Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

Provided in the embodiments of the present application are a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: a first network device determining that the first network device covers a first area; and the first network device sending first measurement configuration information to the first area, wherein the first measurement configuration information is determined on the basis of a first SSB index which is pre-configured for the first area, the first SSB index is used for determining second measurement configuration information that a second network device sends to the first area when covering the first area, the first network device is different from the second network device, and the first measurement configuration information is the same as the second measurement configuration information. In this way, as long as the location of a terminal device is still within a first area, a first SSB index pre-configured for the first area remains unchanged, such that first measurement configuration information required for the terminal device to measure a reference signal is relatively fixed, and it is not necessary for a network device to frequently indicate measurement configuration information, thereby reducing signaling overheads.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202410448360.1, filed on April 12, 2024, and entitled “A communication method and apparatus”, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to the field of communication, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0004] In the process of satellite communication, the coverage of the ground area is usually realized by relying on the antenna array corresponding to the sending of a plurality of different direction synchronization signal block (SSB) beams (or beams). Each direction beam covers a ground area. The SSB index is used to identify the different direction beams, and the SSB index can be used to map the ground area. For example, for a certain satellite, a plurality of SSB indexes can be mapped to a plurality of ground areas covered by the satellite. With the movement of the satellite, the ground area covered by the satellite will also change, which will cause the mapping relationship between the plurality of SSB indexes and the plurality of ground areas to be adjusted.

[0005] However, in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) system, there are usually a plurality of satellites, and the number of beams corresponding to different directions of the plurality of satellites can reach hundreds or even thousands. However, the number of SSB indexes used to identify the direction of the beam (for example, 256) is limited, that is, the number of SSB indexes is definitely much smaller than the number of beams. Based on this, in the NTN system, the plurality of satellites need to multiplex the limited number of SSB indexes, resulting in that the same SSB index needs to be mapped to a plurality of ground areas corresponding to a plurality of satellites respectively. With the movement of the satellite, the mapping relationship between the SSB index and the plurality of ground areas is also adjusted. In the process of indicating the terminal device (or terminal) to perform beam management or mobility management by the satellite, since the SSB corresponding to the SSB index to be measured by the terminal device is in a dynamic change state in the foregoing adjustment process, the satellite may need to configure a plurality of SSB indexes corresponding to a plurality of SSBs that the terminal device may need to measure in the future period of time, which may cause the terminal device to need to measure the reference signal for the redundant SSB, and thus a large measurement overhead is caused for the terminal device. Alternatively, the satellite needs to frequently update the measurement configuration parameters of the reference signal and indicate the result of the update to the terminal device, which causes a large signaling overhead and low communication efficiency. SUMMARY

[0006] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device, which are used to reduce the number of SSB indexes of to-be-measured SSBs corresponding to the same area, thereby improving the efficiency of reference signal measurement of a terminal device.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a first network device, or a component (such as a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit or other components) in the first network device, or a software module. Taking the method applied to the first network device as an example, the method can include: determining, by the first network device, that the first network device covers a first area; sending, by the first network device, first measurement configuration information to the first area; the first measurement configuration information is determined according to a first SSB index pre-configured for the first area; the first SSB index is used to determine second measurement configuration information sent by a second network device to the first area when the second network device covers the first area; the first network device and the second network device are different, and the first measurement configuration information is the same as the second measurement configuration information.

[0008] With such a method, for a terminal device in the first area, as long as the location of the terminal device is still in the first area, the first SSB index pre-configured for the first area will not change, regardless of whether the ground area covered by the first network device changes, and then the first measurement configuration information required by the terminal device for reference signal measurement is relatively fixed. In addition, for a terminal device in the first area, even if the network device accessed by the terminal device is switched from the first network device to the second network device, as long as the location of the terminal device is still in the first area, the first measurement configuration information received by the terminal device in the first area from the first network device and the second measurement configuration information received by the terminal device from the second network device are the same. It can be seen that, as long as the SSB index pre-configured for each area does not change, the measurement configuration information required by the terminal device in each area is relatively stable, and the network device does not need to frequently indicate the measurement configuration information, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0009] In a possible design, the first network device can further determine that the first network device covers a second area; the second area is different from the first area; the second area and the first area are areas covered by the first network device at different time points; the first network device can further send third measurement configuration information to the second area, the third measurement configuration information being determined according to a second SSB index pre-configured for the second area; the second SSB index is the same as the first SSB index; the first area and the second area are not adjacent, and the distance between the first area and the second area is greater than or equal to a first threshold.

[0010] With the design, the first region and the second region are not adjacent, that is, there is a transition region between the first region and the second region, and even if the first SSB index and the second SSB index are the same (the SSB indexes are multiplexed), the terminal device can gradually switch the measurement configuration information through the transition region, avoiding confusion of the terminal device in reference signal measurement, thereby improving communication efficiency. In addition, the first region and the second region are far away (greater than or equal to the first threshold), so the probability of the terminal device switching from the first region to the second region in a short time is low, and confusion of the terminal device in reference signal measurement can also be avoided, thereby improving communication efficiency. In addition, the first region and the second region that are far away can multiplex the same SSB index, thereby saving the resources of the SSB index.

[0011] In a possible design, the first network device can further determine that the first network device covers a third region; the third region and the first region are two different regions in a plurality of regions covered by the first network device at the same time; a preconfigured SSB index for the third region is the first SSB index; the first network device can further send fourth measurement configuration information and first indication information to the third region; the fourth measurement configuration information is determined according to a third SSB index; the third SSB index is different from the preconfigured SSB index for the plurality of regions respectively; and the first indication information is used to instruct terminal devices in the third region to use the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information for measurement of a reference signal.

[0012] With the design, the first network device sends the fourth measurement configuration information and the first indication information in the third region, the terminal devices in the first region still use the first SSB index and the first measurement configuration information for measurement of a reference signal, and the terminal devices in the third region can use the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information indicated by the first indication information for measurement of a reference signal. Since the first region and the third region can be adjacent regions or non-adjacent regions in the coverage range of the same network device, the terminal devices in the first region and the third region use the measurement configuration information determined based on different SSB indexes for measurement of a reference signal, which can avoid communication interference caused in the measurement process.

[0013] In a possible design, the first network device can further send second indication information to the third region, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal devices in the third region to resume using the first SSB index.

[0014] With the design, the first network device can instruct the terminal device in the third area to restore the default reference signal measurement information, i.e., to continue to use the first SSB index for reference signal measurement in the third area, so as to reduce the change of the initial mapping relationship as much as possible, and to further improve the efficiency of reference signal measurement.

[0015] In a possible design, the first measurement configuration information can include, but is not limited to, the first SSB index.

[0016] In a possible design, the first measurement configuration information includes SSB indexes pre-configured for multiple areas respectively; and the multiple areas include the first area.

[0017] In a possible design, the method for the first network device to send the first measurement configuration information to the first area can include: the first network device sends a system message to the first area, where the system message includes the first measurement configuration information; or the first network device sends RRC signaling to the first area, where the RRC signaling includes the first measurement configuration information.

[0018] With the design, the first measurement configuration information can be carried in the system message or in the RRC signaling, so that the communication method shown in the present application can be applied to different scenarios (such as beam management or mobility management), the application scenarios are more flexible, the first measurement configuration information can be sent based on the existing message, the protocol change is small, and the signaling overhead can be saved.

[0019] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a terminal device, or a component (such as a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit or other components) in the terminal device, or a software module. Taking the case where the method is applied to the terminal device as an example, the method can include: the terminal device receives first measurement configuration information from a first network device; the terminal device is in a first area and the first network device covers the first area; the first measurement configuration information is determined by the first network device according to a first SSB index pre-configured for the first area; the first SSB index is used to determine second measurement configuration information sent by a second network device to terminal devices in the first area when the second network device covers the first area; the first network device and the second network device are different, the first measurement configuration information is the same as the second measurement configuration information; and the terminal device performs reference signal measurement based on the first measurement configuration information.

[0020] In a possible design, when the terminal device moves from the first region to a second region, the terminal device can further receive third measurement configuration information from the first network device; the second region is different from the first region, the first region and the second region are not adjacent, and a distance between the first region and the second region is greater than or equal to a first threshold; the second region and the first region are regions covered by the first network device at different time instants; the third measurement configuration information is determined by the first network device according to a second SSB index pre-configured for the second region; the second SSB index is the same as the first SSB index; and the terminal device performs reference signal measurement based on the third measurement configuration information.

[0021] In a possible design, when the terminal device moves from the first region to a third region, the terminal device can further receive fourth measurement configuration information and first indication information from the first network device; the third region and the first region are two different regions in a plurality of regions covered by the first network device at the same time instant; an SSB index pre-configured for the third region is the first SSB index; the fourth measurement configuration information is determined by the first network device according to a third SSB index; the third SSB index is different from SSB indexes pre-configured for the plurality of regions respectively; the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device in the third region to perform reference signal measurement using the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information; and the terminal device performs reference signal measurement based on the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information.

[0022] In a possible design, the terminal device can further receive second indication information from the first network device, where the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to resume using the first SSB index.

[0023] In a possible design, the first measurement configuration information includes the first SSB index.

[0024] In a possible design, the first measurement configuration information includes SSB indexes pre-configured for a plurality of regions respectively; and the plurality of regions include the first region.

[0025] In a possible design, a method for a terminal device to receive first measurement configuration information from a first network device can include: the terminal device receiving a system message from the first network device, where the system message includes the first measurement configuration information; or the terminal device receiving RRC signaling from the first network device, where the RRC signaling includes the first measurement configuration information.

[0026] In a possible design, the terminal device rejects receiving the second measurement configuration information from the second network device when determining that the terminal device is in the first area and the first area is switched from being covered by the first network device to being covered by the second network device; and the second measurement configuration information is determined by the second network device according to a first SSB index preconfigured for the first area.

[0027] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus can execute the method in the first aspect or the second aspect or any possible design. The communication apparatus can be a chip or circuit capable of executing the functions corresponding to the method, or a device including the chip or circuit.

[0028] In a possible design, the communication apparatus includes a communication unit configured to receive and / or send data, and a processing unit configured to implement the method in any possible design of the first aspect or the second aspect based on the data or signals received and / or sent by the communication unit. The foregoing functions can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to the foregoing functions.

[0029] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus including a module for implementing the method in any possible design of the first aspect, or a module for implementing the method in any possible design of the second aspect.

[0030] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus can execute the method in the first aspect or the second aspect or any possible design. The communication apparatus includes a processor. When the processor executes instructions, the communication apparatus or a device in which the communication apparatus is installed performs the method in any possible design of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0031] Optionally, the communication apparatus can further include a memory configured to store computer executable program code, and the program agent can include the foregoing instructions. The memory can be disposed inside the communication apparatus, or outside the communication apparatus, which is not limited in the present application. The memory can be coupled with the processor.

[0032] The communication apparatus can further include a communication interface. Optionally, if the communication apparatus is a chip or circuit, the communication interface can be an input / output interface of the chip, for example, an input / output pin or the like.

[0033] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which comprises at least one of the following: a first network device for executing the method of any possible design of the first aspect, and a terminal device for executing the method of any possible design of the second aspect. Optionally, the communication system can further comprise other devices.

[0034] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, and when the computer program is run on a computer, the computer is enabled to execute the method of any possible design of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0035] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, which stores computer executable instructions, and when the computer executable instructions are invoked by a computer, the computer is enabled to execute the method of any possible design of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0036] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which comprises a processor for executing the method of any possible design of the first aspect or the second aspect. Optionally, the chip can further comprise a communication interface for inputting and / or outputting signaling or data. Optionally, the chip can further comprise a memory for storing a computer program; the processor is coupled with the memory, and the processor can read the computer program stored in the memory to execute the method of any possible design of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0037] The technical effects brought by any of the second aspect to the ninth aspect and the possible designs thereof can be referred to the description of the technical effects brought by the possible designs of the first aspect, which will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1a is a schematic diagram of a communication scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] FIG. 1b is a schematic diagram of another communication scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] FIG. 2a is a satellite moving path diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] FIG. 2b is a mapping relationship diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] FIG. 2c is a satellite coverage pattern provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG. 4 is another mapping relationship diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG. 5 is another mapping relationship diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIG. 7 is a structural schematic diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and beneficial effects of the present application more clear, the present application is further described in detail below in combination with the drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application, and are not used to limit the present application.

[0049] In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, " / " represents the meaning of or, for example, A / B can represent A or B; "and / or" in the present application is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. In addition, in the description of the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. In the description of the present application, "first", "second", and the like are only used for the purpose of distinguishing the description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor can it be understood as indicating or implying order.

[0050] The embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, a global system for mobile communications (GSM) system, a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, a general packet radio service (GPRS), a long term evolution (LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (TDD), a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WIMAX) communication system, a 5th generation (5G) system, a 6th generation (6G) mobile communication system, or a new radio (NR), or a future communication system or other similar communication system. In addition, the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to mobile edge computing, network computing integration and intelligent Internet of Things, and many other fields.

[0051] The network device mentioned below in the present application can be any kind of device with wireless transceiver function, balloon station or unmanned aerial station, etc. in a satellite network. Specifically, the network device can be any one of the following, including but not limited to: an evolutional Node B (NodeB or eNB or e-NodeB) (or satellite base station) in LTE carried on a satellite, a base station (gNodeB or gNB) or transmission receiving point (TRP) in NR, a base station evolved from 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP), an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, etc. The satellite base station can be a macro base station, a micro base station, a pico base station, a small cell or a relay station, etc. The satellite base station (or base station in NR) can contain one or more co-sited or non-co-sited TRPs.

[0052] The terminal device mentioned below in the present application, also known as user equipment (UE), is a device with wireless transceiver function, which can be deployed on land, including indoor or outdoor, handheld, wearable or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on the water surface (such as ships, etc.); can also be deployed in the air (such as airplanes, balloons, etc.). The terminal device can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a vehicle-mounted terminal device, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, a wearable terminal device, etc. In some examples, the terminal device can also be referred to as terminal, access terminal device, vehicle-mounted terminal, industrial control terminal, UE unit, UE station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal device, mobile device, wireless communication device, UE agent or UE apparatus, etc.

[0053] The core network mentioned below in this application includes a network exposure function (NEF) module, a policy control function (PCF) module, a session management function (SMF) module, and a user plane function (UPF) module. The functions of the core network include completing registration, connection, and session management. The NEF module is used to expose the services and capabilities of the 3GPP network function to the application function (AF) module, and the AF module can also provide information to the 3GPP network function. The PCF module is used for policy management of charging policies and QoS policies. The SMF module is used to implement session management functions such as UE internet protocol (IP) address allocation, UPF selection, charging and quality of service (QoS) policy control. The UPF module is used for specific data forwarding in the user plane, and generates bills based on traffic conditions. In addition, the UPF module can also function as a data plane anchor.

[0054] The communication system to which the embodiments of the present application can be applied generally includes at least one network device and at least one terminal device. Referring to FIG. 1a or FIG. 1b, the terminal device can communicate with the network device (for example, a forwarding satellite or a regenerative satellite) and access the network via a feeder link and a service link. As shown in FIG. 1a or FIG. 1b, the terminal device can be a handheld IoT device.

[0055] In the communication system of the foregoing example, the network device and the terminal device can be fixed in position or movable. The network device and the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can be deployed on water; and can also be deployed on aircraft, balloons, and artificial satellites in the air. For example, in an NTN system, there are usually multiple satellites, and each satellite can correspond to one or more network devices. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the application scenarios of the network device and the terminal device.

[0056] In the communication system of the foregoing example, the at least one network device can be a same type of base station or different types of base stations. For example, assuming that the at least one network device is a plurality of base stations, the plurality of base stations can support a same technology or different technologies. Accordingly, the terminal device can communicate with a plurality of base stations of different technologies; for example, the terminal device can communicate with a base station supporting an LTE network, communicate with a base station supporting a 5G network, or support dual connectivity with a base station supporting an LTE network and a base station supporting a 5G network, without limitation.

[0057] Optionally, the communication system of the foregoing example can further include a core network (for example, a 5G core network), which can interact with the at least one network device. The 5G core network can be connected to a data network through an N6 interface.

[0058] Embodiments of the present application can also be applied to a transparent forwarding service scenario. In the transparent forwarding service scenario, the satellite only plays a role of frequency conversion and forwarding in the communication process, that is, the satellite is equivalent to an analog radio frequency repeater. In some embodiments, the transparent forwarding is also referred to as bent pipe forwarding, and the forwarding satellite is also referred to as a bent pipe satellite or a radio frequency repeater (RF repeater). As shown in FIG. 1a, the present application provides the following two examples of the transparent forwarding service scenario.

[0059] In the first example, the forwarding satellite can copy the interface signal from the feeder link (that is, the link between the NTN gateway and the forwarding satellite), and the forwarding satellite can also forward the interface signal to the service link (for example, the link between the forwarding satellite and the terminal device in FIG. 1a); vice versa. In the foregoing example, the NTN gateway supports all necessary functions for forwarding all NR-Uu interface signals, and the NTN gateway can be a combination of a non-3GPP interworking function (N3IWF) network element and a satellite hub. In this example, the communication of the feeder link and the service link can comply with non-3GPP radio protocols.

[0060] In a second example, a forward satellite (or radio frequency repeater) can copy the interface signal from a feeder link (i.e., a link between the NTN gateway and the forward satellite), and the forward satellite can also forward the interface signal to a service link (e.g., a link between the forward satellite and the terminal device in FIG. 1a); vice versa. In this example, the NTN gateway supports all necessary functions for forwarding all NR-Uu interface signals, and in the foregoing example, the NTN gateway can be a ground gNB. It should be noted that different forward satellites can be connected to the same ground gNB, which is not limited in the present application. In this example, the communication of the feeder link and the service link can follow the NR radio protocol.

[0061] In the foregoing two examples, the interface signal can be a signal obtained from a next generation (NG) interface (e.g., an N2 interface or an N3 interface); or the interface signal can be a signal obtained from an NR-Uu wireless interface.

[0062] Embodiments of the present application can also be applied to a regenerative mode scenario. In the regenerative mode, the satellite has functions of modulation / coding, demodulation / decoding, switching / routing, in addition to the functions of radio frequency filtering, frequency conversion, and amplification in the communication process. In the regenerative mode, the regenerative satellite contains a gNB or a distributed unit (DU).

[0063] As shown in FIG. 1b, the feeder link (a link between the NTN gateway and the regenerative satellite) is used to transmit signals through a satellite radio interface (SRI), and the service link (a link between the regenerative satellite and the terminal device) is used to transmit signals through an NR interface (e.g., an NR-Uu wireless interface); the NTN gateway can forward signals to a core network (e.g., a 5G core network) through an NG interface, so as to realize regeneration of ground received signals. In the foregoing example, the NTN gateway can be a gNB or a centralized unit (CU). In this example, the communication of the feeder link can follow a non-3GPP radio protocol.

[0064] The network architecture and service scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application. It can be known by those skilled in the art that, with the evolution of network architecture and the appearance of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0065] In the NTN system, satellites maintain certain specific relative relationships between orbits when moving (or flying) in the orbits. The ground area covered by a satellite changes with the satellite position.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 2a, satellite 1, satellite 2, and satellite 3 move in orbit 1, and satellite 4 moves in orbit 2. Assuming that the ground area covered by each satellite is approximately circular, there is inevitably an overlapping area between the coverage areas of multiple satellites; when the ground area covered by each satellite is pre-set as a rectangle, seamless coverage of the ground area by multiple satellites in the overall constellation can be ensured. For ease of description, the subsequent embodiments of the present application can be implemented in the above-described rectangular coverage manner, but this does not constitute a limitation on the present application.

[0067] Based on the communication requirements, for the ground area covered by any satellite, a limited number of SSB indexes are needed to map the ground area covered by the satellite, so as to obtain the coverage pattern of the satellite.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 2b, the left graph shows the actual numbering of the ground wave position corresponding to part of the ground area, and the ground area shown in the left graph includes the ground area covered by a certain satellite at the current time; assuming that the upper limit of the number of SSB indexes is 256 and the ground area covered by the satellite is a rectangle (such as the middle part of the left graph), the ground area covered by the satellite can be evenly divided into 256 areas, and each SSB index maps one ground area, and the right graph in FIG. 2b is a coverage pattern of an SSB index.

[0069] When the satellite moves and causes the ground area covered by the satellite to change, the coverage pattern of the SSB index shown in FIG. 2b also needs to change accordingly. As shown in FIG. 2c, at T1, the coverage pattern corresponding to the satellite can refer to the coverage pattern shown in FIG. 2b, and at this time, the SSB index mapped by the ground position area where the terminal device is located is #17; at T2 (for example, 3-5 seconds after T1), the satellite moves according to the fixed path, and the ground area covered by the satellite changes. Accordingly, at T2, the SSB index in the lowest row of the original coverage pattern (the coverage pattern at T1) (the shaded part corresponding to T1 in FIG. 2c) does not need to map the ground area, and therefore, the adjusted coverage pattern can use this part of the SSB index to map the newly covered ground area (the shaded part corresponding to T2 in FIG. 2c). Assuming that the terminal device is still in place, the SSB index mapped by the ground position where the terminal device is located is still #17.

[0070] Based on the design of the coverage pattern in the foregoing FIG. 2a to FIG. 2c, the coverage pattern of the satellite also needs to be adjusted along with the movement of the satellite. During the communication process, the terminal device often needs to measure the reference signals of the current region and / or the adjacent region based on the indication of the satellite. In combination with the adjustment of the coverage pattern shown in the foregoing FIG. 2c, at the T1 moment, the SSB index of the ground region where the terminal device is located is mapped to #17, and the SSB indexes to be measured include {#0, #1, #2, #16, #17, #18, #32, #33, #34} nine SSB indexes; at the T2 moment, the SSB index of the ground region where the terminal device is located is still mapped to SSB #17, and the SSB indexes to be measured include {#1, #2, #17, #18, #32, #33} six SSBs.

[0071] In some examples of beam management or mobility management, in order to reduce the signaling interaction after the coverage pattern changes due to the movement of the satellite, the satellite can select to configure the terminal device with a sufficient number of redundant SSBs to be measured (including the SSB indexes that may need to be measured in the future period of time) at one time; however, such a scheme causes a large overhead of the terminal device each time the terminal device performs the reference signal measurement, and the communication efficiency is low.

[0072] In some other examples of beam management or mobility management, in order to reduce the overhead required by the terminal device for a single reference signal measurement, after each movement of the satellite causes the coverage pattern to change, the satellite can re-indicate the SSB indexes to be measured to the terminal device; however, such a scheme causes the signaling interaction between the satellite and the terminal device to be too frequent, causing a large signaling overhead, and the communication efficiency is low.

[0073] Therefore, in order to reduce the number of SSB indexes to be measured corresponding to the same region, thereby improving the efficiency of the terminal device in performing the reference signal measurement, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The communication method can be implemented in the transparent forwarding scenario shown in the foregoing FIG. 1a, or can be implemented in the scenario of the regenerative mode shown in the foregoing FIG. 1b, which is not limited in the present application. The communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application will be introduced below in combination with the drawings. FIG. 3 is a communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application, and the method embodiment is described in the interaction mode of different network devices and a certain terminal device. The method can include the following steps:

[0074] S301: A first network device determines that the first network device covers a first region. The first network device can be a base station corresponding to the forwarding satellite in FIG. 1a, can be a base station corresponding to the regenerative satellite in FIG. 1b, or can be a network device in other scenarios, which is not limited in the present application.

[0075] S302: The first network device sends first measurement configuration information to the first region. The first measurement configuration information is determined according to the first SSB index pre-configured for the first region. Correspondingly, one or more terminal devices (such as the first terminal device) in the first region can receive the first measurement configuration information.

[0076] In a possible design, before performing S301, the first network device (or a central processor for managing a plurality of first network devices) can pre-divide the ground region into a plurality of regions (the plurality of regions including the first region) according to a certain rule, and establish a mapping relationship between a limited number of SSB indexes and the plurality of regions, which is used to pre-configure one or more SSB indexes for each region. The first network device can store the mapping relationship, and determine the SSB index pre-configured for each region based on the mapping relationship. The initial configuration of the mapping relationship can satisfy the following rules:

[0077] Rule 1: The SSB indexes mapped by adjacent regions are different.

[0078] Rule 2: The distance between at least two regions mapped by the same SSB index is greater than or equal to a first threshold. In this application, the distance between any two regions can be calculated in the following ways, including but not limited to: calculating the distance between the center points of the two regions, or calculating the distance between any edge points of the two regions.

[0079] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 4, assuming that the upper limit of the number of SSB indexes is 256, and the ground region covered by the network device is assumed to be an ideal rectangular shape, FIG. 4 exemplarily provides a mapping relationship diagram of SSB indexes and a plurality of regions. Each small dashed box can represent a divided ground region, and the number in the box is the SSB index mapped to the ground region (not all SSB indexes are shown, some are replaced by …).

[0080] Based on the foregoing design, when the coverage area of a certain network device (for example, a satellite) is included in the plurality of regions, the network device can directly use the mapping relationship already established, thereby obtaining the coverage pattern of the network device, and obtaining the SSB index pre-configured for each region in the coverage area of the satellite. Still taking FIG. 4 as an example, when the coverage areas of satellite 5, satellite 6 and satellite 7 are included in the plurality of regions, the coverage patterns corresponding to satellite 5, satellite 6 and satellite 7 are determined (the shaded part in the figure). It should be understood that in the initial configuration, for a certain satellite, there should be no reused SSB index in the coverage pattern of the satellite. In this way, even if the network device moves, the mapping relationship does not change, and the SSB index pre-configured for each region also does not need to change.

[0081] In the embodiments of the present application, the SSB index pre-configured for the region X (any region) can be one SSB index used for mapping the region X; or the SSB index pre-configured for the region X can belong to a set composed of the SSB index used for mapping the region X and at least one SSB index used for mapping the region Y (any adjacent region of the region X), the set including a plurality of SSB indexes, for example, 9. That is, the first SSB index can be one set SSB index used for mapping the first region; or the first SSB index can also belong to a set composed of the SSB index used for mapping the first region and at least one SSB index used for mapping the region adjacent to the first region. Taking the mapping relationship in FIG. 4 as an example, assuming that the first region is the first region marked by a circle in FIG. 4, that is, the SSB index mapped by the first region is #0, the first SSB index pre-configured for the first region can be included in the SSB index set {#241, #1, #17, #240, #0, #16, #255, #15, #31}. In this way, since the foregoing mapping relationship is pre-set and will not change with the movement of the network device (such as a satellite), even if the movement of the network device causes the change of the ground region covered thereby, the SSB index pre-configured for the first region will not change, and then the first measurement configuration information transmitted by the network device in the first region will not change, so that the reference signal measured by the terminal device in the first region is relatively fixed, the measurement overhead is saved, and the measurement efficiency is improved.

[0082] In a possible design, the embodiments of the present application provide two indication manners of the measurement configuration information, which are described below taking the first measurement configuration information as an example.

[0083] Manner one: the first measurement configuration information can include but is not limited to the first SSB index. Still taking the mapping relationship in FIG. 4 as an example, assuming that the SSB index used for mapping the first region is #15, the first measurement configuration information can include the following content: SSB to measure {#240, #0, #16, #255, #15, #31, #254, #14, #30}.

[0084] Manner two: the first measurement configuration information includes the SSB index pre-configured for a plurality of regions respectively, and the foregoing plurality of regions include the first region (such as the region #15). Still taking the mapping relationship in FIG. 4 as an example, the first measurement configuration information includes the following Table 1.

[0085] Table 1

[0086] In a possible design, the first measurement configuration information can be carried in a system message, which can be a system information block (SIB) 1 or other system information (OSI) (e.g., SIB 2 or SIB 19). In other words, the process of S302 can include: the first network device sending, to the first area, a system message including the first measurement configuration information; and correspondingly, the terminal device in the first area receiving the system message. In this way, the first measurement configuration information can be applied to a mobility management scenario, i.e., carried in a system message in the mobility management scenario.

[0087] In another possible design, the first measurement configuration information can be carried in radio resource control (RRC) signaling. In other words, the process of S302 can include: the first network device sending, to the first area, RRC signaling including the first measurement configuration information; and correspondingly, the terminal device in the first area receiving the RRC signaling. In this way, the first measurement configuration information can be applied to a beam management scenario, i.e., carried in RRC signaling in the beam management scenario.

[0088] It should be understood that other measurement configuration information mentioned later in this application can also refer to the aforementioned two designs of the carrying manner of the first measurement configuration information (e.g., carried in a system message or RRC signaling), which will not be repeated hereinafter.

[0089] Optionally, after S302, the first terminal device (which can be any terminal device in the first area) can perform reference signal measurement (e.g., periodic measurement) based on the first measurement configuration information; and the measurement result can be used for beam management or mobility management. The measurement method of the first terminal device on the reference signal can refer to the commonly used means in the art, which is not limited in this application. The first terminal device can also store the first measurement configuration information corresponding to the first SSB index for subsequent measurement.

[0090] By using the aforementioned method of S301 to S302, for a terminal device in the first area, as long as the location of the terminal device is still in the first area, the first SSB index pre-configured for the first area will not change, regardless of whether the ground area covered by the first network device changes or the network device covering the first area is switched from the first network device to the second network device, and the first measurement configuration information required by the terminal device for reference signal measurement is also relatively fixed. That is, the measurement configuration information received by the terminal device is only related to the area where the terminal device is located, thereby improving the measurement efficiency and reducing the measurement overhead.

[0091] S303: A second network device (different from the first network device) can also send second measurement configuration information to the first area; the second measurement configuration information is determined according to the first SSB index pre-configured for the first area; the first network device and the second network device are different, and the first measurement configuration information is the same as the second measurement configuration information. That is, the first SSB index is used to determine the second measurement configuration information sent by the second network device to the first area when covering the first area. That is, the first measurement configuration information sent by the first network device to the first area and the second measurement configuration information sent by the second network device to the first area are both determined according to the same SSB (i.e., the first SSB pre-configured for the first area), so as to better illustrate that different network devices send the same measurement configuration information to the first area as long as they cover the first area at the same or different time, so that the terminal device receives the same measurement configuration information, and the measurement efficiency can be improved.

[0092] It should be noted that S302 and S303 can be steps performed at the same time, or steps performed at different times, which are not limited by the present application.

[0093] In some examples, the terminal device in the first area can receive the aforementioned second measurement configuration information.

[0094] In another example, if the first terminal device (any terminal device in the first area) has stored the first measurement configuration information and the indication mode of the first measurement configuration information is the aforementioned mode one, as long as the first terminal device is still in the first area at the time of performing S303, the first terminal device can refuse to receive the second measurement configuration information from the second network device.

[0095] In another example, if the first terminal device (any terminal device in the first area) has stored the first measurement configuration information and the indication mode of the first measurement configuration information is the aforementioned mode two, regardless of whether the first terminal device is in the first area at the time of performing S303, the first terminal device can refuse to receive the second measurement configuration information from the second network device. Correspondingly, the first terminal device can determine the required measurement configuration information at the current time through the first measurement configuration information and the area in which the first terminal device is currently located.

[0096] The terminal device in the first area uses the method shown in S301-S303. Even if the network device accessed by the terminal device is switched from the first network device to the second network device, as long as the location of the terminal device is still in the first area, the measurement configuration information sent by different network devices covering the first area is the same, that is, the first measurement configuration information from the first network device and the second measurement configuration information from the second network device received by the terminal device in the first area are the same. It can be seen that the SSB index pre-configured in each area does not change, and the measurement configuration information required by the terminal device in each area is relatively stable, so the network device does not need to frequently indicate the measurement configuration information, thereby saving the signaling overhead.

[0097] Optionally, when the terminal device determines that it is in the first area and the first area has been switched from being covered by the first network device to being covered by the second network device, the terminal device can refuse to receive the second measurement configuration information from the second network device; the second measurement configuration information is determined by the second network device according to the first SSB index pre-configured for the first area. That is, when the terminal device determines that the serving cell currently located by the terminal device has been switched from being covered by the first network device to being covered by the second network device, the terminal device can refuse to receive the second measurement configuration information from the second network device and continue to use the first measurement configuration information sent by the first network device to perform the measurement of the reference signal.

[0098] In this way, even if the network device serving the terminal device changes, as long as the location of the terminal device is still in the first area, the measurement configuration information used by the terminal device for the measurement of the reference signal is relatively fixed, so the terminal device can refuse the second measurement configuration information of the second network device, thereby saving the resource consumption of the terminal device.

[0099] In a possible design, the area covered by the first network device can change along with the movement of the first network device. It is assumed that the time point at which S302 is performed is T3, the first network device covers a first area at T3; the first network device covers a second area at T4 (T3 and T4 are different time points and the order is not distinguished). The second area is different from the first area, and the first area and the second area are areas covered by the first network device at different time points. In some examples, the second area can be part or all of the coverage area of the first network device after adjustment (or before adjustment), and the first area can be part or all of the coverage area of the first network device before adjustment (or after adjustment). If the second area is not adjacent to the first area, and the second area and the first area are relatively far apart, it can be considered to multiplex the same SSB index in the second area and the first area, so that there is some physical distance between the two areas. Even if the same measurement configuration information is generated based on the same SSB index and sent in the two areas, the measurement interference caused by the different terminal devices in the two areas based on the same measurement configuration information can be avoided, thereby helping to save the resource of the SSB index, improving the resource utilization of the SSB index, and enabling a limited number of SSB indexes to be configured to more or larger areas.

[0100] For example, the second area and the first area are relatively far apart, which can be determined based on the distance between the first area and the second area being greater than or equal to a first threshold. The first threshold can be set according to an empirical value. Specifically, the distance between the first area and the second area can be determined according to the distance between the center point of the first area and the center point of the second area, and of course the distance between any point in the first area and any point in the second area can also be used to determine the distance between the first area and the second area, which is not limited in the present application.

[0101] Based on the foregoing design, the first network device can further perform the following steps at T4:

[0102] Step A1: The first network device can determine a second area covered by the first network device. The first area mentioned in the above embodiments and the second area here (step A1) are not adjacent, and the distance between the first area and the second area is greater than or equal to a first threshold.

[0103] Step A2: The first network device can send third measurement configuration information to the second area (e.g., the second area includes one or more second terminal devices, and of course can not include terminal devices), and the third measurement configuration information is determined by the first network device according to the second SSB index pre-configured for the second area; the second SSB index is the same as the first SSB index. Correspondingly, the second terminal device in the second area can receive the third measurement configuration information, and optionally, the second terminal device in the second area can also perform reference signal measurement according to the third measurement configuration information.

[0104] In some examples, when the mapping relationship between the aforementioned limited number of SSB indexes and the aforementioned multiple areas (e.g., Figure 4) satisfies rules 1 and 2, the first area and the second area that reuse the same SSB index (e.g., #0) are not adjacent, and the distance between the first area and the second area is far.

[0105] Taking the mapping relationship of Figure 4 as an example, assuming that the second area is the second area marked by the circle in Figure 4, that is, the SSB index mapped by the second area is #0, that is, the first area and the second area reuse the same SSB index (#0), in this case, the second SSB index pre-configured for the second area can belong to the set {#241, #1, #17, #240, #0, #16, #255, #15, #31}, and the third measurement configuration information and the first measurement configuration information can be the same.

[0106] In some examples, assuming that the first terminal device mentioned in S302 can also move from the first area (T3 time) to the second area (T4 time) while the first network device moves, at T4 time, the first terminal device and the second terminal device are both in the second area, and the first terminal device can also receive the third measurement configuration information, and optionally, the first terminal device can also perform reference signal measurement based on the third measurement configuration information.

[0107] With such a design, if there is a transition area between the first area and the second area, even if the first SSB index (the SSB index pre-configured for the first area) is the same as the second SSB index (the SSB index pre-configured for the second area), on the basis of reusing the SSB index, the terminal device can gradually switch the measurement configuration information through the transition area, avoiding confusion of the terminal device in the reference signal measurement, thereby improving communication efficiency. In addition, the distance between the first area and the second area is far (greater than or equal to the first threshold), so the probability of the terminal device switching from the first area to the second area in a short time is low, and communication interference caused by the terminal device in the reference signal measurement process can also be avoided.

[0108] In a possible design, different orbit inclination satellite systems in an NTN system can reuse the same mapping relationship diagram (e.g., the mapping relationship diagram shown in FIG. 4), and it is assumed in this design that the first network device moves at a certain angle (relative to the angle at which the mapping relationship diagram is inclined). Since the first network device moves at an angle relative to the angle at which the mapping relationship diagram is inclined, that is, the angle formed by the angle at which the first network device moves and any side of each rectangular region in the mapping relationship diagram is not 0 degrees (or 90 degrees), the area covered by the network device can actually be irregular. For example, FIG. 5 exemplarily provides a coverage pattern of the first network device at T5, and the shaded part is the area covered by the first network device at T5.

[0109] To avoid ambiguity in understanding the area covered by the network device, the following convention is made in this application: for an area X (any area), it is assumed that the ratio of the coverage area of the network device to the total area of the area X is less than a second threshold value, then it is considered that the network device does not cover the area X; otherwise, it is assumed that the ratio of the coverage area of the network device to the total area of the area X is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, then it is considered that the network device covers the area X. The convention here is only an example, which can be flexibly adjusted in actual application, and the present application does not make any limitation.

[0110] During the movement of the network device, since the movement path of the first network device is inclined relative to the mapping relationship diagram, it cannot be guaranteed that there is no reused SSB index in the coverage pattern of the network device at the same time. For example, FIG. 5 exemplarily provides the coverage area (dashed box) and coverage pattern (shaded part) of the first network device at T6. When the same network device reuses the SSB index, the network device needs to send signals in two beam directions at the time position corresponding to the reused SSB index, which can exceed the sending capability of the network device or weaken the signal power level in each beam direction. To avoid the problem of communication interference caused by the reuse of the same SSB index in the coverage area of the first network device, the first network device can perform the following steps:

[0111] Step B1: The first network device determines that the first network device covers a third area; the third area and the first area mentioned in the foregoing S301-S303 are two different areas in the areas covered by the first network device at the same time (e.g., at T6). The SSB index preconfigured for the third area is the first SSB index; that is, the first network device configures the same SSB index for two different areas covered at the same time (illustrated by taking the first area and the third area as examples), that is, the SSB index conflict occurs in the coverage area of the first network device at T6.

[0112] Step B2: The first network device can send fourth measurement configuration information and first indication information to terminal devices in the third area (e.g., the third area includes one or more third terminal devices, and of course can not include terminal devices); the fourth measurement configuration information is determined by the first network device according to the third SSB index; the third SSB index is different from the SSB index pre-configured for each of the multiple areas covered by the first network device at the aforementioned step B1 (T6 moment); the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal devices in the third area to use the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information to perform reference signal measurement. Correspondingly, the third terminal devices in the third area receive the fourth measurement configuration information from the first network device. Optionally, the third terminal devices in the third area can perform reference signal measurement based on the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information.

[0113] That is, when the first network device covers two areas (e.g., the first area and the third area) at the same time and multiplexes the same SSB index (e.g., the first SSB index), in order to avoid measurement interference caused by different terminal devices in the first area and the third area performing reference signal measurement based on the same SSB index, the first network device can temporarily change the SSB index of any one of the aforementioned two areas (e.g., the third area), for example, to the third SSB index, and the third SSB index is different from the pre-configured SSB index corresponding to each of the multiple areas covered by the first network device at the same time, so that different terminal devices in the first area and the third area can use different SSB indexes to obtain measurement configuration information for reference signal measurement, and measurement interference can be avoided.

[0114] Taking the mapping relationship of FIG. 5 as an example, from T5 moment to T6 moment, the coverage range of the first network device changes due to movement; at T6 moment, two SSB indexes marked #17 appear in the coverage range of the first network device, corresponding to different areas (the first area and the third area); assuming that there is no SSB index marked #31 (the third SSB index) in the coverage range of the first network device at T6 moment, the first network device can generate fourth measurement configuration information based on the SSB index marked #31, and send the SSB index marked #31 and the fourth measurement configuration information to the terminal devices in the third area.

[0115] For example, the fourth measurement configuration information can be defined or described by a replace function, for example, the fourth measurement configuration information can include the following content: SSB Replace: { OriginSet {17}, AlternSet {31}}.

[0116] The meaning of the fourth measurement configuration information can be understood as follows: the terminal device in the third area is informed that the SSB index originally mapped by the third area is #17, but during the service of the first network device, the SSB index mapped by the third area is temporarily modified (or changed) to #31. In this way, the terminal device in the first area still uses the SSB index identified as #17 and the first measurement configuration information to perform measurement on the reference signal, and the terminal device in the third area can use the SSB index identified as #31 and the fourth measurement configuration information to perform measurement on the reference signal, so that the terminal device in the first area and the terminal device in the third area can avoid performing measurement on the reference signal based on the same measurement configuration information generated based on the SSB, and thus communication interference caused thereby can be avoided.

[0117] In some examples, it is assumed that the time point when S302 is performed is T5, and the area in which the first terminal device mentioned in S302 is located at T5 is the first area; it is assumed that the first terminal device moves from the first area (at T5) to the third area (at T6) from T5 to T6, and at T6, the first terminal device and the third terminal device are both in the third area, and the first terminal device can also receive the fourth measurement configuration information. Optionally, the first terminal device can also perform measurement on the reference signal based on the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information.

[0118] Step B3: The first network device can further send second indication information to the third area when it is determined that the first network device no longer simultaneously covers the first area and the third area, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device in the third area can restore using the first SSB index. It should be noted that step B3 is an optional step. The first network device not simultaneously covering the first area and the third area can be understood as the first network device covering the first area but not covering the third area, or the first network device covering the third area but not covering the first area, or the first network device not covering the first area and not covering the third area.

[0119] In this application, the restoration of the first SSB index by the terminal device in the third area means that the terminal device in the third area restores using the first SSB index and the measurement configuration information corresponding to the first SSB index to perform measurement on the reference signal from using the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information. In some examples, the terminal device in the third area can store the first SSB index and the measurement configuration information (for example, the first measurement configuration information) corresponding to the first SSB index before T6 (for example, before step B1); after the terminal device in the third area receives the second indication information, the terminal device in the third area can directly use the stored first SSB index and the measurement configuration information corresponding to the first SSB index to perform measurement on the reference signal, thereby improving the measurement efficiency.

[0120] That is, when the first network device does not cover two areas (i.e., the first area and the third area) of the same SSB index mapping at the same time, the terminal device in the third area does not need to continue to use the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information to perform the measurement of the reference signal. Therefore, the first network device can indicate the terminal device in the third area to restore the default reference signal measurement information through the second indication information, so that the terminal device in the third area restores to use the first SSB index and the measurement configuration information corresponding to the first SSB index to perform the measurement of the reference signal, thereby the change to the initial configured mapping relationship can be reduced as much as possible, and the efficiency of the reference signal measurement is further improved.

[0121] In a possible design, the terminal device can acquire and store the mapping relationship (for example, the mapping relationship shown in FIG. 4) between a limited number of SSB indexes and the plurality of areas, for subsequent measurement. Based on this, the terminal device determines the measurement configuration information according to the position of the terminal device and the stored mapping relationship, thereby implementing the measurement of the reference signal. For example, when the terminal device is in the first area and has stored the mapping relationship, the first network device does not need to perform the foregoing S301 to S302 (or S303), and the terminal device can directly determine the first measurement configuration information corresponding to the first area according to the position (the first area) of the terminal device at the current time and the foregoing mapping relationship, and perform the measurement of the reference signal according to the first measurement configuration information.

[0122] In this way, for the terminal device in the first area, since the first SSB index pre-configured for the first area is relatively fixed, as long as the position of the terminal device is always in the first area, the measurement configuration information required by the terminal device does not need to be changed; and the network device and the terminal device do not need to send any indication or measurement configuration information to each other, thereby saving the signaling overhead of interaction between the network device and the terminal device.

[0123] Optionally, when the network device moves to cause the reuse of the same SSB index in the coverage area of the network device, that is, when the SSB index conflict occurs in the coverage area of the network device, the network device can indicate the terminal device to temporarily change the conflicting SSB index. The specific method can refer to the foregoing steps B1 and B2, which are not described herein.

[0124] In each of the embodiments of the present application, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be mutually referred to if there is no special description and logical conflict, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0125] The method provided by the embodiments of the present application is described above with reference to the drawings, and the communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application is described below with reference to the drawings.

[0126] Based on the same technical concept, the present application also provides a communication device for implementing the communication method provided by the above embodiments. Referring to FIG. 6, the communication device 600 comprises a communication unit 601 and a processing unit 602. The communication unit 601 is configured to receive and / or send data. The processing unit 602 is configured to implement the steps in the communication method shown in FIG. 3.

[0127] In a possible example, when the communication device 600 is configured to implement the functions of the first network device shown in FIG. 3, the processing unit 602 is configured to determine that the communication device 600 covers a first area; and the communication unit 601 is configured to send first measurement configuration information to the first area; the first measurement configuration information is determined according to a first SSB index pre-configured for the first area; the first SSB index is used to determine second measurement configuration information sent by a second network device to the first area when the second network device covers the first area; the communication device 600 and the second network device are different, and the first measurement configuration information is the same as the second measurement configuration information.

[0128] In a possible design, the processing unit 602 can further determine that the communication device 600 covers a second area; the second area is different from the first area; the second area and the first area are areas covered by the communication device 600 at different time points; and the communication unit 601 is further configured to send third measurement configuration information to the second area, the third measurement configuration information being determined according to a second SSB index pre-configured for the second area; the second SSB index is the same as the first SSB index; and the first area and the second area are not adjacent, and the distance between the first area and the second area is greater than or equal to a first threshold.

[0129] In a possible design, the processing unit 602 can further determine that the communication device 600 covers a third area; the third area and the first area are two different areas in a plurality of areas covered by the communication device 600 at the same time point; the SSB index pre-configured for the third area is the first SSB index; and the communication unit 601 is further configured to send fourth measurement configuration information and first indication information to the third area; the fourth measurement configuration information is determined according to a third SSB index; the third SSB index is different from the SSB index pre-configured for the plurality of areas respectively; and the first indication information is used to instruct terminal devices in the third area to use the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information to perform measurement on reference signals.

[0130] In a possible design, the communication unit 601 can further send second indication information to the third area, the second indication information being used to instruct the terminal devices in the third area to resume using the first SSB index.

[0131] In a possible design, the first measurement configuration information includes a first SSB index. In another possible design, the first measurement configuration information includes SSB indexes pre-configured for multiple regions respectively; the multiple regions include the first region.

[0132] In a possible design, the communication unit 601 can specifically transmit a system message including the first measurement configuration information to the first region, or transmit RRC signaling including the first measurement configuration information to the first region.

[0133] In a possible example, when the communication apparatus 600 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device shown in FIG. 3, the communication unit 601 is configured to: receive first measurement configuration information from a first network device; the communication apparatus 600 is located in a first region and the first network device covers the first region; the first measurement configuration information is determined by the first network device according to a first SSB index pre-configured for the first region; the first SSB index is used to determine second measurement configuration information transmitted by a second network device to the first region when the second network device covers the first region; the first network device and the second network device are different, and the first measurement configuration information is the same as the second measurement configuration information; and the processing unit 602 is configured to: perform reference signal measurement based on the first measurement configuration information.

[0134] In a possible design, when the communication apparatus 600 moves from the first region to a second region, the communication unit 601 is further configured to: receive third measurement configuration information from the first network device; the second region is different from the first region, the first region and the second region are not adjacent, and the distance between the first region and the second region is greater than or equal to a first threshold; the second region and the first region are regions covered by the first network device at different times; the third measurement configuration information is determined by the first network device according to a second SSB index pre-configured for the second region; the second SSB index is the same as the first SSB index; and the processing unit 602 is further configured to: perform reference signal measurement based on the third measurement configuration information.

[0135] In a possible design, when the communication apparatus 600 moves from the first region to the third region, the communication unit 601 is further configured to: receive fourth measurement configuration information and first indication information from the first network device; the third region and the first region are two different regions in a plurality of regions covered by the first network device at the same time; a preconfigured SSB index for the third region is the first SSB index; the fourth measurement configuration information is determined by the first network device according to a third SSB index; the third SSB index is different from the preconfigured SSB index for the plurality of regions; and the first indication information is used to instruct a terminal device in the third region to perform reference signal measurement using the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information; and the processing unit 602 is further configured to: perform the reference signal measurement based on the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information.

[0136] In a possible design, the communication unit 601 can further receive second indication information from the first network device, where the second indication information is used to instruct the communication apparatus 600 to resume using the first SSB index.

[0137] In a possible design, the first measurement configuration information can include the first SSB index. In another possible design, the first measurement configuration information can further include the preconfigured SSB index for the plurality of regions; and the plurality of regions include the first region.

[0138] In a possible design, the communication unit 601 can specifically receive system information from the first network device, where the system information includes the first measurement configuration information; or receive RRC signaling from the first network device, where the RRC signaling includes the first measurement configuration information.

[0139] In a possible design, the processing unit 602 is configured to: when it is determined that the communication apparatus 600 is in the first region and the first region is switched from being covered by the first network device to being covered by the second network device, reject receiving the second measurement configuration information from the second network device; and the second measurement configuration information is determined by the second network device according to a first SSB index preconfigured for the first region.

[0140] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application further provides another communication device 700, which can implement the communication method provided by the above embodiment. Referring to FIG. 7, the communication device 700 comprises a processor 701. Optionally, the communication device 700 further comprises a memory 702 and / or a communication interface 703. The memory can be arranged in the interior of the communication device or arranged in the exterior of the communication device, which is not limited in the present application. The communication interface 703, the processor 701 and the memory 702 are connected with each other. For example, the communication device 700 can be the first network device or the terminal device shown in the embodiment of the present application.

[0141] Optionally, the communication interface 703, the processor 701 and the memory 702 are connected with each other through a bus 704. The bus 704 can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For the convenience of representation, only one thick line is used in FIG. 7, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0142] The communication interface 703 is configured to receive and / or send signals, and realize the communication between the communication device and other devices.

[0143] The processor 701 can be used to execute the communication method in FIG. 3, which can be described in the above embodiments and will not be described here. The processor 701 can be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), or a combination of CPU and NP, etc. The processor 701 can further include a hardware chip. The hardware chip can be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD) or a combination thereof. The PLD can be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL) or any combination thereof. The processor 701 can be implemented by hardware, and of course, the corresponding software can be executed by hardware.

[0144] The memory 702 is used to store program instructions and the like. Specifically, the program instructions can include program codes including computer operation instructions. The memory 702 can include a random access memory (RAM) and can also include a non-volatile memory such as at least one disk memory. The processor 701 executes the program instructions stored in the memory 702 to implement the above functions, thereby implementing the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0145] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0146] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed on a computer, the computer program causes the computer to perform the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0147] The storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.

[0148] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application further provides a chip for reading a computer program stored in a memory, and implementing the method provided in the above embodiment.

[0149] Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as a method, a system, or a computer program product. Therefore, the present application can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Moreover, the present application can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0150] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the method, device (system), and computer program product according to the present application. It should be understood that each flow and / or block in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, and the combination of flows and / or blocks in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus generate means for implementing the functions specified in one or more flows in the flowcharts and / or one or more blocks in the block diagrams.

[0151] These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to work in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a manufactured product including instruction means, which implements the functions specified in one or more flows in the flowcharts and / or one or more blocks in the block diagrams.

[0152] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, so that a series of operation steps are performed on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more flows in the flowcharts and / or one or more blocks in the block diagrams.

[0153] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present application are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, the application can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims

1. A communication method, applied to a first network device, characterized in that: The method comprises: Determining that the first network device covers a first area; Sending first measurement configuration information to the first area; the first measurement configuration information is determined based on a first synchronization information block SSB index pre-configured for the first area; the first SSB index is used to determine second measurement configuration information sent by a second network device to the first area when covering the first area; the first network device and the second network device are different, and the first measurement configuration information is the same as the second measurement configuration information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The method further comprises: Determining that the first network device covers a second area; the second area is different from the first area; the second area and the first area are areas covered by the first network device at different times; Send third measurement configuration information to the second area, where the third measurement configuration information is determined based on a second SSB index pre-configured for the second area; the second SSB index is the same as the first SSB index; the first area and the second area are not adjacent, and the distance between the first area and the second area is greater than or equal to a first threshold.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The method further comprises: Determining that the first network device covers a third area; the third area and the first area are two different areas among multiple areas covered by the first network device at the same time; the SSB index pre-configured for the third area is the first SSB index; Sending fourth measurement configuration information and first indication information to the third area; the fourth measurement configuration information is determined based on a third SSB index; the third SSB index is different from the SSB indexes pre-configured for the multiple areas respectively; the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device within the third area to use the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information to measure the reference signal.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein The method further comprises: Send second indication information to the third area, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal devices in the third area to resume using the first SSB index.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The first measurement configuration information includes the first SSB index.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The first measurement configuration information includes SSB indexes pre-configured for multiple areas respectively; the multiple areas include the first area.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The sending first measurement configuration information to the first area includes: sending a system message to the first area, where the system message includes the first measurement configuration information; or Sending radio resource control (RRC) signaling to the first area, where the RRC signaling includes the first measurement configuration information.

8. A communication method, applied to a terminal device, characterized in that: The method comprises: Receiving first measurement configuration information from a first network device; the terminal device is in a first area, and the first network device covers the first area; the first measurement configuration information is determined by the first network device according to a first synchronization information block SSB index pre-configured for the first area; the first SSB index is used to determine second measurement configuration information sent by the second network device to the terminal device in the first area when covering the first area; the first network device and the second network device are different, and the first measurement configuration information is the same as the second measurement configuration information; Perform reference signal measurement based on the first measurement configuration information.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein The method further comprises: When the terminal device moves from the first area to a second area, third measurement configuration information is received from the first network device; the second area is different from the first area, the first area and the second area are not adjacent, and a distance between the first area and the second area is greater than or equal to a first threshold; the second area and the first area are areas covered by the first network device at different times; the third measurement configuration information is determined by the first network device according to a second SSB index pre-configured for the second area; the second SSB index is the same as the first SSB index; Perform reference signal measurement based on the third measurement configuration information.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: When the terminal device moves from the first area to the third area, receiving fourth measurement configuration information and first indication information from the first network device; the third area and the first area are two different areas among the multiple areas covered by the first network device at the same time; the SSB index pre-configured for the third area is the first SSB index; the fourth measurement configuration information is determined by the first network device according to the third SSB index; the third SSB index is different from the respective SSB indexes pre-configured for the multiple areas; the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device in the third area to use the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information to measure the reference signal; Perform reference signal measurement based on the third SSB index and the fourth measurement configuration information.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein The method further comprises: Receive second indication information from the first network device, where the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to resume using the first SSB index.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein: The first measurement configuration information includes the first SSB index.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein: The first measurement configuration information includes SSB indexes pre-configured for multiple areas respectively; the multiple areas include the first area.

14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein: The receiving first measurement configuration information from the first network device includes: receiving a system message from the first network device, where the system message includes the first measurement configuration information; or A radio resource control (RRC) signaling is received from the first network device, where the RRC signaling includes the first measurement configuration information.

15. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein: The method further comprises: When it is determined that the terminal device is in the first area and the first area is switched from the first network device to the second network device, the second measurement configuration information from the second network device is refused to be received; the second measurement configuration information is determined by the second network device based on the first SSB index pre-configured for the first area.

16. A communication device, characterized in that: include: a communication unit and a processing unit; The communication unit is used to receive and / or send data; The processing unit is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or execute the method according to any one of claims 8 to 15, based on the data received and / or sent by the communication unit.

17. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or comprises a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 8 to 15.

18. A communication device, characterized in that: The device comprises at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is coupled to a memory to execute a computer program or instruction stored in the memory, so that the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 8 to 15 is implemented.

19. A communication system, characterized in that: including a first network device and a terminal device; The first network device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7; the terminal device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 8 to 15.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, which, when called by a computer, enable the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or to execute the method according to any one of claims 8 to 15.

21. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product stores computer-executable instructions, which, when called by a computer, enable the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or the method according to any one of claims 8 to 15.

22. A chip system, characterized in that: Including processor; The processor is used to execute a computer-executable program, so that a device equipped with the chip system is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or to execute the method according to any one of claims 8 to 15.

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