Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of wireless communications. Provided are a communication method and a communication apparatus. The communication method is applied to a radio access network, and comprises: receiving first indication information from a core network device, wherein the first indication information indicates multicast / broadcast service (MBS) session information; and sending second indication information to a user equipment, wherein the second indication information indicates channel configuration information, and the channel configuration information is used for receiving a beam-level MBS session or a geographic area-level MBS session. The communication method of the present application can realize MBS data transmission in a cell-specific area.

Description

Communication method and apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority from the Chinese patent application No. 202410805019.7 filed on June 20, 2024, and entitled "Communication method and apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of wireless communication, in particular to a communication method, a communication apparatus, a communication device, a chip module, a communication system and a readable storage medium. BACKGROUND

[0003] Non Terrestrial Network (NTN) provides seamless coverage for terminal devices (User Equipment, UE) by deploying base stations or part of base station functions on high-altitude platforms or satellites, etc. non-ground network equipment to improve system reliability.

[0004] Due to the large coverage range of the NTN cell, the terminal devices in the cell are unevenly distributed, and the demand for service content of multicast broadcast service (MBS) of terminal devices in different areas also differs greatly, so it is urgent to implement MBS data transmission that adapts to specific areas of the cell.

[0005] In actual scenarios, the channel configuration commonly used by the cell cannot match the business needs of specific areas, therefore, how to implement MBS data transmission for specific areas of the cell becomes a technical problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0006] The present application provides a communication method, a communication apparatus, a communication device, a chip module, a communication system, a readable storage medium and a computer program product.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application relates to a communication method applied to an access network device, comprising: receiving first indication information from a core network device, the first indication information indicating multicast broadcast service session information (Multicast / Broadcast Service, MBS); and sending second indication information to a terminal device, the second indication information indicating channel configuration information, the channel configuration information being used for receiving a beam-level MBS session or a geographical area-level MBS session.

[0008] Exemplarily, the MBS session information can include one or more MBS service area information related to the MBS session.

[0009] According to the communication method, the access network device receives first indication information from the core network device, the first indication information being used to indicate MBS session information, and the access network device sends second indication information to the terminal device. Since the channel configuration information indicated by the second indication information is used to receive a beam-level MBS session or a geographic area-level MBS session, the communication method can implement a channel configuration mechanism suitable for the beam-level MBS session or the geographic area-level MBS session. After receiving the second indication information, the terminal device can receive the beam-level MBS session or the geographic area-level MBS session according to the channel configuration information indicated by the second indication information, so that MBS data transmission of a cell-specific beam or a specific geographic area can be implemented, and the characteristics of a large cell geographic range and uneven distribution of terminal devices UE in different geographic areas in an NTN scenario can be adapted to, so that the differences in MBS service content requirements of UEs in different areas or UEs corresponding to different beams in an NTN scenario can be met, and higher communication efficiency can be achieved.

[0010] Optionally, the second indication information can further include one or more beam information applicable to the beam-level MBS session, or one or more geographic area information applicable to the geographic area-level MBS session.

[0011] Optionally, the second indication information can further include beam information or geographic area information to which the first MBS service area information is mapped. Thus, when a UE receiving the second indication information is interested in receiving the first MBS session, the UE can determine whether the UE is in the first MBS service area of the first MBS session according to the geographic area in which the UE is located or the beam selected by the UE, to confirm whether the UE can receive the first MBS session data.

[0012] Any one of the one or more MBS sessions can be understood as the first MBS session, and the first MBS session corresponds to the first MBS service area information.

[0013] For example, the access network device can map the first MBS service area information to the beam information or the geographic area information. That is, the access network device can adaptively map the MBS service area information associated with the one or more MBS sessions included in the MBS session information to the beam information or the geographic area information sent to the terminal.

[0014] Optionally, the channel configuration information includes multicast broadcast service traffic channel configuration information. The multicast broadcast service traffic channel is MBS Traffic Channel, MTCH, and the second indication information is further used to indicate whether the MTCH configuration information is cell-level MTCH configuration information. When the MTCH configuration information is non-cell-level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH configuration information is beam-level MTCH configuration information or geographic area-level MTCH configuration information.

[0015] The cell-level MTCH configuration information can be understood as the MTCH configuration information being common or applicable to all terminals within the cell; the beam-level MTCH configuration information can be understood as the MTCH configuration information being applicable to a specific beam, that is, one or more beams correspond to one MTCH configuration information; the geographic area-level MTCH configuration information can be understood as the MTCH configuration information being applicable to a specific geographic area, that is, one or more geographic areas correspond to one MTCH configuration information.

[0016] The communication method of the present application is used to implement channel configuration adaptation to beam-level MBS sessions or geographic area-level MBS sessions. The second indication information further indicates whether the MTCH configuration information is cell-level MTCH configuration information. In the case where the second indication information indicates that the MTCH configuration information is cell-level MTCH configuration information, the communication method of the present application can support cell-level MBS session transmission. In the case where the second indication information indicates that the MTCH configuration information is non-cell-level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH configuration information is beam-level MTCH configuration information or geographic area-level MTCH configuration information, and after the UE receives the second indication information, the UE can receive beam-level MBS sessions on the beam-level MTCH or receive geographic area-level MBS sessions on the geographic area-level MTCH through the beam-level MTCH configuration information or the geographic area-level MTCH configuration information indicated by the second indication information. Thus, different modes of cell-level MBS sessions, beam-level MBS sessions, and geographic area-level MBS sessions can be supported.

[0017] Optionally, the MTCH configuration information is beam-level MTCH configuration information, and the second indication information further indicates one or more beam indexes or identification information to which the MTCH configuration information is applicable.

[0018] Optionally, the MTCH configuration information is geographic area-level MTCH configuration information, and the second indication information further indicates one or more geographic area information to which the MTCH configuration information is applicable.

[0019] Optionally, when the MTCH configuration information is the beam-level MTCH configuration information or the MTCH configuration information is the geographical area-level MTCH configuration information, the second indication information indicates one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session, which can be associated with one or more group radio network temporary identities (Group-RNTI, G-RNTI) corresponding to the MBS session, or one or a group of MTCH configuration information corresponding to the MBS session, wherein the G-RNTI is used to identify the first MTCH configuration information. The first MTCH configuration information is one of the one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

[0020] Optionally, the first MTCH configuration information includes at least one of the following: MTCH scheduling information, MBS radio bearer information, periodicity and offset information of the mapping relationship between the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) occasion of the MTCH and the synchronization signal and broadcast channel block (SSB).

[0021] When the MBS session is associated with one MTCH configuration information, the MTCH configuration information can be beam-level MTCH configuration information or geographical area-level MTCH configuration information or cell-level MTCH configuration information. When the MBS session is associated with multiple MTCH configuration information, the multiple MTCH configuration information can be beam-level MTCH configuration information or geographical area-level MTCH configuration information.

[0022] Optionally, the channel configuration information includes multicast broadcast service control channel configuration information. The multicast broadcast service control channel is MBS Control Channel, MCCH.

[0023] The MCCH transmission is bound to the SSB, that is, MCCH configuration information is transmitted once for each SSB, and the MCCH configuration information is transmitted on the PDCCH occasion mapped by the SSB. The first SSB is transmitted, the first SSB is associated with the first MCCH configuration, the second SSB is transmitted, the second SSB is associated with the second MCCH configuration, and the first MCCH configuration information and the second MCCH configuration information can be different.

[0024] In a second aspect, the present application relates to a communication method, comprising: receiving second indication information from an access network device, the second indication information indicating channel configuration information, the channel configuration information being used for receiving a beam-level multicast broadcast service (MBS) session or a geographical area-level MBS session, a channel associated with the beam-level MBS session or the geographical area-level MBS session being a multicast broadcast service traffic channel (MTCH) or a multicast broadcast service control channel (MCCH).

[0025] Optionally, the second indication information further comprises one or more beam information applicable to the beam-level MBS session or one or more geographical area information applicable to the geographical area-level MBS.

[0026] Optionally, the second indication information further comprises beam information or geographical area information to which first MBS service area information is mapped, and the MBS session information comprises first MBS service area information applicable to the first MBS session.

[0027] Optionally, the channel configuration information comprises MTCH configuration information, and the second indication information is further used for indicating whether the MTCH channel configuration information is cell-level MTCH configuration information, when the MTCH configuration information is non-cell-level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH channel configuration information is beam-level MTCH channel configuration information or geographical area-level MTCH configuration information.

[0028] Optionally, when the MTCH configuration information is beam-level MTCH configuration information or the MTCH configuration information is geographical area-level MTCH configuration information, the second indication information indicates one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

[0029] Optionally, the first group of radio network temporary identifiers is used for identifying the first MTCH configuration information, and the first MTCH configuration information is one of the one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

[0030] Optionally, the communication method performed by the terminal device further comprises: in the case that the MBS session is a geographical area-level MBS session, applying corresponding MTCH configuration information according to a first geographical area to which the terminal device belongs; or in the case that the MBS session is a beam-level MBS session, applying corresponding MTCH configuration information according to a first synchronization signal and broadcast channel block (SSB) selected by the terminal device.

[0031] In a case where the location of the terminal device changes such that the terminal device is located in a second geographic area different from the first geographic area, or a case where the selected SSB beam of the terminal device changes such that the terminal device selects a second SSB different from the first SSB, the terminal device can apply the MTCH configuration information corresponding to the second geographic area or the second SSB.

[0032] Optionally, the channel configuration information comprises MCCH configuration information.

[0033] Optionally, the receiving the second indication information can comprise: receiving beam-level MCCH configuration information according to a PDCCH occasion to which the selected SSB of the terminal device is mapped.

[0034] Each SSB can have corresponding scheduling information for receiving MCCH configuration information, and the terminal device receives the MCCH configuration information corresponding to the SSB according to the scheduling information mapped by the SSB, i.e., the beam-level MCCH configuration information. Specifically, each transmission SSB can have corresponding PDCCH monitoring occasions for receiving MCCH configuration information, and the terminal device UE can obtain the MCCH configuration information corresponding to the first SSB by monitoring the PDCCH occasion associated with the first SSB for MCCH, so the terminal device UE can receive the MCCH configuration information mapped by the selected SSB according to the PDCCH occasion, i.e., the beam-level MCCH configuration information.

[0035] Corresponding to the terminal device receiving the beam-level MCCH configuration information according to the scheduling information or PDCCH occasion mapped by the selected SSB to implement the receiving of the second indication information, the access network device can indicate the beam-level MCCH configuration information corresponding to the selected SSB of the terminal device to the terminal device through a system message such as a system message block (system information block, SIB), and the system message block can be SIB20, for example.

[0036] Since the MCCH configuration information is transmitted by a system message, the system message is common to UEs in the same cell, so the same MCCH configuration information is received through the system message, and only cell-level different MCCH configuration information can be implemented. The communication method performed by the terminal device in the present application can make the system message content received by all UEs in the cell based on different SSBs different, and the beam-level MCCH configuration information received according to the PDCCH occasion mapped by the selected SSB of the terminal device can implement beam-level different MCCH configuration information, thereby adapting to beam-level MBS sessions.

[0037] Optionally, in a case that the terminal device selects a second SSB different from the first SSB, the receiving the second indication information can comprise: obtaining MCCH configuration information corresponding to the second SSB.

[0038] Optionally, since each SSB can have a corresponding PDCCH occasion, different MCCH configuration information can be received on PDCCH occasions mapped by different SSBs, and thus the beam-level MCCH configuration information received based on different SSBs can be different.

[0039] Optionally, for example, the beam-level MCCH configuration information received based on the PDCCH occasion mapped by the first SSB is different from the PDCCH occasion mapped by the second SSB.

[0040] In a third aspect, the present application relates to a communication apparatus, comprising: a transceiver module, configured to receive first indication information from a core network device, the first indication information indicating multicast broadcast service (MBS) session information; and send second indication information to a terminal device, the second indication information indicating channel configuration information, the channel configuration information being used for receiving a beam-level MBS session or a geographical area-level MBS session.

[0041] Optionally, the second indication information further comprises one or more beam information applicable to the beam-level MBS session, or one or more geographical area information applicable to the geographical area-level MBS.

[0042] Optionally, the second indication information further comprises beam information or geographical area information mapped by the first MBS service area information, and the MBS session information comprises first MBS service area information applicable to a first MBS session.

[0043] Optionally, the channel configuration information comprises multicast broadcast service traffic channel (MTCH) configuration information, and the second indication information is further used for indicating whether the MTCH configuration information is cell-level MTCH configuration information; when the MTCH configuration information is non-cell-level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH configuration information is beam-level MTCH configuration information or geographical area-level MTCH configuration information.

[0044] Optionally, when the MTCH configuration information is beam-level MTCH configuration information or the MTCH configuration information is geographical area-level MTCH configuration information, the second indication information indicates one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

[0045] Optionally, the first group of radio network temporary identifiers is used for identifying the first MTCH configuration information, and the first MTCH configuration information is one of the one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

[0046] Optionally, the channel configuration information comprises multicast broadcast service control channel (MCCH) configuration information.

[0047] In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a communication apparatus, comprising:

[0048] receiving second indication information from the access network device, the second indication information indicating channel configuration information, the channel configuration information being used for receiving a beam-level multicast broadcast service (MBS) session or a geographical area-level MBS session, a channel associated with the beam-level MBS session or the geographical area-level MBS session being a multicast broadcast service traffic channel (MTCH) or a multicast broadcast service control channel (MCCH).

[0049] Optionally, the second indication information further comprises one or more beam information applicable to the beam-level MBS session or one or more geographical area information applicable to the geographical area-level MBS.

[0050] Optionally, the second indication information further comprises beam information or geographical area information to which the first MBS service area information is mapped, and the MBS session information comprises first MBS service area information applicable to the first MBS session.

[0051] Optionally, the channel configuration information comprises MTCH configuration information, and the second indication information is further used for indicating whether the MTCH channel configuration information is cell-level MTCH configuration information, when the MTCH configuration information is non-cell-level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH channel configuration information is beam-level MTCH channel configuration information or geographical area-level MTCH configuration information.

[0052] Optionally, when the MTCH configuration information is beam-level MTCH configuration information or the MTCH configuration information is geographical area-level MTCH configuration information, the second indication information indicates one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

[0053] Optionally, the first group of radio network temporary identifiers is used for identifying the first MTCH configuration information, and the first MTCH configuration information is one of the one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

[0054] Optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises a processing module configured to, in a case that the MBS session is a geographical area-level MBS session, apply corresponding MTCH configuration information based on a first geographical area in which the terminal device is located; or, in a case that the MBS session is a beam-level MBS session, apply corresponding MTCH configuration information based on a first synchronization signal and broadcast channel block (SSB) selected by the terminal device.

[0055] Optionally, the channel configuration information includes the Multicast Service Control Channel (MCCH) configuration information. The receiving module is also used to receive the beam-level MCCH configuration information according to the timing of the synchronization signal selected by the terminal device and the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) mapped to the Broadcast Channel Block (SSB).

[0056] Optionally, if the terminal device selects a second synchronization signal and broadcast channel block SSB that are different from the first SSB, the receiving module is also used to obtain the MCCH configuration information corresponding to the second SSB.

[0057] Optionally, the beam-level MCCH configuration information received based on the PDCCH timing mapped to the first SSB and the PDCCH timing mapped to the second SSB may differ.

[0058] Fifthly, this application relates to a communication device, including a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device. The processor is used to implement the communication methods of the first aspect and / or the second aspect through logic circuits or execution code instructions.

[0059] For example, the communication device is a chip.

[0060] Sixthly, this application relates to a chip module, including a transceiver component and a chip, the chip being used to perform the communication methods of the first aspect and / or the second aspect.

[0061] In a seventh aspect, this application relates to a communication system, comprising: an access network device and a terminal device, wherein the access network device is used to perform the communication method of the first aspect, and the terminal device is used to perform the communication method of the second aspect.

[0062] Eighthly, this application relates to a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, including: computer instructions, wherein when executed, the computer instructions cause the computer to perform the communication methods of the first aspect and / or the second aspect.

[0063] For example, the computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory storage medium.

[0064] Ninthly, this application relates to a computer program product, including a computer program stored on a readable storage medium, which, when executed, causes the computer to implement the communication methods of the first aspect and / or the second aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0065] The accompanying drawings used in the embodiments of this application are described below.

[0066] Figure 1A schematically illustrates a transparent satellite architecture;

[0067] FIG. IB schematically illustrates a diagram of a regenerative satellite architecture without inter-satellite links;

[0068] FIG. 1C schematically illustrates a diagram of a regenerative satellite architecture with inter-satellite links;

[0069] FIG. ID schematically illustrates a regenerative satellite architecture with distributed unit processing functions of base stations;

[0070] FIG. 2A schematically illustrates a diagram of a MBS downlink data forwarding mechanism in an embodiment;

[0071] FIG. 2B schematically illustrates a diagram of a multicast service architecture in an embodiment;

[0072] FIG. 2C schematically illustrates a diagram of a broadcast service control and transmission procedure;

[0073] FIGS. 2D and 2E respectively schematically illustrate diagrams of implementing a beam level MBS session or a geographical area level MBS session;

[0074] FIG. 3A schematically illustrates a diagram of a system architecture of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0075] FIG. 3B schematically illustrates a diagram of protocol layers at a RAN side;

[0076] FIG. 3C schematically illustrates a diagram of an open radio access network to which a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied;

[0077] FIG. 4A schematically illustrates a diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0078] FIG. 4B schematically illustrates a diagram of a flow of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure when channel configuration information includes MTCH configuration information;

[0079] FIG. 4C schematically illustrates a diagram of a flow of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure when channel configuration information includes MCCH configuration information;

[0080] FIG. 5A schematically illustrates a diagram of a communication apparatus applied to an access network device;

[0081] FIG. 5B schematically illustrates a diagram of a communication apparatus applied to a terminal device;

[0082] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a communication device that can implement a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0083] With reference to the drawings, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, but not all of them. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts are within the scope of the present application.

[0084] The term "and / or" used herein is only used to describe the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can mean that A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone.

[0085] The terms "first" and "second" and the like in the description and claims of the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish different objects, and are not used to describe the specific order of the objects. For example, the first target object and the second target object are used to distinguish different target objects, and are not used to describe the specific order of the target objects.

[0086] In the embodiments of the present application, the words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to mean an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design scheme described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Rather, the words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are intended to present the relevant concept in a specific manner.

[0087] It should be understood that in the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "And / or" is used to describe the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, "A and / or B" can mean that A exists alone, B exists alone, and A and B exist together, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects before and after it. "At least one of the following" or the like means any combination of these items, including any combination of single item or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0088] The related technical terms and background of the communication method of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below.

[0089] Beam

[0090] A major problem of high frequency communication is that the signal energy sharply decreases with the transmission distance, resulting in a short signal transmission distance. In order to overcome the problem of short signal transmission distance, high frequency communication adopts analog beam technology, which performs weighting processing through a large-scale antenna array to concentrate signal energy in a small range and form a signal similar to a light beam (referred to as an analog beam, simply referred to as a beam), thereby improving the transmission distance.

[0091] A beam is a kind of communication resource. The technology for forming a beam can be beamforming technology or other technical means, and the beamforming technology can be digital beamforming technology, analog beamforming technology, or hybrid digital / analog beamforming technology. Different beams can be considered as different resources. The same information or different information can be transmitted through different beams. For example, multiple beams with the same or similar communication characteristics can be regarded as one beam. A beam can be formed by one or more antenna ports for transmitting data channels, control channels, and sounding signals. The one or more antenna ports for forming a beam can be regarded as an antenna port set.

[0092] A beam includes a transmit beam and a receive beam. The transmit beam can be understood as the distribution of signal strength formed in different directions in space after the signal is transmitted by the antenna, and the receive beam can be understood as the distribution of the antenna array strengthening or weakening the reception of wireless signals in different directions in space.

[0093] A beam can be embodied by a quasi colocation (QCL) relationship of an antenna port. Specifically, two signals of the same beam have a QCL relationship with respect to a spatial Rx parameter, i.e., QCL-Type D:{Spatial Rx parameter} in the protocol. A beam can be specifically represented by the identification of various signals, such as the resource index of a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), the index of a synchronous signal / physical broadcast channel block (SS / PBCH block, SSB), the resource index of a sounding reference signal (SRS), and the resource index of a tracking reference signal (TRS).

[0094] In addition, one beam corresponds to one demodulation reference signal (DMRS) port or one transmission configuration index (TCI) or one transmission reception point (TRP) or one sounding reference signal resource indicator (SRI for uplink data transmission), therefore, different beams are represented by different DMRS ports or TCIs or TRPs or SRIs in the embodiments of the present disclosure, and beams or beam indexes are also represented by resource indexes of DMRS ports, TCIs, TRPs, SRIs, CSI-RSs, indexes of SS / PBCH blocks, resource indexes of SRs and resource indexes of TRSs.

[0095] Non Terrestrial Network (NTN)

[0096] Since the traditional terrestrial network (TN) cannot provide seamless coverage for user equipment (UE), especially in places such as the sea, desert, air, etc. where base stations cannot be deployed, the non-terrestrial network (NTN) is introduced into the Internet of Things (IoT) and the 5th Generation Mobile Communication Technology (5G) system and the subsequent evolved system architecture. The NTN provides seamless coverage for the UE by deploying base stations or part of the base station functions on high-altitude platforms or satellites, etc. non-terrestrial network equipment, and improves the reliability of the system.

[0097] The following will take the base station or part of the base station function deployed on the satellite as an example. According to the working mode of the satellite, the satellite is generally divided into two categories: the first is transparent forwarding, and the second is regenerative form. Under the transparent forwarding form, the satellite forwards the radio frequency signal of the base station on the ground. The role of the satellite is wireless frequency filtering, frequency conversion and amplification, and re-generating the physical layer signal. Under the regenerative form, the satellite has all or part of the functions of the base station, that is, the base station or part of the base station function is deployed on the satellite. According to the satellite height (satellite height is the satellite orbit height), the satellite system can be divided into the following two categories:

[0098] High-LEO satellite: Also known as geostationary satellite, the satellite moves at the same speed as the earth's rotation system, so the satellite remains stationary relative to the ground. For example, the cell of the geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite is also stationary. The coverage of the GEO satellite cell is larger, and the diameter of the cell is generally 500 km.

[0099] Medium-LEO and Low-LEO satellite: The satellite moves relatively fast relative to the ground, so the coverage area of the service provided by the medium-LEO satellite and the low-LEO satellite also moves. Therefore, for medium-LEO and low-LEO satellites, the cells provided by the satellite can be divided into two types:

[0100] Quasi-earth-fixed cell: The moving satellite adjusts its beam to form a cell, and the position of the cell on the ground is stationary within a certain period of time.

[0101] Earth-moving cell: The satellite does not dynamically adjust its beam direction, and the cell covered by the satellite beam moves with the movement of the satellite.

[0102] The following four NTN-based NG-RAN architectures are described below with the example of deploying base stations or part of the base station functions on the satellite.

[0103] FIG. 1A schematically shows a schematic diagram of a transparent satellite architecture.

[0104] In combination with FIG. 1A, in the transparent satellite scenario, the role of the satellite is: Radio Frequency filtering, Frequency conversion and amplification, that is, the satellite mainly acts as a layer one relay (L1 relay) to regenerate the physical layer signal and does not have other higher protocol layers.

[0105] FIG. 1B schematically shows a schematic diagram of a regenerative satellite without ISL (ISL is an inter-satellite link).

[0106] In combination with FIG. 1B, the satellite has the processing function of the base station (gNB processed payload), and in this architecture, the satellite acts as a base station.

[0107] FIG. 1C schematically illustrates a diagram of a regenerative satellite with ISL architecture.

[0108] In conjunction with FIG. 1C, the satellite has the processing function of the base station (gNB processed payload), and in this scenario, the satellite also acts as a base station. The difference from the scenario of FIG. IB is that the regenerative satellite with ISL of FIG. 1C has an inter-satellite link ISL.

[0109] FIG. 1D schematically illustrates a regenerative satellite architecture with distributed unit processing function of the base station.

[0110] In conjunction with FIG. 1D, the satellite acts as a distributed unit (DU) of the base station.

[0111] Multicast / Broadcast Services (MBS)

[0112] Multicast / Broadcast Services (MBS) is also referred to as multicast / broadcast services. 3GPP Rel-17 introduces NR MBS features, which is a new data distribution / transmission method that can simultaneously distribute / transmit the same service content to multiple terminals, such as live broadcast services, public safety services, batch software update services, etc., achieving efficient utilization of NR resources.

[0113] For broadcast services, the same service and the same specific content data are simultaneously provided to all UEs in a geographical area (all UEs in the broadcast service area are authorized to receive the data). Broadcast services are delivered to UEs through broadcast sessions, and UEs in RRC IDLE, RRC INACTIVE, and RRC CONNECTED states can receive broadcast services, only supporting point-to-multipoint delivery mechanism, and not supporting hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ).

[0114] For Multicast Service, the same service and the same specific content data are provided to a group of dedicated UEs (i.e. not all UEs in the MBS service area are authorized to receive the data) at the same time, the Multicast Service is delivered to UEs through a multicast session, UEs in RRC connected state can receive the Multicast Service, using mechanisms such as point-to-point and / or point-to-multipoint delivery, HARQ feedback / retransmission can be applied to PTP and PTM transmission.

[0115] FIG. 2A schematically shows a schematic diagram of a MBS downlink data forwarding mechanism according to an embodiment.

[0116] In combination with the example of FIG. 2A, the MBS service (i.e. MBS service data, MBS data) comes from a data server, first the data server sends the MBS data to a core network device, then the core network device sends the MBS data to a base station, and finally the base station sends the MBS data to at least one UE receiving the MBS service. Specifically, the core network device can be a Multicast / Broadcast User Plane Function (MB-UPF), the core network device distributes data streams to a radio access network node (i.e. NG-RAN shown in FIG. 2A) of NR, and the radio access network node is also a radio access network device, an access network node, and an access network device.

[0117] FIG. 2B schematically shows a schematic diagram of a Multicast Service architecture according to an embodiment.

[0118] For session management, configuration delivery to data reception, and mobility of the Multicast / Broadcast Service, different designs are made on the RAN side, for example:

[0119] Multicast service is designed for high quality of service (Qos) requirement service, and group management needs to be performed for multicast service, which can provide the same QoS level as unicast service. Specifically, for multicast service, the core network needs to manage the joining and exiting of UEs. For transmission between the core network and the base station, it relies on the protocol data unit (PDU) session, and a new MBS QoS flow is introduced. For the RAN, it supports PTP and PTM transmission modes to send data to UEs, and supports dynamic switching between PTP and PTM controlled by the RAN. Multicast service can be provided to RRC connected state UEs and RRC inactive state UEs, and the base station gNB and the core network CN need to maintain the UE information corresponding to the multicast service group, and the base station provides PTM configuration information and multicast service information that the UE continues to receive in the RRC inactive state in the RRC release message. At the same time, multicast service also supports MBS session deactivation / activation triggered by the core network, and the UE is not aware of the service state. When there is data transmission or session activation, the RAN informs the UE through the group notification mechanism.

[0120] The specific process is that the UE indicates to the core network through the PDU session modification request / establishment message that it requests to join the MBS multicast session identifier, the core network indicates to the RAN the MBS session identifier joined by the UE and the corresponding QoS flow, the RAN determines the PDU session associated with the MBS session according to the MBS session identifier, the RAN decides to establish a shared channel (tunnel) between the RAN and the MB-UPF for the MBS session, and the RAN sends an MBS session NG-U transmission establishment request message to the authentication management function network element (AMF) of the core network to indicate at least one of the MBS session identifier, the MBS service area session identifier, and the NG-U tunnel information associated with the MBS PDU session to the AMF. The confirmation message sent by the AMF to the RAN includes at least one of the MBS session identifier, the MBS service area session identifier, the MBS QoS flow list, the MBS session state (activation / deactivation), and the MBS service area (the MBS service area can be understood as the service area of the MBS, and can also be referred to as the MBS area). If the MBS session is in the active state, the RAN establishes the air interface resource of the MBS session and configures the UE to receive the MBS multicast session. The NG-U tunnel information is the NG user plane transmission layer information.

[0121] FIG. 2C schematically shows a schematic diagram of a broadcast service control and transmission process.

[0122] For broadcast service, in the AMF triggered NGAP broadcast session resource setup procedure, the AMF forwards the MBS session resource setup request message to all NG-RANs within the MBS service area that support MBS, which can contain the MBS session identity (TMGI), 5G QoS profile, and at least one of the MBS service area. The NG-RAN establishes the broadcast MBS session context and stores the TMGI and QoS profile in the MBS session context. When the NG-RAN successfully establishes the corresponding MBS session in at least one cell, it sends the MBS session identity and the NG-U tunnel information associated with the MBS PDU session to the AMF for reporting the MBS session resource setup success. The NG-RAN sends the related configuration of the service in the MCCH message, and the UE receives the data of the broadcast service based on the service configuration information.

[0123] A UE can receive MBS broadcast session data in RRC idle, RRC inactive and RRC connected state, and a base station gNB needs to configure a MBS radio bearer (MRB) corresponding to the MBS broadcast session for the UE to transmit MBS broadcast data. If a UE wants to receive a broadcast service, it acquires the parameters required to receive MCCH (MBS Control Channel) through system messages, acquires MBS broadcast configuration information (e.g., parameters required for MBS service channel MTCH reception) through MCCH reception, and thus receives broadcast service data on MTCH. Specifically, the MBS broadcast configuration information sent on MCCH includes broadcast service list information of ongoing sessions transmitted on MTCH (MBS Traffic Channel), the broadcast service list information includes MBS session identification, G-RNTI (Group-RNTI, G-RNTI, Group Radio Network Temporary Identity) related MTCH scheduling information and neighboring cell information providing certain MBS sessions, and the UE receives MBS broadcast data on MTCH based on G-RNTI and MTCH scheduling information. When performing cell reselection, a UE in RRC idle and inactive state can consider MBS frequency layer priority, as follows: the UE can learn the frequency information corresponding to the MBS broadcast service provided through one or a combination of USD (User Service Description) and system message block (SIB), and the UE will support the frequency of the MBS broadcast service that the UE is receiving or interested in receiving as the highest priority when performing cell reselection; if the UE finds that a neighboring cell does not support a certain MBS broadcast service, the UE can set the frequency of the neighboring cell to the lowest priority. When the cell to which the UE reselects does not support the MBS broadcast session, the UE enters the connected state to request unicast reception to ensure the continuity of broadcast service reception.

[0124] In addition, the RRC_CONNECTED state UE can also provide frequency information of broadcast services it is interested in, MBS service information and unicast and broadcast service reception priority information by sending an MBS interest indication message (MII).

[0125] In summary, due to the large geographical range of the NTN cell, the UEs in different geographical areas are unevenly distributed, and the demand for MBS service content by UEs in different areas is also large. Therefore, it is urgent to implement MBS data transmission in a specific area of a cell. The "specific area" here can be one or more geographical areas, or one or more beams, that is, it is urgent to implement a beam-level MBS session or a geographical area-level MBS session.

[0126] FIGS. 2D and 2E respectively show schematic diagrams of implementing a beam-level MBS session or a geographical area-level MBS session.

[0127] In combination with FIG. 2D, MBS service data is provided in a certain geographical area or areas or a certain beam or beams in the cell. In combination with FIG. 2E, MBS service data is transmitted in the whole cell, and only the UE associated with the above geographical area or beam is allowed to receive the MBS service data.

[0128] The MBS session of such an embodiment of FIGS. 2D and 2E is common to UEs in the cell, and the MCCH configuration information and MTCH configuration information to which the MBS service is mapped are common to UEs in the cell. When a beam-level or area-level MBS session is supported, the MCCH configuration information or MTCH configuration information common to the cell cannot match the service demand of each geographical area or each beam.

[0129] FIG. 3A shows a schematic diagram of a system architecture of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which can be understood as a schematic diagram of a communication system of the present embodiment. It should be noted that FIG. 3A is only an example of a system architecture to which the communication method of the present embodiment can be applied, to help those skilled in the art understand the technical content of the present disclosure, but does not mean that the present embodiment cannot be applied to other devices, systems, environments or scenarios.

[0130] FIG. 3A shows a schematic diagram of a system architecture of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0131] As shown in FIG. 3A, a system architecture of the communication method of the present embodiment can include a radio access network (RAN) 31 and a core network (CN) 32.

[0132] The RAN 31 includes at least one RAN node (e.g., 311a and 311b in FIG. 2A, collectively referred to as 311, which can also be referred to as a radio access network device, an access network device) and at least one terminal device (e.g., 312a-312j in FIG. 2A, collectively referred to as 312, which will be taken as an example of a terminal device, i.e., a user equipment, UE, hereinafter). Other RAN nodes can also be included in the RAN, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in FIG. 2A), etc. The terminal devices 312 are connected to the RAN nodes 311 in a wireless manner. The RAN nodes 311 are connected to the core network 32 in a wireless or wired manner. The core network devices in the core network 32 and the RAN nodes 311 in the RAN 31 can be different physical devices, respectively, or can be the same physical device integrated with the logical functions of the core network and the logical functions of the radio access network.

[0133] The RAN 31 can be a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) related cellular system, such as a 4G, 5G mobile communication system, an NTN (non-terrestrial network) system, or a future-oriented evolution system. The RAN 31 can also be an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, and can also be a communication system that combines two or more of the above systems.

[0134] The RAN 31 of the embodiments of the present disclosure is an NTN (non-terrestrial network) system, and the RAN 31 can be in a transparent mode or a regenerative mode. The cell corresponding to the RAN node can be a ground stationary cell or a ground mobile cell.

[0135] In combination with FIG. 3A, the system architecture of the communication method (i.e., the communication system) of the embodiments of the present disclosure mainly involves the terminal device 312 and the access network device 311.

[0136] 1) The terminal device 312 can also be referred to as a terminal, a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a mobile terminal, etc. The terminal can be widely applied to various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, automatic driving, remote medical treatment, smart power grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a wearable device, a vehicle, a drone, a helicopter, an airplane, a ship, a robot, a mechanical arm, a smart home device, etc. Embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the device form of the terminal.

[0137] 2) The RAN node 311, which can also be referred to as an access network device, a RAN entity or an access node, etc., constitutes a part of the communication system, and helps the terminal to realize wireless access. For example, the multiple RAN nodes 110 in the communication system shown in FIG. 3A can be nodes of the same type or nodes of different types. In some scenarios, the roles of the RAN node 311 and the terminal 312 are opposite, for example, the network element 312i in FIG. 3A can be a helicopter or a drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For the terminal 312j that accesses the RAN 311 through the network element 312i, the network element 312i is a base station; but for the base station 312a, the network element 312i is a terminal. The RAN node 311 and the terminal 312 are sometimes collectively referred to as communication apparatuses, for example, the network elements 311a and 311b in FIG. 3A can be understood as communication apparatuses with base station functions, and the network elements 312a-312j can be understood as communication apparatuses with terminal functions.

[0138] In a possible scenario, the RA node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc. The RAN node can be a macro base station (e.g., 311a in FIG. 3A), a micro base station or an indoor station (e.g., 311b in FIG. 3A), a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a centralized RAN (C-RAN) scenario. Optionally, the RAN node can also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or a vehicle-mounted device, etc. For example, the access network device in a vehicle to everything (V2X) technology can be a road side unit (RSU).

[0139] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes cooperate to assist a terminal to implement wireless access, and different RAN nodes respectively implement part of functions of a base station. For example, a RAN node can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), etc. FIG. 3B schematically shows a protocol layer diagram of the RAN side. The CU and the DU can be separately arranged, or can also be included in the same network element, for example, in a baseband unit (BBU). The CU node and the DU node split the protocol layers of the base station gNB, and the functions of part of the protocol layers are controlled by the CU in a centralized manner, and the remaining part or all of the protocol layers are distributed in the DU and controlled by the CU in a centralized manner. As an implementation manner, the CU is deployed with the radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, the PDCP layer, and the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer in the protocol stack; and the DU is deployed with the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and the physical layer (PHY) in the protocol stack. Therefore, the CU has the processing capability of the RRC, the PDCP, and the SDAP. The DU has the processing capability of the RLC, the MAC, and the PHY. It can be understood that the splitting of the above functions is only an example, and does not limit the CU and the DU. The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, for example, included in a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna processing unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0140] In combination with FIG. 3A, the system architecture of the communication method (i.e., the communication system) of the embodiments of the present disclosure further relates to a core network device 32.

[0141] 3) core network device, refers to a device in a core network (CN) that provides service support for a terminal. Currently, some examples of core network devices are: access and mobility management function (AMF) entity, session management function (SMF) entity, user plane function (UPF) entity, and the like, which are not listed one by one here. Among them, the AMF entity can be responsible for access management and mobility management of the terminal; the SMF entity can be responsible for session management, such as session establishment of a user; and the UPF entity can be a functional entity of the user plane, mainly responsible for connecting external networks. It should be noted that the entity of the embodiments of the present disclosure can also be referred to as a network element or a functional entity, for example, the AMF entity can also be referred to as an AMF network element or an AMF functional entity, and for another example, the SMF entity can also be referred to as an SMF network element or an SMF functional entity, and the like.

[0142] FIG. 3C schematically shows a schematic diagram of an open radio access network (O-RAN) to which the communication method of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied.

[0143] O-RAN aims to realize an intelligent and open access network. The main feature of the O-RAN architecture is the separation of software and hardware, which realizes the virtualization of network functions and the standardization of hardware. In addition, O-RAN can also introduce artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

[0144] In the ORAN system, the CU can also be referred to as O-CU (open CU), the DU can also be referred to as O-DU, the CU-CP can also be referred to as O-CU-CP, the CU-UP can also be referred to as O-CU-UP, and the RU can also be referred to as O-RU. It should be noted that in different systems, the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU can also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. Any one of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0145] In conjunction with FIG. 3B, O-CU (O-RAN central unit or O-RAN control unit): to implement the radio resource control (RRC) layer, the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer in the 3GPP standard and other control functions.

[0146] O-CU-CP (O-RAN central unit control plane or O-RAN control unit control plane): similar to the CU-CP in the NR system, to implement the functions of the RRC layer, and the control plane functions of the PDCP layer.

[0147] O-DU (ORAN distributed unit): based on low-layer function splitting, to implement the high layer (close to the MAC layer) of the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and the physical layer (PHY) in the 3GPP standard. Among them, the high layer functions of the physical layer include one or more of the following: forward error correction (FEC) encoding / decoding, scrambling / descrambling, or modulation / demodulation.

[0148] O-RU (ORAN radio unit): based on low-layer function split, used to implement the low-layer (close to radio frequency) function of PHY in 3GPP standard and the radio frequency function. Among them, the low-layer function of the physical layer includes one or more of the following: fast Fourier transform (FFT) transform / inverse fast Fourier transform (iFFT) transform, digital beamforming, or extraction and filtering of physical random access channel (PRACH), etc. Similar to the transmission reception point (TRP) or remote radio head (RRH) in 3GPP, but it includes the low-layer function of the PHY, such as FFT / iFFT or PRACH extraction.

[0149] non-real time RIC (non-real time RAN intelligent controller, non-real time RAN intelligent controller, referred to as "non-real time RIC" for short): sometimes also called non-RT RIC or NRT RIC, used to implement non-real-time intelligent management of RAN functions. It can implement AI / ML workflow including model training and model updating, and guide applications / functions in nRT RIC based on policies.

[0150] near-real time RIC (near-real time RAN intelligent controller, near-real time RAN intelligent controller, referred to as "near-real time RIC" for short): sometimes also called near-RT RIC or nRT RIC, used to implement near-real-time intelligent management of RAN. Through data collection and related operations on the E2 interface, near-real-time control and optimization of modules and resources of O-RAN are implemented.

[0151] Other interfaces such as NG, Xn, X2, E1, F1-C, F1-U, etc.: refer to the description in 3GPP protocol TS 38.401, specifically:

[0152] NG interface: interface between NR RAN equipment (such as base station, CU, CU-CP or CU-UP) and NR core network; among them, NG-u is the user plane NG interface, and NG-c is the control plane NG interface.

[0153] Xn interface: interface between NR RAN devices (such as base stations, CUs, CU-CPs or CU-UPs); wherein Xn-u is the user plane Xn interface, and Xn-c is the control plane Xn interface.

[0154] X2 interface: interface between LTE RAN devices; wherein X2-u is the user plane X2 interface, and X2-c is the control plane X2 interface. In NR, the X2 interface is mainly used in the E-UTRA-NR dual connectivity (EN-DC) scenario, in which the master station is an LTE RAN device connected to the LTE core network through the X2 interface.

[0155] E1 interface: interface between the CU-CP and the CU-UP.

[0156] F1-C interface: interface between the CU-CP and the DU.

[0157] F1-U interface: interface between the CU-UP and the DU.

[0158] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, which can be executed by an access network device or a chip with similar functions of the access network device. The communication method executed by the access network device will be taken as an example for description. The embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a communication method, which can be executed by a terminal device or a chip with similar functions of the terminal device. The communication method executed by the terminal device will be taken as an example for description. Some steps of the communication method executed by the access network device and the communication method executed by the terminal device are corresponding. The communication method executed by the access network device and the communication method executed by the terminal device of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C in combination with the system architecture of FIG. 3A.

[0159] FIG. 4A schematically shows an interaction flowchart of a communication method 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0160] As shown in FIG. 4A, at operation S410, the core network device sends first indication information to the access network device.

[0161] Correspondingly, the access network device (represented by RAN in the examples of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C hereinafter) receives the first indication information from the core network device. In the example of FIG. 4A, the access network device RAN receives the first indication information from the access management function network element AMF of the core network device.

[0162] Optionally, before operation S410, the terminal device UE can request the core network device to join the MBS session, and the core network device initiates the indication to establish the multicast broadcast service session resource to the access network device.

[0163] The first indication information indicates MBS session information.

[0164] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in terms of MBS representing multicast broadcast service, and the representation of multicast broadcast service is not limited by MBS, i.e., multicast broadcast service can also be represented in other ways.

[0165] Exemplarily, the MBS session information can include MBS service area information corresponding to one or more MBS sessions.

[0166] Any one of the one or more MBS sessions can be understood as a first MBS session, and the MBS service area information corresponding to the first MBS session in the MBS session information is first MBS service area information.

[0167] Optionally, at operation S420, the access network device maps the first MBS service area information to the beam information or the geographic area information indicated to the UE, and the first MBS service area information can be the same as or different from the beam or geographic area information indicated to the UE. In the case of the same, the access network device can directly indicate the first MBS service area information to the UE when indicating the first MBS session related information to the UE; in the case of the different, for example, the first MBS service area information is geographic area information, and the beam information is indicated to the UE. For another example, the first MBS service area is geographic area information across cells, and the geographic area information indicated to the UE is geographic area within the cell where the UE is located. After receiving the first MBS service area information, the access network device can flexibly adapt the geographic range of the MBS data as needed.

[0168] Optionally, the MBS session information can also include MBS session identification information (i.e., MBS session ID) related to one or more MBS sessions, and MBS service area session identification information (i.e., MBS area session ID) related to the MBS session.

[0169] At operation S430, the access network device RAN sends second indication information to the terminal device UE.

[0170] Correspondingly, the terminal device UE can receive the second indication information from the access network device RAN.

[0171] The second indication information indicates channel configuration information, and the channel configuration information is used for receiving a beam level MBS session or a geographic area level MBS session.

[0172] Optionally, the second indication information can further comprise one or more beam information applicable to the beam-level MBS session, or one or more geographical area information applicable to the geographical area-level MBS session. Further, the beam information mapped to the first MBS service area information can be the beam information applicable to the beam-level MBS session, and the geographical area information mapped to the first MBS service area can be the geographical area information applicable to the geographical area-level MBS session.

[0173] Exemplarily, the beam information can be, for example, beam index or identification information.

[0174] Optionally, the second indication information can further comprise the beam information or the geographical area information mapped to the first MBS service area information, so that based on the received second indication information, when the UE is interested in receiving the first MBS session, the UE can further determine whether the UE is in the first MBS service area of the first MBS session according to the geographical area where the UE is located or the selected beam, to confirm whether the first MBS session can be received.

[0175] Exemplarily, the first MBS service area information can be mapped to the beam information or the geographical area information, for example, by the access network device. That is, the access network device can adaptively map the MBS service area information associated with one or more MBS sessions included in the MBS session information to the beam information or the geographical area information sent to the terminal.

[0176] In operation S440, the access network device RAN sends MBS service data to the terminal device UE.

[0177] The beam-level MBS session can be understood as that one MBS session or MBS session data content is applicable to a specific beam, or one or more beams correspond to one MBS session or MBS session data content. The geographical area-level MBS session can be understood as that one MBS session or MBS session data content is applicable to a specific geographical area, or one or more geographical areas correspond to one MBS session or MBS session data content.

[0178] The "geographical area" of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be a portion or a plurality of partial areas within a cell coverage, or can also be a portion or a plurality of partial areas across multiple cells. The geographical area-level MBS session can be to receive / transmit the MBS data corresponding to the given geographical area in the given geographical area, allowing different geographical areas of the same cell to correspond to different MBS data.

[0179] According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the access network device receives the first indication information for indicating the MBS session information from the core network device, and the access network device sends the second indication information to the terminal device. Since the channel configuration information indicated by the second indication information is used for receiving the beam-level MBS session or the geographic area-level MBS session, the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure can implement the channel configuration mechanism suitable for the beam-level MBS session or the geographic area-level MBS session. After the terminal device receives the second indication information, the terminal device can receive the beam-level MBS session or the geographic area-level MBS session according to the channel configuration information indicated by the second indication information. Therefore, the MBS data transmission of the cell-specific beam or the specific geographic area can be implemented, and the characteristics of the large cell geographic range and the uneven distribution of UEs in different geographic areas in the NTN scenario can be adapted to, the difference in the demand for MBS service content of UEs in different areas or UEs corresponding to different beams in the NTN scenario can be met, and the communication efficiency is higher.

[0180] In an embodiment, the channel configuration information includes multicast broadcast service traffic channel configuration information. The multicast broadcast service traffic channel is referred to as MBS Traffic Channel, MTCH. Hereinafter, the multicast broadcast service traffic channel and the multicast broadcast service traffic channel configuration information will be described by taking the MTCH and the MTCH configuration information as examples, and the representation of the multicast broadcast service traffic channel and the multicast broadcast service traffic channel configuration information is not limited, i.e., the multicast broadcast service traffic channel and the multicast broadcast service traffic channel configuration information can also be represented in other ways.

[0181] FIG. 4B schematically shows a flowchart of the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure when the channel configuration information includes the MTCH configuration information.

[0182] In another embodiment, the channel configuration information includes multicast broadcast service control channel configuration information. The multicast broadcast service control channel is referred to as MBS Control Channel, MCCH. Hereinafter, the multicast broadcast service control channel and the multicast broadcast service control channel configuration information will be described by taking the MCCH and the MCCH configuration information as examples, and the representation of the multicast broadcast service control channel and the multicast broadcast service control channel configuration information is not limited, i.e., the multicast broadcast service control channel and the multicast broadcast service control channel configuration information can also be represented in other ways.

[0183] FIG. 4C schematically shows a flowchart of the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure when the channel configuration information includes the MCCH configuration information.

[0184] The MCCH transmission is bound to the SSB, that is, the MCCH configuration information is transmitted once for each SSB, and the MCCH configuration information is transmitted on the PDCCH occasion to which the SSB is mapped. The first SSB is transmitted, the first SSB is associated with the first MCCH configuration, the second SSB is transmitted, the second SSB is associated with the second MCCH configuration, and the first MCCH configuration information and the second MCCH configuration information can be different in content.

[0185] The channel configuration information is used to configure the channel of the beam level MBS session or the geographic area level MBS session, and the channel associated with the beam level MBS session or the geographic area level MBS session is the MTCH or the MCCH.

[0186] The association of the MCCH and the MTCH is that: if the UE wants to receive the broadcast service data, the UE obtains the parameters required for receiving the MCCH through the system message, obtains the MBS broadcast configuration information (for example, the parameters required for receiving the MTCH) through the MCCH, and receives the broadcast service data on the MTCH. Specifically: the MBS broadcast configuration information transmitted on the MCCH includes the broadcast service list information of the ongoing session transmitted on the MTCH, the broadcast service list information includes at least one of the MBS session ID, the MTCH scheduling information related to the G-RNTI, and the neighboring cell information providing certain MBS sessions, and the UE receives the broadcast service data on the MTCH based on the G-RNTI and the MTCH scheduling information.

[0187] According to the communication method of yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the channel configuration information includes MTCH configuration information, and the second indication information can also be used to indicate whether the MTCH configuration information is cell level MTCH configuration information. When the MTCH configuration information is non-cell level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH configuration information is beam level MTCH configuration information or geographic area level MTCH configuration information.

[0188] The cell level MTCH configuration information can be understood as the MTCH configuration information that is common or applicable to all terminals in the cell; the beam level MTCH configuration information can be understood as the MTCH configuration information that is applicable to the terminal associated with a specific beam. It can also be said that one or more beams correspond to one MTCH configuration information. The geographic area level MTCH configuration information can be understood as the MTCH configuration information that is applicable to the terminal in a specific geographic area, and it can also be said that one or more geographic areas correspond to one MTCH configuration information.

[0189] The communication method of the embodiments of the present disclosure is used to implement channel configuration adaptive beam level MBS session or geographic area level MBS session. The second indication information further indicates whether the MTCH configuration information is cell level MTCH configuration information. In the case that the second indication information indicates that the MTCH configuration information is cell level MTCH configuration information, the communication method of the embodiments of the present disclosure can support cell level MBS session transmission. In the case that the second indication information indicates that the MTCH configuration information is not cell level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH configuration information is beam level MTCH configuration information or geographic area level MTCH configuration information. After receiving the second indication information, the UE can receive the beam level MBS session on the beam level MTCH or receive the geographic area level MBS session on the geographic area level MTCH according to the beam level MTCH configuration information or the geographic area level MTCH configuration information indicated by the second indication information. Thus, different modes of cell level MBS session, beam level MBS session and geographic area level MBS session can be supported.

[0190] Optionally, the MTCH configuration information is beam level MTCH configuration information, and the second indication information further indicates one or more beam indexes or identification information applicable to the MTCH configuration information.

[0191] Optionally, the MTCH configuration information is geographic area level MTCH configuration information, and the second indication information further indicates one or more geographic area information applicable to the MTCH configuration information. The geographic area information may, for example, be geographic area identification or index information. The geographic area information may, for example, be represented by a reference point and a radius relative to the reference point, in which case the geographic area is a circular geographic area. The geographic area information may, for example, be represented by a polygon or a boundary line.

[0192] Optionally, when the MTCH configuration information is beam level MTCH configuration information or the MTCH configuration information is geographic area level MTCH configuration information, the second indication information indicates one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session, which may, for example, be associated with one or more group radio network temporary identities (Group-RNTI, G-RNTI) associated with the MBS session, or may, for example, be one or a group of MTCH configuration information corresponding to the MBS session. The group radio network temporary identity (Group RNTI, G-RNTI) is used to identify the first MTCH configuration information. The first MTCH configuration information is one of the one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

[0193] Optionally, the first MTCH configuration information comprises at least one of the following: MTCH scheduling information, MBS radio bearer information, periodicity and offset information of a mapping relationship between a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) occasion of the MTCH and a synchronization signal and broadcast channel block (SSB).

[0194] According to the communication method of the embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, the MBS session information indicated by the first indication information comprises X MBS sessions (X is an integer greater than or equal to 1), taking the first MBS session as an example, the first MBS session is one of the X MBS sessions, the first MBS session corresponds to a first MBS service area, and the first indication information can also indicate the beam information or the geographic area information applicable to the first MBS session to the UE. Before indicating one or more beam information or geographic area information applicable to the first MBS session to the UE, the access network device can also map the first MBS service area to the one or more beam information or geographic area information indicated to the UE.

[0195] In the case that the MBS session is associated with one MTCH configuration information, the MTCH configuration information can be beam-level MTCH configuration information or geographic area-level MTCH configuration information or cell-level MTCH configuration information. In the case that the MBS session is associated with multiple MTCH configuration information, the multiple MTCH configuration information can be beam-level MTCH configuration information or geographic area-level MTCH configuration information.

[0196] Corresponding to the communication method performed by the access network device exemplified above, the following will be described taking the terminal device performing the communication method as an example. According to the communication method performed by the terminal device of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following operations can also be included: in the case that the MBS session is a geographic area-level MBS session, based on a first geographic area where the terminal device is located, the corresponding MTCH configuration information is applied according to the first geographic area, so that the terminal device can apply the corresponding MTCH configuration information of the first geographic area where the terminal device is located to receive the geographic area-level MBS session. Alternatively, in the case that the MBS session is a geographic area-level MBS session, based on a first SSB selected by the terminal device, the corresponding MTCH configuration information is applied according to the first SSB, so that the terminal device can apply the corresponding MTCH configuration information of the first SSB to receive the beam-level MBS session.

[0197] In the case that the location of the terminal device changes so that the terminal device is located in a second geographic area different from the first geographic area, or the SSB beam selected by the terminal device changes so that the terminal device selects a second SSB different from the first SSB, the terminal device can apply the MTCH configuration information corresponding to the second geographic area or the second SSB.

[0198] According to another embodiment of the disclosure, the channel configuration information comprises MCCH configuration information.

[0199] For example, the following embodiments can be used to implement a specific example of receiving the second indication information: receiving beam-level MCCH configuration information according to a PDCCH occasion to which the SSB selected by the terminal device is mapped.

[0200] Each SSB can have corresponding scheduling information for receiving MCCH configuration information, and the terminal device receives the MCCH configuration information corresponding to the SSB according to the scheduling information mapped by the SSB, i.e., beam-level MCCH configuration information. Specifically, each transmission SSB can have corresponding PDCCH monitoring occasions for receiving MCCH configuration information, and the terminal device UE can obtain the MCCH configuration information corresponding to the first SSB by monitoring the PDCCH occasion associated with the first SSB for MCCH, so the terminal device UE can receive the MCCH configuration information according to the PDCCH occasion to which the selected SSB is mapped, i.e., beam-level MCCH configuration information.

[0201] The terminal device receives the beam-level MCCH configuration information according to the scheduling information or PDCCH occasion to which the selected SSB is mapped to implement the receiving of the second indication information. Correspondingly, for example, the access network device can indicate the beam-level MCCH configuration information corresponding to the SSB selected by the terminal device to the terminal device through a system message such as a system message block (system information block, SIB), and the system message block can be SIB20, for example.

[0202] Since the MCCH configuration information is transmitted by a system message, the system message is common to UEs in the same cell, so some embodiments receive the same MCCH configuration information through the system message and can only implement cell-level different MCCH configuration information. The communication method performed by the terminal device according to the embodiments of the disclosure can make the content of the system message received by all UEs in the cell different based on different SSBs, and the beam-level MCCH configuration information can be received according to the PDCCH occasion to which the SSB selected by the terminal device is mapped, thereby implementing beam-level different MCCH configuration information, which can adapt to beam-level MBS sessions.

[0203] For example, in the case where the terminal device selects a second SSB different from the first SSB, the following embodiments can be used to implement a specific example of receiving the second indication information: obtaining the MCCH configuration information corresponding to the second SSB.

[0204] Exemplarily, since each SSB can have a corresponding PDCCH occasion, different MCCH configuration information can be received by monitoring on the PDCCH occasion mapped by different SSBs, and thus the beam-level MCCH configuration information received based on different SSBs can be different.

[0205] Exemplarily, for example, the beam-level MCCH configuration information received based on the PDCCH occasion mapped by the first SSB is different from the PDCCH occasion mapped by the second SSB.

[0206] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a communication apparatus.

[0207] FIG. 5A schematically shows a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus as shown in FIG. 5A can be applied to an access network device, for example.

[0208] As shown in FIG. 5A, the communication apparatus 500A applied to an access network device includes: a transceiver module 510A configured to receive first indication information from a core network device, the first indication information indicating multicast broadcast service (MBS) session information; and send second indication information to a terminal device, the second indication information indicating channel configuration information, the channel configuration information being used for receiving a beam-level MBS session or a geographic area-level MBS session.

[0209] Optionally, the second indication information further includes one or more beam information applicable to the beam-level MBS session, or one or more geographic area information applicable to the geographic area-level MBS session.

[0210] Optionally, the second indication information further includes beam information or geographic area information to which the first MBS service area information is mapped, and the MBS session information includes first MBS service area information applicable to a first MBS session.

[0211] Optionally, the channel configuration information includes multicast broadcast service traffic channel (MTCH) configuration information, and the second indication information is further used for indicating whether the MTCH configuration information is cell-level MTCH configuration information; when the MTCH configuration information is non-cell-level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH configuration information is beam-level MTCH configuration information or geographic area-level MTCH configuration information.

[0212] Optionally, when the MTCH configuration information is beam-level MTCH configuration information or the MTCH configuration information is geographic area-level MTCH configuration information, the second indication information indicates one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

[0213] Optionally, the first group of radio network temporary identifiers is used for identifying the first MTCH configuration information, and the first MTCH configuration information is one of the one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

[0214] Optionally, the channel configuration information comprises multicast broadcast service control channel, MCCH, configuration information.

[0215] FIG. 5B schematically shows a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus as shown in FIG. 5B can be applied to a terminal device, for example.

[0216] As shown in FIG. 5B, the communication apparatus 500B applied to a terminal device comprises a receiving module 510B configured to receive second indication information from an access network device, the second indication information indicating channel configuration information, the channel configuration information being used for receiving a beam level multicast broadcast service, MBS, session or a geographical area level MBS session, a channel associated with the beam level MBS session or the geographical area level MBS session being a multicast broadcast service traffic channel, MTCH, or a multicast broadcast service control channel, MCCH.

[0217] Optionally, the second indication information further comprises one or more beam information applicable to the beam level MBS session or one or more geographical area information applicable to the geographical area level MBS session.

[0218] Optionally, the second indication information further comprises beam information or geographical area information to which first MBS service area information is mapped, and the MBS session information comprises first MBS service area information applicable to a first MBS session.

[0219] Optionally, the channel configuration information comprises MTCH configuration information, and the second indication information is further used to indicate whether the MTCH channel configuration information is cell level MTCH configuration information, when the MTCH configuration information is non-cell level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH channel configuration information is beam level MTCH channel configuration information or geographical area level MTCH configuration information.

[0220] Optionally, when the MTCH configuration information is beam level MTCH configuration information or the MTCH configuration information is geographical area level MTCH configuration information, the second indication information indicates one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

[0221] Optionally, the first group of radio network temporary identifiers is used to identify the first MTCH configuration information, and the first MTCH configuration information is one of the one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

[0222] Optionally, the communication device further comprises a processing module configured to, in a case that the MBS session is a geographical area level MBS session, apply corresponding MTCH configuration information according to a first geographical area to which the terminal device belongs; or in a case that the MBS session is a beam level MBS session, apply corresponding MTCH configuration information according to a first synchronization signal and broadcast channel block (SSB) selected by the terminal device.

[0223] Optionally, the channel configuration information comprises multicast broadcast service control channel (MCCH) configuration information, and the receiving module is further configured to receive beam level MCCH configuration information according to a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) occasion to which a synchronization signal and broadcast channel block (SSB) selected by the terminal device is mapped.

[0224] Optionally, in a case that the terminal device selects a second synchronization signal and broadcast channel block (SSB) different from the first SSB, the receiving module is further configured to obtain MCCH configuration information corresponding to the second SSB.

[0225] Optionally, the beam level MCCH configuration information received based on the PDCCH occasion to which the first SSB is mapped and the PDCCH occasion to which the second SSB is mapped is different.

[0226] It should be understood that the embodiments of the apparatus part of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 5A correspond to the same or similar embodiments of the method part of the present disclosure, for example, performed by the access network device, the embodiments of the apparatus part of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 5B correspond to the same or similar embodiments of the method part of the present disclosure, for example, performed by the terminal device, the technical problems solved and the technical effects achieved are also the same or similar, and the present disclosure will not be repeated here.

[0227] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure further provides a communication device, a chip module, a computer readable storage medium and a computer program product.

[0228] A communication device of an embodiment of the present disclosure can comprise a processor and an interface circuit for receiving signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmitting the signals to the processor or sending signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, and the processor is configured to execute the communication method of any one of the above embodiments by means of a logic circuit or executing code instructions.

[0229] In some embodiments, the instructions are stored in a memory. The memory is communicatively connected or coupled to the processor.

[0230] In some embodiments, the communication device is a chip.

[0231] A chip module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a transceiver assembly and a chip, and the chip is configured to perform the communication method according to any one of the above embodiments.

[0232] FIG. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device 600 that can be used to implement the communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication device includes various forms of digital computers, such as laptops, desktops, workstations, personal digital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframes, and other appropriate computers. The communication device can also include various forms of mobile devices, such as personal digital processors, cellular telephones, smart phones, wearable devices, and other similar computing devices. The components, their connections, and their functions, as described herein, are shown by way of example only and are not meant to limit implementations of the present disclosure described and / or claimed in this document.

[0233] As shown in FIG. 6, the communication device 600 includes a computing unit 601 that can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a computer program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 602 or a computer program loaded from a storage unit 608 into a random access memory (RAM) 603. Various programs and data required for the operation of the communication device 600 can also be stored in the RAM 603. The computing unit 601, the ROM 602, and the RAM 603 are connected to each other through a bus 604. An input / output (I / O) interface 605 is also connected to the bus 604.

[0234] Various components in the communication device 600 are connected to the I / O interface 605, including an input unit 606, such as a keyboard, a mouse, etc.; an output unit 607, such as various types of displays, a speaker, etc.; a storage unit 608, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, etc.; and a communication unit 609, such as a network card, a modem, a wireless communication transceiver, etc. The communication unit 609 allows the device 600 to exchange information / data with other devices through a computer network, such as the Internet, and / or various telecommunication networks.

[0235] The computing unit 601 can be various general and / or special purpose processing components with processing and computing capabilities. Some examples of the computing unit 601 include, but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), various specialized artificial intelligence (AI) computing chips, various computing units running machine learning model algorithms, a digital signal processor (DSP), and any appropriate processor, controller, microcontroller, and the like. The computing unit 601 performs various methods and processes described above, such as the communication method. For example, in some embodiments, the aforementioned methods can be implemented as a computer software program tangibly embodied in a machine-readable medium, such as the storage unit 608. In some embodiments, part or all of the computer program can be loaded and / or installed onto the communication device 600 via the ROM 602 and / or the communication unit 609. When the computer program is loaded onto the RAM 603 and executed by the computing unit 601, one or more steps of the communication method described above can be performed. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the computing unit 601 can be configured to perform the communication method by any other appropriate means, such as by means of firmware.

[0236] Various implementations of the systems and techniques described above herein can be realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an application-specific standard product (ASSP), a system on a chip (SOC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These various implementations can include implementation in one or more computer programs that are executable and / or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which can be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device.

[0237] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code can be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, produces the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams. The program code can be executed entirely on a machine, partially on a machine, partially on a machine as a standalone software package, or entirely on a remote machine or server.

[0238] In the context of the present disclosure, a machine-readable medium can be a tangible medium that contains or stores a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The machine-readable medium can be a machine-readable signal medium or a machine-readable storage medium. A machine-readable medium can include but is not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the machine-readable storage medium will include one or more lines of electrical connections, portable computer disks, hard disk drives, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), optical fibers, portable compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROMs), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, flash memories, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0239] To provide for interaction with a user, the systems and techniques described here can be implemented on a computer having a display device (e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor) for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device (e.g., a mouse or a trackball) by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback); and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

[0240] The systems and techniques described here can be implemented in a computing system that includes a back end component (e.g., as a data server), or that includes a middleware component (e.g., an application server), or that includes a front end component (e.g., a user computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the systems and techniques described here), or any combination of such back end, middleware, or front end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., a communication network). Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and the Internet.

[0241] The computer system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

[0242] It should be understood that the various forms of flow shown above can be re-ordered, added to, or deleted from without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the steps recited in the present disclosure can be performed in parallel, sequentially, or in different orders, as long as the desired results of the present disclosure are achieved, and are not limited herein.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Receive a first indication information from the core network equipment, the first indication information indicating multicast broadcast service (MBS) session information; Send a second indication message to the terminal device. The second indication message indicates channel configuration information, which is used to receive beam-level MBS sessions or geographic area-level MBS sessions.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second indication information also includes one or more beam information applicable to the beam-level MBS session, or one or more geographic area information applicable to the geographic area-level MBS session.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The second indication information also includes beam information or geographic area information mapped to the first MBS service area information, and the MBS session information includes the first MBS service area information to which the first MBS session applies.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The channel configuration information includes multicast broadcast service channel (MTCH) configuration information. The second indication information is also used to indicate whether the MTCH configuration information is cell-level MTCH configuration information. When the MTCH configuration information is not cell-level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH configuration information is beam-level MTCH configuration information or geographic region-level MTCH configuration information.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, When the MTCH configuration information is the beam-level MTCH configuration information or the MTCH configuration information is the geographic region-level MTCH configuration information, the second indication information indicates one or more of the MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first set of temporary wireless network identifiers is used to identify the first MTCH configuration information, which is one of the one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The channel configuration information includes the Multicast Broadcast Service Control Channel (MCCH) configuration information.

8. A communication method, characterized in that, include: The system receives a second indication information from the access network device. The second indication information indicates channel configuration information, which is used to receive beam-level multicast broadcast service (MBS) sessions or geographic area-level multicast broadcast service (MBS) sessions. The channel associated with the beam-level MBS session or the geographic area-level MBS session is the multicast broadcast service service channel (MTCH) or the multicast broadcast service control channel (MCCH).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second indication information also includes one or more beam information applicable to the beam-level MBS session, or one or more geographic area information applicable to the geographic area-level MBS session.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The second indication information also includes beam information or geographic area information mapped to the first MBS service area information, and the MBS session information includes the first MBS service area information to which the first MBS session applies.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8-10, characterized in that, The channel configuration information includes MTCH configuration information. The second indication information is also used to indicate whether the MTCH channel configuration information is cell-level MTCH configuration information. When the MTCH configuration information is not cell-level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH channel configuration information is beam-level MTCH channel configuration information or geographic area-level MTCH configuration information.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, When the MTCH configuration information is the beam-level MTCH configuration information or the MTCH configuration information is the geographic region-level MTCH configuration information, the second indication information indicates one or more of the MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first set of temporary wireless network identifiers is used to identify the first MTCH configuration information, which is one of the one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9-13, characterized in that, Also includes: When the MBS session is a geographic region-level MBS session, the MTCH configuration information corresponding to the first geographic region where the terminal device is located is applied according to the first geographic region application. or, In the case that the MBS session is the beam-level MBS session, based on the first synchronization signal and broadcast channel block (SSB) selected by the terminal device, the MTCH configuration information corresponding to the first SSB is applied.

15. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The channel configuration information includes Multicast Service Control Channel (MCCH) configuration information, and the receiving second indication information includes: According to the timing of receiving beam-level MCCH configuration information based on the synchronization signal selected by the terminal device and the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) mapped to the broadcast channel block (SSB).

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, When the terminal device selects a second synchronization signal and broadcast channel block SSB that is different from the first SSB, receiving the second indication information includes: Obtain the MCCH configuration information corresponding to the second SSB.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that, The beam-level MCCH configuration information received based on the different PDCCH timings mapped to the first SSB and the second SSB is based on the different PDCCH timings.

18. A communication device, characterized in that, include: The transceiver module is used to receive first indication information from the core network equipment, wherein the first indication information indicates multicast broadcast service (MBS) session information; And send a second indication information to the terminal device, the second indication information indicating channel configuration information, the channel configuration information being used to receive beam-level MBS sessions or geographic area-level MBS sessions.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that, The second indication information also includes one or more beam information applicable to the beam-level MBS session, or one or more geographic area information applicable to the geographic area-level MBS session.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that, The second indication information also includes beam information or geographic area information mapped to the first MBS service area information, and the MBS session information includes the first MBS service area information to which the first MBS session applies.

21. The apparatus according to any one of claims 18-20, characterized in that, The channel configuration information includes multicast broadcast service channel (MTCH) configuration information. The second indication information is also used to indicate whether the MTCH configuration information is cell-level MTCH configuration information. When the MTCH configuration information is not cell-level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH configuration information is beam-level MTCH configuration information or geographic region-level MTCH configuration information.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that, When the MTCH configuration information is the beam-level MTCH configuration information or the MTCH configuration information is the geographic region-level MTCH configuration information, the second indication information indicates one or more of the MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that, The first set of temporary wireless network identifiers is used to identify the first MTCH configuration information, which is one of the one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

24. The apparatus according to any one of claims 18-20, characterized in that, The channel configuration information includes the Multicast Broadcast Service Control Channel (MCCH) configuration information.

25. A communication device, characterized in that, include: The receiving module is configured to receive second indication information from the access network device. The second indication information indicates channel configuration information. The channel configuration information is used to receive beam-level multicast broadcast service (MBS) sessions or geographic area-level multicast broadcast service (MBS) sessions. The channel associated with the beam-level MBS session or the geographic area-level MBS session is a multicast broadcast service service channel (MTCH) or a multicast broadcast service control channel (MCCH).

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that, The second indication information also includes one or more beam information applicable to the beam-level MBS session, or one or more geographic area information applicable to the geographic area-level MBS session.

27. The method according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that, The second indication information also includes beam information or geographic area information mapped to the first MBS service area information, and the MBS session information includes the first MBS service area information to which the first MBS session applies.

28. The apparatus according to any one of claims 25-27, characterized in that, The channel configuration information includes MTCH configuration information. The second indication information is also used to indicate whether the MTCH channel configuration information is cell-level MTCH configuration information. When the MTCH configuration information is not cell-level MTCH configuration information, the MTCH channel configuration information is beam-level MTCH channel configuration information or geographic area-level MTCH configuration information.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that, When the MTCH configuration information is the beam-level MTCH configuration information or the MTCH configuration information is the geographic region-level MTCH configuration information, the second indication information indicates one or more of the MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that, The first set of temporary wireless network identifiers is used to identify the first MTCH configuration information, which is one of the one or more MTCH configuration information associated with the MBS session.

31. The apparatus according to any one of claims 26-30, characterized in that, Also includes: The processing module is configured to, when the MBS session is a geographic region-level MBS session, apply the corresponding MTCH configuration information based on the first geographic region where the terminal device is located; or, when the MBS session is a beam-level MBS session, apply the corresponding MTCH configuration information based on the first synchronization signal and broadcast channel block (SSB) selected by the terminal device.

32. The apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that, The channel configuration information includes Multicast Service Control Channel (MCCH) configuration information. The receiving module is also used to receive beam-level MCCH configuration information according to the timing of the synchronization signal selected by the terminal device and the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) mapped to the Broadcast Channel Block (SSB).

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, characterized in that, When the terminal device selects a second synchronization signal and broadcast channel block SSB that is different from the first SSB, the receiving module is also used to obtain the MCCH configuration information corresponding to the second SSB.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that, The beam-level MCCH configuration information received based on the different PDCCH timings mapped to the first SSB and the second SSB is based on the different PDCCH timings.

35. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices besides the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices besides the communication device. The processor is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-7, or the method as described in any one of claims 8-17, through logic circuits or execution code instructions.

36. A chip module, characterized in that, It includes a transceiver component and a chip, said chip being used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-7, or the method as described in any one of claims 8-17.

37. A communication system, comprising: An access network device and a terminal device, wherein the access network device is configured to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-7, and the terminal device is configured to perform the method as described in any one of claims 8-17.

38. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, characterized in that, include: Computer instructions, wherein when executed, cause the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-7, or the method according to any one of claims 8-17.

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