Communication method, device, communication system, and storage medium

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of communications. Disclosed are a communication method and apparatus, and a computer readable storage medium. The communication method comprises: determining that a terminal satisfies a first condition; and performing transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state switching within a first time period, wherein the first time period comprises a duration used for performing time and frequency tracking on a first transmission and reception point (TRP). According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the TCI state switching is performed in the first time period when the terminal satisfies a condition, thereby shortening the duration required by the terminal for TCI state switching while ensuring communication reliability, and reducing the delay of TCI state switching.

Description

Communication method, device, system and storage medium Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, device, system, and storage medium. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of mobile communication technology, network devices can instruct terminals to switch to a Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state through commands. Specifically, the network device sends a command to the terminal. After receiving the command, the terminal interprets the command and switches to the TCI state.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, device, system, and storage medium.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided. The method is executed by a terminal, and the method includes:

[0006] Determining that the terminal meets the first condition;

[0007] During the first time period, the terminal performs a transmission configuration indication TCI state switch;

[0008] The first time period includes a first duration, and the first duration is a duration for performing time and frequency tracking on the first transmission reception point TRP.

[0009] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication method, which is performed by a network device and includes:

[0010] A first instruction is sent to the terminal, where the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal to activate a transmission configuration indication TCI state of a first transmission reception point TPR.

[0011] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a terminal is provided, including:

[0012] A processing module, configured to determine whether the terminal satisfies a first condition; and, within a first time period, perform a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state switch;

[0013] The first time period includes a first duration, which is a duration used to perform time and frequency tracking on the first transmission reception point TRP.

[0014] A fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure provides a network device, including:

[0015] The transceiver module is used to send a first instruction to the terminal, where the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal to activate the transmission configuration indication TCI state of the first transmission receiving point TPR.

[0016] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, including:

[0017] one or more processors;

[0018] The processor is used to execute the optional implementation of the aforementioned first aspect.

[0019] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, including:

[0020] one or more processors;

[0021] The processor is used to execute the optional implementation of the aforementioned second aspect.

[0022] In a seventh aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication system is proposed, including a terminal and a network device, wherein the terminal is used to implement the method described in the optional implementation manner of the first aspect, and the network device is used to implement the method described in the optional implementation manner of the second aspect.

[0023] According to an eighth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, in which executable instructions are stored. The executable instructions are loaded and executed by the processor to implement the method described in the optional implementation of the first or second aspect above.

[0024] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0026] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0027] FIG2 is a flow chart showing a communication method according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0028] FIG3a is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG3 b is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG4 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG5a is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG5b is a schematic diagram of a duration structure shown in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG5c is a schematic diagram of a duration structure shown in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG5 d is a schematic diagram of a duration structure shown in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG6 a is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG6 b is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG7a is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0038] FIG7 b is a schematic structural diagram of a chip proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a device, a communication system, and a storage medium.

[0040] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, which is executed by a terminal and includes:

[0041] Determining that the terminal meets the first condition;

[0042] During the first time period, the terminal performs a transmission configuration indication TCI state switch;

[0043] The first time period includes a first duration, and the first duration is a duration for performing time and frequency tracking on a first transmission receiving point (Transmission Receiving Point, TPR).

[0044] In the above embodiment, when the terminal meets the conditions, the TCI state switching is performed within the first time period including the duration of time and frequency tracking of the first TRP. This can shorten the time required for the terminal to perform TCI state switching while ensuring communication reliability, thereby reducing the TCI state switching delay.

[0045] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the terminal satisfies the first condition including: the terminal supports at least two timing advances (TAs), and the receive time difference (RTD) between the at least two TAs is greater than the cyclic prefix (CP).

[0046] In the above embodiment, when the terminal supports at least two TAs and the RTD between at least two TAs is greater than the CP, TCI state switching is performed within the first time period, and the TCI state switching delay includes an additional duration for time-frequency T / F tracking of the first TRP, thereby ensuring communication reliability.

[0047] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first duration is the time interval between the first synchronization signal block (Synchronization Signal and PBCH Block, SSB) used for time and frequency tracking and the first available path loss reference signal (Path Loss Reference Signal, PL-RS) after the first SSB.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the TCI state switching delay includes an additional duration for time and frequency tracking of the first TRP, which is the time interval between the first SSB used for T / F tracking and the first available PL-RS after the first SSB. This can more accurately determine the first time period, effectively shorten the time required for the terminal to perform TCI state switching, and reduce the TCI state switching delay.

[0049] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the PL-RS is SSB, and the first duration is the period of the SSB.

[0050] In the above embodiment, if PL-RS is SSB, the TCI state switching delay includes an additional duration for T / F tracking of the first TRP, which is the period of SSB. Since the minimum period of SSB is 5ms, it can include post-processing time, thereby shortening the time required for the terminal to perform TCI state switching and reducing the TCI state switching delay.

[0051] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the PL-RS is a channel state information reference signal CSI-RS, and the first duration is greater than a first preset value.

[0052] In the above embodiment, if the PL-RS is CSI-RS, the additional time length for T / F tracking of the first TRP included in the TCI state switching delay must be greater than the first preset value, thereby ensuring the reliability of communication.

[0053] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0054] A first instruction is received, where the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal to activate the TCI state of the first TPR.

[0055] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first time period is determined based on the first time period and at least one of a second time period, a third time period, a fourth time period, a fifth time period, or a sixth time period;

[0056] Among them, the second duration is the feedback duration of uplink data and / or downlink data, the third duration is the duration of decoding the first instruction, the fourth duration is the duration of the first reception of the reference signal, the fifth duration is the first fixed duration, and the sixth duration is the second fixed duration.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the terminal uses multiple time lengths to determine the first time period, ensuring that the determined first time period comprehensively considers the influence of each time length, ensuring the accuracy of the determined first time period, and thereby improving the accuracy of the terminal in performing TCI state switching within the first time period.

[0058] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, if the SSB of the first TPR overlaps or is adjacent to the SSB of other TRPs, and the period of the SSB of the first TPR is smaller than the period of the SSB of other TRPs, then the sixth time length exists; if the SSB of the first TPR does not overlap or is not adjacent to the SSB of other TRPs, then the sixth time length does not exist.

[0059] In the above embodiment, when the SSB of the first TPR overlaps or is adjacent to the SSB of other TRPs, and the period of the SSB of the first TPR is smaller than the period of the SSB of other TRPs, it is determined that the sixth time duration is included in the first time period; when the SSB of the first TPR does not overlap or is not adjacent to the SSB of other TRPs, it is determined that the sixth time duration is not included in the first time period, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the determined first time period.

[0060] With reference to some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the terminal maintains the PL-RS, and the first duration does not exist.

[0061] In the above embodiment, when the terminal maintains the PL-RS, it is determined that the first time period does not include the first duration, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the determined first time period.

[0062] In combination with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, if the TCI state is switched to joint TCI state activation, the first time period is the maximum value of the time periods for executing the TCI state activation of multiple TRPs.

[0063] In the above embodiment, when the TCI state is switched to the joint TCI state activation, the maximum value is selected from the TCI state switching delays of the TCI state activations of multiple TRPs as the duration required for the TCI state activation of each TRP, thereby ensuring the stability of communication.

[0064] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, which is executed by a network device and includes:

[0065] A first instruction is sent to the terminal, where the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal to activate a transmission configuration indication TCI state of a first transmission reception point TPR.

[0066] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a terminal, including:

[0067] A processing module, configured to determine whether the terminal satisfies a first condition; and, within a first time period, switch a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state;

[0068] The first time period includes a first duration, and the first duration is a duration for performing time and frequency tracking on the first transmission reception point TRP.

[0069] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a network device, including:

[0070] The transceiver module is used to send a first instruction to the terminal, where the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal to activate the transmission configuration indication TCI state of the first transmission receiving point TPR.

[0071] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication device, including:

[0072] one or more processors;

[0073] The processor executes the method described in the optional implementation of the first aspect.

[0074] According to a sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, including:

[0075] one or more processors;

[0076] The processor executes the method described in the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0077] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a communication system, including a terminal and a network device, wherein the terminal is used to implement the method described in the optional implementation mode of the first aspect, and the network device is used to implement the method described in the optional implementation mode of the second aspect.

[0078] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a storage medium, which stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device executes the method described in the optional implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0079] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a program product. When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device executes the method described in the optional implementation manner of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0080] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method described in the optional implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0081] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a chip or a chip system, which includes a processing circuit for executing the method described in the optional implementation of the first or second aspect above.

[0082] It is understandable that the above-mentioned apparatus for random access, communication equipment, communication system, storage medium, program product, and computer program are all used to perform the method proposed in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding methods and will not be repeated here. Among them, the communication equipment can be a terminal or a network device.

[0083] The present disclosure provides communication methods, apparatuses, communication devices, communication systems, and storage media. In some embodiments, the terms "communication method," "information processing method," and "for random access" are interchangeable; the terms "apparatus for random access," "information processing apparatus," and "communication apparatus" are interchangeable; and the terms "information processing system" and "communication system" are interchangeable.

[0084] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive and are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and are not intended to be a specific limitation on the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present disclosure. In the absence of contradiction, each step in a certain embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a certain embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily exchanged. In addition, the optional implementation methods in a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; in addition, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a certain embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

[0085] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or provided for by logic, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form a new embodiment based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0086] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0087] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, elements expressed in the singular, such as "a", "an", "the", "above", "said", "the", "the", etc., may mean "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc. For example, when using articles such as "a", "an", "the" in English in translation, the noun following the article may be understood as a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0088] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, “plurality” refers to two or more.

[0089] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one of", "at least one of", "at least one of", "one or more", "a plurality of", "multiple", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0090] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, descriptions such as “at least one of A, B, C…”, “A and / or B and / or C…”, etc. include the situation where any one of A, B, C… exists alone, and also include any combination of any multiple of A, B, C…, and each situation can exist alone; for example, “at least one of A, B, C” includes the situation where A exists alone, B exists alone, C exists alone, the combination of A and B, the combination of A and C, the combination of B and C, and the combination of A, B, and C; for example, A and / or B includes the situation where A exists alone, B exists alone, and the combination of A and B.

[0091] In some embodiments, descriptions such as "in one case A, in another case B," or "in response to one case A, in response to another case B," may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: executing A independently of B (in some embodiments, A); executing B independently of A (in some embodiments, B); selectively executing A and B (in some embodiments, selecting between A and B); and executing both A and B (in some embodiments, A and B). The same applies when there are more branches, such as A, B, and C.

[0092] The prefixes such as "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to distinguish different description objects and do not constitute any restriction on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. For the statement of the description object, please refer to the description in the context of the claims or embodiments, and no unnecessary restriction should be constituted due to the use of prefixes. For example, if the description object is a "field", the ordinal number before the "field" in the "first field" and the "second field" does not limit the position or order between the "fields". "First" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they limit the order of the "first field" and the "second field". For another example, if the description object is a "level", the ordinal number before the "level" in the "first level" and the "second level" does not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the number of description objects is not limited by the ordinal number and can be one or more. Taking "first device" as an example, the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the description object is "device", then the "first device" and the "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different. For another example, if the description object is "information", then the "first configuration" and the "second configuration" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0093] In some embodiments, “including A,” “comprising A,” “used to indicate A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0094] In some embodiments, terms such as "in response to...", "in response to determining...", "in the case of...", "at the time of...", "when...", "if...", "if...", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0095] In some embodiments, terms such as "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not less than", and "above" can be replaced with each other, and terms such as "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", and "below" can be replaced with each other.

[0096] In some embodiments, devices, etc. can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. Terms such as "device", "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", and "subject" can be used interchangeably.

[0097] In some embodiments, the terms "access network device (AN device)", "radio access network device (RAN device)", "base station (BS)", "radio base station" "fixed station", "node", "access point", "transmission point (TP)", "reception point (RP)", "transmission / reception point (TRP)", "panel", "antenna panel", "antenna array", "cell", "macro cell", "small cell", "femto cell", "pico cell", "sector", "cell group", "carrier", "component carrier", "bandwidth part (BWP)" and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0098] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal", "terminal device", "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal", "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0099] In some embodiments, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device can be replaced by a terminal. For example, the various embodiments of the embodiments of the present disclosure can also be applied to a structure in which the communication between the access network device, the core network device, or the network device and the terminal is replaced by communication between multiple terminals (for example, which can also be referred to as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), etc.). In this case, it can also be set as a structure in which the terminal has all or part of the functions of the access network device. In addition, languages ​​such as "uplink" and "downlink" can also be replaced with languages ​​corresponding to communication between terminals (for example, "side").

[0100] For example, an uplink channel, a downlink channel, etc. may be replaced by a side channel, and an uplink, a downlink, etc. may be replaced by a side link.

[0101] In some embodiments, terms such as "uplink", "uplink", "physical uplink" can be interchangeable with each other, and terms such as "downlink", "downlink", "physical downlink" can be interchangeable with each other, and terms such as "side", "sidelink", "side communication", "sidelink communication", "direct connection", "direct link", "direct communication", "direct link communication" can be interchangeable with each other.

[0102] In some embodiments, the terms "downlink control information (DCI)", "downlink (DL) assignment", "DL DCI", "uplink (UL) grant", "UL DCI" and the like may be used interchangeably.

[0103] In some embodiments, terms such as "physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)" and "DL data" can be used interchangeably, and terms such as "physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)" and "UL data" can be used interchangeably.

[0104] In some embodiments, the determination or judgment can be performed by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), or by a true or false value (Boolean value) represented by true or false, or by comparison of numerical values ​​(for example, comparison with a predetermined value), but is not limited thereto.

[0105] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network (eg, access network equipment, core network equipment, etc.).

[0106] In some embodiments, obtaining data, information, etc. may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the data is obtained.

[0107] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0108] FIG1 is a schematic diagram showing the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0109] As shown in FIG1 , a communication system 100 includes a terminal 101 and a network device 102 .

[0110] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 includes, for example, a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a car with communication function, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and at least one of a wireless terminal device in a smart home, but is not limited thereto.

[0111] In some embodiments, the network device 102 may include at least one of an access network device and a core network device.

[0112] In some embodiments, the access network device is, for example, a node or device that accesses a terminal to a wireless network. The network device may include an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation evolved NodeB (ng-eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a node B (NB), a home node B (HNB), a home evolved nodeB (HeNB), a wireless backhaul device, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a base band unit (BBU), a mobile switching center, a base station in a 6G communication system, an open base station (Open RAN), a cloud base station (Cloud RAN), a base station in other communication systems, and at least one of an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, but is not limited thereto.

[0113] In some embodiments, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure may be applicable to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within the network devices involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure may become internal interfaces of the Open RAN, and the processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces may be implemented through software or programs.

[0114] In some embodiments, the access network device can be composed of a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), where the CU can also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can be used to split the protocol layer of the network device, with the functions of some protocol layers centrally controlled by the CU, and the functions of the remaining part or all of the protocol layers distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU, but is not limited to this.

[0115] In some embodiments, the access network device may be a single device, or may be multiple devices or a group of devices, each including all or part of a first network element, a second network element, etc. The network element may be virtual or physical. The network device may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), and a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0116] In some embodiments, a core network device may be a device including one or more network elements, or may be multiple devices or device groups, each including all or part of the one or more network elements. The network element may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), and a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0117] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution proposed in the embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0118] The following embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1, or a portion thereof, but are not limited thereto. The entities shown in Figure 1 are illustrative only. The communication system may include all or part of the entities shown in Figure 1, or may include other entities outside of Figure 1. The number and form of the entities may be arbitrary. The connection relationship between the entities is illustrative only. The entities may be connected or disconnected, and the connection may be in any manner, including direct or indirect, wired or wireless.

[0119] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), future radio access (FRA), new radio access technology (RAT), new radio (NR), new radio access (NX), future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), other systems utilizing random access, and next-generation systems based on and extending these systems. Furthermore, multiple systems may be combined (for example, a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0120] In wireless communication technology, multiple transmission receiving points (TPRs) are introduced, which can perform multi-TRP transmission (mTRP, muti-TRP). In addition, two control methods are introduced: single downlink control signaling (S-DCI, Single Downlink Control Information) and multiple downlink control signaling (M-DCI, Multiple Downlink Control Information).

[0121] In the traditional TCI state activation of multiple TRPs, the timing offset between two different TRPs is less than the cyclic prefix (CP). The UE will use the serving cell DL timing as a reference for the other TRP. The UE will not perform additional timing tracking for the other TRP.

[0122] When a UE supports two timing advances (TAs) and the receive time difference (RTD) is greater than the cyclic prefix (CP), the DL timing offset between the two TRPs may be greater than the CP, and the UE needs to perform additional DL timing tracking for the other TRP. Therefore, the UL TCI activation delay needs to consider the additional process of DL timing tracking for the other TRP.

[0123] Based on the above wireless communication system, various embodiments of the communication method proposed in the present disclosure are described in detail below.

[0124] FIG2 is an interactive diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2 , the communication method is used in a communication system 100, and the method includes:

[0125] S201. The network device 102 sends a first instruction.

[0126] In some embodiments, the network device 102 sends a first instruction to the terminal 101 .

[0127] In some embodiments, the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal 101 to activate the TCI state of the first transmission receiving point (TPR).

[0128] In some embodiments, the first instruction may be a MAC CE (Media Access Control Control Element) instruction. Optionally, the MAC CE instruction is used to instruct the terminal 101 to activate the TCI state of the first TPR.

[0129] In some embodiments, the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal 101 to switch the TCI state of the first TPR.

[0130] Optionally, the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal 101 to switch the TCI state of the first TPR based on the reference signal.

[0131] Optionally, the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal 101 to use the reference signal to switch the TCI state of the first TPR.

[0132] In some embodiments, the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal 101 to switch the TCI state of the first TPR to the first TCI state.

[0133] Optionally, the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal 101 to switch the TCI state signal of the first TPR to the first TCI state based on the reference.

[0134] Optionally, the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal 101 to switch the TCI state of the first TPR to the first TCI state using a reference signal.

[0135] In some embodiments, the reference signal may include: CSI-RS (Channel State Information-Reference Signal), or TRS (Tracking Reference Signal), or SSB (Synchronization Signal and PBCH Block).

[0136] In some embodiments, the name of the first TCI state is not limited, and can be, for example, a target TCI state, an activated TCI state, etc.

[0137] S202. Terminal 101 obtains a first instruction.

[0138] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 obtaining the first instruction refers to receiving the first instruction.

[0139] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 obtaining the first instruction means that the terminal 101 receives the first instruction sent by the network device 102.

[0140] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 may also obtain the first instruction in other ways, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0141] In some embodiments, correspondingly, the network device 102 sends the first instruction, which can be understood as the network device 102 sending the first instruction to the terminal 101.

[0142] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 receives the first instruction, which can also be understood as the terminal 101 receiving the first instruction sent by the network device 102.

[0143] S203. When the terminal 101 meets the first condition, it executes TCI state switching within the first time period.

[0144] In some embodiments, terminal 101 receives a first instruction and, if a first condition is met, switches the TCI state based on the first instruction, thereby completing the TCI state switch within a first time period. That is, if the first condition is met, terminal 101 switches from the second TCI state to the first TCI state within the first time period.

[0145] In some embodiments, the first instruction may be a MAC CE instruction. Optionally, the terminal 101 may switch the TCI state based on the MAC CE instruction. Optionally, if the first condition is met, the terminal 101 may activate the TCI state of the first TPR within the first time period based on the MAC CE instruction.

[0146] In some embodiments, the first time period is used to indicate the duration required for the terminal 101 to switch the TCI state.

[0147] In some embodiments, the first time period includes a first duration for time and frequency tracking of the first TRP.

[0148] In some embodiments, before step S203 , the process may further include: determining that the terminal 101 satisfies a first condition.

[0149] In some embodiments, if the terminal 101 supports at least two timing advances (TAs), and a receive time difference (RTD) between the at least two TAs is greater than a cyclic prefix (CP), it is determined that the terminal 101 meets the first condition.

[0150] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 satisfies the first condition including: the terminal 101 supports at least two TAs, and the RTD between the at least two TAs is greater than the cyclic prefix CP.

[0151] In some embodiments, if the terminal 101 supports two TAs and the RTD between the two TAs is greater than the CP, the terminal 101 performs TCI state switching within the first time period.

[0152] Optionally, if the terminal 101 supports two TAs and the RTD between the two TAs is greater than the CP, the terminal 101 activates the TCI state of the first TPR within the first time period.

[0153] In some embodiments, when the RTD between two TRPs is greater than the CP, the UL TCI state activation delay of the other TRP (which may correspond to the first TRP in this document) needs to take into account the additional DL timing tracking delay (which may correspond to the first duration in this document). That is, when the UE supports two TAs and the RTD is greater than the CP capability, the DL timing offset between the two TRPs may be greater than the CP. If the target TCI state of the UL TCI state of the other TRP is not in the active TCI state list, the UE needs to perform additional DL timing tracking for the target TCI state of the other TRP.

[0154] In some embodiments, the name of the first time period is not limited, and can be, for example, a time window, a time length, a duration, etc.

[0155] In some embodiments, the name of the second TCI state is not limited, and can be, for example, a TCI state to be switched, a TCI state to be activated, an inactivated TCI state, etc.

[0156] In some embodiments, the first duration is the time interval between the first synchronization signal block SSB used for time-frequency domain tracking and the first available path loss reference signal (PL-RS) after the first SSB.

[0157] In some embodiments, the path loss reference signal PL-RS may be an SSB or a CSI-RS.

[0158] In some embodiments, if the PL-RS is an SSB, the first duration is the period of the SSB.

[0159] In this embodiment, the minimum period of SSB is 5 ms, so the first duration is at least 5 ms.

[0160] In some embodiments, the PL-RS is a channel state information reference signal CSI-RS, and the first duration is greater than a first preset value.

[0161] In this embodiment, if the PL-RS is a CSI-RS, the first duration needs to be greater than a first preset value. Optionally, the first preset value may be specified by a protocol, such as 2 ms, but is not limited thereto.

[0162] Next, how to determine the first time period is described.

[0163] In some embodiments, the first time period is determined based on the first duration and at least one of the second duration, the third duration, the fourth duration, the fifth duration, or the sixth duration.

[0164] The second duration is the feedback duration of uplink data and / or downlink data.

[0165] The third duration is the duration of decoding the first instruction.

[0166] Optionally, if the first instruction is a MAC CE instruction, the third duration is the duration of decoding the MAC CE instruction.

[0167] The fourth duration is the duration of receiving the reference signal for the first time.

[0168] Optionally, the reference signal may be SSB, and the fourth duration is the duration of the first reception of the SSB.

[0169] Among them, the fifth duration is the first fixed duration.

[0170] In some embodiments, the fifth duration is a first fixed duration. Optionally, the first fixed duration is 2ms, 3ms, or other values, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0171] The sixth duration is the second fixed duration. Optionally, the second fixed duration is the SSB period or other values, which are not limited in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0172] In some embodiments, the terminal maintains the PL-RS, and the first duration does not exist.

[0173] Optionally, if the terminal maintains the PL-RS, the UE does not need to perform DL timing tracking, and therefore, the first time period does not include the first duration.

[0174] In some embodiments, the first time period is a time period starting from the moment the first instruction is received and ending at the moment after the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth time periods have passed. Optionally, the fifth time period is 2ms, 3ms, or other values, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0175] Optionally, if the terminal does not maintain the PL-RS, the UE needs to perform DL timing tracking, and therefore, the first time period includes a first duration.

[0176] In some embodiments, the first time period is a time period starting at the moment the first instruction is received and ending at the moment after the second time period, the third time period, the fourth time period, the first time period, the fifth time period, and the sixth time period have passed. Optionally, the fifth time period is 2 ms, 3 ms, or another value plus the time period for path loss estimation, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0177] In some embodiments, if the path loss is based on the SSB, the duration used for path loss estimation is an integer multiple of the SSB period. Optionally, the duration used for path loss estimation is 4 times or other multiples of the SSB period, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Exemplarily, the fifth duration can be the sum of 2 ms and 4 times the SSB period.

[0178] In some embodiments, if the SSB of the first TPR overlaps or is adjacent to the SSBs of other TRPs, and the period of the SSB of the first TPR is smaller than the period of the SSBs of other TRPs, then the sixth duration exists; if the SSB of the first TPR does not overlap or is not adjacent to the SSBs of other TRPs, then the sixth duration does not exist.

[0179] Optionally, if the terminal maintains PL-RS, the SSB of the first TPR does not overlap or is not adjacent to the SSBs of other TRPs, and the first time period does not include the first duration and the sixth duration.

[0180] In some embodiments, the first time period is a time period starting from the moment the first instruction is received and ending at the moment after the second, third, fourth, and fifth time periods have passed. Optionally, the fifth time period is 2ms, 3ms, or other values, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0181] Optionally, if the terminal does not maintain PL-RS, the SSB of the first TPR does not overlap or is adjacent to the SSBs of other TRPs, and the sixth duration is not included in the first time period.

[0182] In some embodiments, the first time period is a time period starting at the moment the first instruction is received and ending at the moment after the second duration, the third duration, the fourth duration, the first duration, and the fifth duration have passed. Optionally, the fifth duration is 2 ms, 3 ms, or another value plus the duration used for path loss estimation, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0183] In some embodiments, if path loss is estimated based on CSI-RS, the duration used for path loss estimation is an integer multiple of the CSI-RS period. Optionally, the duration used for path loss estimation is 4 times or other multiples of the CSI-RS period, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Exemplarily, the fifth duration can be the sum of 2 ms and 4 times the CSI-RS period.

[0184] In some embodiments, if the TCI state is switched to a joint TCI state activation, the first time period is a maximum value among time periods of executing the TCI state activation of multiple TRPs.

[0185] In some embodiments, if the TCI state switching is a combined TCI state activation, i.e., the TCI state switching is used for both DL TCI state switching and UL TCI state switching, a maximum value among the time periods during which TCI state activation is performed for multiple TRPs is selected as the first time period. Alternatively, a maximum time period is selected from the time periods during which TCI state activation is performed for multiple TRPs as the first time period, and TCI state activation is performed for multiple TRPs within the first time period.

[0186] Optionally, the time period for executing the TCI state activation of each TRP may be implemented by adopting the solution of determining the first time period in the above embodiment.

[0187] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc. are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", and "data" can be used interchangeably.

[0188] In some embodiments, terms such as "send", "transmit", "report", "download", "transmit", "bidirectional transmission", "send and / or receive" can be used interchangeably.

[0189] In some embodiments, terms such as "certain", "preset", "preset", "setting", "indicated", "a certain", "any", and "first" can be interchangeable. "Specific A", "preset A", "preset A", "setting A", "indicated A", "a certain A", "any A", and "first A" can be interpreted as A pre-specified in a protocol, etc., or as A obtained through setting, configuration, or indication, etc., or as specific A, a certain A, any A, or first A, etc., but not limited to this.

[0190] In some embodiments, terms such as "in the case of", "at the time of", "when", "if", and "if" can be used interchangeably.

[0191] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S201 to S203. For example, step S203 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and steps S202 and S203 may be implemented as independent embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0192] In some embodiments, step S201 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0193] In some embodiments, step S202 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0194] FIG3a is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3a , the communication method can be executed by the terminal 101, and the method includes:

[0195] S301: Get a first instruction.

[0196] The optional implementation of step S301 can refer to the optional implementation of step S202 in Figure 2 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0197] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 obtaining the first instruction means that the terminal 101 receives the first instruction sent by the network device 102.

[0198] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 may also obtain the first instruction in other ways, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0199] In some embodiments, the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal 101 to activate the TCI state of the first TPR.

[0200] In some embodiments, the first instruction may be a MAC CE instruction. Optionally, the MAC CE instruction is used to instruct the terminal 101 to activate the TCI state of the first transmission reception point TPR.

[0201] In some embodiments, the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal 101 to switch the TCI state of the first TPR.

[0202] S302: When the terminal meets the first condition, the terminal activates the TCI state of the first TRP based on the first instruction within the first time period.

[0203] The optional implementation of step S302 can refer to the optional implementation of step S203 in FIG. 2 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in FIG. 2 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0204] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 activates the TCI state of the first TPR within the first time period based on the first instruction when the first condition is met.

[0205] In some embodiments, the first instruction may be a MAC CE instruction. Optionally, the terminal 101 may activate the TCI state of the first TPR within the first time period based on the MAC CE instruction.

[0206] In some embodiments, the first time period is used to indicate the duration required for the terminal 101 to switch the TCI state.

[0207] In some embodiments, the first time period includes a first duration for time and frequency tracking of the first TRP.

[0208] In some embodiments, before step S302 , the process may further include: determining that the terminal 101 satisfies a first condition.

[0209] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 satisfies the first condition including: the terminal 101 supports at least two timing advances TA, and the reception time difference RTD between the at least two TAs is greater than the cyclic prefix CP.

[0210] In some embodiments, if the terminal 101 supports two TAs and the RTD between the two TAs is greater than the CP, the terminal 101 performs TCI state switching within the first time period.

[0211] In this embodiment, the solution for determining the first time period can be found in the relevant description above and will not be repeated here.

[0212] The method involved in the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of steps S301 to S302. For example, step S301 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0213] In some embodiments, step S302 is optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0214] FIG3b is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG3b , the communication method can be executed by the terminal 101, and the method includes:

[0215] S311: When the first condition is met, perform TCI state switching within the first time period.

[0216] The optional implementation of step S311 can refer to step S203 in FIG. 2 , the optional implementation of step S302 in FIG. 3 a , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0217] In some embodiments, the first time period includes a first duration, where the first duration is a duration for performing time and frequency tracking on the first transmission reception point TRP.

[0218] In some embodiments, the terminal meeting the first condition includes: the terminal supporting at least two timing advances TA, and a reception time difference RTD between the at least two TAs is greater than a cyclic prefix CP.

[0219] In some embodiments, the first duration is the time interval between a first synchronization signal block SSB for time and frequency tracking and a first available path loss reference signal PL-RS after the first SSB.

[0220] In some embodiments, the PL-RS is SSB, and the first duration is the period of SSB.

[0221] In some embodiments, the PL-RS is a channel state information reference signal CSI-RS, and the first duration is greater than a first preset value.

[0222] In some embodiments, the method further comprises:

[0223] A first instruction is received, where the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal to activate the TCI state of the first TPR.

[0224] The optional implementation of the above optional embodiment can refer to the optional implementation of step S201 in Figure 2, step S301 in Figure 3a, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figures 2 and 3a, which will not be repeated here.

[0225] In some embodiments, the first time period is determined based on the first time period and at least one of a second time period, a third time period, a fourth time period, a fifth time period, or a sixth time period;

[0226] Among them, the second duration is the feedback duration of uplink data and / or downlink data, the third duration is the duration of decoding the first instruction, the fourth duration is the duration of the first reception of the reference signal, the fifth duration is the first fixed duration, and the sixth duration is the second fixed duration.

[0227] In some embodiments, if the SSB of the first TPR overlaps or is adjacent to the SSB of other TRPs, and the period of the SSB of the first TPR is smaller than the period of the SSB of other TRPs, then the sixth time length exists; if the SSB of the first TPR does not overlap or is not adjacent to the SSB of other TRPs, then the sixth time length does not exist.

[0228] In some embodiments, the terminal maintains PL-RS, and the first duration does not exist.

[0229] In some embodiments, if the TCI state is switched to a joint TCI state activation, the first time period is the maximum value of the time periods for performing TCI state activation of multiple TRPs.

[0230] FIG4 is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4 , the method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is executed by the network device 102, and the method includes:

[0231] S401: Send a first instruction.

[0232] In some embodiments, the network device 102 sends a first instruction to the terminal 101 .

[0233] In some embodiments, the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal 101 to activate the TCI state of the first TPR.

[0234] The optional implementation of step S401 can refer to the optional implementation of step S201 in Figure 2 and other related parts in the embodiment involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0235] In some embodiments, the network device 102 may also send the first instruction to other devices.

[0236] In some embodiments, the first instruction may be a MAC CE instruction.

[0237] FIG5a is a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5a, the method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is used in a communication system 100, and the method includes:

[0238] S501. The network device 102 sends a first instruction.

[0239] Optional implementations of step S501 can refer to step S201 in FIG. 2 , optional implementations of step S301 in FIG. 3 a , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 a , which will not be described in detail here.

[0240] S502: When the terminal 101 satisfies the first condition, the TCI state of the first TRP is activated based on the first instruction within the first time period.

[0241] Optional implementations of step S502 may refer to the optional implementations of step S203 in FIG. 2 , step S302 in FIG. 3 a , step S311 in FIG. 3 b , and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 a to FIG. 3 b , and FIG. 4 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0242] In some embodiments, the above method may include the method described in the above embodiments of the communication system side, terminal side, network equipment side, core network equipment side, etc., which will not be repeated here.

[0243] The present disclosure also provides an optional implementation scheme. When the UE supports two TAs and RTD>CP capabilities, the DL timing offset between the two TRPs may be greater than the CP. If the target TCI state of the UL TCI state of another TRP (which may correspond to the first TRP above) is not in the active TCI state list, the UE needs to perform additional DL timing tracking of the target TCI state of the other TRP.

[0244] In some embodiments, if the terminal maintains PL-RS, the total UL TCI activation delay includes three parts as shown in Figure 5b: the decoding delay of the MAC CE instruction is 3ms (which can correspond to the third duration above), the HARQ feedback time (which can correspond to the second duration above), and the DL tracking time: one SSB cycle (which can correspond to the fourth duration above) plus 2ms (which can correspond to the fifth duration above), where 2ms is the post-processing time.

[0245] The total delay (corresponding to the first time period above) is:

[0246] The terminal receives a MAC CE instruction in slot n (time slot n) (the UL TCI state of the first TRP is activated based on the instruction), and activates the UL TCI state of the first TRP in the first time period. HARQ For the second duration, For the third duration, T first-SSB is the fourth duration, and 2ms is the fifth duration.

[0247] In some embodiments, the SSBs of two TRPs may overlap or be adjacent, and since the UE cannot process two SSBs at the same time, the UE also needs one SSB.

[0248] In some embodiments, when considering possible SSB overlap or contiguous situations, the total delay is:

[0249] The terminal receives the MAC CE instruction in slot n (time slot n) and activates the TCI state in the first time period. HARQ For the second duration, For the third duration, T first-SSB is the fourth duration, 2ms is the fifth duration, OL*T SSB The sixth duration.

[0250] Among them, T first-SSB It is the duration of the first SSB transmission after the UE decodes the MAC CE command. If the SSB overlaps or is adjacent to the SSB of other TRPs in FR2 and the SSB period is less than the SSB period of other TRPs, then OL = 1, otherwise, OL = 0.

[0251] In some embodiments, if the terminal does not maintain PL-RS, the UE needs to first perform DL timing tracking and then calculate the path loss based on PL-RS. Since PL-RS or L1-RSRP can be based on SSB or CSI-RS, the following discusses the PL-RS issues based on SSB and CSI-RS respectively.

[0252] In some embodiments, when PL-RS is based on SSB, the whole process is shown in Figure 5c. The UE first performs T / F tracking based on SSB1, which requires 2ms of post-processing time, and then the UE continues to calculate the path loss based on SSB2 to SSB6. The time interval between SSB2 and SSB1 is T first_PL-RS . T first_PL-RS Defined as the time interval between the first SSB used for T / F tracking and the first available PL-RS after the first SSB.

[0253] In some embodiments, T first_PL-RS Equal to SSB(T SSB ) period. Since the minimum period of SSB is 5ms, UE can complete post-processing within this time interval. Therefore, T / F tracking does not require an additional 2ms post-processing time, which is equivalent to 2ms already included in T SSB middle.

[0254] Optionally, when L1-RSRP is performed based on SSB, the 2 ms post-processing time is already included in the SSB period and no additional time is required.

[0255] In some embodiments, when PL-RS or L1-RSRP is based on CSI-RS, if the time interval between the first SSB used for T / F tracking and the first CSI-RS used for PL calculation or L1-RSRP measurement is greater than 2ms, the 2ms interval is included. If the time interval between the first SSB used for T / F tracking and the first CSI-RS used for PL calculation or L1-RSRP measurement is less than 2ms, the UE will skip the first CSI-RS because DL time tracking is not yet complete. The UE will wait for the next available CSI-RS with a time interval greater than 2ms.

[0256] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG5d , it is assumed that T first_PL-RSis the time interval between the first SSB of PL and the first CSI-RS, and this time interval needs to be greater than 2ms, then T first_PL-RS 2ms of post-processing time can be included.

[0257] Optionally, the total delay is:

[0258] Among them, T first-SSB It is the duration of the first SSB transmission after the UE decodes the MAC CE instruction (which may correspond to the fourth duration mentioned above). first_PL-RS 4*T is the duration of the first PL-RS transmission after the first SSB transmission for T / F tracking (which may correspond to the first duration mentioned above). PL-RS +2ms is the fifth duration.

[0259] In some embodiments, when the PL-RS is a CSI-RS, T first_PL-RS Should be greater than 2ms.

[0260] In some embodiments, when the SSBs of two TRPs are adjacent or overlapping, an additional SSB may be required.

[0261] Optionally, the total delay is: If the SSB overlaps or is adjacent to the SSB of other TRPs in FR2 and the SSB period is smaller than the SSB period of other TRPs, OL=1; otherwise, OL=0.

[0262] In some embodiments, when the joint TCI state of two TRPs is activated in sDCI, the maximum delay in the two TRPs will be defined.

[0263] In some embodiments, the DL TCI state switching is delayed based on MAC-CE instructions. In the case of joint TCI state switching, if the target PL-RS is not maintained, the UE is not expected to receive on the DL based on the target TCI state until the UE completes the DL and UL TCI state transitions for both TRPs.

[0264] In some embodiments, the UL TCI state switching is delayed based on MAC-CE instructions. In the case of joint TCI state switching, the UE is not expected to transmit on the UL based on the target TCI state until the UE completes the DL and UL TCI state transitions for both TRPs.

[0265] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a terminal in any of the above methods. For another example, another apparatus is provided, comprising units or modules for implementing each step performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network function node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0266] It should be understood that the division of the various units or modules in the above device is merely a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, they may be fully or partially integrated into a physical entity, or they may be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device may be implemented in the form of a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor, the processor is connected to a memory, and the memory stores instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or implement the functions of the various units or modules of the above device, wherein the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits, and the functions of some or all of the units or modules can be realized by designing the hardware circuits. The above-mentioned hardware circuits can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the functions of some or all of the above units or modules are realized by designing the logical relationship of the elements in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above-mentioned hardware circuit can be implemented by a programmable logic device (PLD), taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, which can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by a configuration file, thereby realizing the functions of some or all of the above units or modules.

[0267] All units or modules of the above devices can be implemented in the form of software called by the processor, or in the form of hardware circuits, or partially implemented in the form of software called by the processor, and the remaining part implemented in the form of hardware circuits. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and execution capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP); in another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationship of the hardware circuit. The logical relationship of the above hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable, such as a hardware circuit implemented by a processor as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document to implement the hardware circuit configuration can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0268] FIG6 a is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG6 a , the terminal may include: at least one of a transceiver module 611 and a processing module 612 .

[0269] In some embodiments, the processing module 612 is used to determine whether the terminal meets the first condition; and, within a first time period, the terminal performs a transmission configuration indication TCI state switch; wherein, the first time period includes a first duration, and the first duration is the duration used for time and frequency tracking of the first transmission receiving point TRP.

[0270] Optionally, the above-mentioned transceiver module 611 is used to execute the steps related to sending and receiving signaling executed by the terminal 101 in any of the above methods, for example: at least one of steps S201 and S202 shown in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0271] Optionally, the processing module 612 is used to execute the content related to determining the first time period executed by the terminal 101 in any of the above methods, for example, the specific content of determining the first time period described above is not repeated here.

[0272] FIG6 b is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG6 b , the network device includes at least one of a transceiver module 621 and a processing module 622 .

[0273] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 621 is used to send a first instruction to the terminal, where the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal to activate the transmission configuration indication TCI state of the first transmission reception point TPR.

[0274] Figure 7a is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 7100 proposed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Communication device 7100 can be a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network device, etc.), a terminal (e.g., a user equipment, etc.), a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a network device to implement any of the above methods, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports a terminal to implement any of the above methods. Communication device 7100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments.

[0275] As shown in Figure 7a, the communication device 7100 includes one or more processors 7101. The processor 7101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, baseband chip, terminal device, terminal device chip, DU or CU, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. The processor 7101 is used to call instructions to enable the communication device 7100 to perform any of the above methods.

[0276] In some embodiments, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more transceivers 7103. When the communication device 7100 includes one or more transceivers 7103, the transceiver 7103 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (for example, at least one of steps S201 and S202 shown in Figure 2, but not limited thereto), and the processor 7101 performs at least one of the other steps (for example, step S203 shown in Figure 2, but not limited thereto). In an optional embodiment, the transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, and the receiver and transmitter may be separate or integrated together. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, interface circuit, interface, etc. may be interchangeable, the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit, etc. may be interchangeable, and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc. may be interchangeable.

[0277] In some embodiments, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more memories 7102 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 7102 may be located outside the communication device 7100.

[0278] In some embodiments, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more transceivers 7103. When the communication device 7100 includes one or more transceivers 7103, the communication steps such as sending and receiving in the above method are performed by the transceiver 7103, and the other steps are performed by the processor 7101.

[0279] In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, and transceiver circuit may be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, and transmitting circuit may be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, and receiving circuit may be used interchangeably.

[0280] Optionally, the communication device 7100 further includes one or more interface circuits 7104, which are connected to the memory 7102. The interface circuits 7104 may be configured to receive signals from the memory 7102 or other devices, and may be configured to send signals to the memory 7102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuits 7104 may read instructions stored in the memory 7102 and send the instructions to the processor 7101.

[0281] The communication device 7100 described in the above embodiment may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 7100 described in the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 7100 may not be limited by FIG. 7a. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: 1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the above IC collection may also include a storage component for storing data or programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, an intelligent terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, an in-vehicle device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0282] FIG7 b is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip 7200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. If the communication device 7100 can be a chip or a chip system, reference can be made to the schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 7200 shown in FIG7 b , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0283] The chip 7200 includes one or more processors 7201. The chip 7200 is configured to execute any of the above methods.

[0284] In some embodiments, chip 7200 further includes one or more interface circuits 7202. Optionally, terms such as interface circuit, interface, and transceiver pins may be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, chip 7200 further includes one or more memories 7203 for storing data. Optionally, all or part of memory 7203 may be located outside chip 7200. Optionally, interface circuit 7202 is connected to memory 7203 and may be used to receive data from memory 7203 or other devices, or may be used to send data to memory 7203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 7202 may read data stored in memory 7203 and send the data to processor 7201.

[0285] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 7202 performs at least one of the communication steps, such as sending and / or receiving, in the above-described method (e.g., at least one of steps S201 and S202 shown in FIG. 2 , but not limited thereto). The interface circuit 7202 performing the communication steps, such as sending and / or receiving, in the above-described method, for example, means that the interface circuit 7202 performs data exchange between the processor 7201, the chip 7200, the memory 7203, or the transceiver device. In some embodiments, the processor 7201 performs at least one of the other steps (e.g., step S203 shown in FIG. 2 , but not limited thereto).

[0286] The present disclosure also provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 7100, enables the communication device 7100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0287] The present disclosure also proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any one of the above methods.

[0288] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be arbitrarily combined without conflict.

[0289] Other embodiments of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and practicing the invention disclosed herein. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow from the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The description and examples are to be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

[0290] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exact construction described above and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Determining that the terminal meets the first condition; During the first time period, the terminal switches the transmission configuration indication TCI state; The first time period includes a first duration, which is the duration for time and frequency tracking of the first transmission reception point TRP.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first condition being met includes: the terminal supports at least two timing advances TA, and a reception time difference RTD between the at least two TAs is greater than a cyclic prefix CP.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The first duration is the time interval between the first synchronization signal block SSB used for time and frequency tracking and the first available path loss reference signal PL-RS after the first SSB.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that If the PL-RS is SSB, the first duration is the period of the SSB.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The PL-RS is a channel state information reference signal CSI-RS, and the first duration is greater than a preset value.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that Also includes: A first instruction is received, where the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal to activate the TCI state of the first TPR.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The first time period is determined based on the first time period and at least one of a second time period, a third time period, a fourth time period, a fifth time period, or a sixth time period; Among them, the second duration is the feedback duration of uplink data and / or downlink data, the third duration is the duration of decoding the first instruction, the fourth duration is the duration of the first reception of the reference signal, the fifth duration is the first fixed duration, and the sixth duration is the second fixed duration.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that If the SSB of the first TPR overlaps or is adjacent to the SSBs of other TRPs, and the period of the SSB of the first TPR is smaller than the period of the SSBs of other TRPs, then the sixth time length exists; if the SSB of the first TPR does not overlap or is not adjacent to the SSBs of other TRPs, then the sixth time length does not exist.

9. The method according to claims 1-8, characterized in that If the terminal maintains the PL-RS, the first duration does not exist.

10. The method according to claims 1-9, characterized in that If the TCI state is switched to the joint TCI state activation, the first time period is the maximum value of the time periods for performing TCI state activation of multiple TRPs.

11. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: A first instruction is sent to the terminal, where the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal to activate a transmission configuration indication TCI state of a first transmission reception point TPR.

12. A terminal, characterized in that: include: a processing module, configured to determine that the terminal satisfies a first condition; And, within the first time period, performing a transmission configuration indication TCI state switch; The first time period includes a first duration, and the first duration is a duration for performing time and frequency tracking on the first transmission reception point TRP.

13. A network device, characterized in that: include: The transceiver module is used to send a first instruction to the terminal, where the first instruction is used to instruct the terminal to activate the transmission configuration indication TCI state of the first transmission receiving point TPR.

14. A communication device, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; The processor is configured to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

15. A communication device, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; Wherein, the processor is used to execute the communication method described in claim 11.

16. A communication system, characterized in that: include: A terminal and a network device, wherein the terminal is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and the network device is used to implement the method according to claim 11.

17. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores executable instructions, which are loaded and executed by a processor to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

18. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores executable instructions, which are loaded and executed by a processor to implement the method according to claim 11.

19. A computer program, characterized in that When the program is run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

20. A computer program, characterized in that When the program is run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method according to claim 11.

21. A program product, characterized in that When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

22. A program product, characterized in that When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device is caused to execute the method according to claim 11 .

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