource.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The first parameter also includes at least one of the following: The length of each RO in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource; the number of PRACH time slots included in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource; the number of ROs included in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource; A random access preamble format of the first resource; The resource ID of the first resource.

8. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that: The indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes at least two PRACH time slot groups, and the indication information carries the first configuration information corresponding to each of the at least two PRACH time slot groups.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The indication information is used to indicate that the first resource includes at least two PRACH time slot groups, and any two adjacent PRACH time slot groups in the at least two PRACH time slot groups are adjacent in the time domain or separated by a specified time length.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The indication information carries second configuration information; the second configuration information is used to indicate second parameters used by the at least two PRACH time slot groups included in the first resource; the second parameters include the following parameters: The starting symbol index and / or the ending symbol index of the first RO in the first resource.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The second parameter also includes at least one of the following: The length of each RO in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource; the number of PRACH time slots included in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource; the number of ROs included in the PRACH time slot group of the first resource; A random access preamble format of the first resource; a resource number of the first resource; the number of PRACH time slot groups included in the first resource; The specified duration of the interval between adjacent PRACH time slot groups in the first resource.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The indication information is carried in a broadcast message.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The broadcast message is a system information block SIB or a master information block MIB.

14. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a module for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 3 to 13.

15. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a module for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 2, 3-13.

16. A terminal, characterized in that: It comprises a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program; the processor is used to execute the computer program stored in the memory to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 and 3-13.

17. A network device, characterized in that: The network device includes a memory and a processor, wherein a computer program is stored in the memory; the processor is used to execute the computer program stored in the memory to implement the method according to any one of claims 2 and 3-13.

18. A communication system, characterized in that: The communication system comprises a network device and a terminal, the terminal executes the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 3-13, and the network device executes the method as claimed in any one of claims 2 and 3-13.

19. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: Computer executable instructions are stored, and the computer executable instructions are used to make a computer execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

20. A computer program product, characterized in that The method comprises computer executable instructions, wherein the computer executable instructions are used to make a computer execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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