Information transmission method and communication apparatus

Abstract

An information transmission method and a communication apparatus. A network device can notify a terminal device of a transmission configuration of a synchronization signal (e.g., an SSB) by means of first information, wherein the transmission configuration of the SSB can be a transmission configuration of a changed SSB or a transmission configuration of an initial SSB. A terminal device in an RRC connected state, a terminal device in an RRC inactive state or a terminal device in an RRC idle state can all receive the first information, and thus acquire a transmission configuration condition of the SSB on the basis of the first information, so that terminal devices in various states can correctly receive the SSB, thus ensuring the normal operation of communication. Moreover, only a first message is needed to notify the terminal device of the transmission configuration of the SSB, which requires fewer communication resources and has a short process time, thus reducing the overhead and notification latency of communication resources.

Description

Information transmission method and communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on December 14, 2023, with application number 202311730584.3 and application name “Method and Communication Device for Information Transmission”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and more specifically, to an information transmission method and a communication device. Background Art

[0003] The synchronization signal block (SSB) is also known as the synchronization signal (SS) or physical broadcast channel block (PBCH). In current communication networks, terminal devices primarily search for cells based on searching for SSBs. Successful reception of the SSB by a terminal device is a prerequisite for accessing the cell. Therefore, the terminal device must correctly receive the SSB.

[0004] Currently, when the SSB transmission configuration changes, for example, the beam used to actually transmit the SSB changes, or the actual transmission period of the SSB changes, the base station needs to promptly notify the terminal device of the SSB transmission configuration change, so that the terminal device can correctly receive the SSB based on the changed SSB transmission configuration. However, the current process for the base station to inform the terminal device of the SSB transmission configuration change is relatively time-consuming and requires a large amount of communication resources, resulting in high communication resource overhead and long notification delays. The terminal device cannot obtain the changed SSB transmission configuration in a timely manner, cannot guarantee the normal operation of communication, and affects communication efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a method and communication device for information transmission, which enables terminal devices in various states to correctly receive the transmission configuration of a synchronization signal (e.g., SSB), thereby ensuring normal communication. Furthermore, the synchronization signal transmission configuration only needs to be notified via a first message, requiring fewer communication resources and shortening the process time, thereby reducing communication resource overhead and notification latency.

[0006] In a first aspect, a method for information transmission is provided, wherein the executing subject of the method may be a terminal device, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the terminal device to implement the method, and the method comprises: receiving first information, where the first information indicates a transmission configuration of a first synchronization signal, and the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal comprises at least one of a sending period of the first synchronization signal, a sending bias of the first synchronization signal, or an actual transmission condition of the first synchronization signal at a transmission opportunity corresponding to the first synchronization signal; and determining the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal according to the first information.

[0007] The first aspect provides a method for information transmission. The transmission configuration of a first synchronization signal can be obtained through first information. Terminal devices in various states can receive the first information, thereby obtaining the transmission configuration of the synchronization signal based on the first information. This allows terminal devices in various states to correctly receive the synchronization signal, thereby ensuring normal communication. Furthermore, since only the first message is required, fewer communication resources are required, the process is time-saving, and communication resource overhead and notification latency are reduced.

[0008] It should be understood that the first information is different from RRC signaling or SIB1, or in other words, the first information is not RRC signaling or SIB1. For example, the first information can be a DCI (eg, a new DCI), a sequence, or transmission information carried by a PBCH channel.

[0009] For example, the first synchronization signal may include a first SSB.

[0010] For example, the terminal device may include: a terminal device in an RRC connected state (RRC_CONNECTED), a terminal device in an RRC inactive state (RRC_INACTIVE), and a terminal device in an RRC idle state (RRC_IDLE). The first SSB may be an SSB defined in the current protocol. If there are multiple configured SSBs, the first SSB may be an SSB of any one of the configurations. For example, the first SSB may be a short-cycle SSB or a long-cycle SSB.

[0011] In a second aspect, a method for information transmission is provided. The method may be performed by a network device, a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the network device in implementing the method, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that implements all or part of the network device's functions. The method includes: sending first information, where the first information includes or indicates a transmission configuration of a first synchronization signal, where the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal includes at least one of a transmission period of the first synchronization signal, a transmission offset of the first synchronization signal, or an actual transmission condition of the first synchronization signal at a transmission opportunity corresponding to the first synchronization signal;

[0012] The second aspect provides a method for information transmission, in which the network device can notify the terminal device of the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal (for example, the first SSB) through the first information. The transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal may be the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal after the update or change, or the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal may also be the initial transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal (for example, the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal before the change). Terminal devices in various states can all receive the first information, and thus obtain the changes in the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal based on the first information, so that terminal devices in various states can correctly receive the first synchronization signal, thereby ensuring the normal operation of communication. Only the first message is needed, the required communication resources are relatively few, the process is short, the overhead of communication resources and the notification delay are reduced, and the efficiency and speed of the terminal device in obtaining the sending configuration of the first synchronization signal are improved.

[0013] For example, when the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes (for example, the beam used to send the first SSB changes, and / or the transmission period of the first SSB changes), the network device can notify the terminal device of the change in the transmission configuration of the first SSB through the first information.

[0014] For example, the transmission period of the first SSB may be the same as the content indicated by the "ssb-PeriodicityServingCell" field. The actual transmission situation at the transmission opportunity corresponding to the first SSB (the actual transmission situation of the first SSB at the transmission opportunity corresponding to the first SSB) may be the same as the content indicated by the "ssb-PositionsInBurst" field.

[0015] In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the transmission configuration of the first SSB may be the transmission configuration of the first SSB after the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes, that is, the transmission configuration of the first SSB may be the updated transmission configuration of the first SSB. Alternatively, the transmission configuration of the first SSB may also be the initial transmission configuration of the first SSB (for example, the transmission configuration of the first SSB before the change).

[0016] In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first information is carried in a paging DCI, a paging early indication DCI, or a paging message. In this implementation, the transmission of the first information reuses existing signaling, and no new signaling is required to transmit the first information, thereby reducing the complexity of the terminal device detecting the first information. Furthermore, terminal devices in various states can all receive the first information, and terminal devices in various states can correctly receive the first synchronization signal, thereby ensuring the normal operation of communications. The process is short, reducing the overhead of communication resources and notification delays.

[0017] In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, a first value (e.g., "00") of the short message indication field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging DCI includes first information, and the first information is carried in the first field of the paging DCI; or, a first value of the short message indication field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging message includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the paging message. In this implementation, no additional field is used in the paging DCI to indicate that the paging DCI or the paging message includes the first information, thereby not increasing paging DCI overhead and improving communication resource utilization.

[0018] In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the short message field (e.g., bits 5-8 of the short message field) of the paging DCI carries the first information; or, the short message field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging DCI includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the first field of the paging DCI; or, the short message field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging message includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the paging message. In this implementation, no additional field is used in the paging DCI to carry the first information, and no additional field is used in the paging DCI to indicate that the paging message includes the first information, thereby not increasing the overhead of the paging DCI and improving the utilization of communication resources.

[0019] Exemplarily, the first field may be a new field or a new bit field in the paging DCI.

[0020] Exemplarily, a new field or a new bit field in PEIDCI may also be used to carry the first information.

[0021] In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first information becomes effective at the end of the paging cycle corresponding to the paging DCI, paging early indication DCI, or paging message carrying the first information; or, the first information becomes effective at the end of the configuration cycle corresponding to the paging DCI, paging early indication DCI, or paging message carrying the first information. In this implementation, the terminal device and the network device can be guaranteed to have a consistent understanding of the effective time of the first information, and the terminal device and the network device can align when the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal changes, thereby ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the transmission of the first information, and thereby ensuring the transmission reliability of the first synchronization signal.

[0022] Exemplarily, the effective moment (effective time) of the first information can be understood as: the effective moment of the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal (for example, the first SSB) included or indicated by the first information. Starting from the effective moment of the first information, the network device uses the transmission configuration of the first SSB included or indicated by the first information (the beam used for sending the SSB, and / or the sending period of the SSB) to send the first SSB to the terminal device. The terminal device uses the transmission configuration of the first SSB in the first information (for example, the sending period of the first SSB, the sending beam of the first SSB) to receive the first SSB.

[0023] In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first information is carried in a first DCI, the first DCI is different from the paging DCI or the paging early indication DCI, and the transmission timing of the first DCI is the same as the transmission timing of the paging DCI or the paging early indication DCI. In this implementation, the transmission timing of the first information reuses the existing signaling, and there is no need to use a new transmission timing to transmit the first information, thereby reducing the complexity of the terminal device detecting the first information. In addition, terminal devices in various states can receive the first information, and terminal devices in various states can correctly receive the first synchronization signal, which can ensure the normal operation of communication.

[0024] Exemplarily, the transmission timing of the first information is the same as the transmission timing of the paging DCI or the paging early indication DCI, which may include: the transmission timing of the first information uses the transmission timing of the complete paging DCI or the paging early indication DCI; or, the transmission timing of the first information uses the transmission timing of a specific paging DCI or a specific paging early indication DCI, such as the transmission timing of the paging DCI or the paging early indication DCI corresponding to the UE_ID of the terminal device itself.

[0025] Exemplarily, the transmission timing of the first information is the same as the transmission timing of the paging DCI or PEIDCI, which may include: the terminal device can receive the first DCI on any PO or PEI-O within a DRX cycle; or, the terminal device can receive the first DCI on the PO or PEI-O corresponding to its own UE_ID.

[0026] In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the transmission timing of the first information is the first transmission timing, and the first transmission timing is: the transmission timing of the paging DCI corresponding to the first ID of the terminal device, or the transmission timing of the paging early indication DCI corresponding to the first ID of the terminal device ID. In this implementation, multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices) detect the first information on the same PEI-O and PO, that is, multiple terminal devices detect the same transmission timing. The network device does not need to send the first information to each terminal device separately, which reduces the number of first information that the network device needs to send (for example, it only needs to be sent once), and reduces the overhead and power consumption of the network device in sending the first message. At the same time, the first message takes effect faster, which improves the reliability and efficiency of the first information.

[0027] Exemplarily, multiple terminal devices (e.g., all terminal devices in a cell) correspond to a first ID, that is, multiple terminal devices correspond to the same ID (first ID), and the first ID is a UE_ID commonly corresponding to the multiple terminal devices. For example, the first ID (e.g., UE_ID=0) can be a protocol predefined value, or a value uniformly configured by the base station to all terminal devices (e.g., configuring the terminal devices through system information).

[0028] Optionally, when the transmission timing of the first information corresponding to all terminal devices is the same, the effective time of the first information can be: it takes effect at the Xth time unit after the transmission timing corresponding to the first information (such as PO, PEI-O or PDSCH), or it takes effect at the end of a preset time length starting from the transmission timing corresponding to the first information.

[0029] In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information is: the Mth time unit before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal; or, before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal, and separated by a preset time length from the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal; or, before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal, and the time interval between the first synchronization signal and the start sending moment is a preset time length. In this implementation, the terminal device and the network device can align the transmission timing of the first information, thereby ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the transmission of the first information. In addition, multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) detect the first information at the same transmission timing, that is, multiple terminal devices detect the same transmission timing. The network device does not need to send the first information to each terminal device separately, which reduces the amount of first information that the network device needs to send, and reduces the overhead and power consumption of the network device in sending the first message. Before the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal, the terminal device can obtain the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal in a timely manner to ensure that the terminal device can correctly receive the first synchronization signal.

[0030] In a possible implementation of the first or second aspects, the starting time of the transmission opportunity of the first information is: the Rth time unit before the transmission opportunity of the second synchronization signal; or, the starting time of the transmission opportunity of the first information is before the transmission opportunity of the second synchronization signal and is separated from the transmission opportunity of the second synchronization signal by a preset time length; or, the starting time of the transmission opportunity of the first information is before the transmission opportunity of the second synchronization signal and is separated from the start time of sending the second synchronization signal by a preset time length, and the second synchronization signal is different from the first synchronization signal. In this implementation, the terminal device and the network device can align the transmission timing of the first information, ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the transmission of the first information. When multiple terminal devices detect the same transmission timing, the network device does not need to send the first information to each terminal device separately, reducing the amount of first information that the network device needs to send and reducing the overhead and power consumption of the network device in sending the first message. Before the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal, the terminal device can promptly obtain the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal, ensuring that the terminal device can correctly receive the first synchronization signal.

[0031] For example, if there are multiple SSB configurations, the first synchronization signal can be an SSB of any one configuration, and the second synchronization signal can be an SSB of another configuration. For example, the first synchronization signal is a short-period SSB (first SSB), the second synchronization signal is a long-period SSB (second SSB), and the transmission timing of the first SSB is different from the transmission timing of the second SSB.

[0032] In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the time domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal are partially or completely the same, and the frequency domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal are different. In this implementation, multiple terminal devices (e.g., all terminal devices within a cell) detect the first information at the same transmission timing, and the network device does not need to send the first information to each terminal device separately, thereby reducing the amount of first information that the network device needs to send. In addition, the first information and the first synchronization signal are sent in frequency division, which can reduce the overhead and power consumption of the network device in sending the first message.

[0033] In a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the time domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal are partially or completely the same, and the frequency domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal are different, and the second synchronization signal is different from the first synchronization signal. In this implementation, under the dual synchronization signal configuration, multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) detect the first information at the same transmission timing, and the network device does not need to send the first information to each terminal device separately, thereby reducing the amount of first information that the network device needs to send, and the first information and the second synchronization signal are sent in frequency division, which can reduce the overhead and power consumption of the network device in sending the first message.

[0034] In one possible implementation of the first or second aspect, the first information takes effect at the Nth time unit after the corresponding transmission opportunity ends; or, the first information takes effect at the end of a preset time period after the corresponding transmission opportunity ends; or, the first information takes effect at the start of transmission of the first synchronization signal following the first information. In this implementation, the terminal device and the network device can have a consistent understanding of the effective time of the first information, and the terminal device and the network device can align when the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal changes, thereby ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the transmission of the first information, and thereby ensuring the transmission reliability of the first synchronization signal.

[0035] Optionally, the transmission timing of the first information, the effective time of the first information, the preset time length, etc. can be predefined, or can be indicated by the network device to the terminal device through signaling; or, can be preconfigured (or configured).

[0036] In a third aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a module (e.g., a processing module and an interface module) for performing each step of the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect. The device may be a terminal device, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor in the terminal device.

[0037] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising at least one processor and memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect. The device may be a terminal device, or a chip, chip system, or processor in the terminal device.

[0038] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising at least one processor and an interface circuit, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect. The device may be a terminal device, or a chip, chip system, or processor in the terminal device.

[0039] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a module (e.g., a processing module and an interface module) for performing each step of the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect. The device may be a network device, a chip, a chip system, or a processor in the network device, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the network device functions.

[0040] In a seventh aspect, a communications device is provided, comprising at least one processor and memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect. The device may be a network device, a chip, a chip system, or a processor in a network device, or a logical node, a logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the network device's functions.

[0041] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising at least one processor and an interface circuit, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect. The device may be a network device, a chip, a chip system, or a processor in a network device, or a logical node, a logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the network device's functions.

[0042] In the ninth aspect, a terminal device is provided, which includes the communication device provided in the third aspect, or the terminal device includes the communication device provided in the fourth aspect, or the terminal device includes the communication device provided in the fifth aspect.

[0043] In a tenth aspect, a network device is provided, which includes the communication device provided in the sixth aspect, or the network device includes the communication device provided in the seventh aspect, or the network device includes the communication device provided in the eighth aspect.

[0044] In the eleventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, which includes a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, is used to execute: the method in the above first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or the method in the above second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0045] In the twelfth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed, it is used to execute: the method in the above first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or the method in the above second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0046] In the thirteenth aspect, a chip is provided, which includes: a processor for calling and running a computer program from a memory, so that a communication device equipped with the chip executes: the method in the above first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, or the method in the above second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an example of an SSB structure.

[0048] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the distribution of PO in the time domain.

[0049] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of an example configuration cycle.

[0050] FIG4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the distribution of PEI-O.

[0051] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an example of two SSB configurations provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0052] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to the method of the present application, provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0053] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a radio access network RAN ​​provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0054] FIG8 is a schematic flowchart of an information transmission method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0055] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of an example of the sending timing and effective time of the first information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0056] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of another example of the sending timing and effective time of the first information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0057] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of another example of the sending timing and effective time of the first information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0058] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of another example of the sending timing and effective time of the first information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0059] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of another example of the sending timing and effective time of the first information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0060] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of another example of the sending timing and effective time of the first information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0061] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of another example of the sending timing and effective time of the first information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0062] FIG16 is a schematic diagram of another example of the sending timing and effective time of the first information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0063] Figure 17 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0064] Figure 18 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0065] Figure 19 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0066] Figure 20 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0067] Figure 21 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0068] Figure 22 is a schematic block diagram of a network device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] The technical solution in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0070] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified, " / " represents or. For example, A / B can represent A or B. "And / or" in this article is simply a description of the association relationship between related 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, in the description of the embodiments of this application, "plurality" means two or more than two.

[0071] In the following, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the number of the technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0072] In an embodiment of the present application, a terminal device or a network device includes a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on the hardware layer, and an application layer running on the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory management unit (MMU), and memory (also called main memory). The operating system can be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through processes, such as a Linux operating system, a Unix operating system, an Android operating system, an iOS operating system, or a Windows operating system. The application layer includes applications such as browsers, address books, word processing software, and instant messaging software. In addition, the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the specific structure of the execution subject of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application. 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, for example, the execution subject of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be a terminal device or a network device, or a functional module in the terminal device or the network device that can call a program and execute the program.

[0073] In addition, various aspects or features of the present application can be implemented as methods, apparatus, or articles of manufacture using standard programming and / or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used in this application covers computer programs that can be accessed from any computer-readable device, carrier, or medium. For example, computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, or magnetic tapes, etc.), optical disks (e.g., compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), cards, sticks, or key drives, etc.). In addition, the various storage media described herein may represent one or more devices and / or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" may include, but is not limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and / or carrying instructions and / or data.

[0074] Compared to fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication networks, 5G networks feature dramatically increased transmission bandwidth. Simultaneously, the higher peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) further reduces power amplifier (PA) efficiency. This results in a sharp increase in the transmit power consumption of radio access network equipment (using base stations as an example) in 5G networks. Furthermore, the dramatic increase in transmission channels within 5G base stations has also led to a sharp increase in the static power consumption of 5G communication systems. Furthermore, due to the increased frequency bands deployed in 5G networks and the reduced coverage area, the increasingly dense base station deployment further increases the overall power consumption of the entire network. Currently, the power consumption of a single 5G base station is typically two to three times that of a typical 4G base station. For example, according to relevant statistics, the typical power consumption of a single remote radio unit (RRU) in the 4G era was 660W. In the 5G era, the typical power consumption (energy consumption) of a single active antenna unit (AAU) has increased to 1400W. The high energy consumption of 5G base stations is detrimental to environmental protection and sustainable social development, while also resulting in significant electricity costs. Energy costs currently account for 23% of operators' overall operating expenses. For example, China Mobile's electricity bill in 2020 reached 3.8 billion yuan. Therefore, research on energy-efficient communication technologies is crucial for the continued evolution of 5G.

[0075] Another major reason for the high power consumption of 5G networks is that base stations need to periodically send various public signals. For example, typical public signals include messages or signals such as synchronization signal block (SSB) and system information block type 1 (SIB1). On the one hand, the overhead of base stations sending these public signals is large, which will cause more dynamic power consumption to increase. On the other hand, due to the need to send these public signals frequently (for example, the typical SSB or SIB1 transmission period is 20ms, that is, the base station needs to send SSB or SIB1 every 20ms), it is difficult for the base station to enter a deeper sleep state (the hardware / software startup requires a certain delay), resulting in a large static power consumption overhead on the base station side. Based on this, the researchers proposed that the power consumption of network equipment can be reduced by dynamically adjusting the public signal transmission configuration (i.e., transmission configuration). For example, in scenarios with low network load, reduce the transmission of public signals.

[0076] The following briefly describes some common signals involved in this application.

[0077] First: SSB and SSB configuration information.

[0078] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an SSB structure. As shown in Figure 1, the SSB includes two parts, namely the synchronization signal SS and the PBCH. The SS includes the primary synchronization signal (PSS) and the secondary synchronization signal (SSS). Therefore, it can also be considered that the SSB includes three parts, namely: PSS, PBCH and SSS. As shown in Figure 1, in the time domain, the SSB occupies 4 consecutive time domain symbols, such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. In the frequency domain, the SSB occupies 20 resource blocks (RBs), that is, 240 subcarriers (SCs).

[0079] SS and PBCH are jointly used to obtain cell identification (Cell ID), downlink timing (finding the reference point for downlink transmission, such as the frame boundary), and necessary system information. For example, the location of the time-frequency resources received by the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) corresponding to SIB1 is obtained, and the offset value Kssb of the frequency domain resource grid of the SSB compared to the common resource block (CRB) is obtained. In new radio (NR), SSB has two main functions: 1. Cell synchronization and master information block (MIB) acquisition; 2. Base station-side wide beam training.

[0080] For cell synchronization and MIB acquisition, PSS and SSS carry the physical cell identifier (PCI). The terminal device obtains the PCI by detecting PSS and SSS. At the same time, the PBCH in the SSB carries the SSB index. Each SSB index corresponds to an SSB sending position or sending time. The terminal device completes downlink timing synchronization by detecting the SSB index and detection time.

[0081] For base station wide beam training, an SSB pattern contains multiple SSB indices, with different SSB indices corresponding to different base station transmit beams. An SSB pattern defines a group of consecutive SSBs or multiple SSBs within a period.

[0082] The possible time domain positions of an SSB burst in a half-frame. Since each SSB is transmitted using a different beam, or each SSB corresponds to a transmit beam, the terminal device can complete wide-beam training by detecting the SSBs and selecting the best SSB index (the index corresponding to the SSB with the highest reception strength). Furthermore, the terminal device can also use different receive beams to receive the same SSB, completing receive beam training on the terminal side.

[0083] The functions of the wide beam on the base station side include: 1. The terminal device receives the SIB1 and paging message (Paging) sent by the base station using the wide beam at the position corresponding to the SSB index (i.e., the best SSB index), thereby improving the coverage capability of SIB1 and Paging; 2. The terminal device sends the physical random access channel (PRACH), i.e., sends the preamble, at the position corresponding to the SSB index (i.e., the best SSB index). The base station can use the wide beam for reception to ensure the success rate of PRACH reception; 3. After the terminal device completes the initial access and establishes the radio resource control (RRC) connection, the base station can perform fine beam training based on the wide beam, i.e., only train the fine beams within the wide beam range, thereby reducing the fine beam training overhead.

[0084] The following describes the detection of SSB by the terminal device.

[0085] Before detecting the SSB, the terminal device does not know the specific time-frequency resource location of the SSB. In other words, the terminal device needs to blindly detect the location of the SSB. However, since the cell bandwidth in NR is very wide, if the terminal device attempts to detect the SSB at every frequency point, the terminal device access speed will be very slow. Therefore, the NR protocol defines a synchronization raster, which has different sizes in different frequency bands, namely 1200kHz, 1.44MHz and 17.28MHz. The terminal device only needs to try to detect the SSB one by one at intervals of the synchronization raster, thereby improving the speed at which the terminal device detects the SSB.

[0086] For example, Table 1 shows an example of GSCN parameters for the global frequency raster. GSCN stands for global synchronization channel number (GSCN). Each GSCN corresponds to a specific, absolute frequency position. That is, each frequency domain position corresponds to a unique GSCN. The system places the SSB on these GSCNs, aligning the subcarrier No. 0 in the 10th RB of the SSB (or the position where the resource element (RE) is equal to 0) with the GSCN. The terminal device then blindly detects the SSB on these GSCNs in turn.

[0087] Table 1

[0088] As shown in Table 1, the terminal equipment only needs to REF It is only necessary to detect SSB at the determined frequency, without having to detect it at all frequencies, thereby improving the speed and efficiency of the terminal device in detecting SSB.

[0089] In addition, during initial access, the terminal device assumes that the network device sends SSBs at a 20ms interval. That is, if the terminal device does not detect SSBs after waiting for 20ms on a synchronization grid, it may continue to detect SSBs on another synchronization grid.

[0090] It can be seen that the frequency domain position of SSB is defined by the synchronization raster.

[0091] The time-domain position of an SSB is defined by an SSB pattern, also known as an SSB format. An SSB pattern specifies the possible time-domain positions of a group of consecutive SSBs within a half-frame. Currently, the protocol defines five SSB patterns for unshared spectrum, each with its own applicable subcarrier spacing (SCS). However, each SCS typically has only one or two available SSB patterns.

[0092] In summary, the configuration information of SSB (i.e., the transmission configuration of SSB) includes: the frequency domain position of SSB, the time domain position of SSB, and the beam used to send SSB. Among them, the time domain position of SSB is determined by the SSB pattern and the transmission period. After the terminal device detects the SSB, the terminal will further receive SIB1, which contains the actual transmission period of SSB (indicated by the "ssb-PeriodicityServingCell" field in SIB1) and the beam actually used to send SSB (indicated by the "ssb-PositionsInBurst" field in SIB1). Based on the above information and the detected SSB format, the terminal device can know the actual transmission configuration of SSB (including the period, the SSB beam sent in each period, etc.).

[0093] For example, the "ssb-PositionsInBurst" field contains the following:

[0094] In summary, the SSB configuration information (i.e., the SSB transmission configuration) includes: the frequency domain position of the SSB, the time domain position of the SSB, and the beam used to transmit the SSB. Among them, the time domain position of the SSB is determined by the predefined SSB format (SSB pattern) and the actual transmission period of the SSB, and the beam used to transmit the SSB is indicated by the "ssb-PositionsInBurst" field in SIB1.

[0095] The terminal device obtains the SSB transmission information based on the SSB transmission configuration, uses the SSB transmission information to receive the SSB, and then uses the SSB to perform a series of subsequent processing flows, mainly including the following two:

[0096] 1. SSB-related measurements, such as radio link monitoring (RLM), radio resource management (RRM), beam failure detection (BFD), beam failure recovery (BFR), and automatic gain control (AGC).

[0097] 2. Determine the transmission timing of the transmission that has a mapping relationship with the SSB, such as random access channel (RACH), paging message (Paging), SIB1, etc.

[0098] Currently, when the SSB transmission configuration changes, for example, the beam used to actually transmit the SSB changes (that is, the value of "ssb-PositionsInBurst" changes), or the actual transmission period of the SSB (that is, the value of the word "ssb-PeriodicityServingCell" changes), the base station mainly informs the terminal device in the following two ways:

[0099] The first method: RRC reconfiguration, that is, sending RRC signaling to inform the terminal device. This solution is only applicable to terminal devices in the RRC connected state (RRC_CONNECTED).

[0100] The second method: system information (SI) update process. This solution is applicable to all terminal devices, including terminal devices in RRC connected state (RRC_CONNECTED), terminal devices in RRC inactive state (RRC_INACTIVE), and terminal devices in RRC idle state (RRC_IDLE).

[0101] The SI update process is briefly described below.

[0102] Idle discontinuous reception (I-DRX) is an energy-saving technology for terminal device paging information. This technology evenly divides the terminal device's paging occasions (PO) in the time dimension. From the terminal device's perspective, it only needs to detect its own downlink control information (DCI) at a specific paging occasion within a longer period (i.e., within the paging cycle) to detect whether there has been a change in system information or a paging message has been generated for it. This method is effective for all terminal devices, especially those in the RRC_IDLE state or RRC_INCATIVE state.

[0103] Specifically, since there is a mapping relationship between the ID and PO of the terminal device, each terminal device detects the PO on its corresponding paging frame (PF) through the configured ID, and detects the paging DCI (Paging DCI) on the PO. The paging DCI is carried on the PDCCH encrypted with the paging-radio network temporary identifier (P-RNTI). The paging DCI may include the configuration information of the paging message, and the terminal device may receive the paging message based on the paging DCI. One PO may correspond to one or more terminal devices, that is, multiple terminal devices can detect the paging DCI on the same PO. For a terminal device, there is only one PO corresponding to one paging cycle.

[0104] For example, Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the distribution of POs in the time domain. As shown in Figure 2, there can be multiple POs in a paging cycle. The base station can send paging DCI in any PO in a paging cycle, and the terminal device can detect paging DCI on each PO. The length of the paging cycle can be understood as the length of time that a paging cycle lasts, for example, it can be 20ms, 40ms, etc. The terminal device can detect paging DCI on the POs included in each of the multiple paging cycles. Figure 2 shows two paging cycles, namely paging cycle 1 and paging cycle 2, and each paging cycle includes 4 POs, namely PO1 to PO4. The time lengths corresponding to paging cycle 1 and paging cycle 2 are the same. On one PO, the terminal device can have multiple monitoring occasions (MOs) for paging DCI, that is, one PO contains multiple PDCCH detection occasions (PDCCH MOs). One PDCCH detection occasion corresponds to one SSB beam, and some of the spatial domain information of the PDCCH and SSB are the same, for example, the same beam is used. The number of PDCCH MOs included in a PO is related to the number of SSB beams actually sent by the base station. The terminal device will detect the paging DCI on the PDCCH MO. The paging DCI includes the following fields:

[0105] (1) Short Message Indicator field, 2 bits in length:

[0106] This field primarily indicates the purpose of subsequent content in the paging DCI. A 2-bit value of "11" indicates that the paging DCI indicates both a subsequent paging message and a system information change; a 2-bit value of "10" indicates that the paging DCI only indicates a system information change; a 2-bit value of "01" indicates that the paging DCI only indicates a subsequent paging message; and a 2-bit value of "00" is reserved. Paging messages are carried on the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

[0107] (2) Short Message field, 8 bits long:

[0108] This field primarily indicates which system information has changed. Specifically, the first four bits of this field indicate different system information functions, and the last four bits are reserved. This field only functions or indicates changes when the "Short Message Indicator" field indicates system information changes.

[0109] (3) Paging information related indication field, including fields indicating the time-frequency resources of the paging information, mapping mode, etc. The terminal device can receive the paging message according to the paging information related indication field.

[0110] When the paging DCI indicates a system information change, all terminal devices will detect the system information DCI at the configured system information DCI detection opportunity. The system information DCI is carried on the PDCCH encrypted with SI-RNTI. The terminal device determines the time-frequency resources and other information of the SI based on the detected system information DCI, and then receives the SIB1 scheduled by the system information DCI. According to SIB1, it obtains the changed beam used for sending SSB (indicated by the "ssb-PositionsInBurst" field in SIB1), and / or the transmission period of SSB (indicated by the "ssb-PeriodicityServingCell" field in SIB1).

[0111] Through the above-mentioned SI update process, the terminal device can obtain the changed beam used for sending SSB and / or the changed SSB sending period.

[0112] Generally, when system information (such as SIB1) does not change frequently, the default system information update cycle of the terminal device is 3 hours. In other words, the base station will update the system information every 3 hours.

[0113] In addition, when the terminal detects the updated system information, it will take effect according to the configuration period. For example, Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a configuration period. The configuration period can be understood as: the length of the time interval between the moment when the updated system information (for example, SIB1) is received from the terminal device and the moment when the updated system information takes effect. The effective time of the system information can be understood as: the moment when the transmission configuration of the SSB included in SIB1 takes effect or the moment when the transmission configuration of the SSB changes. Alternatively, the effective time of the system information can also be understood as: the moment when the terminal device starts to use the configuration or content in the system information, for example, the moment when the terminal device starts to use the configuration in SIB1 (indicated by the "ssb-PositionsInBurst" field, and / or the "ssb-PeriodicityServingCell" field) to receive the SSB. The configuration period can be used to determine the effective moment or effective time of the system information. In other words, the updated system information may not take effect immediately. For example, the configuration period can be: the time interval between the moment when the updated SSB transmission configuration is received from the terminal device (for example, the beam used for sending SSB changes, and / or the transmission period of SSB changes) (i.e., the moment when SIB1 is received), and the time interval between using the updated SSB transmission configuration (using the changed beam for sending SSB, and / or using the changed transmission period of SSB).

[0114] For example, the configuration period may be configured to be 2 times, 4 times, 8 times, or 16 times the paging period.

[0115] Of course, the base station also needs to use this configuration period, starting from the effective moment or effective time of the system information, and use the updated SSB transmission configuration (the beam used to send SSB, and / or the SSB transmission period) to send SSB.

[0116] When there are many terminal devices residing or serving in a cell, one PO may correspond to multiple terminal devices. Since the paging DCI does not include an identifier to distinguish different terminal devices, as long as a terminal device is paged on a PO, all terminal devices under the PO (that is, multiple terminal devices detecting paging DCI on the same PO) will detect the paging information scheduled by the paging DCI, which will cause unnecessary energy consumption. Therefore, the current protocol introduces a very early paging indication (PEI) mechanism. Under the PEI mechanism, the terminal device pre-detects PEIDCI before its corresponding PO. When PEIDCI indicates that the paging DCI is not transmitted on its corresponding PO, the terminal device may not detect on its corresponding PO. Optionally, PEIDCI can also be called DCI encrypted with PEI-RNTI.

[0117] The occasion (PEI occasion, PEI-O) when the terminal device detects the paging early indication DCI (PEIDCI) can be called the PEI detection occasion. Based on the PO configuration, illustratively, the distribution of PEI-O can be as shown in Figure 4, and one PEI-O can correspond to one or more POs.

[0118] Second: Dual SSB configuration:

[0119] Currently, SSB transmission cycles are often quite frequent (typically 20ms), and the beam used to transmit SSB in each transmission cycle is the same (i.e., there is only one SSB configuration and one corresponding "ssb-PositionsInBurst" parameter). Therefore, the SSB transmission mode can be dynamically adjusted by configuring two sets of SSBs.

[0120] For example, FIG5 is a schematic diagram of two sets of SSB configurations provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0121] As shown in Figure 5, a basic SSB transmission is configured as a basic configuration to ensure basic network access and measurement performance. The transmission period (i.e., the sending period) of this SSB configuration is usually longer (e.g., 160ms), and the beam used to transmit the SSB is relatively complete (e.g., a full beam, such as beams 1 to 8 shown in Figure 5). For example, this SSB can be called a basic SSB or a long-period SSB.

[0122] In addition, a set of short-period SSBs are configured to serve users covered by the base station on demand. For example, the transmission period of the short-period SSB can change dynamically according to the load. For example, in a scenario with a light load, the transmission period of the short-period SSB can be increased or lengthened to reduce the network transmission overhead of the SSB and reduce the power consumption of the base station. Moreover, the transmission beam of the short-period SSB (that is, the beam used to send the short-period SSB) can change dynamically according to the distribution of the terminal equipment. For example, when the terminal equipment is distributed more concentratedly, only part of the SSB beam in that direction can be transmitted (that is, only the short-period SSB is sent on the beam corresponding to that direction, such as beam 1 to beam 2 shown in Figure 5), that is, the beam transmitting the short-period SSB is a partial beam, so as to reduce the network transmission overhead of the SSB and reduce power consumption.

[0123] In summary, when the SSB transmission configuration changes (for example, the beam used to transmit the SSB changes, and / or the transmission period of the SSB changes), the SSB may be the SSB defined in the current protocol, or the short-period SSB in the dual-SSB configuration, or the long-period SSB. The base station may notify the terminal device in the following ways:

[0124] If the base station informs the terminal device through RRC reconfiguration, this method can only be applied to terminal devices in RRC connected state (RRC_CONNECTED), resulting in terminal devices in RRC inactive state (RRC_INACTIVE) and RRC idle state (RRC_IDLE) not being able to know that the SSB transmission configuration has changed, causing these terminal devices to be unable to correctly receive SSB, unable to ensure the normal operation of communication, and affecting communication efficiency.

[0125] If the base station informs the terminal device through SI update. Although this method can be applied to all terminal devices. However, on the one hand, the overall process of SI update is relatively complicated (it is necessary to detect the paging DCI first, then detect the system information DCI, and finally detect SIB1, and use SIB1 to obtain the changed SSB sending configuration), and it is necessary to pass more signaling transmission. The process is time-consuming and wastes communication resources. In addition, the effectiveness time of SIB1 is relatively long (it is necessary to wait until the end of the configured period before SIB1 can be considered to be effective), and the delay is relatively large. On the other hand, the overhead of the SI update process is relatively large. For example, only the "ssb-PositionsInBurst" field and / or the "ssb-PeriodicityServingCell" field in SIB1 needs to be updated (that is, one or two information units (Information Element, IE) are updated), but the entire SIB1 needs to be sent, the communication resource overhead is large, and the utilization rate of communication resources is reduced.

[0126] In view of this, the present application provides a method and communication device for information transmission, wherein a network device can notify a terminal device of the SSB transmission configuration (e.g., the changed SSB transmission configuration, or the initial SSB transmission configuration) through a first message. Terminal devices in various states can all receive the first message, thereby obtaining the SSB transmission configuration change based on the first message, so that terminal devices in various states can correctly receive the SSB, thereby ensuring the normal operation of communication. Moreover, only the first message is required, which requires fewer communication resources and a shorter process time, thereby reducing the communication resource overhead and notification delay.

[0127] For example, when the transmission configuration of the SSB changes (for example, the beam used to send the SSB changes, and / or the transmission period of the SSB changes), the SSB may be the SSB defined in the current protocol, or it may be a short-period SSB in a dual-SSB configuration, or a long-period SSB. The base station may notify the terminal device of the change in the transmission configuration of the SSB through the method provided in this application. The terminal device may include: a terminal device in an RRC connected state (RRC_CONNECTED), a terminal device in an RRC inactive state (RRC_INACTIVE), and a terminal device in an RRC idle state (RRC_IDLE).

[0128] It should be understood that the method provided in this application can be applied to scenarios where the transmission configuration of an SSB is sent and received. For example, when the transmission configuration of an SSB changes, the updated transmission configuration of the SSB is sent, or the initial transmission configuration of the SSB (e.g., the transmission configuration of the SSB before the update) is sent.

[0129] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, a communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application is first briefly introduced in conjunction with Figure 6.

[0130] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 60 applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG6 , the communication system 60 includes a radio access network (RAN) 600, a core network (CN) 630, and the Internet 640. The RAN 600 includes at least one RAN node (such as node 610a and node 610b in FIG6 , collectively referred to as 610) and at least one terminal (such as 620a-620j in FIG6 , collectively referred to as 620). The RAN 600 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in FIG6 ). For example, a "node" may also be referred to as a "network element." For example, node 610a and node 610b may also be referred to as network element 610a and network element 610b, and node 620a-node 620j may also be referred to as network element 620a-network element 620j.

[0131] Terminal 620 is connected to RAN node 610 via wireless or wired communication. Different terminals are connected to each other via wireless or wired communication. RAN node 610 is connected to core network 630 via wireless or wired communication. The core network devices in core network 630 and RAN node 610 in RAN 600 can be separate physical devices, or the functions of the core network devices and the logical functions of the RAN node 610 can be integrated into the same physical device. Alternatively, a single physical device can integrate some of the functions of the core network devices and some of the functions of the RAN node 610.

[0132] The RAN 600 may be a cellular system related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, a 4G, 5G mobile communication system (including independent networking and non-independent networking), a New Radio (NR), a future-oriented evolution system (such as a 6G mobile communication system), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or an open access network (open RAN, O-RAN or ORAN) system, or a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems. The embodiments of the present application are not limited here.

[0133] RAN node 610, sometimes also referred to as access network equipment, wireless access network equipment, network equipment, RAN entity, or access node, constitutes part of the communication system and facilitates wireless access for terminals. Multiple RAN nodes 610 in communication system 60 can be of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of RAN node 610 and terminal 620 are relative. For example, network element 620i in Figure 6 can be a helicopter or drone, configured as a mobile base station. For terminals 620j accessing RAN 600 via network element 620i, network element 620i is a base station; however, for base station 610a, network element 620i is a terminal. That is, communication between base station 610a and terminal 620i occurs via a wireless air interface protocol. Alternatively, communication between base station 610a and network element 620i can occur via a base station-to-base station interface protocol. In this case, network element 620i is also a base station relative to 610a. The RAN node 610 and the terminal 620 are sometimes referred to as communication devices. For example, the network elements 610a and 610b in FIG6 can be understood as communication devices with base station functions, and the network elements 620a-620j can be understood as communication devices with terminal functions.

[0134] In one possible scenario, a RAN node may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), 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, etc. A RAN node may be a macro base station (such as 610a in FIG6 ), a micro base station or an indoor station (such as 610b in FIG6 ), a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, a RAN node may also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle, or an onboard device. For example, an access network device in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology may be a roadside unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of a RAN node in this application may also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform). A RAN node in this application may also be a logical node, a logical module, or software that implements all or part of the functions of a RAN node.

[0135] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, and different RAN nodes respectively implement part of the functions of the base station. For example, the 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 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 radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0136] 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.

[0137] For example, in the example shown in Figure 6, the information transmission method provided in this application can be used between the terminal and network element 610a, between network element 610a and network element 610b, and between the terminal and network element 610b during the transmission configuration process of the SSB after the transmission change.

[0138] For example, RAN nodes and terminals can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; on water; or on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of RAN nodes and terminals.

[0139] For example, in the embodiments of the present application, RAN nodes and terminals, different RAN nodes (e.g., network element 610a and network element 610b), and terminals can communicate via licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or both. Furthermore, communication can be performed via spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), spectrum above 6 GHz, or both. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communications.

[0140] In the embodiments of the present application, the functions of the RAN node may also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the RAN node, or by a control subsystem that includes the RAN node functions. For example, the control subsystem that includes the RAN node functions may be a control center in application scenarios such as smart grids, industrial control, smart transportation, and smart cities. The functions of the terminal may also be performed by a module (such as a chip or modem) in the terminal, or by a device that includes the terminal functions.

[0141] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal may also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. The terminal can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver function, wearable device, vehicle, drone, helicopter, airplane, ship, robot, robotic arm, smart home device, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the device form of the terminal.

[0142] For example, Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of a radio access network (RAN). As shown in Figure 7, the radio access network includes access network equipment and terminal equipment. The access network equipment includes one or more CUs, one or more DUs, and one or more radio units (RUs). For clarity, Figure 7 shows only one CU, DU, and RU. The CU is used to connect to the core network and one or more DUs. Optionally, the CU can have some of the core network's functions. The CU can include a CU-CP and a CU-UP.

[0143] The CU and DU can be configured according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they implement: for example, the CU is configured to implement the functions of the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer and the protocol layers above it (such as the radio resource control (RRC) layer and / or the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, etc.); the DU is configured to implement the functions of the protocol layers below the PDCP layer (such as the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and / or the physical (PHY) layer, etc.). For another example, the CU is configured to implement the functions of the protocol layers above the PDCP layer (such as the RRC layer and / or the SDAP layer), and the DU is configured to implement the functions of the PDCP layer and the protocol layers below it (such as the RLC layer, the MAC layer, and / or the PHY layer, etc.).

[0144] When a CU includes a CU-CP and a CU-UP, the CU-CP is used to implement the control plane functions of the CU, and the CU-UP is used to implement the user plane functions of the CU. For example, when the CU is configured to implement the functions of the PDCP layer, RRC layer, and SDAP layer, the CU-CP is used to implement the RRC layer functions and the control plane functions of the PDCP layer, and the CU-UP is used to implement the SDAP layer functions and the user plane functions of the PDCP layer.

[0145] The CU-CP can interact with network elements in the core network that implement control plane functions. The network elements in the core network that implement control plane functions can be access and mobility function network elements, such as the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element in the 5G system. The access and mobility function network element is responsible for mobility management in the mobile network, such as location update of terminal devices, registration network of terminal devices, and switching of terminal devices.

[0146] The CU-UP can interact with network elements in the core network that implement user plane functions. Network elements in the core network that implement user plane functions, such as the user plane function (UPF) in the 5G system, are responsible for forwarding and receiving data in terminal devices.

[0147] The above configuration of CU and DU is only an example, and the functions of CU and DU can also be configured as needed. For example, the CU or DU can be configured to have the functions of more protocol layers, or the CU or DU can be configured to have partial processing functions of the protocol layer. For example, some functions of the RLC layer and the functions of the protocol layers above the RLC layer are set in the CU, and the remaining functions of the RLC layer and the functions of the protocol layers below the RLC layer are set in the DU. For another example, the functions of the CU or DU can be divided according to the service type or other system requirements, such as by delay, and the functions whose processing time needs to meet the smaller delay requirement are set in the DU, and the functions that do not need to meet the delay requirement are set in the CU.

[0148] The DU and RU can work together to implement the functions of the PHY layer. A DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functions of the DU and RU can be configured in various ways according to the design. For example, the DU is configured to implement the baseband function, and the RU is configured to implement the mid-RF function. For another example, the DU is configured to implement the high-layer functions in the PHY layer, and the RU is configured to implement the low-layer functions in the PHY layer or to implement the low-layer functions and the RF functions. The high-layer functions in the physical layer may include a part of the functions of the physical layer, which is closer to the MAC layer, and the low-layer functions in the physical layer may include another part of the functions of the physical layer, which is closer to the mid-RF side.

[0149] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, "RAN node" can be expressed in different ways. For example, "RAN node" can also be referred to as network equipment, access network equipment, or wireless access network equipment. Unless otherwise specified, "network equipment" is used in this application. The network equipment is the original description of the access network equipment (such as a base station).

[0150] It should be understood that the communication system shown in FIG6 is merely exemplary and should not impose any limitations on the communication systems applicable to the embodiments of the present application. For example, the communication system shown in FIG6 may further include more or fewer network nodes, such as terminal devices or RAN nodes, and the RAN nodes or terminal devices included in the communication system shown in FIG6 may be the various forms of RAN nodes or terminal devices described above. The embodiments of the present application are not shown one by one in the figures.

[0151] The following describes the information transmission method provided by this application with reference to specific examples.

[0152] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the method is described by taking a network device and a terminal device as the execution subjects of the method as an example. As an example and not a limitation, the terminal device in the present application may also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the terminal device to implement the method. The network device in the present application may also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the network device to implement the method, or may also be a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the network device functions. The embodiments of the present application are not limited here.

[0153] The method provided in the present application is described in detail below in conjunction with Figure 8. Figure 8 is a schematic flowchart of a method for information transmission in an embodiment of the present application. This method 800 can be applied to the scenario or communication architecture shown in Figure 6, and of course can also be applied to other communication scenarios or communication architectures. The embodiment of the present application is not limited here.

[0154] As shown in Fig. 8 , the method 800 shown in Fig. 8 may include S810 to S820. The following describes each step in the method 800 in detail with reference to Fig. 8 .

[0155] S810. The network device sends first information to the terminal device, where the first information indicates a transmission configuration of a first synchronization signal.

[0156] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first information.

[0157] It should be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, the first synchronization signal may include an initial synchronization signal or a synchronization signal in other processes, as long as the first synchronization signal can be used for synchronization of the terminal device and the network device (for example, initial synchronization). In the embodiment of the present application, there is no restriction on which specific synchronization signal the first synchronization signal is or the name of such synchronization signal. For ease of explanation, the following example will be described using "first SSB" as an example of "first synchronization signal", but it should be understood that in other implementations of the present application, the synchronization signal may also be other initial synchronization signals, or SSB may also be expressed as other names, etc., and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0158] Optionally, "the first information indicates the transmission configuration of the first SSB" can also be replaced with "the first information includes the transmission configuration of the first SSB. That is, as long as the terminal device can determine the transmission configuration of the first SSB based on the first information. The transmission configuration of the first SSB may be included in the first information, or the transmission configuration of the first SSB may not be included in the first information, for example, included in certain signaling indicated by the first information or determined according to the first information indication, that is, the first information indicates the transmission configuration of the first SSB. The embodiments of the present application are not limited here.

[0159] It should be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, the first information is different from the RRC signaling or system information (for example, SIB1), or in other words, the first information is not RRC signaling or SIB1. For example, the first information may be a DCI (for example, a new DCI), a sequence, or transmission information carried by a PBCH channel.

[0160] Optionally, the first SSB transmission configuration can also be referred to as the configuration information of the first SSB or the sending configuration of the first SSB.

[0161] Exemplarily, the transmission configuration of the first SSB may include:

[0162] At least one of the transmission period of the first SSB, the transmission bias of the first SSB, or the actual transmission condition of the first SSB at the transmission opportunity corresponding to the first SSB.

[0163] For example, the transmission period of the first SSB may be the same as the content indicated by the "ssb-PeriodicityServingCell" field. The actual transmission situation at the transmission opportunity corresponding to the first SSB (the actual transmission situation of the first SSB at the transmission opportunity corresponding to the first SSB) may be the same as the content indicated by the "ssb-PositionsInBurst" field. The transmission bias of the first SSB may be understood as: the transmission time (or moment, opportunity, etc.) of the first SSB in the time domain is offset relative to a predefined or configured time (or moment, opportunity, etc.). Based on the transmission bias of the first SSB and the transmission period of the first SSB, the actual transmission timing of the first SSB (i.e., the time domain resource position occupied by the first SSB) can be determined. For example, this predefined or configured opportunity may be any transmission opportunity or transmission moment defined by the SSB pattern. For another example, the predefined timing may be a predefined transmission pattern, such as Case A or Case B defined by the SSB pattern in the protocol, or a newly defined Case X, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not impose any restrictions on predefined timings or moments.

[0164] Of course, in other implementations of the present application, the transmission configuration of the first SSB may also include other contents. For example, the transmission configuration of the first SSB may also include the frequency domain position of the first SSB, etc. The embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0165] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can be any type of terminal device, for example, the terminal device can be: a terminal device in an RRC connected state (RRC_CONNECTED), a terminal device in an RRC inactive state (RRC_INACTIVE), or a terminal device in an RRC idle state (RRC_IDLE).

[0166] It should also be understood that the transmission configuration of the first SSB may be the transmission configuration of the first SSB after the transmission configuration of the first SSB has changed, that is, the transmission configuration of the first SSB may be the updated transmission configuration of the first SSB. Alternatively, the transmission configuration of the first SSB may also be the initial transmission configuration of the first SSB (e.g., the transmission configuration of the first SSB before the change).

[0167] S820. The terminal device determines the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal based on the first information.

[0168] For example, the terminal device can determine at least one of the transmission period of the first SSB, the transmission offset of the first SSB, or the actual transmission condition at the transmission opportunity corresponding to the first SSB based on the first information. After determining the transmission configuration of the first SSB, the first SSB can be correctly received.

[0169] In the information transmission method provided by the present application, the network device can notify the terminal device of the transmission configuration of the first SSB through the first information. For example, the transmission configuration of the first SSB can be the transmission configuration of the first SSB after the update or change, or the transmission configuration of the first SSB can also be the initial transmission configuration of the first SSB (for example, the transmission configuration of the first SSB before the change). Terminal devices in various states can receive the first information, and thus obtain the changes in the transmission configuration of the first SSB based on the first information, so that terminal devices in various states can correctly receive the first SSB, and the normal operation of communication can be guaranteed. Compared with the SI update process, only the first message is required, the communication resources required are less, the process takes less time, the communication resource overhead and notification delay are reduced, and the efficiency and speed of the terminal device in obtaining the transmission configuration of the SSB are improved.

[0170] Optionally, the first SSB may be an SSB defined in the current protocol. Of course, if there are multiple SSB configurations, the first SSB may be an SSB of any configuration. For example, the first SSB may be a short-cycle SSB or a long-cycle SSB, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0171] Optionally, in some possible implementations, the first information may be carried in any one of paging DCI, paging information (paging information may also be referred to as a paging message), or paging early indication DCI (i.e., PEIDCI). In other words, the network device may send paging DCI, paging information, or PEIDCI to the terminal device, and the first information is carried in the paging DCI; or, the first information is carried in the paging information; or, the first information is carried in the PEIDCI. The terminal device may obtain the first information by detecting the paging DCI, paging information, or PEIDCI. Paging DCI, paging information, or paging early indication DCI may be understood as the transmission timing of the first information. The transmission timing of the first information (the time domain resource location where the first information can be transmitted or the candidate time domain resource location of the first information) may include one or more, and the network device may send the first information to the terminal device at the transmission timing of the first information. The terminal device may detect the first information separately at the transmission timing of the first information. It can be understood that the transmission timing occupied by the first information actually sent by the network device may be part or all of the transmission timing of the first information. Optionally, the transmission timing of the first information may also be referred to as the sending timing or receiving timing of the first information.

[0172] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the paging message may also be referred to as "Paging PDSCH".

[0173] Using the above approach, the transmission of the first information reuses existing signaling, eliminating the need for additional new signaling to transmit the first information. This reduces the complexity of detecting the first information on the terminal device. Furthermore, terminal devices in all states can receive the first information, ensuring that they can correctly receive the first SSB, ensuring normal communication. This process is time-efficient, reducing communication resource overhead and notification latency.

[0174] In some possible implementations of the present application, after the terminal device receives the first information, the first information may not take effect immediately. Therefore, the effective time (or also referred to as the effective moment) of the first information can be predefined or configured. The effective moment of the first information can be understood as: the effective moment of the transmission configuration of the SSB included or indicated by the first information. Starting from the effective moment of the first information, the network device uses the transmission configuration of the first SSB included or indicated by the first information (the beam used for sending the SSB, and / or the sending period of the SSB) to send the first SSB to the terminal device. The terminal device receives the first SSB using the transmission configuration of the first SSB in the first information (for example, the sending period of the first SSB, the sending beam of the first SSB).

[0175] Optionally, as a possible implementation method, if the first information is carried in paging DCI, paging information, or PEIDCI, the effective time of the first information may be: when the terminal device receives the paging DCI, paging information, or PEIDCI carrying the first information (or, the PEIDCI is located) and the paging cycle corresponding to the end of the paging cycle takes effect.

[0176] For example, Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of the transmission timing and effectiveness time of the first information. As shown in Figure 9, before the first information is sent, the transmission configuration of the first SSB is transmission configuration 1, that is, the first SSB is sent using transmission configuration 1. Afterwards, the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes to transmission configuration 2, that is, the first SSB is sent using transmission configuration 2. For example, the transmit beam of the first SSB changes. In this case, the first information includes transmission configuration 2 of the first SSB. The first information is carried on the paging DCI. The terminal device can detect the paging DCI on the PO corresponding to it. The PO corresponds to the first paging cycle. The first paging cycle includes multiple POs (PO1 to PO8). The network device can send the first information on multiple POs from PO1 to PO8, and each terminal device detects the paging DCI on the PO corresponding to it. Assuming that the network device transmits the first information on PO2, the terminal device corresponding to PO2 can detect the first information on PO2. At the end of the paging cycle, the first information takes effect.

[0177] Of course, the network device also needs to send the first SSB to the terminal device using the transmission configuration of the first SSB included or indicated by the first information (i.e., transmission configuration 2) starting from the effective moment or effective time of the first information.

[0178] Optionally, as another possible implementation, if the first information is carried in a paging DCI, a paging message, or a PEIDCI, the effective time of the first information may be: after the terminal device receives the paging DCI, the paging message, or the configuration period corresponding to the PEIDCI ends (or ends). The configuration period can be understood as: the time interval between the moment when the terminal device receives the paging DCI, the paging message, or the PEIDCI (or the moment when the first information is received), and the moment when the first message carried by the paging DCI, the paging message, or the PEIDCI takes effect.

[0179] Optionally, the configuration period can be an integer multiple of the paging period corresponding to the paging DCI, paging information, or PEIDCI, for example, 2 times, 4 times, 8 times, 16 times, etc. of the paging period. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the time length of the configuration period.

[0180] It should be understood that if the effective time of the first information is: it takes effect at the end of the configuration period corresponding to the paging DCI, paging information, or PEIDCI received by the terminal device, in this case, since the configuration period is a time length, the starting time (starting time) of the time length can be: the start time (starting time) of a paging period corresponding to the paging DCI, paging information, or PEIDCI that actually carries the first information; or it can be an absolute time defined by the system (for example, the time when the system frame number is 0); or it can also be: the sending time (sending time) of the paging DCI, paging information, or PEIDCI that actually carries the first information.

[0181] Optionally, the configuration period may also be referred to as an effective time length or an effective period, etc. This embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0182] For example, assuming that the first information is carried in the paging DCI, the effective time of the first information may be: after the terminal device receives the configuration period corresponding to the paging DCI carrying the first information (or at the end), it becomes effective.

[0183] For example, FIG10 is a schematic diagram of another example of the timing of sending the first information and the time of effectiveness. As shown in FIG10 , before sending the first information, the transmission configuration of the first SSB is transmission configuration 1, that is, the first SSB is sent using transmission configuration 1. Afterwards, the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes to transmission configuration 2, that is, the first SSB is sent using transmission configuration 2, for example, the transmission beam of the first SSB changes. In this case, the first information includes transmission configuration 2 of the first SSB. The first information is carried on the paging DCI, and the terminal device can detect or receive the paging DCI on the PO corresponding to it, and the PO corresponds to the multiple POs (PO1 to PO4) included in the paging cycle (that is, the paging cycle corresponding to the paging DCI). The network device can send the first information on multiple POs from PO1 to PO4 respectively, and each terminal device detects the paging DCI on the PO corresponding to it. Assume that: the network device transmits the first information on PO2, then the terminal device corresponding to PO2 can detect the first information on PO2. The configuration period corresponding to PO2 (ie, the paging DCI carrying the first information) is twice the paging cycle, and the first information takes effect at the end of a time length of twice the paging cycle from the start time of the paging cycle.

[0184] Optionally, the effective time, configuration period, etc. of the first information may be predefined, or may be indicated by the network device to the terminal device through signaling (e.g., through the first message mentioned above); or, the effective time, configuration period, etc. of the first information may be preconfigured (or configured). This embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

[0185] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, "predefined" content can be understood to refer to information defined by the standard, which does not require other device configuration and is recorded / written in advance in the hardware and / or software of the terminal device itself, or can be understood as information that cannot be changed by the network device or other terminal devices. "Preconfigured" content can be understood to refer to information recorded / written in advance in the hardware and / or software of the terminal device itself, which is determined by the manufacturer of the equipment and can be changed through software or hardware. Exemplarily, the (pre) configuration can be (pre) configured by the network device, for example, it can be (pre) configured through system information SI.

[0186] By predefining, preconfiguring or indicating the effective time of the first information to the terminal device, it can be ensured that the terminal device and the network device have a consistent understanding of the effective time of the first information. The terminal device and the network device can align when the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes, thereby ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the transmission of the first information, and further ensuring the transmission reliability of the first SSB.

[0187] Optionally, in some possible implementations of the present application, multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) can detect the first information at the same transmission timing (one or more transmission timings), that is, the transmission timing of the first information corresponding to multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) can be the same. In other words, the PO carrying the first information can be a PO corresponding to multiple terminal devices, or the PEI-O carrying the first information can be a PEI-O corresponding to multiple terminal devices, or the paging information carrying the first information can be a paging information corresponding to multiple terminal devices. In other words, the transmission timing of the first information is the first transmission timing, and the first transmission timing is: the ID (UE_ID) of the terminal device is the transmission timing of the paging DCI corresponding to the first ID, or the transmission timing of the paging early indication DCI corresponding to the first ID. For example, the first ID can be UE_ID 0. In this case, multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) can detect the first information at the same transmission timing (one or more transmission timings). That is to say, multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) correspond to the first ID, that is, multiple terminal devices correspond to the same ID (first ID). For example, the first ID can be the UE_ID corresponding to multiple terminal devices (for example, UE_ID is 0). Exemplarily, the first ID (for example, UE_ID=0) can be a protocol predefined value, or a value uniformly configured by the base station to all terminal devices (for example, the network device configures the first ID to the terminal device through system information).

[0188] It should be understood that "all terminal devices" below refer to all terminal devices in a cell unless otherwise specified.

[0189] For example, if the first information is carried on the paging DCI, for multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell), the network device can transmit the first information on a certain paging DCI transmission opportunity (PO). In other words, multiple terminal devices can detect the first information on the same PO (for example, one PO or multiple POs). Exemplarily, the protocol can predefine or the network device can uniformly configure a first ID, the first ID can be UE_ID, for example, UE_ID=0, the first ID corresponds to a PO (for example, the first PO), and all terminal devices detect PDCCH at the first PO, that is, all terminal devices detect the first information on the first PO.

[0190] For another example, if the first information is carried on PEIDCI, for multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell), the network device can transmit the first information on the same PEIDCI transmission timing (PEI-O). In other words, multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) can detect the first information on the same PEI-O (for example, one or more PEI-Os). Exemplarily, the protocol can predefine or the network device can uniformly configure a first ID, the first ID can be UE_ID, for example, UE_ID=0, the first ID corresponds to a PEI-O (for example, the first PEI-O), and all terminal devices detect PDCCH on the first PEI-O, that is, all terminal devices detect the first information on the first PEI-O.

[0191] For another example, if the first information is carried on the paging information, for multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell), the network device can transmit the first information on the same paging information transmission timing (for example, PDSCH). In other words, multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) can detect the first information on the same PDSCH (for example, one or more PDSCHs). For example, the protocol can predefine or the network device can uniformly configure a first ID, the first ID corresponds to a PDSCH, and all terminal devices detect the first information on the first PDSCH.

[0192] Optionally, as a possible implementation method, when the transmission timing of the first information corresponding to all terminal devices is the same, the effective time of the first information may be: the Xth time unit after the transmission timing corresponding to the first information (such as PO, PEI-O or PDSCH), or, starting from the transmission timing corresponding to the first information, it takes effect at the end of the preset time length. For example, X time units may be: X frames, X subframes, X time slots, X time domain symbols (such as OFDM symbols), X milliseconds (ms), X seconds (s), etc. This application does not limit the granularity of X time units. The preset time length may be: X frames, X subframes, X time slots, X time domain symbols, X milliseconds (ms), X seconds (s), etc. The value of X may be a positive integer.

[0193] It should be understood that the transmission timing of the first information (e.g., one or more transmission timings) may be notified by the network device to multiple terminal devices (e.g., all terminal devices) through signaling; alternatively, the transmission timing of the first information may be one or more predefined or preconfigured common transmission timings. Multiple terminal devices may detect the first information at the same transmission timing.

[0194] In the above manner, multiple terminal devices (e.g., all terminal devices) detect the first information on the same PEI-O, PO, or PDSCH, that is, multiple terminal devices detect the same transmission timing. The network device does not need to send the first information to each terminal device separately, which reduces the amount of first information that the network device needs to send (e.g., only needs to send it once), and reduces the overhead and power consumption of the network device in sending the first message. At the same time, the first message can take effect more quickly, improving the reliability and efficiency of the first information.

[0195] Optionally, the effective time, preset time length, or X time units of the first information may be predefined, or may be indicated by the network device to the terminal device through signaling (e.g., through the first message mentioned above); or, the effective time, configuration period, etc. of the first information may be preconfigured (or configured). This embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

[0196] Optionally, if the first information is carried in a paging DCI, and for a scenario in which multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices) detect the first information on the same PO, the effective time of the first information may be: it takes effect at the end of the paging cycle corresponding to (or in which) the paging DCI carrying the first information is located; or, the effective time of the first information may also be: it takes effect after the end (or at the end) of the configuration cycle corresponding to the paging DCI received by the terminal device.

[0197] Optionally, if the first information is carried in PEIDCI, and for a scenario in which multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices) detect the first information on the same PEI-O, the effective time of the first information may be: it takes effect at the end of the paging cycle corresponding to (or in which) the PEIDCI carrying the first information is located; or, the effective time of the first information may also be: it takes effect after the end (or at the end) of the configuration cycle corresponding to the PEIDCI received by the terminal device.

[0198] Optionally, if the first information is carried in the paging information, and for the scenario where multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices) detect the first information on the same paging information, the effective time of the first information may be: it takes effect at the end of the paging cycle corresponding to the paging information carrying the first information; or, the effective time of the first information may also be: it takes effect after the end (or at the end) of the configuration cycle corresponding to the paging information received by the terminal device.

[0199] For example, Figure 11 shows a schematic diagram of an example of multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices) detecting the first information on PO1. Exemplarily, PO1 can be the PO corresponding to a terminal device (for example, a terminal device with UE_ID of 1). Before sending the first information, the transmission configuration of the first SSB is transmission configuration 1. Afterwards, the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes to transmission configuration 2, that is, the first SSB is sent using transmission configuration 2, for example, the transmission beam of the first SSB changes. In this case, the first information includes transmission configuration 2 of the first SSB. The first information takes effect at the end of the Xth time unit or the preset time length after PO1.

[0200] Optionally, in some possible implementations of the present application, the first value (for example, "00") of the Short Message Indicator field in the paging DCI may indicate that the paging DCI includes the first information. For example, the first information may be carried in a new field or a new bit field (for example, a first field) in the paging DCI. In this way, there is no need to use an additional field in the paging DCI to indicate that the paging DCI includes the first information, which does not increase the overhead of the paging DCI and improves the utilization of communication resources.

[0201] Optionally, in some possible implementations of the present application, a first value (e.g., "00") of the Short Message Indicator field in the paging DCI may indicate that the paging message includes the first information. For example, the first information is carried in the paging message. In this way, no additional field is needed in the paging DCI to indicate that the paging message includes the first information. This does not increase the overhead of the paging DCI, thereby improving the utilization of communication resources.

[0202] Optionally, in some possible implementations of the present application, the short message field of the paging DCI carries the first information. For example, bits 5-8 of the short message field of the paging DCI carry the first information. In this way, no additional resources are used in the paging DCI to carry the first information, which does not increase the overhead of the paging DCI and improves the utilization of communication resources.

[0203] Optionally, in some possible implementations of the present application, the Short Message field in the paging DCI may indicate that the paging DCI includes first information. For example, the first information may be carried in a new field or a new bit domain (for example, the first field) in the paging DCI.

[0204] Optionally, in some possible implementations of the present application, a short message (Short Message) field in the paging DCI may indicate that the paging message includes the first information, and correspondingly, the first information is carried in the paging message.

[0205] Optionally, in some possible implementations of the present application, a new field or a new bit field (eg, a first field) in the paging DCI may be used to carry the first information.

[0206] Optionally, in some possible implementations of the present application, a new field or a new bit domain in PEIDCI may be used to carry the first information.

[0207] Optionally, in some possible implementations of the present application, the transmission timing of the first information may also be the same as the transmission timing of the paging DCI or PEIDCI, but the first information is carried in the new DCI or the new signaling, that is, the paging DCI or PEIDCI does not include the first information. The transmission timing may be the detection timing of the control information, that is, PDCCH MO, the detection timing of the paging DCI is PO, and the detection timing of the PEIDCI is PEI-O. For example, the terminal device can detect the paging DCI and the new DCI (for example, the first DCI) at the transmission timing of the paging DCI (that is, PO), and the new DCI includes the first information. Alternatively, the terminal device can detect the PEIDCI and the new DCI at the transmission timing of the PEIDCI (that is, PEI-O), and the new DCI includes the first information. By reusing the existing PDCCH MO (that is, the PDCCH MO corresponding to PO or PEI-O), no new configuration will be introduced, and the complexity of the terminal device detecting the PDCCH can be reduced.

[0208] For the above situation, the effective time of the first information may be: it takes effect after the terminal device receives the configuration period corresponding to the paging DCI or PEIDCI corresponding to the first information (that is, the first information is received at a certain transmission timing of paging DCI or PEIDCI) (or at the end of the configuration period); or, it takes effect at the end of the paging period corresponding to the paging DCI or PEIDCI corresponding to the first information received by the terminal device (that is, the first information is received at a certain transmission timing of paging DCI or PEIDCI); or, it takes effect at the end of the paging period corresponding to the paging DCI or PEIDCI received by the terminal device; or, it takes effect at the Xth time unit after the transmission timing corresponding to the first information (for example, PO or PEI-O), or, it takes effect at the end of the preset time length starting from the transmission timing corresponding to the first information.

[0209] Exemplarily, the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the paging DCI being the same may include: the transmission timing of the first information uses the transmission timing of the complete paging DCI; or, the transmission timing of the first information uses the transmission timing of a specific paging DCI, such as the transmission timing of the paging DCI corresponding to the UE_ID of the terminal device itself (or itself) (i.e., PO). The transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of PEIDCI being the same may include: the transmission timing of the first information uses the transmission timing of the complete PEIDCI; or, the transmission timing of the first information uses the transmission timing of a specific PEIDCI, such as the transmission timing of the PEIDCI corresponding to the UE_ID of the terminal device itself (or itself) (i.e., PEI-O).

[0210] Exemplarily, the transmission timing of the first information is the same as the transmission timing of the paging DCI or PEIDCI, which may include: the terminal device can receive the first DCI on any PO or PEI-O within a DRX cycle; or, the terminal device can receive the first DCI on the PO or PEI-O corresponding to its own UE_ID.

[0211] Optionally, in other possible implementations, the first information may also be new signaling or new information. In other words, the first information may not be carried in existing signaling (such as paging DCI, paging information, or PEIDCI). In this case, since the first information includes or indicates the transmission configuration of the first SSB, the transmission timing of the first information (that is, the time domain resource position or candidate time domain resource position that the first information can occupy) may be before the transmission timing of the first SSB. It can be understood that since the transmission timing of the first SSB is periodic, the above-mentioned "transmission timing of the first SSB" can be the transmission timing of any first SSB or the transmission timing of each first SSB. For example, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information may be the Mth time unit before the transmission opportunity of the first SSB (or the transmission opportunity of each first SSB); or, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information may be before the transmission opportunity of the first SSB (or the transmission opportunity of each first SSB), and be separated from the transmission opportunity of the first SSB by a preset time length (that is, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information is before the transmission opportunity of each first SSB, and the time interval between the starting sending moment of the first SSB is a preset time length.

[0212] Optionally, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information may also be referred to as: a starting time domain unit corresponding to the transmission opportunity of the first information.

[0213] For example, the M time units may be: M frames, M subframes, M time slots, M time domain symbols (e.g., OFDM symbols), M milliseconds (ms), M seconds (s), etc. This application does not limit the granularity of the M time units. The preset time length may be: M frames, M subframes, M time slots, M time domain symbols, M milliseconds (ms), M seconds (s), etc. The value of M may be a positive integer.

[0214] Optionally, the effective time of the first information may be: the first information takes effect at the Nth time unit after the corresponding transmission opportunity (i.e., the transmission opportunity when the first information is actually transmitted, or the transmission opportunity when the terminal device detects the first information); or, the effective time of the first information may be: the first information takes effect at the end of a preset time length after the corresponding transmission opportunity; or, the effective time of the first information may be: the first information takes effect at the starting sending moment of the next first SSB after the first information.

[0215] Exemplarily, the value of N can be the same as M, that is, the effective time of the first information is at the start sending time of the next first SSB after the first information; or, the value of N can be less than M, that is, the effective time of the first information is before the start sending time of the next first SSB after the first information; or, the value of N can be greater than M. In this case, since the first SSB is sent periodically, the effective time of the first information can be effective after the transmission opportunity of the next first SSB after the first information ends.

[0216] It should be understood that since multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) need to detect or receive the same SSB, for example, all are the first SSB, the transmission timing of the first information is the transmission timing or detection timing corresponding to the multiple terminal devices, that is, the transmission timing of the first information corresponding to the multiple terminal devices is the same. Multiple terminal devices can detect the first information at the same transmission timing (one or more transmission timings).

[0217] For example, FIG12 is a schematic diagram of the transmission timing and effective time of the first information. As shown in FIG12, the first information may correspond to multiple transmission timings, that is, the first information may be sent at any one of these multiple transmission timings. The starting moment of the transmission timing of the first information may be the Mth time unit before the transmission timing of the first SSB, or the starting moment of the transmission timing of the first information may be before the transmission timing of the first SSB and separated from the transmission timing of the first SSB by a preset time length. The first information becomes effective at the Nth time unit after the corresponding transmission timing (i.e., the transmission timing of the actual transmission of the first information, or the transmission timing of the first information detected by the terminal device), or the first information becomes effective at the end of the preset time length after the corresponding transmission timing ends.

[0218] It should be understood that the transmission timing (one or more) of the first information can be a network device notifying multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices) through signaling; or, the transmission timing of the first information can also be one or more predefined or preconfigured common transmission timings, and multiple terminal devices can detect the first information at the same transmission timing.

[0219] In the above manner, multiple terminal devices (e.g., all terminal devices) detect the first information at the same transmission timing, that is, multiple terminal devices detect the same transmission timing. The network device does not need to send the first information to each terminal device separately, which reduces the amount of first information that the network device needs to send, and reduces the overhead and power consumption of the network device in sending the first message. Before the transmission timing of the first SSB, the terminal device can obtain the transmission configuration of the first SSB in a timely manner to ensure that the terminal device can correctly receive the first SSB. At the same time, the first message can take effect more quickly, which improves the reliability of the first information.

[0220] Optionally, in some other possible implementations, assuming that the transmission configuration of the first SSB has changed, and the first information includes or indicates the updated (changed) transmission configuration of the first SSB, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information may be: the Tth time unit before the transmission opportunity of the first SSB (or the transmission opportunity of each first SSB); or, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information may be before the transmission opportunity of the first SSB (or the transmission opportunity of each first SSB), and be separated from the transmission opportunity of the first SSB by a preset time length (that is, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information is before the transmission opportunity of each first SSB, and the time interval between the transmission opportunity of the first SSB and the starting sending moment of the first SSB is a preset time length). Optionally, the above-mentioned transmission opportunity of the first SSB may be the transmission opportunity of the first SSB after the transmission configuration is updated.

[0221] Optionally, the effective time of the first information may be: the first information takes effect at the Sth time unit after the corresponding transmission opportunity (i.e., the transmission opportunity of the actual transmission of the first information, or the transmission opportunity of the first information detected by the terminal device); or, the effective time of the first information may be: the first information takes effect at the end of a preset time length after the corresponding transmission opportunity ends; or, the effective time of the first information may be: the first information takes effect at the start sending moment of the SSB after the first information (i.e., the first SSB after the transmission configuration is updated). For example, the S time units may be: S frames, S subframes, S time slots, S time domain symbols, S milliseconds (ms), S seconds (s), etc. This application does not limit the granularity of the S time units. The preset time length may be: S frames, S subframes, S time slots, S time domain symbols, S milliseconds (ms), S seconds (s), etc. The value of S may be a positive integer.

[0222] Exemplarily, the value of S may be the same as T, that is, the effective time of the first information is at the start sending time of the next first SSB after the first information; or, the value of S may be less than T, that is, the effective time of the first information is before the start sending time of the next first SSB after the first information; or, the value of S may be greater than T. In this case, since the first SSB is sent periodically, the effective time of the first information may be after the sending time of the first information and after the transmission time of the next first SSB ends.

[0223] It should be understood that since multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) need to detect or receive the same SSB, for example, all are the first SSB, the transmission timing of the first information is the transmission timing or detection timing corresponding to the multiple terminal devices, that is, the transmission timing of the first information corresponding to the multiple terminal devices is the same. Multiple terminal devices can detect the first information at the same transmission timing (one or more transmission timings).

[0224] For example, FIG13 is a schematic diagram of another example of the transmission timing and effective time of the first information. As shown in FIG13 , the first information can correspond to multiple transmission timings, that is, the first information can be sent at any of these multiple transmission timings. Before sending the first information, the transmission configuration of the first SSB is transmission configuration 1, that is, the first SSB is sent using transmission configuration 1. Afterwards, the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes to transmission configuration 2, that is, the first SSB is sent using transmission configuration 2, for example, the transmission beam of the first SSB changes. In this case, the first information includes transmission configuration 2 of the first SSB. The starting moment of the transmission timing of the first information can be the Tth time unit before the transmission timing of the first SSB after the transmission configuration is updated (that is, the first SSB corresponding to transmission configuration 2), or the starting moment of the transmission timing of the first information can be before the transmission timing of the first SSB after the transmission configuration is updated, and the transmission timing of the first SSB after the first transmission configuration is updated is separated by a preset time length. The effective time of the first information can be: the first information takes effect at the Sth time unit after the corresponding transmission timing (i.e., the transmission timing when the first information is actually transmitted, or the transmission timing when the first information is detected by the terminal device), or the first information takes effect after a preset time length after the corresponding transmission timing ends.

[0225] In the above manner, multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) detect the first information at the same transmission timing, that is, multiple terminal devices detect the same transmission timing. The network device does not need to send the first information to each terminal device separately, which reduces the amount of first information that the network device needs to send, and reduces the overhead and power consumption of the network device in sending the first message. Before the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes (that is, before the first information takes effect), the terminal device can obtain the updated transmission configuration of the first SSB in a timely manner to ensure that the terminal device can correctly receive the first SSB.

[0226] Optionally, in some other possible implementations, the first information may also be new signaling or new information. It is assumed that the transmission timing of the first information may be: the time domain resources used by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first SSB (or the transmission timing of each first SSB) are all or partly the same, and the frequency domain resources used by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first SSB (or the transmission timing of each first SSB) are different. In other words, the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first SSB are frequency-divided; in other words, the network device will send the first information and the first SSB respectively on all or part of the same time domain resources and different frequency domain resources; in other words, the first information and the first SSB are sent by frequency division.

[0227] Exemplarily, assuming that the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes, the first information may include or indicate the updated (changed) transmission configuration of the first SSB, then the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the changed first SSB are still frequency-divided. That is, at this time, the time domain resources used by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the changed first SSB are all or partly the same, and the frequency domain resources used by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the changed first SSB are different; in other words, after the transmission configuration of the first SSB is updated, the network device will still send the first information and the first SSB respectively on all or part of the same time domain resources and different frequency domain resources; in other words, after the transmission configuration of the first SSB is updated, the first information and the first SSB are still sent by frequency division.

[0228] Optionally, in this case, the first information may take effect at the Yth time unit after the corresponding transmission opportunity (i.e., the transmission opportunity for actually transmitting the first information, or the transmission opportunity for the first information detected by the terminal device); or, the first information may take effect at the end of a preset time length after the corresponding transmission opportunity; or, alternatively, the first information may also take effect at the starting sending moment of the next SSB (i.e., the first SSB after the transmission configuration is updated) after the SSB corresponding to the transmission opportunity (i.e., the first SSB before the transmission configuration is updated).

[0229] It should be understood that since multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) need to detect or receive the same SSB, for example, all are the first SSB, the transmission timing of the first information is the transmission timing or detection timing corresponding to the multiple terminal devices, that is, the transmission timing of the first information corresponding to the multiple terminal devices is the same. Multiple terminal devices can detect the first information at the same transmission timing (one or more transmission timings).

[0230] It can be understood that if the transmission resources used by the first SSB change, for example, the beam, time domain resources, or frequency domain resources used by the first SSB changes, since the first information and the first SSB are frequency-divided, the transmission resources of the first information also change adaptively. For example, assuming that the beam used by the first SSB changes from the original 4 beams to 2 beams, the change in the transmission resources of the first information is: the first information is transmitted on the time-frequency resources corresponding to the original 4 beams, and is transmitted on the time-frequency resources corresponding to the 2 beams, thereby reducing the number of first information that need to be sent and reducing the overhead of communication resources.

[0231] For example, FIG14 is a schematic diagram of another example of the transmission timing and effective time of the first information. As shown in FIG14 , before the first information takes effect, the transmission configuration of the first SSB is transmission configuration 1. After the first information takes effect, the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes to transmission configuration 2. For example, the transmit beam of the first SSB changes. In this case, the first information includes transmission configuration 2 of the first SSB. The transmission timing of the first information uses the same time domain resources as the transmission timing of the first SSB corresponding to transmission configuration 2, and the transmission timing of the first information uses different frequency domain resources than the transmission timing of the first SSB corresponding to transmission configuration 2. The first information takes effect at the Yth time unit after the corresponding transmission timing (i.e., the transmission timing at which the first information is actually transmitted, or the transmission timing at which the terminal device detects the first information), or the first information takes effect at the end of a preset time length after the end of the corresponding transmission timing, or the first information takes effect at the start transmission time of the next SSB (the first SSB using transmission configuration 2) after the SSB corresponding to the transmission timing (the first SSB using transmission configuration 1).

[0232] Through the above method, multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) detect the first information at the same transmission time, and the network device does not need to send the first information to each terminal device separately, which reduces the amount of first information that the network device needs to send. In addition, the first information and SSB are sent in frequency division, which can reduce the overhead and power consumption of the network device in sending the first message.

[0233] Optionally, the transmission timing of the first information, the first information effective time, the preset time length, or Y time units, etc. can be predefined, or can be indicated to the terminal device by the network device through signaling; or can be preconfigured (or configured). This embodiment of the present application is not limited here.

[0234] Optionally, in some possible implementations, if there are multiple SSB configurations, the first SSB may be an SSB of any one configuration, and the second SSB may be an SSB of another configuration. For example, the first SSB is a short-cycle SSB, and the second SSB is a long-cycle SSB. The first information includes the transmission configuration of the first SSB.

[0235] Of course, the first SSB may be replaced by the first synchronization signal, and the second SSB may be replaced by the second synchronization signal. The second synchronization signal and the first synchronization signal may be different synchronization signals (i.e., the second synchronization signal is different from the first synchronization signal). For example, the difference between the second synchronization signal and the first synchronization signal may include: the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal is different from the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal.

[0236] Optionally, as a possible implementation method, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information may be: the Mth time unit before the transmission opportunity of the first SSB (or the transmission opportunity of each first SSB); or, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information may be before the transmission opportunity of the first SSB (or the transmission opportunity of each first SSB) and be separated from the transmission opportunity of the first SSB by a preset time length (that is, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information is before the transmission opportunity of each first SSB, and the time interval between the first information and the starting sending moment of the first SSB is a preset time length).

[0237] Optionally, as another possible implementation method, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information may be: the Rth time unit before or after the transmission opportunity of the second SSB; or, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information may be before or after the transmission opportunity of the second SSB, and be separated from the transmission opportunity of the second SSB by a preset time length (that is, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information is before or after the transmission opportunity of the second SSB, and the time interval between it and the starting sending moment of the second SSB is a preset time length).

[0238] For example, assuming that the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes, the first information includes or indicates the transmission configuration of the first SSB. For example, in the example shown in FIG15 , before sending (transmitting) the first information, the transmission configuration of the first SSB is transmission configuration 1. Afterwards, the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes to transmission configuration 2, and the starting time of the transmission opportunity of the first information may be: the Mth time unit before the transmission opportunity of the first SSB after the transmission configuration is updated (i.e., the first SSB corresponding to transmission configuration 2); or, the starting time of the transmission opportunity of the first information may be before the transmission opportunity of the first SSB after the transmission configuration is updated, and the time interval between the transmission opportunity of the first SSB after the transmission configuration is updated and the starting time is a preset time length (i.e., the starting time of the transmission opportunity of the first information is before the transmission opportunity of the first SSB after the transmission configuration is updated, and the time interval between the starting time of the transmission of the first SSB after the transmission configuration is updated and the starting time is a preset time length).

[0239] Exemplarily, the effective time of the first information may be: the first information takes effect at the Nth time unit after the corresponding transmission timing (i.e., the transmission timing of the actual transmission of the first information, or the transmission timing of the first information detected by the terminal device); or, the effective time of the first information may be: the first information takes effect at the end of a preset time length after the corresponding transmission timing ends; or, the effective time of the first information may be: after the first information, the first SSB corresponding to the first information (the first SSB corresponding to transmission configuration 2) takes effect at the starting sending moment.

[0240] Exemplarily, the value of N can be the same as M, that is, the effective time of the first information is the start sending time of the next first SSB after the first information (the first SSB after the transmission configuration is updated); or, the value of N can be less than M, that is, the effective time of the first information is before the start sending time of the next first SSB after the first information; or, the value of N can be greater than M. In this case, since the first SSB is sent periodically, the effective time of the first information can be after the sending timing of the first information and after the transmission timing of the next first SSB.

[0241] It should be understood that since multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) need to detect or receive the same SSB, for example, all are the first SSB, the transmission timing of the first information is the transmission timing or detection timing corresponding to the multiple terminal devices, that is, the transmission timing of the first information corresponding to the multiple terminal devices is the same. Multiple terminal devices can detect the first information at the same transmission timing (one or more transmission timings).

[0242] Optionally, in some possible implementations, if there are multiple configurations of SSB, the first SSB may be an SSB of any configuration, and the second SSB may be an SSB of another configuration. For example, the first SSB is a short-cycle SSB, and the second SSB is a long-cycle SSB. The first information includes the transmission configuration of the first SSB. In this case, the transmission timing of the first information may be partially or completely the same as the time domain resources used for the transmission timing of the second SSB (or the transmission timing of each second SSB), and the transmission timing of the first information is different from the frequency domain resources used for the transmission timing of the second SSB (or the transmission timing of each second SSB). In other words, the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second SSB are frequency-divided; in other words, the network device will send the first information and the second SSB respectively on all or part of the same time domain resources and different frequency domain resources; in other words, the first information and the second SSB are frequency-divided.

[0243] Of course, the first SSB may be replaced by the first synchronization signal, and the second SSB may be replaced by the second synchronization signal. The second synchronization signal and the first synchronization signal are different synchronization signals (i.e., the second synchronization signal is different from the first synchronization signal). For example, the difference between the second synchronization signal and the first synchronization signal may include: the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal is different from the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal.

[0244] For example, assuming that the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes, the first information includes or indicates the changed transmission configuration of the first SSB. Before sending the first information, the transmission configuration of the first SSB is transmission configuration 1. Afterwards, the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes to transmission configuration 2. The transmission timing of the first information can be: before the transmission timing of the first SSB after the transmission configuration is updated (that is, the first SSB corresponding to transmission configuration 2), and the time domain resources used by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second SSB are all or partly the same, and the frequency domain resources used by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second SSB are different, or in other words, after the transmission configuration of the first SSB is updated, the network device will still send the first information and the second SSB respectively on all or part of the same time domain resources and different frequency domain resources.

[0245] For another example, assuming that the transmission configuration of the second SSB changes, the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the changed second SSB are still frequency-divided. That is to say, at this time, the time domain resources used by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the changed second SSB are all or partly the same, and the frequency domain resources used by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the changed second SSB are different; in other words, after the transmission configuration of the second SSB is updated, the network device will still send the first information and the second SSB respectively on all or part of the same time domain resources and different frequency domain resources; in other words, after the transmission configuration of the second SSB is updated, the first information and the second SSB are still sent by frequency division.

[0246] Exemplarily, in this case, the first information may take effect at the Lth time unit after the corresponding transmission opportunity (i.e., the transmission opportunity at which the first information is actually transmitted, or the transmission opportunity at which the first information is detected by the terminal device); or, the effective time of the first information may be: the first information takes effect at the end of a preset time length after the end of the corresponding transmission opportunity; or, the first information may also take effect at the starting sending moment of the next SSB (the first SSB corresponding to transmission configuration 2) after the SSB (the second SSB) corresponding to the transmission opportunity is sent.

[0247] For example, FIG16 shows another example of a schematic diagram of the transmission timing and effective time of the first information. As shown in FIG16 , it is assumed that: the first SSB is a short-period SSB, the second SSB is a long-period SSB, and the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes. Before the first information takes effect, the transmission configuration of the first SSB is transmission configuration 1. After the first information takes effect, the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes to transmission configuration 2. In this case, the first information includes transmission configuration 2 of the first SSB. The transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second SSB use the same time domain resources, and the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second SSB use different frequency domain resources. The first information takes effect at the start sending time of the next SSB (first SSB) after the SSB (second SSB) corresponding to the transmission timing (i.e., the transmission timing for actually transmitting the first information), or the first information takes effect at the Lth time unit after the end of the corresponding transmission timing.

[0248] It should be understood that since multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) need to detect or receive the same SSB, for example, all are the first SSB, the transmission timing of the first information is the transmission timing or detection timing corresponding to the multiple terminal devices, that is, the transmission timing of the first information corresponding to the multiple terminal devices is the same. Multiple terminal devices can detect the first information at the same transmission timing.

[0249] Through the above method, under the dual SSB configuration, multiple terminal devices (for example, all terminal devices in a cell) detect the first information at the same transmission time, and the network device does not need to send the first information to each terminal device separately, which reduces the number of first information that the network device needs to send. In addition, the first information and the second SSB are sent frequency-divided, which can reduce the overhead and power consumption of the network device in sending the first message.

[0250] Optionally, the transmission timing of the first information, the first information effective time, the preset time length, or Y time units, etc. can be predefined, or can be indicated to the terminal device by the network device through signaling; or can be preconfigured (or configured). This embodiment of the present application is not limited here.

[0251] Optionally, when the first information is new signaling or new information, the first information may be carried in a sequence, a new DCI type, or PBCH. Optionally, configuration information of the first information transmission resource may be carried in system information.

[0252] It should also be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, if the terminal device does not detect the first information at the transmission opportunity of the first information, the transmission configuration of the first SSB used by the terminal device remains unchanged, and the terminal device uses the original transmission configuration of the first SSB to receive the first SSB. Alternatively, if the network device does not send the first information at the transmission opportunity of the first information, the transmission configuration of the first SSB used by the network device remains unchanged, that is, the first SSB is sent using the original transmission configuration of the first SSB.

[0253] The information transmission method provided by the present application is that the network device can notify the terminal device of the transmission configuration of the first SSB through the first information. For example, the transmission configuration of the first SSB can be the transmission configuration of the first SSB after the update or change, or the transmission configuration of the first SSB can also be the initial transmission configuration of the first SSB (for example, the transmission configuration of the first SSB before the change). Terminal devices in various states can receive the first information, and thus obtain the changes in the transmission configuration of the first SSB based on the first information, so that terminal devices in various states can correctly receive the first SSB, which can ensure the normal operation of communication. The overhead of communication resources and the notification delay are reduced, and the efficiency and speed of the terminal device in obtaining the transmission configuration of the SSB are improved. In addition, by predefining, preconfiguring or indicating the effective time of the first information to the terminal device, it can be ensured that the terminal device and the network device have a consistent understanding of the effective time of the first information, and the terminal device and the network device can align when the transmission configuration of the first SSB changes, thereby ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the transmission of the first information, and thus ensuring the transmission reliability of the first SSB.

[0254] It should be understood that the above is only intended to help those skilled in the art better understand the embodiments of the present application, and is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. Based on the above examples given, those skilled in the art can obviously make various equivalent modifications or changes. For example, some steps in the above method embodiments may not be necessary, or some new steps may be added. Or a combination of any two or any multiple embodiments described above. Such modifications, changes, or combined solutions also fall within the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0255] It should also be understood that the division of the modes, situations, categories and embodiments in the embodiments of the present application is only for the convenience of description and should not constitute a special limitation. The features of various modes, categories, situations and embodiments can be combined without contradiction.

[0256] It should also be understood that the various numerical numbers involved in the embodiments of this application are only for the convenience of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0257] It should also be understood that the above description of the embodiments of the present application focuses on emphasizing the differences between the various embodiments. The same or similar points that are not mentioned can be referenced with each other. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0258] The method of the embodiment of the present application is described in detail above with reference to Figures 1 to 16. The communication device of the embodiment of the present application is described in detail below with reference to Figures 17 to 22.

[0259] In this embodiment, terminal devices and network devices can be divided into functional modules according to the above method. For example, each function can be divided into separate functional modules, or two or more functions can be integrated into a single processing module. The integrated modules can be implemented in hardware. It should be noted that the module division in this embodiment is illustrative and represents only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used.

[0260] It should be noted that the relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module and will not be repeated here.

[0261] The terminal device and network device provided in the embodiments of the present application are used to perform any of the information transmission methods provided in the above method embodiments, and thus can achieve the same effect as the above implementation method. In the case of an integrated unit, the terminal device or network device may include a processing module, as well as an optional storage module and a communication module. Among them, the processing module can be used to control and manage the actions of the terminal device or network device. For example, it can be used to support the terminal device or network device to execute the steps performed by the processing unit. The storage module can be used to support the storage of program code and data, etc. The communication module can be used to support communication between the terminal device or network device and other devices.

[0262] The processing module may be a processor or a controller. It may implement or execute the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of this application. The processor may also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a digital signal processing (DSP) and a microprocessor, and so on. The storage module may be a memory. The communication module may specifically be a device that interacts with other electronic devices, such as a radio frequency circuit, a Bluetooth chip, or the like.

[0263] For example, Figure 17 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1700 of an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1700 may correspond to the network device described in the above method 800, or may be a chip or component applied to the network device. Moreover, each module or unit in the communication device 1700 is respectively used to execute each action or processing process performed by the network device in any possible implementation of the above method 800.

[0264] As shown in Figure 17, the communication device 1700 may include a processing unit 1710 and a transceiver unit 1720. The transceiver unit 1720 is configured to perform specific signal transmission and reception under the control of the processing unit 1710. The processing unit may also be referred to as a processing module, and the transceiver unit may also be referred to as a communication unit or communication module.

[0265] The processing unit 1710 is used to: generate first information, where the first information indicates the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal, and the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal includes: the sending period of the first synchronization signal, the sending bias of the first synchronization signal, or at least one of the actual transmission conditions of the first synchronization signal at the transmission timing corresponding to the first synchronization signal.

[0266] The transceiver unit 1720 is used to send first information.

[0267] The communication device provided in the present application notifies the terminal device of the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal (for example, the first SSB) through the first information. Terminal devices in various states can all receive the first information, thereby obtaining the changes in the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal based on the first information, so that terminal devices in various states can correctly receive the first synchronization signal, thereby ensuring the normal operation of communication. Compared with the SI update process, only the first message is required, which requires fewer communication resources and a shorter process time, reducing the overhead of communication resources and notification delay, and improving the efficiency and speed of the terminal device in obtaining the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal.

[0268] In some possible implementations, the first information is carried in a paging DCI, a paging early indication DCI, or a paging message.

[0269] In some possible implementations, the first value of the short message indication field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging DCI includes first information, and the first information is carried in the first field in the paging DCI; or, the first value of the short message indication field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging message includes first information, and the first information is carried in the paging message.

[0270] In some possible implementations, the short message field of the paging DCI carries the first information; or, the short message field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging DCI includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the first field in the paging DCI; or, the short message field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging message includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the paging message.

[0271] In some possible implementations, the first information takes effect at the end of the paging cycle corresponding to the paging DCI, paging early indication DCI, or paging message carrying the first information; or, the first information takes effect at the end of the configuration cycle corresponding to the paging DCI, paging early indication DCI, or paging message carrying the first information.

[0272] In some possible implementations, the first information is carried in a first DCI, the first DCI is different from the paging DCI or the paging early indication DCI, and the transmission timing of the first DCI is the same as the transmission timing of the paging DCI or the paging early indication DCI.

[0273] In some possible implementations: the transmission timing of the first information is the first transmission timing, and the first transmission timing is: the transmission timing of the paging DCI corresponding to the first ID of the terminal device, or the transmission timing of the paging early indication DCI corresponding to the first ID of the terminal device.

[0274] In some possible implementations, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information is: the Mth time unit before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal; or, before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal, and separated from the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal by a preset time length; or, before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal, and the time interval between the first synchronization signal and the starting sending moment is a preset time length.

[0275] In some possible implementations, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information is: the Rth time unit before the transmission opportunity of the second synchronization signal; or, the transmission opportunity of the first information is before the transmission opportunity of the second synchronization signal, and is separated from the transmission opportunity of the second synchronization signal by a preset time length; or, the transmission opportunity of the first information is before the transmission opportunity of the second synchronization signal, and the time interval between the first information and the starting sending moment of the second synchronization signal is a preset time length, and the second synchronization signal is different from the first synchronization signal.

[0276] In some possible implementations, the time domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal are partially or completely the same, and the frequency domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal are different.

[0277] In some possible implementations, the time domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal are partially or completely the same, and the frequency domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal are different, and the second synchronization signal is different from the first synchronization signal.

[0278] In some possible implementations, the first information takes effect at the Nth time unit after the corresponding transmission opportunity ends; or, the first information takes effect at the end of a preset time length after the corresponding transmission opportunity ends; or, the first information takes effect at the start sending moment of the first synchronization signal after the first information.

[0279] It should be understood that the specific process of each unit in the communication device 1700 executing the above corresponding steps can be referred to the description of the network device in conjunction with the relevant embodiment of the method 800 in the previous text. For the sake of brevity, it is not repeated here.

[0280] Optionally, the transceiver unit 1720 may include a receiving unit (module) and a sending unit (module), configured to execute the steps of the network device receiving information and sending information in the embodiment of the aforementioned method 800.

[0281] Furthermore, the communication device 1700 may also include a storage unit. The transceiver unit 1720 may be a transceiver, an input / output interface, or an interface circuit. The storage unit is configured to store instructions executed by the transceiver unit 1720 and the processing unit 1710. The transceiver unit 1720, the processing unit 1710, and the storage unit are coupled to each other. The storage unit stores instructions, the processing unit 1710 is configured to execute the instructions stored in the storage unit, and the transceiver unit 1720 is configured to perform specific signal transmission and reception under the control of the processing unit 1710.

[0282] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 1720 may be a transceiver, an input / output interface, or an interface circuit. The storage unit may be a memory. The processing unit 1710 may be implemented by a processor. As shown in FIG18 , the communication device 1800 may include a processor 1810, a memory 1820, and a transceiver 1830.

[0283] The communication device 1700 shown in FIG17 or the communication device 1800 shown in FIG18 can implement the steps performed by the network device in the aforementioned method 800. Similar descriptions can refer to the descriptions of the aforementioned corresponding methods. To avoid repetition, they are not repeated here.

[0284] It should also be understood that the communication device 1700 shown in Figure 17 or the communication device 1800 shown in Figure 18 can be a network device, or the network device can include the communication device 1700 shown in Figure 17 or the communication device 1800 shown in Figure 18.

[0285] Exemplarily, Figure 19 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1900 of an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1900 may correspond to the terminal device described in the above method 800, or may be a chip or component applied to the terminal device. Moreover, each module or unit in the communication device 1900 is used to execute each action or processing process performed by the terminal device in any possible implementation of the above method 800.

[0286] As shown in FIG19 , the communication device 1900 includes a transceiver unit 1910 and a processing unit 1920. The transceiver unit 1910 is configured to perform specific signal transmission and reception under the control of the processing unit 1920.

[0287] The transceiver unit 1910 is configured to: receive first information, where the first information indicates a transmission configuration of a first synchronization signal, where the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal includes at least one of a transmission period of the first synchronization signal, a transmission offset of the first synchronization signal, or an actual transmission condition of the first synchronization signal at a transmission opportunity corresponding to the first synchronization signal;

[0288] The processing unit 1920 is used to: determine the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal according to the first information.

[0289] The communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application obtains the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal (for example, the first SSB) through the first information, and thus obtains the transmission configuration change of the first synchronization signal based on the first information. Compared with the SI update process, only the first message is needed, and the communication resources required are fewer, the process is time-consuming, the communication resource overhead and delay are reduced, and the efficiency and speed of the communication device in obtaining the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal are improved.

[0290] In some possible implementations, the first information is carried in a paging DCI, a paging early indication DCI, or a paging message.

[0291] In some possible implementations, the first value of the short message indication field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging DCI includes first information, and the first information is carried in the first field in the paging DCI; or, the first value of the short message indication field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging message includes first information, and the first information is carried in the paging message.

[0292] In some possible implementations, the short message field of the paging DCI carries the first information; or, the short message field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging DCI includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the first field in the paging DCI; or, the short message field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging message includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the paging message.

[0293] In some possible implementations, the first information takes effect at the end of the paging cycle corresponding to the paging DCI, paging early indication DCI, or paging message carrying the first information; or, the first information takes effect at the end of the configuration cycle corresponding to the paging DCI, paging early indication DCI, or paging message carrying the first information.

[0294] In some possible implementations, the first information is carried in a first DCI, the first DCI is different from the paging DCI or the paging early indication DCI, and the transmission timing of the first DCI is the same as the transmission timing of the paging DCI or the paging early indication DCI.

[0295] In some possible implementations, the transmission timing of the first information is the first transmission timing, and the first transmission timing is: the transmission timing of the paging DCI corresponding to the first ID of the terminal device, or the transmission timing of the paging early indication DCI corresponding to the first ID of the terminal device.

[0296] In some possible implementations, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information is: the Mth time unit before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal; or, before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal, and separated from the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal by a preset time length; or, before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal, and the time interval between the first synchronization signal and the starting sending moment is a preset time length.

[0297] In some possible implementations, the starting moment of the transmission opportunity of the first information is: the Rth time unit before the transmission opportunity of the second synchronization signal; or, the transmission opportunity of the first information is before the transmission opportunity of the second synchronization signal, and is separated from the transmission opportunity of the second synchronization signal by a preset time length; or, the transmission opportunity of the first information is before the transmission opportunity of the second synchronization signal, and the time interval between the first information and the starting sending moment of the second synchronization signal is a preset time length, and the second synchronization signal is different from the first synchronization signal.

[0298] In some possible implementations, the time domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal are partially or completely the same, and the frequency domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal are different.

[0299] In some possible implementations, the time domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal are partially or completely the same, and the frequency domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal are different, and the second synchronization signal is different from the first synchronization signal.

[0300] In some possible implementations, the first information takes effect at the Nth time unit after the corresponding transmission opportunity ends; or, the first information takes effect at the end of a preset time length after the corresponding transmission opportunity ends; or, the first information takes effect at the start sending moment of the first synchronization signal after the first information.

[0301] Furthermore, the communication device 1900 may also include a storage unit, and the transceiver unit 1910 may be a transceiver, an input / output interface, or an interface circuit. The storage unit is used to store instructions executed by the transceiver unit 1910 and the processing unit 1920. The transceiver unit 1910, the processing unit 1920, and the storage unit are coupled to each other. The storage unit stores instructions, the processing unit 1920 is used to execute the instructions stored in the storage unit, and the transceiver unit 1910 is used to perform specific signal transmission and reception under the control of the processing unit 1920.

[0302] It should be understood that the specific process of each unit in the communication device 1900 executing the above corresponding steps can be referred to the description of the terminal device in the relevant embodiment of the method 800 in the previous text. For the sake of brevity, it is not repeated here.

[0303] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 1910 may be a transceiver, an input / output interface, or an interface circuit. The storage unit may be a memory. The processing unit 1920 may be implemented by a processor.

[0304] For example, as shown in FIG20 , a communication device 2000 may include a processor 2010, a memory 2020, a transceiver 2030, and a bus system 2040. The various components of the communication device 2000 are coupled together via the bus system 2040. In addition to a data bus, the bus system 2040 may also include a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus. However, for clarity, various buses are labeled as the bus system 2040 in FIG20 . For ease of illustration, FIG20 is only schematically illustrated.

[0305] The communication device 1900 shown in FIG19 or the communication device 2000 shown in FIG20 can implement the steps performed by the terminal device in the aforementioned method 800. Similar descriptions can refer to the descriptions of the aforementioned corresponding methods. To avoid repetition, they are not repeated here.

[0306] It should also be understood that the communication device 1900 shown in Figure 19 or the communication device 2000 shown in Figure 20 can be a terminal device, or the terminal device can include the communication device 1900 shown in Figure 19 or the communication device 2000 shown in Figure 20.

[0307] For example, the terminal device may be a terminal device in an RRC connected state (RRC_CONNECTED), a terminal device in an RRC inactive state (RRC_INACTIVE), or a terminal device in an RRC idle state (RRC_IDLE).

[0308] It should also be understood that the division of units in the above device is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into one physical entity, or they can be physically separated. Moreover, the units in the device can all be implemented in the form of software called through processing elements; or all be implemented in the form of hardware; or some units can be implemented in the form of software called through processing elements, and some units can be implemented in the form of hardware. For example, each unit can be a separately established processing element, or it can be integrated into a certain chip of the device. In addition, it can also be stored in a memory in the form of a program, and called by a certain processing element of the device to execute the function of the unit. Here, the processing element can also be called a processor, which can be an integrated circuit with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above method or each unit above can be implemented by the integrated logic circuit of the hardware in the processor element or in the form of software called through the processing element.

[0309] In one example, the unit in any of the above devices may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above method, such as one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more DSPs, one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms. For another example, when the unit in the device can be implemented in the form of a processing element scheduler, the processing element may be a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or other processor that can call a program. For another example, these units can be integrated together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

[0310] Figure 21 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal device 2100 provided in this application. The above-mentioned communication device 1900 or communication device 2000 can be configured in the terminal device 2100. Alternatively, the communication device 1900 or communication device 2000 itself can be the terminal device 2100. In other words, the terminal device 2100 can perform the actions performed by the terminal device in the above-mentioned method 800. Optionally, for ease of explanation, Figure 21 only shows the main components of the terminal device. As shown in Figure 21, the terminal device 2100 includes a processor, memory, control circuitry, an antenna, and input / output devices.

[0311] The processor is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire terminal device, execute software programs, and process software program data, such as to support the terminal device in executing the actions described in the above-mentioned information transmission method embodiments. The memory is primarily used to store software programs and data, such as the transmission configuration of the first SSB and the effective time of the first information described in the above-mentioned embodiments. The control circuit is primarily used to convert baseband signals into radio frequency signals and process radio frequency signals. The control circuit and antenna together can also be called a transceiver, which is primarily used to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. For example, it receives the first information described in the above-mentioned embodiments. Input and output devices, such as a touch screen, display, and keyboard, are primarily used to receive user input and output data to the user.

[0312] When the terminal device is turned on, the processor can read the software program in the storage unit, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be sent wirelessly, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and then transmits the radio frequency signal to the outside in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When signaling (such as the first information mentioned above) is sent to the terminal device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor. The processor converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0313] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, for ease of explanation, FIG21 shows only one memory and processor. In an actual terminal device, there may be multiple processors and memories. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or storage device, etc., which is not limited in the present embodiment.

[0314] For example, a processor may include a baseband processor and a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor is primarily responsible for processing communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU is primarily responsible for controlling the entire terminal device, executing software programs, and processing data from software programs. The processor in Figure 21 integrates the functions of both the baseband processor and the CPU. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the baseband processor and the CPU may also be independent processors interconnected via a bus or other technology. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a terminal device may include multiple baseband processors to accommodate different network standards, multiple CPUs to enhance its processing capabilities, and that the various components of the terminal device may be connected via various buses. The baseband processor may also be referred to as a baseband processing circuit or a baseband processing chip. The CPU may also be referred to as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip. The functionality for processing communication protocols and communication data may be built into the processor or stored as a software program in a storage unit, with the processor executing the software program to implement the baseband processing functionality.

[0315] For example, in the embodiment of the present application, the antenna and control circuit with transceiver functions can be regarded as the transceiver unit 1201 of the terminal device 2100, and the processor with processing function can be regarded as the processing unit 2102 of the terminal device 2100. As shown in Figure 21, the terminal device 2100 includes a transceiver unit 2101 and a processing unit 2102. The transceiver unit can also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver, a transceiver device, etc. Optionally, the device used to implement the receiving function in the transceiver unit 2101 can be regarded as a receiving unit, and the device used to implement the transmitting function in the transceiver unit 2101 can be regarded as a transmitting unit, that is, the transceiver unit 2101 includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. For example, the receiving unit can also be referred to as a receiver, a receiver, a receiving circuit, etc., and the transmitting unit can be referred to as a transmitter, a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

[0316] Figure 22 is a structural diagram of a network device 2200 provided in an embodiment of the present application, which can be used to implement the functions of the network device in the above method. The network device 2200 includes one or more radio frequency units, such as a remote radio unit (RRU) 2201 and one or more baseband units (BBU) (also known as digital units, DU) 2202. The RRU 2201 can be called a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, etc., and may include at least one antenna 22011 and a radio frequency unit 22012. The RRU 2201 part is mainly used for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals and converting radio frequency signals into baseband signals, for example, for sending the first information in the above embodiment to a terminal device. The BBU 2202 part is mainly used for baseband processing, controlling the base station, etc. The RRU 2201 and the BBU 2202 can be physically set together or physically separated, that is, a distributed base station.

[0317] The BBU 2202 is the control center of the base station, which can also be called a processing unit. It is mainly used to perform baseband processing functions such as channel coding, multiplexing, modulation, spread spectrum, etc. For example, the BBU (processing unit) 2202 can be used to control the base station to execute the operation process of the network device in the above method embodiment.

[0318] In one example, the BBU 2202 can be composed of one or more single boards, and multiple single boards can jointly support a wireless access network with a single access standard (such as an LTE system or a 5G system), or can respectively support wireless access networks with different access standards. The BBU 2202 also includes a memory 22021 and a processor 22022. The memory 22021 is used to store necessary instructions and data. For example, the memory 22021 stores the first information in the above embodiment and the effective time of the first information, etc. The processor 22022 is used to control the base station to perform necessary actions, such as controlling the base station to execute the operation process of the network device in the above method embodiment. The memory 22021 and the processor 22022 can serve one or more single boards. That is, a memory and a processor can be set separately on each single board. Alternatively, multiple single boards can share the same memory and processor. In addition, necessary circuits can also be set on each single board.

[0319] In one possible implementation, with the development of system-on-chip (SoC) technology, all or part of the functions of parts 2202 and 2201 can be implemented using SoC technology. For example, they can be implemented using a base station function chip that integrates a processor, memory, antenna interface, and other components. Programs for base station-related functions are stored in the memory, and the processor executes the programs to implement the base station-related functions. Optionally, the base station function chip can also read memory external to the chip to implement the base station-related functions.

[0320] It should be understood that the structure of the network device illustrated in FIG22 is only one possible form and should not constitute any limitation to the embodiments of the present application. The present application does not exclude the possibility of other forms of base station structures that may appear in the future.

[0321] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), and the processor may also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc.

[0322] It should also be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0323] An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, which includes: the above-mentioned terminal device and network device.

[0324] The above embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any other combination. When implemented using software, the above embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer program are loaded or executed on a computer, the process or function according to the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from a website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center by wired (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means.

[0325] The present application also provides a computer-readable medium for storing computer program code, wherein the computer program includes instructions for executing any of the information transmission methods provided in the above embodiments of the present application. The computer-readable medium may be the memory described in the above examples, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0326] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes instructions. When the instructions are executed, the terminal device performs the terminal device operation corresponding to the above method, or the network device performs the network device operation corresponding to the above method.

[0327] The present application also provides a chip, comprising: a processing unit and a communication unit. The processing unit may be, for example, a processor, and the communication unit may be, for example, an input / output interface, a pin, or a circuit. The processing unit may execute computer instructions to cause the chip within the communication device to perform any of the information transmission methods provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0328] Optionally, any one of the communication devices provided in the above embodiments of the present application may include this chip.

[0329] Optionally, the computer instructions are stored in a storage unit.

[0330] Optionally, the storage unit is a storage unit within the chip, such as a register, a cache, etc. The storage unit may also be a storage unit located outside the chip within the communication device, such as a ROM or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, RAM, etc. The processor mentioned in any of the above may be a CPU, a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the above-mentioned RRC signaling transmission method. The processing unit and the storage unit may be decoupled and respectively provided on different physical devices, and connected by wired or wireless means to implement the respective functions of the processing unit and the storage unit, so as to support the chip to implement the various functions in the above-mentioned embodiments. Alternatively, the processing unit and the memory may also be coupled on the same device.

[0331] The terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably in this document. The term "and / or" is simply a description of an association between related objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone. Furthermore, the character " / " generally indicates an "or" relationship between the related objects.

[0332] Various objects such as various messages / information / equipment / systems / devices / actions / operations / processes that may appear in this application are named. It is understandable that these specific names do not constitute a limitation on the relevant objects. The names assigned may change with factors such as the scene, context or usage habits. The understanding of the technical meaning of the technical terms in this application should be mainly determined from the functions and technical effects embodied / executed in the technical solution.

[0333] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0334] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the unit is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0335] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0336] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0337] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for information transmission, characterized in that: The method comprises: receiving first information indicating a transmission configuration of a first synchronization signal, where the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal includes: at least one of a transmission period of the first synchronization signal, a transmission offset of the first synchronization signal, or an actual transmission condition of the first synchronization signal at a transmission opportunity corresponding to the first synchronization signal; Determine a transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal according to the first information.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first information is carried in paging DCI, paging early indication DCI or a paging message.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The first value of the short message indication field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging DCI includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the first field in the paging DCI; or, A first value of the short message indication field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging message includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the paging message.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The short message field of the paging DCI carries the first information; or, The short message field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging DCI includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the first field in the paging DCI; or, The short message field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging message includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the paging message.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that When a paging DCI, a paging early indication DCI, or a paging cycle corresponding to a paging message carrying the first information is received, the first information takes effect; or, When the configuration period corresponding to the paging DCI, the paging early indication DCI, or the paging message carrying the first information is received ends, the first information takes effect.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first information is carried in a first DCI, the first DCI is different from a paging DCI or a paging early indication DCI, and a transmission timing of the first DCI is the same as a transmission timing of the paging DCI or the paging early indication DCI.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that The transmission timing of the first information is the first transmission timing, and the first transmission timing is: the transmission timing of the paging DCI corresponding to the first ID when the ID of the terminal device is the transmission timing of the paging early indication DCI corresponding to the first ID when the ID of the terminal device is the first ID.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The starting time of the transmission opportunity of the first information is: the Mth time unit before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal; or, before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal and separated from the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal by a preset time length; or, before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal and the time interval between the first synchronization signal and the starting sending time is a preset time length.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The starting time of the transmission timing of the first information is: the Rth time unit before the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal; or, the starting time of the transmission timing of the first information is before the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal, and is separated from the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal by a preset time length; or, the starting time of the transmission timing of the first information is before the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal, and the time interval between the first information and the starting sending time of the second synchronization signal is a preset time length, and the second synchronization signal is different from the first synchronization signal.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The time domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal are partially or completely the same, and the frequency domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal are different.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The time domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal are partially or completely the same, and the frequency domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal are different, and the second synchronization signal is different from the first synchronization signal.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that The first information is effective at the Nth time unit after the corresponding transmission opportunity ends; or, the first information is effective at the end of a preset time length after the corresponding transmission opportunity ends; or, the first information is effective at the start sending time of the first synchronization signal after the first information.

13. A method for information transmission, characterized in that: The method comprises: Send first information, where the first information indicates a transmission configuration of a first synchronization signal, and the transmission configuration of the first synchronization signal includes: a sending period of the first synchronization signal, a sending bias of the first synchronization signal, or at least one of an actual transmission condition of the first synchronization signal at a transmission timing corresponding to the first synchronization signal.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The first information is carried in paging DCI, paging early indication DCI or a paging message.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The first value of the short message indication field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging DCI includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the first field in the paging DCI; or, A first value of the short message indication field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging message includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the paging message.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The short message field of the paging DCI carries the first information; or, The short message field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging DCI includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the first field in the paging DCI; or, The short message field in the paging DCI indicates that the paging message includes the first information, and the first information is carried in the paging message.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that When a paging DCI, a paging early indication DCI, or a paging cycle corresponding to a paging message carrying the first information is received, the first information takes effect; or, When the configuration period corresponding to the paging DCI, the paging early indication DCI, or the paging message carrying the first information is received ends, the first information takes effect.

18. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The first information is carried in a first DCI, the first DCI is different from a paging DCI or a paging early indication DCI, and a transmission timing of the first DCI is the same as a transmission timing of the paging DCI or the paging early indication DCI.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that The transmission timing of the first information is the first transmission timing, and the first transmission timing is: the transmission timing of the paging DCI corresponding to the first ID when the ID of the terminal device is the transmission timing of the paging early indication DCI corresponding to the first ID when the ID of the terminal device is the first ID.

20. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The starting time of the transmission opportunity of the first information is: the Mth time unit before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal; or, before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal and separated from the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal by a preset time length; or, before the transmission opportunity of the first synchronization signal and the time interval between the first synchronization signal and the starting sending time is a preset time length.

21. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The starting time of the transmission timing of the first information is: the Rth time unit before the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal; or, the starting time of the transmission timing of the first information is before the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal, and is separated from the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal by a preset time length; or, the starting time of the transmission timing of the first information is before the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal, and the time interval between the first information and the starting sending time of the second synchronization signal is a preset time length, and the second synchronization signal is different from the first synchronization signal.

22. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The time domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal are partially or completely the same, and the frequency domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the first synchronization signal are different.

23. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The time domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal are partially or completely the same, and the frequency domain resources occupied by the transmission timing of the first information and the transmission timing of the second synchronization signal are different, and the second synchronization signal is different from the first synchronization signal.

24. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that The first information is effective at the Nth time unit after the corresponding transmission opportunity ends; or, the first information is effective at the end of a preset time length after the corresponding transmission opportunity ends; or, the first information is effective at the start sending time of the first synchronization signal after the first information.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A unit for executing the respective steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or a unit for executing the respective steps of the method according to any one of claims 13 to 24.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises at least one processor and an interface circuit, wherein the at least one processor is used to execute: the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or the method according to any one of claims 13 to 24.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processor, the processor is coupled to a memory, the memory is used to store programs or instructions, when the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the device executes: the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or the method according to any one of claims 13 to 24.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, wherein the computer program includes program instructions, and when the program instructions are executed by a processor, the processor executes: the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or the method according to any one of claims 13 to 24.

29. A chip, characterized in that: It comprises: a processor, configured to call and run a computer program from a memory, so that a communication device equipped with the chip executes: a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, or a method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 24.

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