Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and a communication apparatus, which can improve the transmission performance of a beam control signal. The method comprises: a satellite acquires a transmission type of a beam control signal, the transmission type of the beam control signal being used for indicating an effective moment of a beam direction used by the satellite for communication; and the satellite receives the beam control signal on the basis of the transmission type of the beam control signal.

Description

Communication method and communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on March 4, 2024, with application number 202410248510.4 and application name “Communication Method and Communication Device,” the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communications, and more specifically, to a communication method and a communication device. Background Art

[0003] Beam hopping (BH) technology is commonly used by high-throughput satellites to provide broadband access services to ground-based terminals or as a means of communication to mitigate interference. The beam hopping payload can hop across all cells according to a beam-hopping pattern. Each beam in a beam-hopping satellite system can utilize the satellite's entire bandwidth.

[0004] The network device sends a beam control signal to the satellite to indicate the effective time of the beam hopping pattern. The network device periodically sends the beam control signal. The movement of the satellite causes the propagation delay of the beam control signal from the network device to the satellite to change, which affects the transmission of the network device beam control signal and the reception of the satellite beam control signal. For example, the satellite moves towards the network device. As time goes by, the distance between the satellite and the network device becomes closer and closer. The network device periodically sends the beam control signal with a period T. When the satellite receives the beam control signal, the distance between the satellite and the network device becomes closer and closer, and the propagation delay of the beam control signal from the network device to the satellite becomes shorter and shorter. This may cause two adjacent beam control signals to overlap in the reception time on the satellite side, which in turn causes problems with the satellite's reception of the beam control signal. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and a communication device that can improve the transmission performance of beam control signals.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be executed by a satellite, or by a satellite component, such as a satellite processor, chip, or chip system, or by a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the satellite's functions. For example, in the case of a method executed by a satellite, the method includes: obtaining, by the satellite, a transmission type of a beam steering signal, the transmission type of the beam steering signal indicating the time at which a beam direction used by the satellite for communication takes effect; and receiving, by the satellite, the beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal.

[0008] In the communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, a network device transmits a beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal. Correspondingly, a satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal. This ensures that both the network device's transmission of the beam steering signal and the satellite's reception of the beam steering signal are performed based on the beam steering signal type. This clarifies the transmission and reception of the beam steering signal, taking into account the impact of the satellite's motion on the propagation delay of the beam steering signal. This improves the transmission performance of the beam steering signal, ensuring that the beam steering signal is correctly transmitted and received.

[0009] In one possible implementation of the embodiment of the present application, the satellite acquires the transmission type of the beam steering signal, including: the satellite receives first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate the transmission type of the beam steering signal. This solution can indicate the transmission type of the beam steering signal through the first indication information, which is more flexible.

[0010] In another possible implementation of the embodiment of the present application, the transmission type of the beam steering signal is predefined. This solution does not require additional indication information to indicate the transmission type of the beam steering signal, which can save signaling overhead.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the beam steering signal transmission type is: the network device periodically transmits the beam steering signal; the satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the beam steering signal transmission type, including: the satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the period of the network device transmitting the beam steering signal and the satellite's motion pattern. This solution allows the satellite to receive the beam steering signal based on the period of the network device transmitting the beam steering signal and the satellite's motion pattern. This allows the satellite to consider the impact of satellite motion on the propagation delay of the beam steering signal when receiving the beam steering signal, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam steering signal.

[0012] In the embodiments of the present application, the period at which the network device transmits the beam steering signal remains unchanged, or the period at which the network device transmits the beam steering signal varies. Changing the period at which the network device transmits the beam steering signal can, on the one hand, prevent temporal overlap of multiple beam steering signals when the satellite receives them when the satellite moves toward the network device, and, on the other hand, avoid waste of time domain resources when the satellite moves away from the network device.

[0013] The communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application further includes: the satellite receiving a first beam steering signal, the first beam steering signal including information about the first period of the beam steering signal transmitted by the network device; and the satellite receiving the beam steering signal based on the period of the beam steering signal transmitted by the network device and the satellite's motion pattern, including: the satellite receiving a beam steering signal subsequent to the first beam steering signal based on the information about the first period and the satellite's motion pattern. In this solution, the first beam steering signal carries information about the first period of the beam steering signal transmitted by the network device, enabling the satellite to accurately receive the beam steering signal based on the information about the first period included in the first beam steering signal and its own motion pattern, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam steering signal.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present application, the first beam-steering signal further includes the remaining number N of beam-steering signals sent by the network device in the first period, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 0. The satellite receives the beam-steering signal subsequent to the first beam-steering signal based on the first period and the satellite's motion pattern, including the N beam-steering signals subsequent to the first beam-steering signal received by the satellite based on the first period, N, and the satellite's motion pattern. This solution enables the satellite to accurately receive the N beam-steering signals subsequent to the first beam-steering signal based on the first period, N, and the satellite's motion pattern, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam-steering signal.

[0015] In another possible implementation, the beam steering signal transmission type includes: the satellite periodically receives the beam steering signal; and the satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the beam steering signal transmission type, including: the satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the periodicity at which the satellite receives the beam steering signal. This solution enables the satellite to accurately receive the beam steering signal based on the periodicity at which the satellite receives the beam steering signal, and is relatively simple to implement on the satellite side.

[0016] In the embodiments of the present application, the period of the satellite receiving the beam steering signal remains unchanged, or the period of the satellite receiving the beam steering signal varies. The variation in the period of the satellite receiving the beam steering signal can, on the one hand, prevent the network device from transmitting multiple beam steering signals in time overlapping when the satellite moves toward the network device, and, on the other hand, avoid wasting time domain resources when the satellite moves away from the network device.

[0017] The communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application further includes: the satellite receiving a second beam control signal, the second beam control signal including information about the second period of the satellite receiving the beam control signal; and the satellite receiving the beam control signal based on the period of the satellite receiving the beam control signal, including: the satellite receiving a beam control signal subsequent to the second beam control signal based on the information about the second period. In this solution, the second beam control signal carries the information about the second period of the satellite receiving the beam control signal. This allows the satellite to accurately receive the beam control signal based on the information about the second period included in the second beam control signal, without considering its own motion patterns. This improves the transmission performance of the beam control signal and is relatively simple to implement on the satellite side.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present application, the second beam-steering signal further includes the remaining number M of the second period in which the satellite receives the beam-steering signal, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 0. The satellite receives the beam-steering signal subsequent to the second beam-steering signal based on information in the second period, including: the satellite receives the M beam-steering signals subsequent to the second beam-steering signal based on the second period and M. This solution enables the satellite to accurately receive the M beam-steering signals subsequent to the second beam-steering signal based on the second period and M, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam-steering signal. Furthermore, the satellite does not need to consider its own motion patterns during reception, making satellite-side implementation relatively simple.

[0019] In another possible implementation, the beam steering signal is transmitted periodically by the network device. This solution allows the satellite to receive the beam steering signal based on the intervals between beam steering signal transmissions and the satellite's motion. This allows the satellite to take into account the effect of satellite motion on the propagation delay of the beam steering signal, improving beam steering signal transmission performance. This prevents temporal overlap of multiple beam steering signals when the satellite is moving closer to the network device.

[0020] The communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application also includes: the satellite receiving a third beam steering signal from a network device, the third beam steering signal including at least one of the following: a first time interval, information about a third period of the beam steering signal sent by the network device before the first time interval, information about a fourth period of the beam steering signal sent by the network device after the first time interval, and a first duration of the beam steering signal sent by the network device in the third period before the first time interval. The satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal, including: the satellite receiving the beam steering signal after the third beam steering signal based on at least one of the first time interval, the third period, the fourth period, and the first duration, and the satellite's motion pattern. This solution enables the satellite to accurately receive the beam steering signal after the third beam steering signal based on at least one of the first time interval, the third period, the fourth period, and the first duration, and the satellite's motion pattern, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam steering signal.

[0021] In another possible implementation, the beam steering signal transmission type is periodic reception of beam steering signals at satellite intervals. This solution allows network devices to transmit beam steering signals based on the intervals between satellite beam steering signal receptions and the satellite's motion pattern. This allows the network device to consider the impact of the satellite's motion pattern on the propagation delay of the beam steering signal when transmitting the beam steering signal, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam steering signal. When the satellite moves away from the network device, this can prevent the network device from transmitting multiple beam steering signals in time overlapping.

[0022] The communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application further includes: the satellite receiving a fourth beam steering signal from the network device, the fourth beam steering signal including at least one of the following: a third time interval, information about the fifth period of the beam steering signal received by the satellite before the third time interval, information about the sixth period of the beam steering signal received by the satellite after the first time interval, and the second duration of the beam steering signal received by the satellite in the fifth period before the third time interval. The satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal, including: the satellite receiving the beam steering signal after the fourth beam steering signal according to at least one of the third time interval, the fifth period, the sixth period, and the second duration. This solution enables the satellite to receive the beam steering signal after the fourth beam steering signal according to at least one of the third time interval, the fifth period, the sixth period, and the second duration, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam steering signal. Furthermore, the satellite does not need to consider its own motion patterns during reception, making satellite-side implementation relatively simple.

[0023] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. This method can be performed by a network device, or by a component of the network device, such as a processor, chip, or system-on-chip of the network device, or by a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the network device's functionality. For example, in the case of a network device performing this method, the method includes: the network device transmitting a beam steering signal according to a transmission type of the beam steering signal, the beam steering signal being used to indicate the time at which a satellite beam direction for communication takes effect.

[0024] In the communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, a network device transmits a beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal. Correspondingly, a satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal. This ensures that both the network device's transmission of the beam steering signal and the satellite's reception of the beam steering signal are performed based on the beam steering signal type. This clarifies the transmission and reception of the beam steering signal, taking into account the impact of the satellite's motion on the propagation delay of the beam steering signal. This improves the transmission performance of the beam steering signal, enabling the beam steering signal to be accurately and correctly transmitted and received.

[0025] The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application further includes: the network device sending first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate the transmission type of the beam steering signal. This solution can indicate the transmission type of the beam steering signal to the satellite through the first indication information, which is more flexible.

[0026] In a possible implementation of the embodiment of the present application, the transmission type of the beam steering signal is predefined. This solution does not require additional indication information to indicate the transmission type of the beam steering signal, which can save signaling overhead.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the transmission type of the beam steering signal is: the network device periodically transmits the beam steering signal; and the network device transmits the beam steering signal according to the transmission type of the beam steering signal, including: the network device transmits the beam steering signal according to the periodicity at which the network device transmits the beam steering signal. This solution enables the network device to periodically transmit the beam steering signal, improving the transmission performance of the beam steering signal and is relatively simple to implement on the network device side.

[0028] In the embodiments of the present application, the period at which the network device transmits the beam steering signal remains unchanged, or the period at which the network device transmits the beam steering signal varies. Changing the period at which the network device transmits the beam steering signal can, on the one hand, prevent temporal overlap of multiple beam steering signals when the satellite receives them when the satellite moves toward the network device, and, on the other hand, avoid waste of time domain resources when the satellite moves away from the network device.

[0029] The communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application further includes: a network device transmitting a first beam steering signal, the first beam steering signal including information about a first period during which the network device transmits the beam steering signal; and the network device transmitting the beam steering signal according to the period during which the network device transmits the beam steering signal, including: the network device transmitting a beam steering signal subsequent to the first beam steering signal according to the first period. In this solution, the first beam steering signal carries information about the first period during which the network device transmits the beam steering signal. This allows the satellite to accurately receive the beam steering signal based on the information about the first period included in the first beam steering signal and its own motion patterns, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam steering signal.

[0030] In an embodiment of the present application, the first beam steering signal further includes a remaining number N of beam steering signals sent by the network device in the first period, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 0. The beam steering signal after the network device sends the first beam steering signal according to the first period includes the N beam steering signals after the network device sends the first beam steering signal according to the first period and N. This solution enables the network device to send the N beam steering signals after the first beam steering signal according to the first period and N, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam steering signal. Moreover, implementation on the network device side is relatively simple.

[0031] In another possible implementation, the beam steering signal transmission type is: the satellite periodically receives the beam steering signal; and the network device sends the beam steering signal based on the beam steering signal transmission type, including: the network device sends the beam steering signal based on the satellite's reception period and the satellite's motion pattern. This solution allows the network device to send the beam steering signal based on the satellite's reception period and the satellite's motion pattern. This allows the network device to consider the impact of the satellite's motion pattern on the beam steering signal's propagation delay when sending the beam steering signal, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam steering signal.

[0032] In the embodiments of the present application, the period of the satellite receiving the beam steering signal remains unchanged, or the period of the satellite receiving the beam steering signal varies. The variation in the period of the satellite receiving the beam steering signal can, on the one hand, prevent the network device from transmitting multiple beam steering signals in time overlapping when the satellite moves toward the network device, and, on the other hand, avoid wasting time domain resources when the satellite moves away from the network device.

[0033] The communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application further includes: the network device sending a second beam control signal, the second beam control signal including information about the second period of the satellite receiving the beam control signal; and the network device sending the beam control signal based on the period of the satellite receiving the beam control signal and the satellite's motion pattern, including: the network device sending a beam control signal after the second beam control signal based on the second period and the satellite's motion pattern. In this solution, the second beam control signal carries information about the second period of the satellite receiving the beam control signal. This allows the satellite to accurately receive the beam control signal based on the information about the second period included in the second beam control signal, without considering its own motion pattern. This improves the transmission performance of the beam control signal and is relatively simple to implement on the satellite side.

[0034] In an embodiment of the present application, the second beam steering signal also includes the remaining number M of beam steering signals received by the satellite in the second period, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 0. The network device transmits the beam steering signal subsequent to the second beam steering signal based on the second period and the satellite's motion pattern, including: the network device transmits the M beam steering signals subsequent to the second beam steering signal based on information from the second period, M, and the satellite's motion pattern. This solution enables the network device to accurately transmit the M beam steering signals subsequent to the second beam steering signal based on information from the second period, M, and the satellite's motion pattern, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam steering signal. Furthermore, since the network device transmits the beam steering signal based on the satellite's motion pattern, implementation on the satellite side is relatively simple.

[0035] In another possible implementation, the beam steering signal is transmitted periodically by the network device. This solution allows the satellite to receive the beam steering signal based on the intervals between beam steering signal transmissions and the satellite's motion. This allows the satellite to take into account the effect of satellite motion on the propagation delay of the beam steering signal, improving beam steering signal transmission performance. This prevents temporal overlap of multiple beam steering signals when the satellite is moving closer to the network device.

[0036] The communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application also includes: the network device sends a third beam control signal to the satellite. The third beam control signal includes at least one of the following: a first time interval, information of the third period of the beam control signal sent by the network device before the first time interval, information of the fourth period of the beam control signal sent by the network device after the first time interval, and the first duration of the beam control signal sent by the network device before the first time interval in the third period. The network device sends the beam control signal according to the transmission type of the beam control signal, including: the network device sends the beam control signal after the third beam control signal according to at least one of the first time interval, the third period, the fourth period, and the first duration. This solution enables the network device to send the beam control signal after the third beam control signal according to at least one of the first time interval, the third period, the fourth period, and the first duration, and the implementation on the network device side is relatively simple.

[0037] In another possible implementation, the beam steering signal transmission type is periodic reception of beam steering signals at satellite intervals. This solution allows network devices to transmit beam steering signals based on the intervals between satellite beam steering signal receptions and the satellite's motion pattern. This allows the network device to consider the impact of the satellite's motion pattern on the propagation delay of the beam steering signal when transmitting the beam steering signal, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam steering signal. When the satellite moves away from the network device, this can prevent the network device from transmitting multiple beam steering signals in time overlapping.

[0038] The communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application further includes: a network device transmitting a fourth beam steering signal to a satellite. The fourth beam steering signal includes at least one of the following: a third time interval, information about the fifth period of the beam steering signal received by the satellite before the third time interval, information about the sixth period of the beam steering signal received by the satellite after the first time interval, and the second duration of the beam steering signal received by the satellite in the fifth period before the third time interval. The network device transmits the beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal, including: the network device transmits the beam steering signal subsequent to the fourth beam steering signal based on at least one of the third time interval, the fifth period, the sixth period, and the second duration, and the satellite's motion pattern. This solution enables the network device to transmit the beam steering signal subsequent to the fourth beam steering signal based on at least one of the third time interval, the fifth period, the sixth period, and the second duration, and the satellite's motion pattern, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam steering signal. Furthermore, since the network device transmits the beam steering signal based on the satellite's motion pattern, implementation on the satellite side is simplified.

[0039] In a third aspect, a communication device is provided for implementing the various methods described above. The communication device may be the satellite described in the first aspect, or a device included in the satellite, such as a chip; or the communication device may be the network device described in the second aspect, or a device included in the network device, such as a chip.

[0040] The communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the above-mentioned methods. The modules, units, or means may be implemented by hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.

[0041] In some possible designs, the communication device may include a processing module and a communication module. The communication module may include an output module (or a sending module) and an input module (or a receiving module), respectively configured to implement the output (or sending) and input (or receiving) functions of any of the above aspects and any possible designs thereof. The processing module may be configured to implement the processing functions of any of the above aspects and any possible designs thereof.

[0042] Optionally, the communication device further includes a storage module for storing program instructions and data.

[0043] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: at least one processor configured to execute a computer program or instruction, or to cause the communication device to perform any of the methods described above, through logic circuitry. The communication device may be the satellite described in the first aspect, or a device included in the satellite, such as a chip; or the communication device may be the network device described in the second aspect, or a device included in the network device, such as a chip.

[0044] In some possible designs, the communication device further includes a memory for storing computer instructions and / or configuration files of logic circuits. Optionally, the memory is integrated with the processor, or the memory is independent of the processor.

[0045] In one possible design, the communication device further includes a communication interface for inputting and / or outputting signals.

[0046] In some possible designs, the communication interface is an interface circuit for reading and writing computer instructions. For example, the interface circuit is used to receive computer execution instructions (computer execution instructions are stored in a memory, may be read directly from the memory, or may pass through other devices) and transmit them to the processor.

[0047] In some possible designs, the communication interface is used to communicate with modules outside the communication device.

[0048] In some possible designs, the communication device may be a chip system. When the communication device is a chip system, the chip system may include a chip or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0049] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a logic circuit and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is configured to input and / or output information; and the logic circuit is configured to execute the method of any of the above aspects, processing the input information and / or generating output information. The communication device may be the satellite of the first aspect, or a device included in the satellite, such as a chip; or the communication device may be the network device of the second aspect, or a device included in the network device, such as a chip.

[0050] It can be understood that when the communication device provided in any one of the third to fifth aspects is a chip, the above-mentioned sending action / function can be understood as output information, and the above-mentioned receiving action / function can be understood as input information.

[0051] In a sixth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, in which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer program or instruction is executed by a processor, the method of any of the above aspects is executed.

[0052] In a seventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, which, when executed by a processor, enables the method of any of the above aspects to be executed.

[0053] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a module / unit for executing the method of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0054] In a ninth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising the satellite described in the first aspect and the network device described in the second aspect. The satellite and the network device may be implemented as the communication apparatus provided in any one of the third to fifth aspects.

[0055] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the third to ninth aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by different design methods in the above-mentioned first or second aspects, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of an NTN network based on a transparent transmission scenario;

[0057] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of an NTN network based on a regeneration scenario;

[0058] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a system model of a forward link of a beam-hopping satellite system;

[0059] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0060] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 500 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] FIG7 is a schematic diagram showing that the network device periodically sends a beam control signal at a constant period when the satellite moves in a direction close to the network device;

[0063] FIG8 is a schematic diagram showing that the network device periodically sends a beam control signal at a constant period when the satellite moves in a direction away from the network device;

[0064] FIG9 is a schematic diagram showing that the network device periodically sends beam control signals with varying periods when the satellite moves in a direction close to the network device;

[0065] FIG10 is a schematic diagram showing that the network device periodically sends beam control signals with varying periods when the satellite's motion pattern is such that the satellite moves away from the network device;

[0066] FIG11 is a schematic diagram showing that the network device periodically sends beam control signals with varying periods when the satellite moves in a direction close to the network device;

[0067] FIG12 is a schematic diagram showing a satellite motion pattern in which the satellite periodically receives beam control signals at a constant period when the satellite moves in a direction away from the network device;

[0068] FIG13 is a schematic diagram showing a satellite motion pattern in which the satellite periodically receives beam control signals with varying periods when the satellite moves toward a network device;

[0069] FIG14 is a schematic diagram showing that the satellite periodically receives beam control signals with varying periods when the satellite moves in a direction away from the network device;

[0070] FIG15 is a schematic diagram showing that the network device periodically transmits beam control signals at intervals when the satellite's motion pattern is such that the satellite moves toward the direction close to the network device;

[0071] FIG16 is a schematic diagram showing that the network device periodically transmits beam control signals at intervals when the satellite's motion pattern is that the satellite moves away from the network device;

[0072] FIG17 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, " / " indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship, for example, A / B can represent A or B; "and / or" in this application is merely a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist, for example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural.

[0074] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more than two. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b and / or c can be represented by: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, c can be single or plural.

[0075] In addition, to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, the words "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between identical or similar items with substantially the same functions and effects. Those skilled in the art will understand that the words "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or execution order, and the words "first" and "second" do not necessarily mean different.

[0076] In the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner to facilitate understanding.

[0077] It will be understood that the “embodiment” mentioned throughout the specification means that the specific features, structures or characteristics related to the embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Therefore, the various embodiments throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, these specific features, structures or characteristics can be combined in one or more embodiments in any suitable manner. It will be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the sequence number of each process 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 embodiment of the present application.

[0078] It can be understood that in this application, "when" and "if" both mean that corresponding processing will be taken under certain objective circumstances, and do not limit the time, nor do they require any judgment action when implementing, nor do they mean that there are other limitations.

[0079] It is understood that some optional features in the embodiments of the present application may, in certain scenarios, be implemented independently of other features, such as the solution on which they are currently based, to solve corresponding technical problems and achieve corresponding effects. They may also be combined with other features in certain scenarios as needed. Accordingly, the devices provided in the embodiments of the present application may also implement these features or functions accordingly, which will not be described in detail here.

[0080] In this application, unless otherwise specified, the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can refer to each other. In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified and there is no logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logical relationships. The following description of the embodiments of this application does not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.

[0081] First, a brief introduction to several scenarios involved in the embodiments of this application is given as follows:

[0082] 1. Application scenarios of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs).

[0083] 1.1. Transparent transmission scenario

[0084] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an NTN network application scenario based on a transparent transmission scenario. As shown in Figure 1, the NTN network in the transparent transmission scenario includes satellites, gateways, terrestrial access network equipment, terrestrial core network, and terminal equipment.

[0085] The gateway can be a ground station, an earth station, a gateway station, a gateway station, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0086] In a transparent transmission scenario, the satellite acts as an analog RF repeater, performing wireless frequency conversion and amplification, transparently transmitting or replicating signals between access network equipment and terminal devices. For example, a signal sent by a terminal device can be transparently transmitted via the satellite, forwarded by a gateway, and then enter the terrestrial access network equipment.

[0087] 1.2. Regeneration scene.

[0088] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an NTN network application scenario based on a regeneration scenario. As shown in Figure 2, a satellite can serve as an access network device for wireless communications, regenerating signals received from the ground, understanding and processing these signals, and a gateway can forward signaling between the satellite (i.e., the access network device) and the core network.

[0089] 2.BH.

[0090] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the forward link system model for a BH satellite system. As shown in Figure 3, services are uploaded to the satellite via a gateway and then transmitted to ground users via a BH downlink. The downlink utilizes a time-division multiplexing mechanism, with different BH beam positions activated in different time units. Each beam in a BH satellite system can utilize the entire or partial bandwidth of the satellite. If too many beams are activated in the same time slot, or if adjacent beams operate simultaneously with overlapping frequency bands, co-channel interference may occur. However, if the maximum number of beams activated at the same time is small, the impact of inter-cluster co-channel interference can be ignored.

[0091] In the transparent transmission scenario, the satellite uses BH to communicate with the terminal device. The access network device generates BH beam control information based on the needs of the terminal device user. The activation time (or effective time) of BH needs to be synchronized with the satellite.

[0092] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4, the communication system includes a satellite and network equipment. In this embodiment of the present application, the satellite is configured to determine the transmission type of a beam steering signal and receive the beam steering signal based on the transmission type, while the network equipment is configured to determine the transmission type of the beam steering signal and transmit the beam steering signal based on the transmission type. The beam steering signal indicates the effective time of the beam direction used by the satellite for communication with a terminal device.

[0093] Optionally, the satellite may be a satellite of the NTN network based on the transparent transmission scenario in the related technology 1.1, or the satellite may be other satellites, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0094] Optionally, the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the fourth generation mobile communication technology (4G) system, the fifth generation mobile communication technology (5G) system, NTN system, vehicle to everything (V2X), long-term evolution - vehicle network (LTE-vehicle, LTE-V), vehicle to vehicle (V2V), vehicle network, machine type communication (MTC), Internet of things (IoT), long-term evolution - machine to machine (LTE-machine to machine, LTE-M), machine to machine (M2M), Internet of Things, or future mobile communication systems such as the future sixth generation mobile communication technology (6G), etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0095] Optionally, the terminal device involved in the present application can be a user equipment (UE), access terminal, terminal unit, user station, terminal station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, user terminal terminal equipment, TE), mobile device, wireless communication device, terminal agent, tablet computer (pad), handheld device with wireless communication function, computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, vehicle-mounted device, vehicle-mounted transceiver unit, wearable device, or terminal device in a 4G network, or a 5G network, or a public land mobile network (PLMN) evolved after 5G. The access terminal can be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a drone, a robot, a smart point of sale (POS) machine, a customer-premises equipment (CPE) or a wearable device, virtual reality (VR) The terminal may be a wireless terminal in an IoT environment, such as a terminal device for virtual reality (VR), a terminal device for augmented reality (AR), a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical care, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, or a wireless terminal in a smart home. Alternatively, the terminal may be a terminal with communication capabilities in the IoT, such as a terminal in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) (e.g., a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) device), a terminal in device-to-device (D2D) communication, or a terminal in machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. The terminal may be mobile or fixed.

[0096] Optionally, the network device involved in the present application may be an access network device, for example, it may include an evolved base station (NodeB or eNB or e-NodeB, evolutionary Node B) in a long term evolution (LTE) system or an enhanced LTE (LTE-advanced, LTE-A) system, such as a traditional macro base station eNB and a micro base station eNB in ​​a heterogeneous network scenario. Alternatively, it may include a next generation node B (gNB) in a new radio (NR) system. Alternatively, it may include a transmission reception point (TRP), a home base station (e.g., home evolved NodeB, or home Node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU), a base band pool (BBU pool), or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) access point (AP), etc. Alternatively, it may include a base station in a non-terrestrial network (NTN), that is, it may be deployed on an aircraft or satellite. In the NTN, the network device or access device may serve as a layer 1 (L1) relay, or as a base station, or as an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node. Alternatively, the network device in the embodiments of the present application may be a device that implements base station functions in the IoT, such as a device that implements base station functions in drone communications, V2X, D2D, or M2M.

[0097] In some possible scenarios, the network device in the embodiments of the present application may also be a module or unit that can implement some functions of the base station. For example, the network device may 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 may be set separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU may 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).

[0098] 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, the first network device may be a network device or a module of a network device in an open radio access network (open RAN, ORAN) system. In the ORAN system, CU may also be referred to as open (open, O)-CU, DU may also be referred to as O-DU, CU-CP may also be referred to as O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be referred to as O-CU-UP, and RU may also be referred to as O-RU. Any of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application may be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0099] Optionally, the base station in the embodiment of the present application may include various forms of base stations, such as: macro base stations, micro base stations (also called small stations), relay stations, access points, home base stations, transmission and receiving points (TRP), transmitting points (TP), mobile switching centers, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0100] It should be noted that the communication system described in the embodiment of the present application is intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the evolution of network architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0101] Optionally, the relevant functions of the satellite and network equipment involved in this application can be implemented by one device, or by multiple devices together, or by one or more functional modules within a device, or by one or more chips, or by a system on chip (SOC) or a chip system. The chip system can be composed of chips, or can include chips and other discrete devices. The embodiments of this application do not specifically limit this.

[0102] It is understandable that the above functions can be network elements in hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or a combination of hardware and software, or virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

[0103] For example, the relevant functions of the satellite or network equipment involved in this application can be implemented by the communication device 500 in Figure 5. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device 500 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 500 includes one or more processors 511. The processor 511 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor. For example, it can be 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 network device, terminal device, or chip), execute software programs, and process software program data.

[0104] Optionally, in one design, the processor 511 may include a program 513 (sometimes also referred to as code or instructions), and the program 513 may be executed on the processor 511 so that the communication device 500 performs the method described in the following embodiments.

[0105] Optionally, the communication device 500 may include one or more memories 512 on which a program 514 (sometimes also referred to as code or instructions) is stored. The program 514 can be run on the processor 511, so that the communication device 500 performs the method described in the following method embodiment.

[0106] Optionally, the processor 511 and / or the memory 512 may include artificial intelligence (AI) modules 517 and 518, which are used to implement AI-related functions. The AI ​​module may be implemented through software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. For example, the AI ​​module may include a RAN intelligent controller (RIC) module. For example, the AI ​​module may be a near real-time RIC or a non-real-time RIC.

[0107] Optionally, data may be stored in the processor 511 and / or the memory 512. The processor and the memory may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0108] Optionally, the communication device 500 may further include a transceiver 515 and / or an antenna 516. The processor 511 may also be referred to as a processing unit, which controls the communication device (e.g., a network device or a terminal device). The transceiver 515 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, and is configured to implement the transceiver function of the communication device through the antenna 516.

[0109] Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, the processor 511 is a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. The processor 511 may also be other devices with processing functions, such as circuits, devices, or software modules, without limitation.

[0110] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the memory 512 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and / or instructions, or a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and / or instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, etc., without limitation.

[0111] Although not shown, as an optional implementation, the communication device 500 further includes an output device and an input device. For example, the input device is a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, or a joystick, and the output device is a display screen, a speaker, or the like.

[0112] It should be noted that the communication device 500 may be a desktop computer, a portable computer, a network server, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal, an embedded device, a chip system, or a device having a structure similar to that shown in FIG5 . Furthermore, the structure shown in FIG5 does not limit the communication device. In addition to the components shown in FIG5 , the communication device may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

[0113] In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0114] The communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the communication system shown in FIG. 4 above.

[0115] It should be noted that in the following embodiments of the present application, the message names, parameter names, or information names between network elements are only examples. In other embodiments, they may also be other names, and the method provided in the present application does not make specific limitations on this.

[0116] It is understood that in the embodiments of the present application, each network element may perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application. These steps or operations are merely examples, and the embodiments of the present application may also perform other operations or variations of various operations. In addition, the steps may be performed in a different order than those presented in the embodiments of the present application, and it is possible that not all operations in the embodiments of the present application need to be performed.

[0117] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of an example of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The method is described by taking the interaction between a satellite and a network device as an example. Of course, the subject that performs the satellite action in the method can also be a device / module of the satellite, such as a chip, processor, or processing unit in the satellite; the subject that performs the network device action in the method can also be a device / module in the network device, such as a chip, processor, or processing unit in the network device, etc., and the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this. Exemplarily, as shown in FIG6, method 600 includes:

[0118] S610: The network device obtains the transmission type of the beam steering signal. Correspondingly, the satellite obtains the transmission type of the beam steering signal.

[0119] In the embodiment of the present application, the beam control signal is used to indicate the effective time of the beam direction used by the satellite for communication. For example, the beam used by the satellite for communication can be the hopping beam in the above-mentioned related technology 2, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0120] In one possible implementation, in an embodiment of the present application, obtaining the transmission type of a beam steering signal by a satellite includes: the satellite receiving first indication information. The first indication information indicates the transmission type of the beam steering signal. Accordingly, the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present application further includes: the network device sending the first indication information to the satellite.

[0121] Exemplarily, the first indication information may be newly added signaling, or the first indication information may be reused existing signaling, which is not limited in the present embodiment. This solution can indicate the transmission type of the beam control signal through the first indication information, which is more flexible.

[0122] Exemplarily, the first indication information may include an index of the transmission type of the beam control signal. This solution can simplify the content of the first indication information and save signaling overhead. Table 1 is a schematic diagram of the one-to-one correspondence between the index of the transmission type of the beam control signal and the transmission type of the beam control signal. As shown in Table 1, the first indication information includes the index "0" to indicate that the transmission type of the beam control signal is type one, the first indication information includes the index "1" to indicate that the transmission type of the beam control signal is type two, the first indication information includes the index "2" to indicate that the transmission type of the beam control signal is type three, and so on. The first indication information includes the index "n-1" to indicate that the transmission type of the beam control signal is type n. The embodiments of the present application will not be repeated here.

[0123] Table 1

[0124] In another possible implementation, the transmission type of the beam steering signal is predefined. For example, a predefined transmission type for the beam steering signal is used by network devices and satellites by default. This solution eliminates the need for additional information to indicate the transmission type of the beam steering signal, thus reducing signaling overhead.

[0125] In an embodiment of the present application, the transmission type of the beam control signal includes at least one of the following: the network device periodically sends the beam control signal, the satellite periodically receives the beam control signal, the network device periodically sends the beam control signal at intervals, and the satellite periodically receives the beam control signal at intervals, or other transmission types, which are not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0126] S620: The network device sends a beam steering signal according to the transmission type of the beam steering signal. Correspondingly, the satellite receives the beam steering signal according to the transmission type of the beam steering signal.

[0127] It should be noted that in an embodiment of the present application, the satellite can use a blind search method to receive the first beam control signal sent by the network device; or, the satellite can receive the first beam control signal sent by the network device based on other information, such as indication information sent by the network device (for example, indication information indicating a period), and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0128] As described above, in one possible implementation, the transmission type of the beam control signal is: the network device periodically sends the beam control signal. In this scenario, the network device sends the beam control signal according to the transmission type of the beam control signal, including: the network device sends the beam control signal according to the period of sending the beam control signal. Correspondingly, the satellite receives the beam control signal according to the transmission type of the beam control signal, including: the satellite receives the beam control signal according to the period of sending the beam control signal by the network device and the motion pattern of the satellite. That is, the network device sends the beam control signal according to the period, and the satellite adjusts the time of receiving the beam control signal according to the period of sending the beam control signal by the network device and the motion pattern of the satellite. This solution allows the satellite to receive the beam control signal according to the period of sending the beam control signal by the network device and the motion pattern of the satellite, so that when receiving the beam control signal, the satellite considers the impact of satellite motion on the propagation delay of the beam control signal, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam control signal.

[0129] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the period at which the network device sends the beam control signal remains unchanged, or the period at which the network device sends the beam control signal changes. For example, the network device sends the beam control signal to the satellite with a fixed period T. For another example, the network device sends the beam control signal to the satellite with a period T1 for a period of time, and then sends the beam control signal to the satellite with a period T2, where T1 and T2 are not equal. The change in the period at which the network device sends the beam control signal can, on the one hand, avoid temporal overlap of multiple beam control signals when the satellite receives the beam control signal when the satellite moves toward the network device, and on the other hand, avoid waste of time domain resources when the satellite moves away from the network device.

[0130] Optionally, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application further includes: the network device sends a first beam control signal to the satellite. Accordingly, the satellite receives the first beam control signal from the network device, and the first beam control signal includes information about the first period of the network device sending the beam control signal. The network device sends the beam control signal according to the period of sending the beam control signal, including: the network device sends the beam control signal after the first beam control signal is sent according to the information of the first period. Accordingly, the satellite receives the beam control signal according to the period of sending the beam control signal by the network device and the motion law of the satellite, including: the satellite receives the beam control signal after the first beam control signal is received according to the information of the first period and the motion law of the satellite. In this solution, the first beam control signal carries the information about the first period of sending the beam control signal by the network device, which can enable the satellite to accurately receive the beam control signal according to the information of the first period included in the first beam control signal and its own motion law, thereby improving the transmission performance of the beam control signal.

[0131] The following describes in detail, by way of example, the beam control signal transmitted by the network device when the period remains unchanged and when the period changes, and the satellite receives the first beam control signal based on the information of the first period and the movement law of the satellite.

[0132] For scenarios where the period of beam steering signals sent by network devices remains unchanged:

[0133] For example, Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network device periodically transmitting beam steering signals at a constant period when the satellite's motion pattern is such that the satellite is moving toward the network device. As shown in Figure 7, the network device transmits beam steering signals #0 through #4 with a period T. The satellite adjusts the time window for receiving beam steering signals #0 through #4 based on the period T of the network device's beam steering signals and the satellite's motion pattern (i.e., the satellite receives beam steering signals at increasingly smaller time intervals, or receives the beam steering signals in advance). Beam steering signals #0 through #4 received by the satellite include information about the period T.

[0134] For example, the satellite's motion pattern is that the satellite is moving away from the network device. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the network device periodically transmitting beam steering signals with a constant period when the satellite's motion pattern is that the satellite is moving away from the network device. As shown in Figure 8, the network device transmits beam steering signals #0 through #4 with a period T. The satellite adjusts the time window for receiving beam steering signals #0 through #4 based on the period T of the network device's beam steering signals and the satellite's motion pattern (i.e., the satellite receives beam steering signals at increasingly longer time intervals, or receives them with a delay). Beam steering signals #0 through #4 received by the satellite include information about the period T.

[0135] In the above two examples, the first beam control signal can be any one of beam control signal #0 to beam control signal #4, and the information of the first period can be information of period T. For example, the first beam control signal is beam control signal #1, and beam control signal #1 includes information of period T. The satellite receives beam control signal #2 according to the information of period T and the movement law of the satellite. The beam control signal #2 received by the satellite includes information of period T. The satellite then receives beam control signal #3 according to the information of period T and the movement law of the satellite, and so on. The embodiments of the present application will not be described in detail here. It should be noted that, as described at the beginning of step S620, if the first beam control signal is beam control signal #0, the satellite receives beam control signal #0 through blind search or indication information, and the following embodiments will not provide additional description of the beam control signal #0 received by the satellite.

[0136] For scenarios where the network device sends beam steering signals with periodic changes:

[0137] For example, the satellite's motion pattern is that the satellite moves toward the network device. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the network device periodically sending beam control signals with varying periods when the satellite's motion pattern is that the satellite moves toward the network device. As shown in Figure 9, the network device sends beam control signals #0 to #2 with a period of T1, and sends beam control signals #3 and #4 with a period of T2. The satellite adjusts the time window for receiving beam control signals #0 to #4 based on the periods T1 and T2 of the network device sending beam control signals and the satellite's motion pattern (i.e., the satellite receives beam control signals #1 to #2 at increasingly smaller time intervals, and after adjusting the period, receives beam control signals #3 and #4 at increasingly larger time intervals). It should be noted that T1 is less than T2.

[0138] For example, the satellite's motion pattern is that the satellite moves away from the network device. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the network device periodically sending beam control signals with varying periods when the satellite's motion pattern is that the satellite moves away from the network device. As shown in Figure 10, the network device sends beam control signals #0 to #2 with a period of T1, and sends beam control signals #3 and #4 with a period of T2. The satellite adjusts the time window for receiving beam control signals #0 to #4 based on the periods T1 and T2 of the network device sending beam control signals and the satellite's motion pattern (i.e., beam control signals #1 to #2 are received at increasingly larger time intervals, and after adjusting the period, beam control signals #3 and #4 are received at increasingly larger time intervals). It should be noted that T1 is greater than T2.

[0139] For the above two examples, in one possible implementation, the first beam control signal may be beam control signal #0 and beam control signal #1, and the information of the first period may be information of period T1; the first beam control signal may be beam control signal #2 to beam control signal #4, and the information of the first period may be information of period T2, that is, when the period of the network device sending the beam control signal changes, the beam control signal before the period change includes information of the changed period. For example, the first beam control signal is beam control signal #1, and beam control signal #1 includes information of period T1. The satellite receives beam control signal #2 based on the information of period T1 and the satellite's motion law. The beam control signal #2 received by the satellite includes information of period T2. The satellite then receives beam control signal #3 based on the information of period T2 and the satellite's motion law, and so on. The embodiments of the present application will not be described in detail here.

[0140] For the two examples above, in another possible implementation, the first beam-steering signal further includes a remaining number N of beam-steering signals sent by the network device in the first period, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 0. The network device sending the beam-steering signal after the first beam-steering signal according to the first period includes: the network device sending the N beam-steering signals after the first beam-steering signal according to the first period and N. Correspondingly, the satellite receiving the beam-steering signal after the first beam-steering signal according to the first period and a motion law of the satellite includes: the satellite receiving the N beam-steering signals after the first beam-steering signal according to the first period, N, and the motion law of the satellite. For example, the first beam steering signals may include beam steering signals #0 to #2, where N in beam steering signal #0 is 2, N in beam steering signal #1 is 1, and N in beam steering signal #2 is 0. The information in the first period may be information in period T1. The first beam steering signals may include beam steering signals #3 and #4, where N in beam steering signal #3 is 1, and N in beam steering signal #4 is 0. The information in the first period may be information in period T2. When N is 0, the satellite uses a blind search method to receive the next beam steering signal. For example, the first beam control signal is beam control signal #2, beam control signal #2 includes information of period T1, N is 0, and the satellite blindly searches for beam control signal #3 based on the information of period T1, N is 0, and the movement law of the satellite. The beam control signal #3 received by the satellite includes information of period T2, N is 1, and the satellite then receives beam control signal #4 based on the information of period T2, N is 1, and the movement law of the satellite, and so on. The embodiments of the present application will not be repeated here.

[0141] For the above two examples, as a possible implementation, the first beam control signal may further include information such as the duration Δt1 of the first cycle. The satellite may receive the beam control signal after the first beam control signal based on this information and its own motion pattern. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the information included in the first beam control signal. For example,

[0142] The first beam steering signal may be beam steering signal #0 to beam steering signal #4. Beam steering signal #0 to beam steering signal #4 include information about period T1, period T2, and duration Δt1 of period T1. The satellite may receive beam steering signal #1 and beam steering signal #2 based on period T1, duration Δt1 of period T1, and the satellite's motion pattern. The satellite may receive beam steering signal #3 based on period T2, duration Δt1 of period T1, and the satellite's motion pattern. The satellite may receive beam steering signal #4 based on period T2 and the satellite's motion pattern. If beam steering signal #4 is followed by a beam steering signal transmitted with period T3, beam steering signal #3 and beam steering signal #4 also include information about duration of period T2. This is analogous and will not be further described in detail in this embodiment of the present application.

[0143] As described above, in another possible implementation, the transmission type of the beam steering signal is: the satellite periodically receives the beam steering signal. In this scenario, the network device transmits the beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal, including: the network device transmits the beam steering signal based on the periodicity of the satellite's beam steering signal reception and the satellite's motion pattern. Accordingly, the satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal, including: the satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the periodicity of the beam steering signal reception. That is, the satellite receives the beam steering signal based on a periodicity, and the network device adjusts the timing of transmitting the beam steering signal based on the periodicity of the satellite's beam steering signal reception and the satellite's motion pattern. This solution allows the network device to transmit the beam steering signal based on the periodicity of the satellite's beam steering signal reception and the satellite's motion pattern. This allows the network device to consider the impact of the satellite's motion pattern on the propagation delay of the beam steering signal when transmitting the beam steering signal, allowing the satellite to accurately receive the beam steering signal based on the periodicity of the beam steering signal reception. This simplifies implementation on the satellite side and improves the transmission performance of the beam steering signal.

[0144] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the period at which the satellite receives the beam steering signal remains unchanged, or the period at which the satellite receives the beam steering signal varies. For example, the satellite receives the beam steering signal with a fixed period T. For another example, after receiving the beam steering signal with a period T1 for a period of time, the satellite receives the beam steering signal with a period T2, where T1 and T2 are not equal. The change in the period at which the satellite receives the beam steering signal can, on the one hand, avoid temporal overlap of multiple beam steering signals when the network device transmits the beam steering signal when the satellite moves toward the network device, and on the other hand, avoid waste of time domain resources when the satellite moves away from the network device.

[0145] Optionally, the communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application further includes: the network device sending a second beam steering signal to the satellite. Accordingly, the satellite receives the second beam steering signal from the network device, the second beam steering signal including information about the second period of the satellite receiving the beam steering signal. The network device sends the beam steering signal based on the period of the satellite receiving the beam steering signal and the satellite's motion pattern, including: the network device sends the beam steering signal following the second beam steering signal based on the information about the second period and the satellite's motion pattern. Accordingly, the satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the period of the satellite receiving the beam steering signal, including: the satellite receives the beam steering signal following the second beam steering signal based on the information about the second period. In this solution, the second beam steering signal carries information about the second period of the satellite receiving the beam steering signal. This allows the satellite to accurately receive the beam steering signal based on the information about the second period included in the second beam steering signal, without considering its own motion pattern. This improves the transmission performance of the beam steering signal and is relatively simple to implement on the satellite side.

[0146] The following will use examples to explain in detail the beam control signal after the network device sends the second beam control signal based on the information of the second period and the movement law of the satellite when the period of the satellite receiving beam control signal remains unchanged and the period of the satellite receiving beam control signal changes.

[0147] For scenarios where the satellite receives beam control signals with a constant period:

[0148] For example, Figure 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a satellite periodically receiving beam steering signals with varying periods when the satellite's motion pattern is such that the satellite is moving toward a network device. As shown in Figure 11, the network device adjusts the transmission timing of beam steering signals #0 through #4 based on the satellite's period T for receiving beam steering signals and the satellite's motion pattern, such that the satellite receives beam steering signals #0 through #4 with a period T (i.e., the network device transmits beam steering signals at increasingly larger intervals, or transmits beam steering signals with a delay). Beam steering signals #0 through #4 received by the satellite include information about the period T.

[0149] For example, Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a satellite periodically receiving beam steering signals with a constant period when the satellite's motion pattern is moving away from a network device. As shown in Figure 12 , the network device adjusts the transmission timing of beam steering signals #0 through #4 based on the satellite's period T for receiving beam steering signals and the satellite's motion pattern, such that the satellite receives beam steering signals #0 through #4 with a period T (i.e., the network device transmits beam steering signals at increasingly smaller intervals, or transmits beam steering signals in advance). Beam steering signals #0 through #4 received by the satellite include information about the period T.

[0150] In the above two examples, the second beam steering signal may be any one of beam steering signal #0 to beam steering signal #4, and the second period information may be information of period T. For example, the second beam steering signal is beam steering signal #1, and beam steering signal #1 includes information of period T. The satellite receives beam steering signal #2 based on the information of period T. The beam steering signal #2 received by the satellite includes information of period T. The satellite then receives beam steering signal #3 based on the information of period T, and so on. The embodiments of the present application are not further described here.

[0151] For scenarios where the satellite receives periodic changes in the beam steering signal:

[0152] For example, the satellite's motion pattern is such that the satellite moves toward a network device. Figure 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the satellite periodically receiving beam steering signals with varying periods when the satellite's motion pattern is such that the satellite moves toward the network device. As shown in Figure 13, the network device transmits beam steering signals #0 to #2 based on the satellite's reception period T1 and the satellite's motion pattern, causing the satellite to receive beam steering signals #0 to #2 with a period T1. Subsequently, the network device transmits beam steering signals #3 and #4 based on the satellite's reception period T2 and the satellite's motion pattern, causing the satellite to receive beam steering signals #3 and #4 with a period T2. For example, to prevent the network device from transmitting beam steering signals at increasingly longer intervals, the satellite's reception period for beam steering signals can be shortened, i.e., T1 can be greater than T2, while ensuring that multiple beam steering signals received by the satellite do not overlap.

[0153] For example, the satellite's motion pattern is such that the satellite moves away from the network device. Figure 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating the satellite periodically receiving beam steering signals with varying periods when the satellite's motion pattern is such that the satellite moves away from the network device. As shown in Figure 14, the network device transmits beam steering signals #0 to #2 based on the satellite's period T1 for receiving beam steering signals and the satellite's motion pattern, causing the satellite to receive beam steering signals #0 to #2 with a period T1. Subsequently, the network device transmits beam steering signals #3 and #4 based on the satellite's period T2 for receiving beam steering signals and the satellite's motion pattern, causing the satellite to receive beam steering signals #3 and #4 with a period T2. For example, to prevent the network device from transmitting beam steering signals at increasingly smaller intervals, which can cause overlap in the time it transmits multiple beam steering signals, the satellite's period for receiving beam steering signals can be increased, i.e., T1 can be less than T2.

[0154] For the two examples above, in one possible implementation, the second beam control signal may be beam control signal #0 and beam control signal #1, and the second period information may be period T1 information; the second beam control signal may be beam control signal #2 to beam control signal #4, and the second period information may be period T2 information. That is, when the period of the satellite receiving the beam control signal changes, the beam control signal before the period change includes the information of the changed period. For example, the second beam control signal is beam control signal #1, and beam control signal #1 includes period T1 information. The satellite receives beam control signal #2 based on period T1 information. The beam control signal #2 received by the satellite includes period T2 information. The satellite then receives beam control signal #3 based on period T2 information, and so on. The embodiments of the present application will not be described in detail here.

[0155] For the two examples above, in another possible implementation, the second beam-steering signal further includes a remaining number M of beam-steering signals received by the satellite in the second period, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 0. The network device sending the beam-steering signal after the second beam-steering signal according to the second period and the satellite's motion pattern includes: the network device sending the M beam-steering signals after the second beam-steering signal according to the second period, the satellite's motion pattern, and M. Correspondingly, the satellite receiving the beam-steering signal after the second beam-steering signal according to the second period includes: the satellite receiving the M beam-steering signals after the first beam-steering signal according to the second period and M. The second beam steering signals may be beam steering signals #0 to #2, where M is 2 in beam steering signal #0, 1 in beam steering signal #1, and 0 in beam steering signal #2. The second period information may be information from period T1. The second beam steering signals may be beam steering signals #3 and #4, where M is 1 in beam steering signal #3 and 0 in beam steering signal #4. The second period information may be information from period T2. When M is 0, the satellite uses a blind search to receive the next beam steering signal. For example, the second beam steering signal may be beam steering signal #2, which includes information from period T1 and M is 0. Based on the information from period T1 and M being 0, the satellite blindly searches for beam steering signal #3. The received beam steering signal #3 includes information from period T2 and M is 1. The satellite then receives beam steering signal #4 based on the information from period T2 and M being 1. This process is repeated and the embodiments of the present application are not further described herein.

[0156] For the above two examples, as a possible implementation method, the second beam control signal may also include information about the duration of the second period Δt2, etc., and reference may be made to the relevant description that the first beam control signal includes information about the duration of the first period Δt1. The embodiments of the present application will not be repeated here.

[0157] As described above, in another possible implementation, the transmission type of the beam control signal is: the network device periodically sends the beam control signal at intervals. In one possible implementation, the period for the network device to send the beam control signal before and after the interval remains unchanged. For example, the network device sends the beam control signal with a period of time T, does not send the beam control signal after an interval of time, and then sends the beam control signal with a period of time T again. In another possible implementation, the period for the network device to send the beam control signal before and after the interval changes. For example, the network device sends the beam control signal with a period of time T1, does not send the beam control signal after an interval of time, and then sends the beam control signal with a period of time T2 again. It should be noted that the above two possible implementations of the embodiments of the present application are described by taking the number of intervals as 1 as an example, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the number of intervals and the duration of each interval. This solution allows satellites to receive beam-steering signals based on the intervals between them and the satellite's motion. This improves the transmission performance of beam-steering signals by taking into account the effect of satellite motion on the propagation delay of the signals. This solution also prevents the temporal overlap of multiple beam-steering signals when the satellite is moving closer to the network device.

[0158] Optionally, the communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application further includes: the network device transmitting a third beam steering signal to the satellite. Accordingly, the satellite receives the third beam steering signal from the network device, where the third beam steering signal includes at least one of the following: a first time interval, information about a third period of the beam steering signal transmitted by the network device before the first time interval, information about a fourth period of the beam steering signal transmitted by the network device after the first time interval, and a first duration of the beam steering signal transmitted by the network device in the third period before the first time interval. The network device transmits the beam steering signal according to the transmission type of the beam steering signal, including: the network device transmits the beam steering signal after the third beam steering signal according to at least one of the first time interval, the third period, the fourth period, and the first duration. Accordingly, the satellite receives the beam steering signal according to the transmission type of the beam steering signal, including: the satellite receives the beam steering signal after the third beam steering signal according to at least one of the first time interval, the third period, the fourth period, and the first duration and the satellite's motion pattern.

[0159] It should be noted that if there is a time interval, namely a second time interval, after the beam control signal #4, then the beam control signal #3 and the beam control signal #4 include information such as the second time interval, the period of the signal after the beam control signal #4, and the duration of the second period, and so on. The embodiments of the present application will not be repeated here.

[0160] For example, FIG15 is a schematic diagram of a network device periodically transmitting beam steering signals at intervals when the satellite's motion pattern is such that the satellite is moving toward the network device. In the example of FIG15 , the periodic changes before and after the interval are used as an example for illustration. The example in which the period before and after the interval remains unchanged is similar to the example in which the period before and after the interval changes, and only the period before and after the interval need be replaced by T. As shown in FIG15 , the network device transmits beam steering signals #0 to #2 with a period T1 for a first duration. After the first time interval, the network device transmits beam steering signals #3 and #4 with a period T2. The satellite adjusts the time window for receiving beam steering signals #0 to #4 based on the periods T1 and T2 of the network device's beam steering signals, the first time interval, the first duration, and the satellite's motion pattern (i.e., during the first duration, the satellite receives beam steering signals #1 to #2 with a period T1, and after the first time interval, receives beam steering signals #3 and #4 with a period T2).

[0161] For the above example, in one possible implementation, the third beam control signal includes all information in the period T1, T2, the first time interval, and the first duration. The satellite receives the beam control signal after the third beam control signal based on one or more information in the period T1, T2, the first time interval, and the first duration and the satellite's motion law. For example, the third beam control signal is beam control signal #0 to beam control signal #4. The satellite can receive beam control signal #1 to beam control signal #2 based on the period T1 and the satellite's motion law. The satellite can receive beam control signal #3 based on the period T2, the first duration, the first time interval, and the satellite's motion law. The satellite can receive beam control signal #4 based on the period T2 and the satellite's motion law, and so on. The embodiments of the present application will not be described in detail here. In this solution, the third beam control signal sent by the network device includes all information in the period T1, T2, the first time interval, and the first duration, and the implementation of the network device is relatively simple.

[0162] For the above example, in another possible implementation, the third beam control signal includes period T1, T2, the first time interval, and part of the first duration. For example, the third beam control signal may be beam control signal #0 and beam control signal #1, where beam control signal #0 and beam control signal #1 include information about period T1. The satellite can receive beam control signal #1 and beam control signal #2 based on T1 and the satellite's motion pattern. The third beam control signal may be beam control signal #2, where beam control signal #2 includes information about period T2, the first duration, and the first time interval. The satellite can receive beam control signal #3 based on T2, the first duration, the first time interval, and the satellite's motion pattern. The third beam control signal may be beam control signal #3, where beam control signal #3 includes information about T2. The satellite can receive beam control signal #4 based on T2 and the satellite's motion pattern. The embodiments of the present application are not further described herein. In this solution, the third beam control signal sent by the network device includes period T1, T2, the first time interval, and part of the information in the first duration. The third beam control signal carries less information, saving signaling overhead.

[0163] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the first duration can be replaced by the remaining number Z of beam control signals sent by the network device in the third period, where Z is an integer greater than or equal to 0, and the third beam control signal may not include the fourth period and / or the first time interval. For example, the third beam control signal can be beam control signal #0 to beam control signal #2, and beam control signal #0 to beam control signal #2 include information about T1. Z included in beam control signal #0 is 2, Z included in beam control signal #1 is 1, and Z included in beam control signal #2 is 0. The satellite can receive beam control signal #1 based on T1, Z is 2, and the satellite's motion law. The satellite can receive beam control signal #2 based on T1, Z is 1, and the satellite's motion law. The satellite can receive beam control signal #3 after the first time interval using a blind search method based on Z being 0. The beam control signal #3 received by the satellite includes information about period T2. The satellite can receive beam control signal #4 based on period T2 and the satellite's motion law, and so on. The embodiments of the present application are not further described here. In this solution, the third beam control signal carries less information, saving signaling overhead.

[0164] In an embodiment of the present application, the movement pattern of the satellite is that when the satellite moves away from the network device, the duration of the interval in the periodic transmission of the beam control signal by the network device can be 0, and this embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0165] As described above, in another possible implementation, the transmission type of the beam steering signal is: the satellite periodically receives the beam steering signal at intervals. In one possible implementation, the period at which the satellite receives the beam steering signal remains unchanged before and after the interval. For example, the satellite receives the beam steering signal for a period of time with a period of time T, then does not receive the beam steering signal for a period of time, and then receives the beam steering signal again with a period of time T. In another possible implementation, the period at which the satellite receives the beam steering signal changes before and after the interval. For example, the satellite receives the beam steering signal for a period of time with a period of time T1, then does not receive the beam steering signal for a period of time, and then receives the beam steering signal again with a period of time T2. It should be noted that the above two possible implementations of the embodiments of the present application are described using the number of intervals as 1 as an example. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the number of intervals or the duration of each interval. When the satellite moves away from the network device, this can prevent the network device from temporally overlapping multiple beam steering signals when transmitting beam steering signals.

[0166] The communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application further includes: the network device transmitting a fourth beam steering signal to the satellite. Accordingly, the satellite receives the fourth beam steering signal from the network device. The fourth beam steering signal includes at least one of the following: a third time interval, information about the fifth period of the beam steering signal received by the satellite before the third time interval, information about the sixth period of the beam steering signal received by the satellite after the third time interval, and the second duration of the beam steering signal received by the satellite in the fifth period before the third time interval. The fourth beam steering signal is the beam steering signal transmitted before the third time interval. The network device transmits the beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal, including: the network device transmits the beam steering signal after the fourth beam steering signal based on at least one of the third time interval, the fifth period, the sixth period, and the second duration, and the motion pattern of the satellite. Accordingly, the satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal, including: the satellite receives the beam steering signal after the fourth beam steering signal based on at least one of the third time interval, the fifth period, the sixth period, and the second duration.

[0167] For example, FIG16 is a schematic diagram of a network device periodically transmitting beam steering signals at intervals when the satellite's motion pattern is such that the satellite is moving away from the network device. In the example of FIG16 , the periodic changes before and after the interval are used as an example for illustration. The example in which the period before and after the interval remains unchanged is similar to the example in which the period before and after the interval changes, and only the period before and after the interval need be replaced by T. As shown in FIG16 , the network device adjusts the time window for transmitting the beam steering signal based on the period T1 of the satellite receiving the beam steering signal, the second duration, and the satellite's motion pattern, so that the satellite receives beam steering signals #0 to #2 with a period T1 within the second duration. Based on the period T2 of the satellite receiving the beam steering signal, the third time interval, the second duration, and the satellite's motion pattern, the network device causes the satellite to receive beam steering signals #3 and #4 with a period T2 after the third time interval.

[0168] For the above example, in one possible implementation, the third beam control signal includes all information in the period T1, T2, the third time interval, and the second duration. The network device sends a beam control signal after the third beam control signal based on one or more information in the period T1, T2, the third time interval, the second duration and the movement law of the satellite, so that the beam control signal received by the satellite satisfies all information in the period T1, T2, the third time interval, and the second duration. For example, the third beam control signal is beam control signal #0 to beam control signal #2. The network device can send beam control signal #0 to beam control signal #2 according to period T1, the second duration, and the satellite's motion law, so that the satellite receives beam control signal #0 to beam control signal #2 with period T1 within the second duration. The third beam control signal is beam control signal #3. The network device can send beam control signal #3 according to period T2, the second duration, the third time interval, and the satellite's motion law, so that the satellite receives beam control signal #3 with period T2 after the third time interval. The third beam control signal is #4. The network device can send beam control signal #4 according to period T2 and the satellite's motion law, so that the satellite receives beam control signal #4 with period T2, and so on. The embodiments of the present application are not described in detail here. In this solution, the third beam control signal received by the satellite includes all the information in period T1, T2, the third time interval, and the second duration, and the satellite is relatively simple to implement.

[0169] For the above example, in another possible implementation, the third beam control signal includes period T1, T2, the third time interval, and part of the second duration. For example, the third beam control signal can be beam control signal #0 to beam control signal #2, where beam control signal #0 and beam control signal #1 include information about period T1, and the satellite can receive beam control signal #1 and beam control signal #2 based on T1; the third beam control signal can be beam control signal #2, where beam control signal #2 includes information about period T2, the second duration, and the third time interval, and the satellite can receive beam control signal #3 based on T2, the second duration, and the third time interval; the third beam control signal is beam control signal #3, where beam control signal #3 includes information about T2, and the satellite can receive beam control signal #4 based on T2, and so on. The embodiments of the present application are not further described here. In this solution, the third beam control signal sent by the network device includes period T1, T2, the first time interval, and part of the first duration. The third beam control signal carries less information, saving signaling overhead.

[0170] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the second duration can be replaced by the remaining number Y of beam control signals sent by the network device in the third period, where Y is an integer greater than or equal to 0. The third beam control signal may not include the sixth period and the third time interval. For example, the third beam control signal may be beam control signal #0 to beam control signal #2, where beam control signal #0 to beam control signal #2 include information about T1, Y included in beam control signal #0 is 2, Y included in beam control signal #1 is 1, and Y included in beam control signal #2 is 0. The satellite can receive beam control signal #1 based on T1 and Y being 2, the satellite can receive beam control signal #2 based on T1 and Y being 1, the satellite can receive beam control signal #3 after the third time interval using a blind search method based on Y being 0, the beam control signal #3 received by the satellite includes information about period T2, the satellite can receive beam control signal #4 based on period T2, and so on. The embodiments of the present application will not be described in detail here.

[0171] In an embodiment of the present application, the movement pattern of the satellite is that when the satellite moves toward the direction close to the network device, the duration of the interval in the satellite's periodic reception of the beam control signal can be 0, and this embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0172] In the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application, a network device transmits a beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal. Accordingly, a satellite receives the beam steering signal based on the transmission type of the beam steering signal. This ensures that both the transmission of the beam steering signal by the network device and the reception of the beam steering signal by the satellite are performed based on the type of the beam steering signal. This clarifies the transmission and reception of the beam steering signal, taking into account the impact of the satellite's motion on the propagation delay of the beam steering signal. This improves the transmission performance of the beam steering signal, enabling the beam steering signal to be accurately and correctly transmitted and received. Furthermore, by changing the period at which the network device transmits the beam steering signal or the interval at which the network device periodically transmits the beam steering signal, temporal overlap of multiple beam steering signals can be avoided when the satellite receives the beam steering signal. Alternatively, by changing the period at which the satellite receives the beam steering signal or the interval at which the satellite periodically receives the beam steering signal, temporal overlap of multiple beam steering signals can be avoided when the network device transmits the beam steering signal. Furthermore, this solution can avoid wasting time domain resources.

[0173] The above mainly introduces the solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application from the perspective of the interaction between network devices and satellites. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present application also provide a communication device, which is used to implement the various methods described above. The communication device can be a satellite in the above method embodiments, or a device containing the above satellite, or a component that can be used for a satellite; or the communication device can be a network device in the above method embodiments, or a device containing the above network device, or a component that can be used for a network device; it is understood that in order to implement the above functions, the communication device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. It should be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or in a computer software-driven hardware manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals and technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0174] In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device can be divided into functional modules according to the above method embodiment. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be understood that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0175] For example, Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. Taking the communication device as a satellite in the above method embodiment (which may be a satellite chip, a satellite module, or a device inside a satellite) as an example, the satellite includes a transceiver module 1710 and a processing module 1720. Transceiver module 1710, which may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, is used to implement transceiver functions, and may be, for example, a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0176] In the embodiment of the present application, the processing module 1720 is used to obtain the transmission type of the beam control signal, and the beam control signal is used to indicate the effective time of the beam direction used by the satellite for communication.

[0177] In the embodiment of the present application, the transceiver module 1710 is configured to receive a beam control signal according to the transmission type of the beam control signal.

[0178] Alternatively, taking the communication device as a network device in the above method embodiment (which may be a chip of the network device, a module of the network device, or an internal device of the network device) as an example, the network device includes a transceiver module 1710 and a processing module 1720. The transceiver module 1710, which may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, is used to implement transceiver functions, and may be, for example, a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0179] In an embodiment of the present application, the transceiver module 1710 is configured to cause the processing module 1720 to send a beam control signal according to the transmission type of the beam control signal, and the beam control signal is used to indicate the effective time of the beam direction used by the satellite for communication.

[0180] All 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. Optionally, the communication device may further include a storage module 1730, which can be used to store instructions and / or data, and the processing module 1720 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage module 1730.

[0181] In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device can be presented in the form of various functional modules divided in an integrated manner. The "module" here can refer to a specific ASIC, circuit, processor and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuit, and / or other devices that can provide the above functions. In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art can imagine that the communication device can take the form of the communication device 500 shown in Figure 5.

[0182] For example, the processor 511 in the communication device 500 shown in FIG5 can call the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 512 to enable the communication device to execute the communication method in the above method embodiment.

[0183] Specifically, the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver module 1710 and the processing module 1720 in FIG17 can be implemented by the processor 511 in the communication device 500 shown in FIG5 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 512. Alternatively, the functions / implementation processes of the processing module 1720 in FIG17 can be implemented by the processor 511 in the communication device 500 shown in FIG5 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 512.

[0184] Since the communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application (which may be a chip of a communication device, or a module of a communication device, or a device inside a communication device) can execute the above-mentioned communication method, the technical effects that can be obtained can be referred to the above-mentioned method embodiment and will not be repeated here.

[0185] It should be understood that one or more of the above modules or units can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of the two. When any of the above modules or units is implemented in software, the software exists in the form of computer program instructions and is stored in a memory, and a processor can be used to execute the program instructions and implement the above method flow. The processor can be built into an SoC (system on chip) or an ASIC, or it can be an independent semiconductor chip. In addition to the core used to execute software instructions to perform calculations or processing within the processor, it can further include necessary hardware accelerators, such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), PLDs (programmable logic devices), or logic circuits that implement dedicated logic operations.

[0186] When the above modules or units are implemented in hardware, the hardware can be any one or any combination of a CPU, a microprocessor, a digital signal processing (DSP) chip, a microcontroller unit (MCU), an artificial intelligence processor, an ASIC, a SoC, an FPGA, a PLD, a dedicated digital circuit, a hardware accelerator or a non-integrated discrete device, which can run the necessary software or not rely on the software to execute the above method flow.

[0187] Optionally, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device (for example, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system), which includes a processor for implementing the method in any of the above method embodiments. In one possible design, the communication device also includes a memory. The memory is used to store necessary program instructions and data, and the processor can call the program code stored in the memory to instruct the communication device to execute the method in any of the above method embodiments. Of course, the memory may not be in the communication device. When the communication device is a chip system, it may be composed of a chip, or it may include a chip and other discrete devices, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0188] Optionally, an embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is run on a communication device, the communication device can execute the method described in any of the above method embodiments or any of its implementation methods.

[0189] Optionally, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, which includes the network device and satellite described in the above method embodiment.

[0190] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. 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 one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0191] Although the present application is described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, in the process of implementing the claimed application, those skilled in the art may understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments by reviewing the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude multiple situations. A single processor or other unit may implement several functions listed in the claims. Certain measures are recorded in different dependent claims, but this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce good results.

[0192] Although the present application has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is apparent that various modifications and combinations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present application. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings are merely illustrative of the present application as defined by the appended claims and are deemed to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents within the scope of the present application. Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applied to a satellite and comprises: Obtaining a transmission type of a beam control signal, the beam control signal being used to indicate a time at which a beam direction used by the satellite for communication takes effect; The beam steering signal is received according to a transmission type of the beam steering signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The acquiring the transmission type of the beam control signal includes: First indication information is received, where the first indication information is used to indicate a transmission type of the beam control signal.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The transmission type of the beam control signal is predefined.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The transmission type of the beam control signal is: the network device periodically sends the beam control signal; The receiving the beam steering signal according to the transmission type of the beam steering signal includes: The beam control signal is received according to a period at which the network device sends the beam control signal and a motion law of the satellite.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The period for the network device to send the beam control signal remains unchanged, Alternatively, the network device sends a periodic change of the beam control signal.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving a first beam control signal, where the first beam control signal includes information of a first period during which the network device sends the beam control signal; The receiving the beam control signal according to a period of sending the beam control signal by the network device and a motion law of the satellite includes: A beam control signal subsequent to the first beam control signal is received according to the first period and the motion law of the satellite.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The first beam steering signal further includes a remaining number N of beam steering signals sent by the network device in the first period, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 0; The receiving, according to the first period and the motion law of the satellite, a beam control signal after the first beam control signal is received, includes: N beam control signals subsequent to the first beam control signal are received according to the first period, N, and the motion law of the satellite.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The transmission type of the beam control signal is: the satellite periodically receives the beam control signal; The receiving the beam steering signal according to the transmission type of the beam steering signal includes: The beam control signal is received according to a period in which the satellite receives the beam control signal.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The period at which the satellite receives the beam control signal remains unchanged. Alternatively, the satellite receives periodic variations of the beam control signal.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving a second beam control signal, wherein the second beam control signal includes information of a second period in which the satellite receives the beam control signal; The receiving the beam control signal according to a period at which the satellite receives the beam control signal comprises: A beam steering signal subsequent to the second beam steering signal is received according to the second period.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The second beam control signal further includes a remaining number M of the beam control signals received by the satellite in the second period, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 0; The receiving, according to the second period, a beam control signal subsequent to the second beam control signal, includes: A beam control signal subsequent to the second beam control signal is received according to the second period and the M.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applied to a network device and includes: The beam control signal is sent according to its transmission type, and is used to indicate the effective time of the beam direction used by the satellite for communication.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The method further comprises: First indication information is sent, where the first indication information is used to indicate a transmission type of the beam control signal.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The transmission type of the beam control signal is predefined.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that The transmission type of the beam control signal is: the network device periodically sends the beam control signal; The sending the beam control signal according to the transmission type of the beam control signal includes: The beam control signal is sent according to a period at which the network device sends the beam control signal.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The period for the network device to send the beam control signal remains unchanged, Alternatively, the network device sends a periodic change of the beam control signal.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The method further comprises: Sending a first beam control signal, where the first beam control signal includes information of a first period in which the network device sends the beam control signal; The sending of the beam control signal according to a period at which the network device sends the beam control signal includes: A beam control signal subsequent to the first beam control signal is sent according to the first period.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The first beam steering signal further includes a remaining number N of beam steering signals sent by the network device in the first period, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 0; The sending, according to the first period, a beam control signal subsequent to the first beam control signal, includes: N beam control signals subsequent to the first beam control signal are sent according to the first period and the N.

19. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that The transmission type of the beam control signal is: the satellite periodically receives the beam control signal; The sending the beam control signal according to the transmission type of the beam control signal includes: The beam control signal is sent according to a period of the satellite receiving the beam control signal and a motion law of the satellite.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The period at which the satellite receives the beam control signal remains unchanged. Alternatively, the satellite receives periodic variations of the beam control signal.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that The method further comprises: sending a second beam control signal, where the second beam control signal includes information of a second period in which the satellite receives the beam control signal; The sending of the beam control signal according to the period of the satellite receiving the beam control signal and the motion law of the satellite includes: A beam control signal subsequent to the second beam control signal is sent according to the second period and the motion law of the satellite.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The second beam control signal further includes a remaining number M of the beam control signals received by the satellite in the second period, where M is a positive integer; The sending of the beam control signal after the second beam control signal according to the second period and the motion law of the satellite includes: M beam control signals subsequent to the second beam control signal are sent according to the second period, the M, and the motion law of the satellite.

23. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device comprises a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or comprises a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 12 to 22.

24. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor; the processor is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, or to cause the communication device to execute the method according to any one of claims 12 to 22.

25. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium comprises instructions, which, when executed, enable the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 to be implemented, or enable the method according to any one of claims 12 to 22 to be implemented.

26. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises instructions which, when executed, cause the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 to be implemented, or cause the method according to any one of claims 12 to 22 to be implemented.

27. A communication system, characterized in that: The communication system includes the communication device according to claim 23 and claim 24.

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