Communication method, terminal, network device and storage medium

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a communication method, a terminal, a network device and a storage medium. The method comprises: on the basis of one or more detection periods supported by a terminal, detecting downlink information sent by a network device during an initial access process. In the method of the present disclosure, a terminal can support one or more detection periods, such that the terminal can detect downlink information during an initial access process on the basis of a suitable detection period therein, thereby improving the probability of detecting the downlink information, and further improving the access success rate of the terminal.

Description

Communication method, terminal, network device and storage medium TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of communication, and particularly relates to a communication method, a terminal, a network device and a storage medium. BACKGROUND

[0002] In 5G New Radio (NR), a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) can be transmitted based on a beam, and a transmission pattern of the SSB can be determined according to a Frequency Range (FR) and a Subcarrier Spacing (SCS) or other parameters. In a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN), the coverage of the transmission mode of the SSB is low.

[0003] SUMMARY

[0004] In a scenario of improving the coverage of the SSB in the NTN network by increasing the SSB transmission period, the initial access process of the terminal can be affected.

[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a terminal, a network device and a storage medium.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, executed by a terminal, and the method comprises:

[0007] Detecting, according to one or more detection periods supported by the terminal, downlink information transmitted by a network device in an initial access process.

[0008] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, executed by a network device, and the method comprises:

[0009] Transmitting downlink information in an initial access process, wherein the downlink information is used for detection by a terminal according to one or more detection periods supported in the initial access process.

[0010] In a third aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a terminal, comprising:

[0011] A transceiver module, configured to detect, according to one or more detection periods supported by the terminal, downlink information transmitted by a network device in an initial access process.

[0012] In a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a network device, comprising:

[0013] The transceiver module is used to send downlink information during the initial access process, wherein the downlink information is used by the terminal to perform detection according to one or more supported detection periods during the initial access process.

[0014] Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a terminal, including:

[0015] One or more processors;

[0016] The terminal is configured to implement the method described in the first aspect.

[0017] Sixthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a network device, including:

[0018] One or more processors;

[0019] The network device is configured to implement the method described in the second aspect.

[0020] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication system, including a terminal and a network device, wherein,

[0021] The terminal is configured to implement the method described in the first aspect;

[0022] The network device is configured to implement the method of the second aspect.

[0023] Eighthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a storage medium storing instructions, wherein...

[0024] When the instructions are executed on the communication device, the communication device causes the communication device to perform the method described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0025] Ninthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a program product, wherein,

[0026] When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device performs the method described in the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0027] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal may support one or more detection cycles, thereby enabling the terminal to detect downlink information during the initial access process based on an appropriate detection cycle, thereby increasing the probability of detecting downlink information and thus improving the access success rate of the terminal. Attached Figure Description

[0028] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings required for the description of the embodiments are introduced below. The following drawings are only some embodiments of this disclosure and do not impose specific limitations on the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 1a is an exemplary schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 1b is an SSB transmission pattern according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 2 is an exemplary interaction schematic diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIGS. 3a-3b are exemplary flowcharts of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIGS. 4a-4b are exemplary flowcharts of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 5a is a structural schematic diagram of a device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 5b is a structural schematic diagram of a device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 6a is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 6b is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a terminal, a network device and a storage medium.

[0039] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, performed by a terminal, comprising:

[0040] detecting, according to one or more detection periods supported by the terminal, downlink information transmitted by a network device in an initial access procedure.

[0041] In the above embodiments, the terminal can support one or more detection periods, so that the terminal can detect the downlink information in the initial access procedure based on a suitable detection period among the one or more detection periods, thereby improving the probability of detecting the downlink information and further improving the access success rate of the terminal.

[0042] In combination with the embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, detecting, according to one or more detection periods supported by the terminal, downlink information transmitted by a network device in an initial access procedure comprises: detecting, in a first detection period, downlink information transmitted by the network device in the initial access procedure, wherein the first detection period is determined from the one or more detection periods.

[0043] In the above embodiments, the terminal selects a first detection period from the one or more detection periods supported by the terminal, and detects the downlink information in the first detection period, so as to successfully detect the downlink information.

[0044] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first detection period is determined according to a cell frequency band to which the downlink information corresponds.

[0045] In the above embodiments, the terminal can select a suitable detection period based on the cell frequency band, thereby facilitating the terminal to detect the downlink information of the cell in the corresponding frequency band.

[0046] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the cell frequency band belongs to a non-terrestrial network (NTN) frequency band, and the first detection period is a larger one of a plurality of detection periods supported by the terminal.

[0047] In the above embodiments, for a cell in an NTN frequency band, the coverage range of the downlink information is larger, and the terminal can use a larger detection period for detection, thereby improving the probability of detecting the downlink information.

[0048] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first detection period is determined according to a location of the terminal.

[0049] In the above embodiments, the terminal can select a suitable detection period based on its own location, thereby detecting the corresponding downlink information based on the selected detection period based on the coverage of the network.

[0050] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the location is in a region not covered by a terrestrial network (TN), and the first detection period is a larger one of a plurality of detection periods supported by the terminal.

[0051] In the above embodiments, the terminal can use a larger detection period for detection in a region not covered by a TN network, to improve the probability of detecting the downlink information.

[0052] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first detection period is determined according to a set rule, or the first detection period is determined by the terminal implementation.

[0053] In the above embodiments, the terminal can determine the first detection period based on product implementation or set rules in different scenarios, to improve the success rate of detecting downlink information in different scenarios.

[0054] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the set rule includes: in a plurality of detection periods supported by the terminal, determining the first detection period corresponding to each initial access process according to a priority order.

[0055] In the above embodiments, the terminal can select the detection period for each initial access process according to the priority order of the supported detection periods in different initial access processes.

[0056] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the downlink information comprises at least one of:

[0057] a synchronization signal block (SSB);

[0058] a master information block (MIB);

[0059] a system information block 1 (SIB1).

[0060] In the above embodiments, the terminal can detect any of the above information in the initial access process according to the determined detection period, so as to improve the efficiency of the initial access success.

[0061] In some embodiments of the first aspect, each detection period comprises one or more of:

[0062] a default transmission period of the SSB;

[0063] a default transmission period of the SIB1;

[0064] a default transmission period of the MIB;

[0065] an unchanged transmission content period of the SIB1; wherein the terminal determines that a plurality of SIB1 contents transmitted in the unchanged transmission content period of the SIB1 are the same;

[0066] an unchanged transmission content period of the MIB; wherein the terminal determines that a plurality of MIB contents transmitted in the unchanged transmission content period of the MIB are the same.

[0067] In the above embodiments, each detection period supported by the terminal can be a default transmission period of a single downlink information, or a default transmission period of a plurality of downlink information, so that the terminal can perform measurement of the corresponding downlink information based on the supported detection period, and improve the flexibility of detecting different downlink information.

[0068] In some embodiments of the first aspect, at least one period in each detection period is greater than a first value; wherein the first value is determined according to a search period in the TN network.

[0069] In the above embodiments, the detection period supported by the terminal can include a period greater than the search period in the TN network, so that the terminal can perform detection based on the larger detection period, and improve the possibility of detecting the downlink information.

[0070] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the method further comprises: determining an actual transmission period of the downlink information after receiving the downlink information.

[0071] In the above embodiments, after receiving the downlink information based on the detection period, the terminal can determine the actual transmission period of the downlink information based on the received information, facilitating other operations indicated by the network device based on the actual transmission period, such as performing Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurement, etc.

[0072] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, performed by a network device, the method comprising:

[0073] transmitting downlink information in an initial access procedure, wherein the downlink information is used for the terminal to detect in the initial access procedure according to one or more detection periods supported.

[0074] In the above embodiments, the downlink information transmitted by the network device in the initial access procedure can be detected by the terminal based on a suitable detection period, which can support one or more detection periods, thereby improving the probability of detecting the downlink information.

[0075] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the downlink information is used for the terminal to detect in a first detection period, wherein the first detection period is determined from the one or more detection periods.

[0076] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the first detection period is determined according to a cell frequency band corresponding to the downlink information.

[0077] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the cell frequency band belongs to a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) frequency band, and the first detection period is a larger one of a plurality of detection periods supported by the terminal.

[0078] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the first detection period is determined according to a location of the terminal.

[0079] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the location is in an area not covered by a Terrestrial Network (TN), and the first detection period is a larger one of a plurality of detection periods supported by the terminal.

[0080] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the first detection period is determined according to a set rule, or the first detection period is determined by the terminal.

[0081] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the set rule comprises:

[0082] In the multiple detection periods supported by the terminal, a first detection period corresponding to each initial access procedure is determined according to the priority order.

[0083] In combination with the embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the downlink information comprises at least one of:

[0084] a synchronization signal block (SSB);

[0085] a master information block (MIB);

[0086] a system information block (SIB1).

[0087] In combination with the embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, each detection period comprises one or more of the following in the one or more detection periods:

[0088] a default transmission period of an SSB;

[0089] a default transmission period of a SIB1;

[0090] a default transmission period of a MIB;

[0091] an unchanged transmission content period of a SIB1; wherein the terminal determines that multiple SIB1 contents transmitted in the unchanged transmission content period of the SIB1 are the same;

[0092] an unchanged transmission content period of a MIB; wherein the terminal determines that multiple MIB contents transmitted in the unchanged transmission content period of the MIB are the same.

[0093] In combination with the embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, at least one period in each detection period is greater than a first value; wherein the first value is determined according to a search period in the TN network.

[0094] In a third aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a terminal, comprising:

[0095] a transceiver, configured to detect, according to one or more detection periods supported by the terminal, downlink information transmitted by a network device in an initial access procedure.

[0096] In a fourth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a network device, comprising:

[0097] a transceiver, configured to transmit downlink information in an initial access procedure, wherein the downlink information is used for detection by a terminal according to one or more detection periods supported by the terminal in the initial access procedure.

[0098] In a fifth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a terminal, comprising:

[0099] one or more processors;

[0100] The terminal is configured to implement the method of the first aspect.

[0101] In a sixth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a network device, comprising:

[0102] one or more processors;

[0103] The network device is configured to implement the method of the second aspect.

[0104] In a seventh aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication system comprising a terminal and a network device, wherein,

[0105] The terminal is configured to implement the method of the first aspect;

[0106] The network device is configured to implement the method of the second aspect.

[0107] In an eighth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a storage medium, wherein the storage medium stores instructions,

[0108] When the instructions run on a communication device, the communication device executes the method of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0109] In a ninth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a program product, wherein,

[0110] When the program product is executed by a communication device, the communication device executes the method of the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0111] In a tenth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer program, which, when running on a computer, causes the computer to execute the method as described in the optional implementation manners of the first aspect and the second aspect.

[0112] In an eleventh aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a chip or a chip system. The chip or the chip system comprises processing circuitry configured to execute the method described in the above first aspect and the optional implementation manners of the second aspect.

[0113] It can be understood that the above terminal, network device, communication system, storage medium, program product, computer program, chip or chip system are all used to execute the method proposed by the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved thereby can refer to the beneficial effects in the corresponding method, which will not be described here again.

[0114] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive, but only illustrate some embodiments, and are not specific limitations on the protection scope of the present disclosure. In the case of no contradiction, each step in an embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be combined arbitrarily, for example, the scheme after removing part of the steps in an embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in an embodiment can be exchanged arbitrarily, in addition, the optional implementation manners in an embodiment can be combined arbitrarily; in addition, the embodiments can be combined arbitrarily, for example, part or all steps of different embodiments can be combined arbitrarily, an embodiment can be combined with optional implementation manners of other embodiments arbitrarily.

[0115] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, the terms and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent if there is no special description and logical conflict, and can be referred to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0116] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing the specific embodiments, and not as a limitation on the present disclosure.

[0117] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, the elements expressed in singular form, such as "one", "a", "the", "above", "said", "preceding", "this" and the like, can represent "one and only one", and can also represent "one or more", "at least one" and the like. For example, in the case of using articles such as "a", "an", "the" and the like in English, the noun after the article can be understood as singular expression, and can also be understood as plural expression.

[0118] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, "plurality" means two or more.

[0119] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one of", "one or more", "a plurality of", "multiple" and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0120] In some embodiments, "at least one of A, B", "A and / or B", "in one case A, in another case B", "responsive to case A, responsive to case B" and the like, can be interpreted to include both cases, A and B, in some embodiments, A (A is performed regardless of B), in some embodiments, B (B is performed regardless of A), in some embodiments, selected from the group consisting of A and B (the selection between A and B is an option), in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are performed).

[0121] In some embodiments, "A or B" and the like, can be interpreted to include both cases, A and B, in some embodiments, A (A is performed regardless of B), in some embodiments, B (B is performed regardless of A), in some embodiments, selected from the group consisting of A and B (the selection between A and B is an option).

[0122] In some embodiments, the prefix words "first", "second" and the like in the disclosure do not limit the position, order, priority, number or content of the described objects, and the description of the described objects should be referred to the context of the claims or embodiments, and should not be construed as redundant limitations. For example, the described objects are "fields", and the ordinal words before "fields" in "first field" and "second field" do not limit the position or order between "fields", and "first" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" modified by them are in the same message or not, nor limit the order of "first field" and "second field". For another example, the described objects are "levels", and the ordinal words before "levels" in "first level" and "second level" do not limit the priority between "levels". For another example, the number of the described objects is not limited by the ordinal words, and can be one or more. For example, "first device", where the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefix words can be the same or different, for example, the described objects are "devices", and "first device" and "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different; for another example, the described objects are "information", and "first information" and "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0123] In some embodiments, "including A", "containing A", "for indicating A", "carrying A" can be interpreted as directly carrying A, or indirectly indicating A.

[0124] In some embodiments, the terms "in response to", "in response to determining", "in the case of", "when", "when", "if", "if" and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0125] In some embodiments, the terms "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not lower than", "above", and the like can be replaced with each other, and the terms "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "fewer than", "fewer than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", "below", and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0126] In some embodiments, the apparatuses and devices can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and in some cases can also be understood as "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", "subject", and the like.

[0127] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as an apparatus included in the network, such as an access network device, a core network device, and the like.

[0128] In some embodiments, an “access network device (AN device)” can also be referred to as a “radio access network device (RAN device),” a “base station (BS),” a “radio base station,” a “fixed station,” and in some embodiments can also be understood as a “node,” an “access point,” a “transmission point (TP),” a “reception point (RP),” a “transmission / reception point (TRP),” a “panel,” an “antenna panel,” an “antenna array,” a “cell,” a “macro cell,” a “small cell,” a “femto cell,” a “pico cell,” a “sector,” a “cell group,” a “serving cell,” a “carrier,” a “component carrier,” a “bandwidth part (BWP),” and the like.

[0129] In some embodiments, a "terminal" or "terminal device" can be referred to as a "user equipment" (UE), a "user terminal," a "mobile station" (MS), a "mobile terminal" (MT), a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communication device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, and / or the like.

[0130] In some embodiments, data, information and / or the like can be obtained in compliance with laws and regulations of a country where the data, information and / or the like is obtained.

[0131] In some embodiments, data, information and / or the like can be obtained after obtaining consent of a user.

[0132] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in a table of embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and a combination of any element, any row, or any column can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0133] FIG. 1a is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0134] As shown in FIG. 1a, a communication system 100 includes a terminal 101 and a network device 102.

[0135] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 includes at least one of a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a communication-capable automobile, a smart automobile, a tablet (Pad), a wireless transceiver-equipped computer, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, a wireless terminal device in a smart home, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

[0136] In some embodiments, the network device 102 can include at least one of an access network device and a core network device.

[0137] In some embodiments, the access network device is at least one of a node or a device that accesses a terminal to a wireless network, for example, and can include at least one of an evolved NodeB (eNB) in a 5G communication system, a next generation eNB (ng-eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a node B (NB), a home node B (HNB), a home evolved node B (HeNB), a wireless backhaul device, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a base band unit (BBU), a mobile switching center, a base station in a 6G communication system, an Open RAN, a Cloud RAN, a base station in other communication systems, an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

[0138] In some embodiments, the technical solutions of the present disclosure can be applied to an Open RAN architecture, at this time, the interfaces between or within the access network devices involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure can become internal interfaces of the Open RAN, and the processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented through software or programs.

[0139] In some embodiments, the access network device can be composed of a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), where the CU can also be referred to as a control unit. The CU-DU structure can split the protocol layers of the access network device, with some protocol layer functions being controlled by the CU, and the remaining or all protocol layer functions being distributed in the DU and controlled by the CU. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0140] In some embodiments, the core network device can be one device including one or more network elements, or can be multiple devices or device groups including all or part of one or more network elements. The network element can be virtual or physical. The core network includes at least one of an evolved packet core (EPC), a 5G core network (5GCN), and a next-generation core (NGC), for example. Alternatively, the core network device refers to a network element with specific functions, such as an access management function (AMF) and a service management function (SMF).

[0141] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiments of the present disclosure is for more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art can know that, as the system architecture evolves and new business scenarios appear, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0142] The following embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1a or part of the subject, but are not limited thereto.

[0143] The subjects shown in FIG. 1a are examples. The communication system can include all or part of the subjects in FIG. 1a, or other subjects other than those in FIG. 1a. The number and form of each subject is arbitrary. The connection relationship between the subjects is an example. The subjects can be connected or not connected. The connection can be in any manner, can be direct connection or indirect connection, and can be wired connection or wireless connection.

[0144] Embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), Future Radio Access (FRA), New-Radio Access Technology (RAT), New Radio (NR), New radio access (NX), Future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (Bluetooth (registered trademark)), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) network, Device-to-Device (D2D) system, Machine to Machine (M2M) system, Internet of Things (IoT) system, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), system using other communication processing methods, next-generation system expanded based on them, and the like. Further, a plurality of systems can be applied in combination (for example, combination of LTE or LTE-A and 5G, and the like).

[0145] Referring to FIG. 1b, the transmission of SSB has a fixed pattern, and in different cases, there are different frequency ranges f and SCS, and different positions where SSBs can exist. For example, in a 5G NR system, the default SSB transmission period of a terminal 101 is 20 ms, or the default period of SSB is 20 ms, and for an NTN frequency band (band) of 2 GHz (S band), the SCS is 15 KHz, and a maximum of 4 SSBs can be transmitted in a cell within 20 ms. In FIG. 1b, the positions where SSBs can exist are shown, and in an actual system, the network device 102 can not transmit part of the SSB beams, and therefore the network device 102 can further indicate in the SIB1 or ServingCellConfigCommon configuration through the ssb-PositionsInBurst information which SSB beams are actually transmitted and which beams are not transmitted.

[0146] In an NTN, the total number of beams that a satellite needs to cover or the total number of beam footprints is X, and the number of beams that the satellite can simultaneously activate or the total number of simultaneously active beams is Y, and the coverage ratio or the percentage of simultaneously active beams is X / Y. Referring to Tables 1-1 to 1-3, in different sets of low earth orbit (LEO) 600 km, the values of X, Y, or X / Y are different. Taking set 1-2 of Table 1-2 as an example, the value of X is 1058, the value of Y is 16, and the value of X / Y is 1.5%, and set 1-2 has the following characteristics: (1) the equivalent isotropically radiated power (ERIP) of each beam is large enough, so it does not need to be enhanced for a specific channel; (2) the number of simultaneously active beams, i.e., the value of Y, is small, resulting in a small downlink (DL) coverage ratio.

[0147] Table 1-1

[0148] Wherein, *: the EIRP limit of the reference configuration is 61.24 dBm. **: Assuming 100% Resource Block (RB) utilization within the same beam of maximum power. The absolute number of simultaneously active beams is up to 212 (due to radio frequency, RF, limitations). ***: For a 600 km constellation design, a low elevation angle of 30°, and a selected (e.g., set1) beam size. Note1: This beam size is included in the scenario, and larger beam sizes can be based on evaluation and reporting.

[0149] Table 1-2

[0150] Wherein, *: the EIRP limit of the reference configuration is 53 dBm. **: The absolute number of simultaneously active beams is up to 16 (due to radio frequency, RF, limitations). Note1: This beam size is included in the scenario, and larger beam sizes can be based on evaluation and reporting.

[0151] Table 1-3

[0152] Wherein, *: the EIRP limit of the reference configuration is 53.24 dBm. **: The absolute number of simultaneously active beams is up to 212 (due to radio frequency, RF, limitations). Note1: This beam size is included in the scenario, and larger beam sizes can be based on evaluation and reporting.

[0153] In combination with the above description, and still taking the example that the transmission period of the default SSB of the terminal 101 is 20 ms, the NTN band is 2 GHz and the SCS is 15 KHz within 20 ms, and a maximum of 4 SSBs can be transmitted in one cell, in addition, in combination with Table 1-2, the proportion of simultaneously activated beams is 1.5%, the total coverage rate in this case is 1.5% * 4 = 6%. If the network device 102 can flexibly configure different cells, according to 2 SSBs (which can be SSBs of different cells) per ms, a maximum of 40 SSBs can be transmitted within 20 ms, and the coverage rate is 1.5% * 40 = 60%, still cannot achieve 100% coverage.

[0154] The transmission mode of the SSBs cannot achieve a large enough coverage rate, such as 100% coverage, in the NTN. The coverage rate of the SSBs can be improved by increasing the transmission period of the SSBs, for example, the transmission period of the SSBs is greater than 20 ms. In combination with the foregoing embodiment, the maximum number of possible positions of the SSBs is 40 when the period is 20 ms, and the number of possible positions of the SSBs increases when the transmission period is greater than 20 ms, thereby improving the coverage rate of the SSBs.

[0155] However, in the mode of improving the coverage rate of the SSBs, the cell / SSB detection of the terminal 101 in the initial access process is affected, and how the terminal 101 learns the increased transmission period of the SSBs needs to be solved. For example, in combination with FIG. 1b, in the current NR system, the terminal 101 assumes that the default period of the SSBs is 20 ms, that is, when the terminal 101 searches for a cell, the terminal 101 searches for the SSBs within 20 ms on a specific cell frequency, and if a suitable SSB (for example, the signal quality RSRP is not higher than a threshold) is not found, the terminal 101 considers that the terminal 101 cannot access the cell, and then switches to another cell to search for the SSBs. If the coverage rate of the SSBs in the NTN network is improved by increasing the transmission period of the SSBs, the period of the SSBs is increased to, for example, 40 ms, and the terminal 101 may give up the cell within 20 ms without searching for the SSBs, and miss the SSBs sent in other time domain positions within 40 ms, thereby causing the legacy UE to be unable to access the cell. It can be understood that based on the protocol definition, the terminal 101 can consider that the SSBs in a certain transmission period will be sent within the first 5 ms of the period, for example, the terminal 101 can detect the SSBs within the first 5 ms of the 20 ms every 20 ms.

[0156] The embodiment of the present disclosure provides a behavior of how the terminal 101 searches for the SSBs to perform initial access in the case of increasing the transmission period or the sending period of the SSBs to improve the coverage rate of the SSBs in the NTN network.

[0157] FIG. 2 is an interaction schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, and the method comprises the following steps:

[0158] In step S2101, the network device 102 sends downlink information.

[0159] In some embodiments, in the initial access process, the network device 102 can send the downlink information in the form of broadcasting.

[0160] The initial access process can be a random access process or include a random access process, or the terminal 101 accesses the network based on the initial access process and the random access process.

[0161] Optionally, the downlink information comprises downlink information in an initial access procedure.

[0162] In some embodiments, the downlink information comprises at least one of: SSB; MIB; SIB1.

[0163] For example, in an initial access procedure, the network device 102 transmits SSB, which comprises a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). The PBCH carries an MIB, which can include scheduling information of a SIB1, and the SIB1 includes scheduling information of other System Information (SI).

[0164] At step S2102, the terminal 101 detects the downlink information according to one or more supported detection periods.

[0165] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 is a terminal 101 supporting one or more detection periods, i.e., the terminal 101 can perform initial access cell search based on any of the one or more detection periods, i.e., detect or search for downlink information of a cell, such as SSB, MIB, or SIB1 of a certain cell. In combination with the foregoing embodiment description, a legacy UE supports a detection period with a SSB default transmission period of 20 ms, and the legacy UE only detects or searches for downlink information with a period of 20 ms.

[0166] In one example of the present disclosure, the terminal 101 supports one detection period. For example, taking SSB as the downlink information, the terminal 101 supports a detection period with a SSB default transmission period that is not 20 ms. Alternatively, in one embodiment, still taking SSB as the downlink information, the terminal 101 supports multiple detection periods, such as multiple SSB default transmission periods, wherein the multiple detection periods include a detection period with a SSB default transmission period of 20 ms.

[0167] Optionally, in an initial access procedure, the terminal 101 performs cell search based on the one or more supported detection periods, such as detecting SSB of a cell or a carrier, and after detecting the SSB, receives SIB1 based on MIB in the PBCH, and further receives other SI based on the SIB1, so as to successfully perform initial access.

[0168] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 can support one or more detection periods. Wherein each detection period can comprise at least one of:

[0169] a default transmission period of SSBs;

[0170] a default transmission period of SIB1s;

[0171] a default transmission period of MIBs;

[0172] a transmission content unchanged period of SIB1s;

[0173] a transmission content unchanged period of MIBs.

[0174] Optionally, the transmission content unchanged period of SIB1s refers to a period that the terminal 101 considers or assumes that the transmission content of SIB1s is unchanged or same, such as the terminal determines that the multiple SIB1 contents transmitted in the transmission content unchanged period of SIB1s are same.

[0175] Optionally, the transmission content unchanged period of MIBs refers to a period that the terminal 101 considers or assumes that the transmission content of MIBs is unchanged or same, such as the terminal determines that the multiple MIB contents transmitted in the transmission content unchanged period of MIBs are same.

[0176] Optionally, the default transmission period of SSBs refers to a transmission period of SSBs that the terminal 101 considers or assumes by default, the default transmission period of SIB1s refers to a transmission period of SIB1s that the terminal 101 considers or assumes by default, and the default transmission period of MIBs refers to a transmission period of MIBs that the terminal 101 considers or assumes by default.

[0177] In a first example, a detection period is a default transmission period of an SSB, the default transmission period of the SSB is greater than a value in a related protocol, such as greater than 20 ms, and the terminal 101 can search for the SSB in the detection period greater than 20 ms to improve the probability of receiving the SSB. Or in this example, a detection period is a transmission content invariable period of an SIB1, the transmission content invariable period of the SIB1 is greater than a value in a related protocol, such as greater than 160 ms, and the terminal 101 can search for the SIB1 in the detection period greater than 160 ms to improve the probability of receiving the SIB1. Or in this example, a detection period is a default transmission period of an SIB1, the default transmission period of the SIB1 is greater than a value in a related protocol, such as greater than 20 ms, and the terminal 101 can search for the SIB1 in the detection period greater than 20 ms to improve the probability of receiving the SIB1. Or in this example, a detection period corresponds to a transmission content invariable period of an MIB, the transmission content invariable period of the MIB is greater than a value in a related protocol, such as greater than 80 ms, and the terminal 101 can search for the MIB in the detection period greater than 80 ms to improve the probability of receiving the MIB. Or in this example, a detection period corresponds to a default transmission period of an MIB, the default transmission period of the MIB is greater than a value in a related protocol, such as greater than 20 ms, and the terminal 101 can search for the MIB in the detection period greater than 20 ms to improve the probability of receiving the MIB.

[0178] It is worth emphasizing that the terminal 101 in the related protocol only supports a default transmission period of an SSB, that is, supports searching for the SSB in the default transmission period of the SSB; or only supports a transmission content invariable period of an SIB1, that is, supports searching for the SIB1 in the transmission content invariable period of the SIB1; or only supports a default transmission period of an SIB1, that is, supports searching for the SIB1 in the default transmission period of the SIB1; or only supports a transmission content invariable period of an MIB, that is, supports searching for the MIB in the transmission content invariable period of the MIB; or only supports a default transmission period of an MIB, that is, supports searching for the MIB in the default transmission period of the MIB. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal 101 supports a detection period greater than the corresponding period in the related protocol, so that the terminal 101 can search for the SSB, SIB1 or MIB in a larger detection period to improve the probability of searching for the downlink information.

[0179] In the second example, one detection period corresponds to the default transmission period of one SSB, the terminal 101 supports multiple detection periods, i.e., the terminal 101 supports multiple default transmission periods of SSBs, in the cell search, the terminal 101 selects or determines a first detection period in the multiple default transmission periods of SSBs, and receives the SSB in the first detection period. In this case, the terminal 101 assumes that all SSBs of one cell are transmitted in the default transmission period of the SSBs.

[0180] In this example, the default transmission period of at least one SSB is greater than a first value; wherein the first value is determined according to the search period in the TN network.

[0181] For example, the first value is 20 ms. In an example, the terminal 101 supports the default transmission period of SSBs as 20 ms and at least one value greater than 20 ms, such as 160 ms; wherein the terminal 101 only supports one default transmission period of SSBs, such as 20 ms, according to the related protocol or existing protocol. For another example, the first value is 80 ms. In an example, the terminal 101 supports the default transmission period of SSBs as 80 ms and at least one value greater than 80 ms, such as 160 ms; wherein the terminal 101 only supports one default transmission period of SSBs, such as 80 ms, according to the related protocol or existing protocol. For another example, the terminal 101 supports multiple default transmission periods of SSBs, and the multiple default transmission periods of SSBs are all greater than the first value, such as 20 ms.

[0182] In the third example, one detection period corresponds to the default transmission period of one SIB1 or the transmission content invariable period of one SIB1, and this example is described by taking one detection period corresponding to the transmission content invariable period of one SIB1 as an example. The default transmission period of SIB1 can be described with reference to this example. For example, the terminal 101 supports multiple detection periods, i.e., the terminal 101 supports multiple transmission content invariable periods of SIB1, and the terminal 101 can select or determine a first detection period in the multiple transmission content invariable periods of SIB1, and receive the SIB1 in the first detection period. In this case, the terminal 101 assumes that the contents of the SIB1 transmitted in the transmission content invariable period of the SIB1 are the same.

[0183] In this example, the transmission content invariable period of at least one SIB1 can be greater than a first value. The first value corresponding to the SIB1 can be the same as or different from the first value corresponding to the SSB. For example, the transmission content invariable period of the SIB1 supported by the terminal 101 is 20 ms and 160 ms, where 160 ms is greater than the first value, and the first value is, for example, 20 ms. In this example, taking the transmission content invariable period of the SIB1 as 160 ms as an example, the terminal 101 considers that the content of the SIB1 is invariable within 160 ms, and if the SIB1 is repeatedly transmitted for multiple times during 160 ms, the terminal 101 considers that the contents of the repeatedly transmitted SIB1 are the same, and can perform soft combining on the multiple SIB1s that are repeatedly transmitted.

[0184] In a fourth example, one detection period corresponds to a default transmission period of one MIB or a transmission content invariable period of one MIB. This example takes one detection period corresponding to the transmission content invariable period of one MIB as an example, and the default transmission period of the MIB can be described with reference to this example. For example, the terminal 101 supports multiple detection periods, that is, the terminal 101 supports multiple transmission content invariable periods of the MIB, and the terminal 101 can select or determine a first detection period in the multiple transmission content invariable periods of the MIB, so as to receive the MIB in the first detection period. The terminal 101 assumes that the contents of the MIBs transmitted within the transmission content invariable period of the MIB are the same.

[0185] In this example, the transmission content invariable period of at least one MIB can be greater than a first value. The first value corresponding to the MIB can be the same as or different from the first value corresponding to the SSB. For example, the transmission content invariable period of the MIB supported by the terminal 101 is 20 ms and 80 ms, where 80 ms is greater than the first value, and the first value is, for example, 20 ms. In this example, taking the transmission content invariable period of the MIB as 80 ms as an example, the terminal 101 considers that the content of the MIB is invariable within 80 ms, and if the MIB is repeatedly transmitted for multiple times during 80 ms, the terminal 101 considers that the contents of the repeatedly transmitted MIBs are the same, and can perform soft combining on the multiple MIBs that are repeatedly transmitted. The MIB can be contained in the PBCH transmission in the SSB.

[0186] In the above optional examples, the terminal 101 can support a certain detection period alone, such as the default transmission period of the SSB, the default transmission period of the SIB1, the default transmission period of the MIB, the transmission content invariable period of the SIB1, or the transmission content invariable period of the MIB. In other examples, the default transmission periods of different channels or information can also be bound, that is, each detection period is a set or a group of default transmission periods. For reference, the following optional examples are provided:

[0187] In the fifth example, one detection period can include multiple periods, for example, one detection period includes the following multiple periods: the default transmission period of one SSB, the default transmission period of SIB1, the default transmission period of MIB, the transmission content unchanged period of one SIB1, and the transmission content unchanged period of one MIB, that is, the multiple periods are taken as a set or a group of default transmission periods. The terminal 101 can support one detection period, that is, one set of default transmission periods, for example: the terminal 101 supports the default transmission period of one SSB, and / or the transmission content unchanged period of one SIB1, and / or the transmission content unchanged period of one MIB; wherein the value of at least one period is greater than the corresponding first value. In an optional example, the terminal 101 supports one detection period, which includes the default transmission period of one SSB, the transmission content unchanged period of one SIB1, and the transmission content unchanged period of one MIB, wherein the default transmission period of SSB is greater than the first value such as 20 ms, and the transmission content unchanged period of SIB1 and / or the transmission content unchanged period of MIB can be the same as the related protocol.

[0188] In the sixth example, one detection period can include multiple periods, for example, one detection period includes the following multiple periods: the default transmission period of one SSB, the default transmission period of SIB1, the default transmission period of MIB, the transmission content unchanged period of one SIB1, and the transmission content unchanged period of one MIB, that is, the multiple periods are taken as a set or a group of default transmission periods. The terminal 101 can support multiple detection periods, that is, multiple sets of default transmission periods, for example: the terminal 101 supports multiple default transmission periods of SSB, and / or multiple transmission content unchanged periods of SIB1, and / or multiple transmission content unchanged periods of MIB; wherein in each detection period, that is, in each set of default transmission periods, the value of at least one period is greater than the first value, for example, the terminal 101 supports two detection periods or two sets of default transmission periods, denoted as period #1 or period #2, wherein:

[0189] Period #1 includes at least one of the following: the default transmission period of SSB is 20 ms, the transmission content unchanged period of SIB1 is 160 ms, and the transmission content unchanged period of MIB is 80 ms; wherein the transmission content unchanged period of SIB1 is 160 ms, which is greater than the first value such as 20 ms, and / or the transmission content unchanged period of MIB is 80 ms, which is greater than the first value such as 20 ms.

[0190] Period #2 includes at least one of the following: the default transmission period of SSB is 80 ms, the transmission content unchanged period of SIB1 is 320 ms, and the transmission content unchanged period of MIB is 160 ms; wherein the above three periods are all greater than the corresponding first value, and the possible value of the first value can refer to the description of the foregoing embodiments, such as 20 ms.

[0191] In a seventh example, the terminal 101 supports one detection period, and if the one detection period includes one of the default transmission period of SSB, the transmission content invariable period of SIB1 or the transmission content invariable period of MIB, it can be considered that the other two of the default transmission period of SSB, the transmission content invariable period of SIB1 or the transmission content invariable period of MIB can be the same as the value of the related protocol by default.

[0192] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 can detect the downlink information sent by the network device 102 in the initial access process in a first detection period, wherein the first detection period is determined in one or more detection periods.

[0193] In an example, the terminal 101 supports one detection period, and the one detection period is the first detection period, and the terminal 101 retrieves the downlink information in the initial access process in the first detection period, such as retrieving SSB, MIB or SIB1.

[0194] For example, the terminal 101 supports one detection period, and the one detection period includes the default transmission period of SSB, and the default transmission period of SSB is the first detection period, and the terminal 101 retrieves SSB in the first detection period. Or, the terminal 101 supports one detection period, and the one detection period includes the transmission content invariable period of SIB1, and the transmission content invariable period of SIB1 is the first detection period, and the terminal 101 retrieves SIB1 in the first detection period. Or, the terminal 101 supports one detection period, and the one detection period includes the transmission content invariable period of MIB, and the transmission content invariable period of MIB is the first detection period, and the terminal 101 retrieves MIB in the first detection period.

[0195] For another example, the terminal 101 supports one detection period, i.e. a set of default transmission periods, and the one detection period includes the default transmission period of one SSB, the transmission content invariable period of one SIB1 and the transmission content invariable period of one MIB, and the one detection period is the first detection period, and the terminal 101 can receive SSB according to the default transmission period of the one SSB, receive SIB1 according to the transmission content invariable period of the one SIB1, and receive MIB according to the transmission content invariable period of the one MIB.

[0196] In another example, the terminal 101 supports multiple detection periods, and the terminal 101 can determine the first detection period based on certain principles, and the terminal 101 retrieves the downlink information in the initial access process in the first detection period, such as retrieving SSB, MIB or SIB1.

[0197] In this example, the plurality of detection periods can be a default transmission period including a plurality of SSBs, or a transmission content unchanged period including a plurality of SIB1s, or a transmission content unchanged period including a plurality of MIBs. The plurality of detection periods can also be a plurality of sets of default transmission periods, that is, each detection period can include one or more of a default transmission period of an SSB, a transmission content unchanged period of an SIB1, or a transmission content unchanged period of an MIB. The terminal 101 can determine a first detection period in the plurality of detection periods. Wherein, the terminal 101 can determine the first detection period in the plurality of detection periods in various implementation manners, which will be described in detail in the following embodiments.

[0198] In some embodiments, the first detection period is determined according to a cell frequency band corresponding to the downlink information.

[0199] It can be understood that when the terminal 101 needs to perform cell search, the terminal 101 can obtain the cell frequency band, and thus perform search in the frequency band corresponding to the cell; here, the cell corresponding to the downlink information, that is, the cell in which the terminal 101 needs to search for downlink information such as SSBs during the cell search process, that is, the cell in which the terminal 101 needs to send the to-be-searched downlink information such as SSBs, SIB1s, or MIBs; during the process of obtaining the cell frequency band or determining the first detection period, the cell can have sent the downlink information such as SSBs or can not have sent the downlink information.

[0200] Optionally, the cell corresponding to the downlink information, that is, the cell corresponding to the SSB when the terminal 101 performs cell search such as detecting the SSB of a certain cell.

[0201] Optionally, the cell frequency band can belong to a TN frequency band or an NTN frequency band. Wherein, the NTN network needs to cover a larger range.

[0202] Optionally, the cell frequency band belongs to a non-terrestrial network NTN frequency band, and the first detection period is a period larger one of a plurality of detection periods supported by the terminal 101. That is, the terminal 101 can use a larger detection period to search for SSBs, MIBs, or SIB1s. Thus, in a scenario of improving SSB coverage by increasing the SSB transmission period, the terminal 101 uses a larger detection period to search for SSBs, MIBs, or SIB1s, which can improve the probability of obtaining SSBs, MIBs, or SIB1s.

[0203] For example, when the terminal 101 determines that the current searched cell frequency band is an NTN frequency band, the terminal 101 can determine the first detection period as a larger-period SSB default transmission period, such as 160 ms, that is, the terminal 101 uses a larger-period default transmission period to search for SSBs.

[0204] In some embodiments, the first detection period is determined according to the location of the terminal 101.

[0205] Optionally, the location of the terminal 101 can be represented by coordinates, accessed network, or latitude and longitude, etc.

[0206] Optionally, the location is in an area not covered by the terrestrial network TN, and the first detection period is the longer one among the multiple detection periods supported by the terminal 101. For example, the terminal 101 is located in an area not covered by the TN network, such as the ocean, desert, uninhabited area, etc., and the terminal 101 can use the longer detection period to search for SSB, MIB or SIB1.

[0207] For example, when the terminal 101 determines that it is located in an area not covered by the TN network, such as the ocean, desert, uninhabited area, etc., it can determine that the first detection period is the longer SSB default transmission period, such as 160 ms, i.e., the terminal 101 uses the longer default transmission period to search for SSB.

[0208] In some embodiments, the first detection period is determined according to a set rule, or the first detection period depends on the terminal implementation (i.e., UE implementation).

[0209] Optionally, the set rule includes determining the first detection period corresponding to each initial access process according to a priority order among the multiple detection periods supported by the terminal 101. Optionally, the set rule can be defined by a protocol.

[0210] Optionally, the terminal implementation refers to the hardware structure and / or software algorithm implementation of the product of the terminal.

[0211] In some examples, the set rule includes determining the first detection period corresponding to each initial access process according to a priority order among the multiple detection periods supported by the terminal 101. Optionally, among the multiple detection periods supported by the terminal 101, the corresponding priority can be from high to low according to the period from small to large, and the terminal 101 uses the corresponding detection period in the order of priority in different initial access processes.

[0212] For example, in the first initial access process, the terminal 101 preferentially uses the shorter detection period to detect downlink information such as SSB, and in the second initial access process, the terminal 101 uses the longer detection period to detect downlink information such as SSB. That is, in different initial access processes, the terminal 101 can select the detection period in the order of priority from high to low. Among them, the two initial access processes can be for the same cell, and the second initial access process can be performed when the first initial access process fails. Or, the two initial access processes are for different cells, and the first initial access process corresponds to cell1 and the second initial access process corresponds to cell2 in the scenario involving cell switching.

[0213] At step S2103, after receiving the downlink information, the terminal 101 determines the actual transmission period of the downlink information.

[0214] In some embodiments, after successfully receiving the downlink information, e.g., obtaining downlink synchronization based on the retrieved SSB, the terminal 101 can determine the actual transmission period of the downlink information of the accessed cell according to the system information. For example, at least one of the following is determined: the actual transmission period of the SSB, the actual transmission period of the MIB, the actual transmission period of the content of the MIB being unchanged, the actual transmission period of the SIB1, and the actual transmission period of the content of the SIB1 being unchanged.

[0215] In some embodiments, after learning the actual transmission period, the terminal 101 can receive the downlink information based on the actual transmission period in combination with the instruction of the network device 102, and can perform RRM measurement and other operations based on the downlink information.

[0216] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc. are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and the terms “information”, “message”, “signal”, “signaling”, “report”, “configuration”, “indication”, “instruction”, “command”, “channel”, “parameter”, “domain”, “field”, etc. can be replaced with each other.

[0217] In some embodiments, “acquire”, “obtain”, “get”, “receive”, “transmit”, “bidirectional transmission”, “send and / or receive” can be replaced with each other, which can be interpreted as receiving from other subjects, acquiring from protocols, acquiring from higher layers, obtaining by self-processing, implementing autonomously, and other meanings.

[0218] In some embodiments, the terms “send”, “transmit”, “report”, “issue”, “transmit”, “bidirectional transmission”, “send and / or receive” can be replaced with each other.

[0219] In some embodiments, the terms “radio”, “wireless”, “radio access network (RAN)”, “access network (AN)”, “RAN-based” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0220] In some embodiments, the terms “moment”, “point in time”, “time”, “time position” and the like can be replaced by each other, and the terms “duration”, “time period”, “time window”, “window”, “time” and the like can be replaced by each other.

[0221] In some embodiments, the terms “component carrier (CC)”, “cell”, “frequency carrier”, “carrier frequency” and the like can be replaced by each other.

[0222] In some embodiments, the terms “certain”, “preseted”, “preset”, “set”, “indicated”, “certain”, “arbitrary”, “first” and the like can be replaced by each other, and “certain A”, “preset A”, “preset A”, “set A”, “indicated A”, “certain A”, “arbitrary A”, “first A” can be interpreted as A specified in advance in a protocol or the like, A obtained by setting, configuration or indication, or A as certain, arbitrary or first, but not limited thereto.

[0223] In some embodiments, the determination or judgment can be made by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), or by a true or false value (Boolean value) represented by true or false, or by comparison of numerical values (for example, comparison with a predetermined value), but not limited thereto.

[0224] In some embodiments, “not expecting to receive” can be interpreted as not receiving in time domain resources and / or frequency domain resources, or as not performing subsequent processing on the data or the like after receiving the data or the like; “not expecting to send” can be interpreted as not sending, or as sending but not expecting the receiving party to respond to the content of the sending.

[0225] The method related to the embodiments of the present disclosure can include at least one of steps S2101-S2103.

[0226] In some embodiments, the method includes step S2102.

[0227] In some embodiments, the method includes steps S2102-S2103.

[0228] In some embodiments, other optional implementations described before or after the corresponding description of FIG. 2 can be referred to.

[0229] FIG. 3a is a flow diagram illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3a, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is performed by the terminal 101, and the method comprises the following steps.

[0230] In step S3101, the downlink information is detected according to the one or more supported detection periods.

[0231] In some embodiments, the implementation of step S3101 can refer to the implementation of step S2102 in FIG. 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0232] In step S3102, after receiving the downlink information, the actual transmission period of the downlink information is determined.

[0233] In some embodiments, the implementation of step S3102 can refer to the implementation of step S2103 in FIG. 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0234] The method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can comprise at least one of steps S3101-S3102.

[0235] In some embodiments, other optional implementations can be described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 3a.

[0236] FIG. 3b is a flow diagram illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3b, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is performed by the terminal 101, and the method comprises the following steps.

[0237] In step S3201, the downlink information sent by the network device 102 in the initial access process is detected according to the one or more supported detection periods.

[0238] In some embodiments, the implementation of step S3201 can refer to the implementation of step S2102 in FIG. 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0239] In some embodiments, other optional implementations can be described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 3b.

[0240] FIG. 4a is a flow diagram illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4a, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is performed by the network device 102, and the method comprises the following steps.

[0241] In step S4101, the downlink information is sent.

[0242] In some embodiments, the implementation of step S4101 can refer to the implementation of step S2101 in FIG. 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0243] In some embodiments, other optional implementations can be described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 4a.

[0244] FIG. 4b is a flow diagram illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4b, the embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a communication method, which is performed by the network device 102, and the above method comprises the following steps:

[0245] In step S4201, downlink information is transmitted in an initial access process.

[0246] In some embodiments, the implementation of step S4201 can refer to the implementation of steps S2101-S2102 in FIG. 2, which will not be described here.

[0247] In some embodiments, other optional implementations can be described before or after the description corresponding to FIG. 4b.

[0248] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the behavior of the UE searching for SSB for initial access is provided in the case of increasing the transmission period of SSB to improve the coverage ratio of SSB in the NTN network. In order to facilitate the understanding of the embodiment of the present disclosure, some examples are listed as follows:

[0249] Example one:

[0250] The UE can support multiple SSB (including PSS, SSS and PBCH, wherein the PBCH includes MIB) default transmission periods or default periods, and the UE assumes that all SSBs of a cell will be transmitted in the default transmission period.

[0251] In one embodiment, the UE supports at least a SSB default period of 20 ms, and the UE also supports a SSB default period of a value greater than 20 ms, such as 160 ms.

[0252] Optionally, the UE only supports one SSB default period of 20 ms in the related protocol.

[0253] Example two:

[0254] The UE can support multiple SIB1 default periods, which can refer to the default transmission period of SIB1 of the UE, or refer to the period in which the UE assumes that the content of SIB1 is unchanged. The UE can support multiple SIB1 default periods.

[0255] Optionally, the UE supports SIB1 default periods of 20 ms and 160 ms.

[0256] Optionally, the UE can only support one SIB1 default transmission period of 20 ms in the related protocol.

[0257] Example three:

[0258] The UE can support multiple MIB default periods, which can refer to the UE default transmission period of MIB, or the UE assumes the content of MIB does not change in this period. The UE can support multiple MIB default transmission periods.

[0259] Optionally, the UE supports 20ms and 80ms SIB1 default periods.

[0260] Optionally, the MIB is transmitted together with PBCH in SSB, so the UE can only support 1 MIB default transmission period, i.e. 20ms, in the related protocol.

[0261] Example four:

[0262] Based on any one of examples one to three, the default periods of multiple channels / information involved can be supported individually or bundled together as a set of default periods. For example, a set of periods includes at least one of the following parameters: SSB default transmission period; default SIB1 content unchanged period; default MIB content unchanged period.

[0263] In one embodiment, the UE supports two sets of periods, period #1 includes at least one of the following parameters: SSB default transmission period = 20ms, default SIB1 content unchanged period = 160ms, default MIB content unchanged period = 80ms. Period #2 includes at least one of the following parameters: SSB default transmission period = 80ms, default SIB1 content unchanged period = 320ms, default MIB content unchanged period = 160ms.

[0264] Example five:

[0265] Based on any one of examples one to four, for the UE that only supports one SSB default transmission period, and / or one MIB default period, and / or one SIB1 default period, and / or 1 SIB1 default transmission period, the UE uses the period for the initial access procedure.

[0266] Example six:

[0267] Based on any one of examples one to four, for the UE that supports multiple SSB default transmission periods, and / or multiple MIB default periods, and / or multiple SIB1 default periods, and / or multiple 1 SIB1 default transmission periods, the UE can determine by itself which period to use for cell search in the initial access stage.

[0268] In one embodiment, the UE determines the SSB default period to use according to the current searched cell frequency band. If the UE determines to use the NTN frequency band, the UE uses the default period with a larger period to search for SSB.

[0269] In one embodiment, the UE uses a default periodicity with a larger periodicity to retrieve SSB according to a location where the UE is located, such as the UE is located in an area where TN network is not covered, such as the ocean, desert, uninhabited area, etc.

[0270] In one embodiment, the UE determines the default periodicity of SSB to be used according to a fixed rule, such as the UE preferentially uses a default periodicity with a smaller periodicity to retrieve SSB, and then uses a default periodicity with a larger periodicity to retrieve SSB.

[0271] Example Seven:

[0272] Based on any one of examples one to six, after the UE retrieves SSB to obtain downlink synchronization in the initial access stage, the UE determines that the actual transmission periodicity or the unchanged period of content of SSB and / or MIB and / or SIB1 of the cell accessed according to the system message is unchanged.

[0273] Embodiments of the present disclosure also propose an apparatus for implementing any one of the above methods, for example, an apparatus including units or modules for implementing each step performed by the terminal in any one of the above methods. For another example, another apparatus is also proposed, including units or modules for implementing each step performed by the network device (such as an access network device, a core network function node, a core network device, etc.) in any one of the above methods.

[0274] It should be understood that the division of each unit or module in the above apparatus is only a logical function division, and all or part of them can be integrated into a physical entity or physically separated in actual implementation. In addition, the units or modules in the apparatus can be implemented in the form of processor calling software: for example, the apparatus includes a processor connected with a memory, the memory stores instructions, and the processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or realize the functions of each unit or module of the above apparatus, wherein the processor is, for example, a general processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory in the apparatus or a memory outside the apparatus. Alternatively, the units or modules in the apparatus can be implemented in the form of hardware circuit, and the functions of part or all of the units or modules can be realized by the design of the hardware circuit. The above hardware circuit can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the functions of part or all of the above units or modules are realized by the design of the logical relationship of the elements in the circuit; for example, in another implementation, the above hardware circuit is a programmable logic device (PLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) is taken as an example, which can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by a configuration file, so as to realize the functions of part or all of the above units or modules. All units or modules of the above apparatus can be implemented in the form of processor calling software, or all units or modules can be implemented in the form of hardware circuit, or part of the units or modules are implemented in the form of processor calling software, and the remaining part is implemented in the form of hardware circuit.

[0275] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capability. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and running capability, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), a digital signal processor (DSP), or the like. In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through a logical relationship of hardware circuit, and the logical relationship of the hardware circuit is fixed or can be reconfigured. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In the reconfigurable hardware circuit, the processor loads a configuration document to implement the configuration of the hardware circuit. It can be understood that the processor loads instructions to implement the functions of the above part or all units or modules. In addition, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), and the like.

[0276] FIG. 5a is a structural schematic diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5a, the terminal 5100 can include at least one of a transceiver module 5101, a processing module 5102, and the like. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 5101 is configured to detect, according to one or more detection periods supported by the terminal, downlink information transmitted by a network device in an initial access process.

[0277] Optionally, the transceiver module 5101 is configured to perform at least one of the communication steps, such as transmitting and / or receiving, performed by the terminal 101 in any of the above methods, which will not be described herein again. Optionally, the processing module 5102 is configured to perform at least one of the other steps performed by the terminal 101 in any of the above methods, which will not be described herein again.

[0278] FIG. 5b is a structural diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5b, the network device 5200 can include at least one of a transceiver module 5201, a processing module 5202, and the like. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 5201 described above is configured to transmit downlink information in an initial access process, wherein the downlink information is used for the terminal to detect according to one or more detection periods supported in the initial access process.

[0279] In some embodiments, the transceiver module can include a transmitting module and / or a receiving module, which can be separate or integrated together. Alternatively, the transceiver module can be mutually replaced with a transceiver.

[0280] In some embodiments, the processing module can be one module, or can include multiple sub-modules. Alternatively, the multiple sub-modules perform all or part of the steps required by the processing module to be performed, respectively. Alternatively, the processing module can be mutually replaced with a processor.

[0281] FIG. 6a is a structural diagram of a communication device 6100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication device 6100 can be a network device (such as an access network device, a core network device, and the like), or a terminal (such as a user equipment, and the like), or a chip, a chip system, or a processor supporting the network device to implement any of the above methods, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor supporting the terminal to implement any of the above methods. The communication device 6100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments, and details can be referred to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0282] As shown in FIG. 6a, the communication device 6100 includes one or more processors 6101. The processor 6101 can be a general purpose processor or a special purpose processor, for example, can be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (such as a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU or a CU, and the like), execute programs, and process data of the programs. Alternatively, the communication device 6100 is configured to execute any of the above methods. Alternatively, the one or more processors 6101 are configured to invoke instructions to cause the communication device 6100 to execute any of the above methods.

[0283] In some embodiments, the communication device 6100 further includes one or more transceivers 6102. When the communication device 6100 includes one or more transceivers 6102, the transceiver 6102 performs at least one of the communication steps of sending and / or receiving in the above-described methods, and the processor 6101 performs at least one of the other steps. In alternative embodiments, the transceiver can include a receiver and / or a transmitter, which can be separate or integrated together. Alternatively, the terms transceiver, transceiving unit, transceiver, transceiving circuit, interface circuit, interface, etc. can be replaced by each other, the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit, etc. can be replaced by each other, and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc. can be replaced by each other.

[0284] In some embodiments, the communication device 6100 further includes one or more memories 6103 for storing data. Alternatively, all or part of the memory 6103 can also be outside the communication device 6100. In alternative embodiments, the communication device 6100 can include one or more interface circuits 6104. Alternatively, the interface circuit 6104 is connected with the memory 6103, and the interface circuit 6104 can be used to receive data from the memory 6103 or other devices, and can be used to send data to the memory 6103 or other devices. For example, the interface circuit 6104 can read the data stored in the memory 6103 and send the data to the processor 6101.

[0285] The communication device 6100 described in the above embodiments can be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 6100 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 6100 can not be limited by Figure 6a. The communication device can be a standalone device or can be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device can be: 1) a standalone integrated circuit (IC), or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a set of one or more ICs, which can optionally include storage components for storing data, programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a Modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, a smart terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handset, a mobile unit, a vehicle-mounted device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0286] Figure 6b is a structural schematic diagram of a chip 6200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the case where the communication device 6100 is a chip or a chip system, the structural schematic diagram of the chip 6200 shown in Figure 6b can be referred to, but is not limited thereto.

[0287] The chip 6200 includes one or more processors 6201. The chip 6200 is configured to execute any of the above methods.

[0288] In some embodiments, chip 6200 further includes one or more interface circuits 6202. Optionally, the terms interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, and the like can be substituted for one another. In some embodiments, chip 6200 further includes one or more memories 6203 for storing data. Optionally, all or part of memory 6203 can be external to chip 6200. Optionally, interface circuit 6202 is connected to memory 6203, and interface circuit 6202 can be used to receive data from memory 6203 or other devices, and interface circuit 6202 can be used to send data to memory 6203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 6202 can read data stored in memory 6203 and send the data to processor 6201.

[0289] In some embodiments, interface circuit 6202 performs at least one of the communication steps of sending and / or receiving in the above-described methods. The performance of interface circuit 6202 in the communication steps of sending and / or receiving in the above-described methods refers to, for example, the performance of data interaction between processor 6201, chip 6200, memory 6203, or transceiver devices by interface circuit 6202. In some embodiments, processor 6201 performs at least one of the other steps.

[0290] The modules and / or devices described in each of the embodiments of virtual devices, physical devices, chips, and the like can be combined or separated as appropriate. Optionally, part or all of the steps can also be performed by multiple modules and / or devices in cooperation, which is not limited herein.

[0291] The disclosure also proposes a storage medium, and the above-mentioned storage medium stores instructions, which, when executed on communication device 6100, cause communication device 6100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the above-mentioned storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the above-mentioned storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited to this, and it can also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the above-mentioned storage medium can be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited to this, and it can also be a transitory storage medium.

[0292] The disclosure also proposes a program product, and the above-mentioned program product is executed by communication device 6100, causing communication device 6100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the above-mentioned program product is a computer program product.

[0293] The disclosure also proposes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the above methods. Industrial applicability

[0294] The terminal can support one or more detection periods, so that the terminal can detect the downlink information in the initial access procedure based on a suitable detection period among them, improve the probability of detecting the downlink information, and further improve the access success rate of the terminal.

Claims

1. A communication method, performed by a terminal, the method comprising: detecting, according to one or more detection periods supported by the terminal, downlink information transmitted by a network device in an initial access procedure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The detecting, according to one or more detection periods supported by the terminal, downlink information transmitted by a network device in an initial access procedure comprises: detecting, in a first detection period, downlink information transmitted by a network device in an initial access procedure, wherein the first detection period is determined among the one or more detection periods. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein the first detection period is determined according to a cell frequency band to which the downlink information corresponds. 4.The method of claim 3, wherein the cell frequency band belongs to a non-terrestrial network (NTN) frequency band, and the first detection period is a larger one among a plurality of detection periods supported by the terminal. 5.The method of claim 2, wherein the first detection period is determined according to a location of the terminal. 6.The method of claim 5, wherein the location is in a region not covered by a terrestrial network (TN), and the first detection period is a larger one among a plurality of detection periods supported by the terminal. 7.The method of claim 2, wherein the first detection period is determined according to a set rule, or the first detection period is determined according to terminal implementation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, The set rule comprises: determining, among a plurality of detection periods supported by the terminal, a first detection period corresponding to each initial access procedure according to a priority order.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The downlink information comprises at least one of: a synchronization signal block (SSB); a master information block (MIB); a system information block (SIB1).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, Each of the one or more detection periods comprises one or more of: a default transmission period of the SSB; a default transmission period of the SIB1; a default transmission period of the MIB; an unchanged transmission content period of the SIB1; wherein the terminal determines that a plurality of SIB1 contents transmitted in the unchanged transmission content period of the SIB1 are the same; an unchanged transmission content period of the MIB; wherein the terminal determines that a plurality of MIB contents transmitted in the unchanged transmission content period of the MIB are the same.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, At least one period in each of the detection periods is greater than a first value; wherein the first value is determined according to a search period in a TN network.

12. The method of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, The method further comprises: after receiving the downlink information, determining an actual transmission period of the downlink information. 13.A communication method, performed by a network device, the method comprising: transmitting, in an initial access procedure, downlink information, wherein the downlink information is used for detection by a terminal according to one or more detection periods supported by the terminal. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein the downlink information is used for detection by the terminal in a first detection period, wherein the first detection period is determined among the one or more detection periods. 15.The method of claim 14, wherein the first detection period is determined according to a cell frequency band to which the downlink information corresponds.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, the cell frequency band belongs to a non-terrestrial network (NTN) frequency band, and the first detection period is a larger one of a plurality of detection periods supported by the terminal.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein, the first detection period is determined according to a location of the terminal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, the location is in a region not covered by a terrestrial network (TN), and the first detection period is a larger one of a plurality of detection periods supported by the terminal.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein, the first detection period is determined according to a set rule, or the first detection period is dependent on terminal implementation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, the set rule comprises: in the plurality of detection periods supported by the terminal, a first detection period corresponding to each initial access procedure is determined according to a priority order.

21. The method of any one of claims 13 to 20, wherein, the downlink information comprises at least one of: a synchronization signal block (SSB); a master information block (MIB); a system information block (SIB1).

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, each of the one or more detection periods comprises one or more of: a default transmission period of the SSB; a default transmission period of the SIB1; a default transmission period of the MIB; an unchanged transmission content period of the SIB1; wherein the terminal determines that a plurality of SIB1 contents transmitted in the unchanged transmission content period of the SIB1 are the same; an unchanged transmission content period of the MIB; wherein the terminal determines that a plurality of MIB contents transmitted in the unchanged transmission content period of the MIB are the same. at least one period of each of the detection periods is greater than a first value; wherein the first value is determined according to a search period in a TN network.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein, 24. A terminal, comprising: a transceiver configured to detect, according to one or more detection periods supported by the terminal, downlink information transmitted by a network device in an initial access procedure.

25. A network device, comprising: a transceiver configured to transmit downlink information in an initial access procedure, wherein the downlink information is used for detection by a terminal according to one or more detection periods supported by the terminal in the initial access procedure.

26. A terminal, comprising: one or more processors; wherein the terminal is configured to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 12.

27. A network device, comprising: one or more processors; wherein the network device is configured to implement the method of any one of claims 13 to 23.

28. A communication system comprising a terminal and a network device, wherein: the terminal is configured to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 12; the network device is configured to implement the method of any one of claims 13 to 23.

29. A storage medium storing instructions, wherein: when the instructions run on a communication device, the communication device is caused to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 12, or any one of claims 13 to 23.

30. A program product, wherein: ​ When the program product is executed by the communication device, the communication device is caused to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or any one of claims 13 to 23.

Images