Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application disclose a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: receiving first configuration information, wherein the first configuration information is used for indicating a first reference signal resource, the first reference signal resource comprises M transmission configuration indication (TCI) states, and M is an integer greater than 1; and on the basis of the M TCI states, receiving a reference signal transmitted by a network device on the first reference signal resource. Use of the embodiments of the present application can reduce the delay of beam measurement and improve the efficiency of beam measurement.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410808549.7, filed on June 20, 2024, entitled "A Communication Method and Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0003] As wireless spectrum resources evolve to higher frequency bands, the number of network-side antennas has further increased, and the evolution of network-side radio frequency capabilities has further enhanced the ability to increase the number of beams in a single scheduling of the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and the beam direction at different frequency domain locations. Current new radio (NR) standards support beam measurement and beam scanning processes involving multiple reference signal resources. Network devices transmit beams on multiple reference signal resources, and terminal devices perform scanning measurements on these resources. However, this method incurs significant pilot overhead for beam measurement, and time-division scanning of different reference signal resources introduces substantial beam measurement delays, greatly increasing the complexity of the beam measurement implementation process. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method and apparatus that can reduce the latency of beam measurement and improve the efficiency of beam measurement.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to the terminal side, such as a terminal device or a communication module in the terminal device, or a circuit or chip in the terminal device responsible for communication functions (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, or a system-in-package (SIP) chip). Taking the application of this method to a terminal device as an example, the method includes:

[0006] Receive first configuration information, the configuration information being used to indicate a first reference signal resource, the first reference signal resource including M Transmission Configuration Indication States (TCI states), where M is an integer greater than 1; based on the M TCI states, receive reference signals transmitted by the network device on the first reference signal resource.

[0007] By configuring the same reference signal resource for the terminal device, which includes multiple TCI states, the terminal device can receive multiple beams transmitted by the network device on the same time-frequency resource at the same time, thereby reducing the latency of beam measurement and improving the efficiency of beam measurement.

[0008] In one possible design, the first reference signal resource further includes N reference signal ports, through which the reference signal transmitted by the network device on the first reference signal resource is received, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. By configuring the same reference signal resource for the terminal device to include N reference signal ports, the terminal device can receive multiple beams transmitted by the network device on the same time-frequency resource at the same time through multiple TCI states corresponding to the N reference signal ports, thereby reducing the latency of beam measurement and improving the efficiency of beam measurement.

[0009] In one possible design, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with N masks within the same Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) group. The N reference signal ports are distinguished by the N masks within the same CDM group.

[0010] In one possible design, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with N combinations consisting of X CDM groups and Y masks, where N = X * Y, and X and Y are both integers greater than or equal to 1. The N reference signal ports are distinguished by the X CDM groups and the Y masks.

[0011] In one possible design, one reference signal port corresponds to at least two TCI states. By having one reference signal port correspond to multiple TCI states, the same reference signal port can receive multiple beams at the same time, thereby reducing the time delay of beam measurement and improving the efficiency of beam measurement.

[0012] In one possible design, M = N, and one reference signal port corresponds to one TCI state. By having one TCI state corresponding to one reference signal port, multiple reference signal ports can receive multiple beams simultaneously, thereby reducing the time delay of beam measurement and improving the efficiency of beam measurement.

[0013] In one possible design, the reference signal corresponding to the first reference signal port is determined based on the scrambling code corresponding to the first reference signal port among the N reference signal ports; the reference signal corresponding to the first reference signal port is received through the first reference signal port based on the TCI state corresponding to the first reference signal port. By determining the reference signal corresponding to each reference signal port and receiving the respective reference signal based on the TCI state corresponding to each reference signal port, successful beam measurement is ensured.

[0014] In one possible design, the reference signal is received on the first reference signal resource, and the Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) of the reference signal is determined; the RSRP of the reference signal is then transmitted to the network device. By reporting the RSRP, the network device can select the optimal beam for communication, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0015] In one possible design, second configuration information is received, which indicates that the reporting type of the reference signal is RSRP.

[0016] In one possible design, M = any one of 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 64, 96, and 128.

[0017] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method that can be applied to the network side, such as network devices or components (e.g., circuits, chips, or chip systems) within the network devices. Taking the application of this method to a network device as an example, the method includes:

[0018] Send first configuration information, which is used to indicate a first reference signal resource. The first reference signal resource includes M Transmission Configuration Indication States (TCI states), where M is an integer greater than 1. Send a reference signal to the terminal device on the first reference signal resource, where the M TCI states are used to receive the reference signal.

[0019] By configuring the same reference signal resource for the terminal device, which includes multiple TCI states, the terminal device can receive multiple beams transmitted by the network device on the same time-frequency resource at the same time, thereby reducing the latency of beam measurement and improving the efficiency of beam measurement.

[0020] In one possible design, the first reference signal resource further includes N reference signal ports, which are used to receive the reference signal. By configuring the same reference signal resource for the terminal device to include N reference signal ports, the terminal device can receive multiple beams transmitted by the network device on the same time-frequency resource at the same time through multiple TCI states corresponding to the N reference signal ports, thereby reducing the latency of beam measurement and improving the efficiency of beam measurement.

[0021] In one possible design, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with N masks within the same Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) group. The N reference signal ports are distinguished by the N masks within the same CDM group.

[0022] In one possible design, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with N combinations consisting of X CDM groups and Y masks, where N = X * Y, and X and Y are both integers greater than or equal to 1. The N reference signal ports are distinguished by the X CDM groups and the Y masks.

[0023] In one possible design, one reference signal port corresponds to at least two TCI states. By having one reference signal port correspond to multiple TCI states, the same reference signal port can receive multiple beams at the same time, thereby reducing the time delay of beam measurement and improving the efficiency of beam measurement.

[0024] In one possible design, M = N, and one reference signal port corresponds to one TCI state. By having one TCI state corresponding to one reference signal port, multiple reference signal ports can receive multiple beams simultaneously, thereby reducing the time delay of beam measurement and improving the efficiency of beam measurement.

[0025] In one possible design, the reference signal received power (RSRP) is used to receive the reference signal transmitted by the terminal device. The optimal beam is selected for communication based on the RSRP reported by the terminal device, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0026] In one possible design, second configuration information is sent, which indicates that the reporting type of the reference signal is RSRP.

[0027] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device that performs the functions described in the first aspect above. For example, the communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the operations involved in the first aspect. These modules, units, or means can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The device includes:

[0028] A receiving module is configured to receive first configuration information, the configuration information being used to indicate a first reference signal resource, the first reference signal resource including M Transmission Configuration Indication States (TCI states), where M is an integer greater than 1;

[0029] The receiving module is further configured to receive reference signals transmitted by the network device on the first reference signal resource based on the M TCI states.

[0030] In one possible design, the first reference signal resource further includes N reference signal ports, and the receiving module is further configured to receive the reference signal transmitted by the network device on the first reference signal resource through the N reference signal ports, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0031] In one possible design, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with the N masks within the same Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) group.

[0032] In one possible design, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with N combinations consisting of X CDM groups and Y masks, where N = X * Y, and X and Y are both integers greater than or equal to 1.

[0033] In one possible design, one of the reference signal ports corresponds to at least two of the TCI states.

[0034] In one possible design, M=N, and one of the reference signal ports corresponds to one of the TCI states.

[0035] In one possible design, the processing module is configured to determine the reference signal corresponding to the first reference signal port based on the scrambling code corresponding to the first reference signal port among the N reference signal ports; and to receive the reference signal corresponding to the first reference signal port through the first reference signal port based on the TCI state corresponding to the first reference signal port.

[0036] In one possible design, a processing module is configured to receive the reference signal on the first reference signal resource and determine the reference signal received power (RSRP) of the reference signal; and a transmitting module is configured to transmit the RSRP of the reference signal to the network device.

[0037] In one possible design, the receiving module is further configured to receive second configuration information, which indicates that the reporting type of the reference signal is RSRP.

[0038] The operation and beneficial effects of this communication device can be found in the method and beneficial effects described in the first aspect above, and will not be repeated here.

[0039] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device that performs the functions described in the second aspect above. For example, the communication device includes modules, units, or means corresponding to the operations involved in the second aspect above. These modules, units, or means can be implemented through software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The device includes:

[0040] A sending module is used to send first configuration information, which is used to indicate a first reference signal resource. The first reference signal resource includes M transmission configuration indication states (TCI states), where M is an integer greater than 1.

[0041] The transmitting module is further configured to transmit a reference signal to the terminal device on the first reference signal resource, wherein the M TCI states are used to receive the reference signal.

[0042] In one possible design, the first reference signal resource further includes N reference signal ports, which are used to receive the reference signal.

[0043] In one possible design, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with the N masks within the same Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) group.

[0044] In one possible design, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with N combinations consisting of X CDM groups and Y masks, where N = X * Y, and X and Y are both integers greater than or equal to 1.

[0045] In one possible design, one of the reference signal ports corresponds to at least two of the TCI states.

[0046] In one possible design, M=N, and one of the reference signal ports corresponds to one of the TCI states.

[0047] In one possible design, a receiving module is used to receive the reference signal received power (RSRP) of the reference signal transmitted by the terminal device.

[0048] In one possible design, the transmitting module is used to transmit second configuration information, which indicates that the reporting type of the reference signal is RSRP.

[0049] The operation and beneficial effects of this communication device can be found in the method and beneficial effects described in the second aspect above, and will not be repeated here.

[0050] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which includes a memory and one or more processors. The memory is used to store part or all of the computer program or instructions necessary for implementing the functions involved in the first aspect above. The one or more processors can execute the computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are executed, cause the communication device to implement the methods in any possible design or implementation of the first aspect above.

[0051] In one possible design, the communication device may further include an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices or components through the interface circuit.

[0052] In one possible design, the communication device may also include the memory.

[0053] The aforementioned communication device may be a terminal device, or a communication module in a terminal device, or a chip in the terminal responsible for communication functions, such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip containing a modem module.

[0054] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which includes a memory and one or more processors. The memory is used to store part or all of the computer program or instructions necessary to implement the functions involved in the second aspect above. The one or more processors are capable of executing the computer program or instructions, which, when executed, cause the communication device to implement the methods in any possible design or implementation of the second aspect above.

[0055] In one possible design, the communication device may further include an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices or components through the interface circuit.

[0056] In one possible design, the communication device may also include the memory.

[0057] The aforementioned communication device may be a network device, a communication module in a network device, or a chip in a terminal that is responsible for communication functions, such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip that contains a modem module.

[0058] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program that, when executed, causes the method described in either the first or second aspect to be implemented.

[0059] Eighthly, this application provides a computer program product including a computer program that, when executed, causes the method described in either the first or second aspect to be implemented.

[0060] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication system including at least one terminal device and at least one network device, wherein the terminal device is used to perform the steps in the first aspect described above, and the network device is used to perform the steps in the second aspect described above.

[0061] In a tenth aspect, a chip is provided, the chip including a processor and a communication interface for communicating with external or internal devices, the processor for implementing the methods of the above aspects.

[0062] In one possible design, the chip may further include a memory storing computer programs or instructions, which the processor executes, either from the stored computer programs or instructions or derived from other programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the processor implements the methods described above.

[0063] In one possible design, the chip can be integrated into a terminal device or a network device. Attached Figure Description

[0064] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 200 provided in an embodiment of the application;

[0066] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 300 provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a beam training process;

[0068] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of beam measurement;

[0069] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0070] Figure 7A is a schematic diagram of a reference signal port;

[0071] Figure 7B is a schematic diagram of another reference signal port;

[0072] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another type of beam measurement;

[0073] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0074] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0075] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0076] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0077] The following explains the key terms used in this application:

[0078] 1. Control resource set (CORESET)

[0079] A control resource set is a collection of resources used to transmit downlink control information; it can also be called a control resource region or a physical downlink control channel resource set.

[0080] Network devices can configure one or more control resource sets for terminal devices to transmit physical downlink control channels (PDCCH). The network device can transmit control channels to the terminal device on any control resource set corresponding to the terminal device. In addition, the network device also needs to notify the terminal device of other configurations associated with the control resource set, such as search space sets. The configuration information for each control resource set differs, for example, in terms of frequency bandwidth and time length.

[0081] Optionally, the set of control resources in this application can be any of the following: CORESET, control region, or set of enhanced-physical downlink control channels (EPDCCH) defined by the 5G mobile communication system.

[0082] The time-frequency position occupied by the PDCCH can be referred to as the downlink control region. In one possible scenario, the PDCCH is always located within the first m symbols of a subframe, where m can be 1, 2, 3, or 4. The E-PDCCH and the relay-physical downlink control channel (R-PDCCH) are not located within the first m symbols.

[0083] The downlink control area can be flexibly configured by radio resource control (RRC) signaling through a control resource set (CORESET) and a search space set. The control resource set can configure information such as the frequency domain location and the number of continuous symbols in the time domain for the PDCCH or control channel element (CCE). The search space set can configure information such as the detection period and offset of the PDCCH, and the start symbol within a time slot.

[0084] For example, if the search space set can be configured with a PDCCH period of 1 time slot and a time domain start symbol of symbol 0, then the terminal device can detect the PDCCH at the beginning of each time slot.

[0085] 2. Spatial related parameter information

[0086] Spatial correlation parameter information can include quasi-collocation (QCL) information and spatial relation information. Generally, QCL information is used to indicate the spatial correlation parameters (also known as spatial correlation characteristics) of downlink signals, while spatial relation information is used to indicate the spatial correlation parameters (also known as spatial correlation characteristics) of uplink signals.

[0087] Uplink signals may include, but are not limited to: physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), sounding reference signal (SRS), phase-tracking reference signal (PTRS), and demodulation reference signal (DMRS).

[0088] Downlink signals may include, but are not limited to: PDCCH, physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), tracking reference signal (TRS), channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), phase-tracking reference signal (PTRS), demodulation reference signal (DMRS), and synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SS / PBCH block). The SS / PBCH block can be abbreviated as synchronization signal block (SSB). The SSB includes one or more of the following: primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and PBCH. It is primarily used for cell search, cell synchronization, and carrying broadcast information.

[0089] Spatial relation information is used to help describe the beamforming information and transmission process on the transmitting side of the terminal equipment.

[0090] Spatial relation information is used to indicate the spatial transmission parameter relationship between two reference signals. The target reference signal is generally a downlink signal, such as DMRS or SRS. The referenced or source reference signal can generally be CSI-RS, SRS, or SSB, etc.

[0091] Quasi-co-location, also known as quasi-co-site or co-location, refers to the use of QCL information, also called QCL assumption information. QCL information is used to assist in describing the terminal equipment's reception of beamforming information and the reception process.

[0092] QCL information can be used to indicate the QCL relationship between two reference signals. The target reference signal is generally a downlink signal, such as DMRS or CSI-RS. The referenced or source reference signal can generally be CSI-RS, SSB, or TRS, etc. TRS is also a type of CSI-RS. Taking PDCCH QCL information as an example, the configuration method for PDCCH QCL information is as follows:

[0093] Configure K candidate QCL information for PDCCH, such as configuring K candidate QCL information for PDCCH through RRC. The K candidate QCL information may include K TCI-states, where K is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0094] Indicates the QCL information of the PDCCH, such as through the media access control (MAC) control element (CE) (MAC CE) indicating the QCL information of the PDCCH (when K is an integer greater than 1).

[0095] It can be specified that during the initial radio resource control (RRC) and media access control (MAC) - control element (CE) phases, the terminal device assumes that the DMRS of the PDCCH and PDSCH is QCL with the SSB determined during initial access.

[0096] The signals corresponding to antenna ports with QCL relationship can have the same or similar spatial characteristic parameters (or parameters). Alternatively, the spatial characteristic parameters (or parameters) of one antenna port can be used to determine the spatial characteristic parameters (or parameters) of another antenna port with QCL relationship with that antenna port. Alternatively, two antenna ports have the same or similar spatial characteristic parameters (or parameters). Alternatively, the difference between the spatial characteristic parameters (or parameters) of two antenna ports is less than a certain threshold.

[0097] It should be understood that the spatial characteristic parameters of two reference signals or channels that satisfy the QCL relationship are the same (or similar, or nearly similar), and thus the spatial characteristic parameters of the target reference signal can be inferred based on the source reference signal resource index.

[0098] It should also be understood that the spatial characteristic parameters of two reference signals or channels that satisfy spatial relationship information are the same (or similar, or nearly similar), so the spatial characteristic parameters of the target reference signal can be inferred based on the source reference signal resource index.

[0099] The spatial characteristic parameters may include one or more of the following parameters:

[0100] Angle of arrival (AoA), dominant angle of arrival (AoA), average angle of arrival, power angular spectrum (PAS) of the angle of arrival, angle of departure (AoD), dominant angle of departure, average angle of departure, power angular spectrum of the angle of departure, terminal equipment transmit beamforming, terminal equipment receive beamforming, spatial channel correlation, network equipment transmit beamforming, network equipment receive beamforming, average channel gain, average channel delay, delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, or spatial Rx parameters, etc.

[0101] The aforementioned angles can be: decomposition values ​​of different dimensions, or combinations of decomposition values ​​of different dimensions. Antenna ports can be antenna ports with different antenna port numbers. Antenna ports can also be: antenna ports with the same or different antenna port numbers that transmit or receive information at different times. Antenna ports can also be: antenna ports with the same or different antenna port numbers that transmit or receive information within different frequencies. Antenna ports can also be: antenna ports with the same or different antenna port numbers that transmit or receive information within different code domain resources.

[0102] These spatial characteristic parameters describe the spatial channel characteristics between the antenna ports of the source reference signal and the target reference signal, helping the terminal device to complete the receive-side beamforming or reception processing based on this QCL information. For example, the terminal device can receive the target reference signal based on the receive beam information of the source reference signal indicated by the QCL information. These spatial characteristic parameters also help the terminal device to complete the transmit-side beamforming or transmission processing based on this spatially related information. For example, the terminal device can transmit the target reference signal based on the transmit beam information of the source reference signal indicated by the spatially related information.

[0103] To reduce the overhead of network devices indicating QCL information to terminal devices, as an optional implementation, the network device can indicate that the demodulation reference signal of the PDCCH or PDSCH satisfies a QCL relationship with one or more of the multiple reference signal resources previously reported by the terminal device. For example, the reference signal can be a CSI-RS. Each reported CSI-RS resource index corresponds to a transmit / receive beam pair previously established based on measurements of that CSI-RS resource. It should be understood that the receive beam information of two reference signals or channels satisfying the QCL relationship is identical, and the terminal device can infer the receive beam information of the received PDCCH or PDSCH based on the reference signal resource index.

[0104] In existing protocols, QCL relationships can be categorized into the following four types based on different parameters:

[0105] Type A: Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread;

[0106] Type B: Doppler frequency shift, Doppler spread;

[0107] Type C: Doppler frequency shift, average time delay;

[0108] Type D: Spatial Rx parameter.

[0109] Network devices can configure one or more types of QCLs for terminal devices at the same time, such as QCL type A+D, C+D, etc.

[0110] When the QCL relationship refers to type D, it can be considered a spatial QCL. When antenna ports satisfy a spatial QCL relationship, it can be a QCL relationship between ports of downlink signals, or between ports of uplink signals (as referred to above as a spatial relation). For example, for a QCL relationship between downlink and uplink signals, or between ports of uplink and downlink signals, it could mean that the two signals have the same AOA or AOD, indicating that they have the same receive or transmit beam. Similarly, for a QCL relationship between downlink and uplink signals, or between ports of uplink and downlink signals, it could mean that the AOA and AOD of the two signals are corresponding, or that the AOD and AOA of the two signals are corresponding. That is, beam reciprocity can be used to determine the uplink transmit beam based on the downlink receive beam, or vice versa.

[0111] From the transmitting end's perspective, if two antenna ports are spatially QCL (Quadrature Coordinated Linearity), it means that the corresponding beam directions of these two antenna ports are spatially aligned. From the receiving end's perspective, if two antenna ports are spatially QCL, it means that the receiving end can receive the signals transmitted by these two antenna ports in the same beam direction.

[0112] Signals transmitted on ports with spatial QCL relationships can also have corresponding beams. The corresponding beams can include one or more of the following: the same receiving beam, the same transmitting beam, the transmitting beam corresponding to the receiving beam (e.g., corresponding to a reciprocal scenario), and the receiving beam corresponding to the transmitting beam (e.g., corresponding to a reciprocal scenario).

[0113] Signals transmitted on ports with spatial QCL relationships can also be understood as signals received or transmitted using the same spatial filter. The spatial filter can be one or more of the following: precoding, antenna port weighting, antenna port phase deflection, or antenna port amplitude gain.

[0114] Signals transmitted on ports with spatial QCL relationships can also be understood as having corresponding beam pair links (BPLs). A corresponding BPL includes one or more of the following: the same downlink BPL, the same uplink BPL, an uplink BPL corresponding to the downlink BPL, or a downlink BPL corresponding to the uplink BPL.

[0115] Therefore, spatial reception parameters (i.e., QCL of type D) can be understood as parameters used to indicate the direction information of the received beam.

[0116] In the examples of this application, the correspondence of certain parameters can also be applied to scenarios described by QCL.

[0117] It should be understood that the scenarios applicable to the QCL assumption in this application can also be two reference signals, or the relationship between transmission objects.

[0118] 3. Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) State

[0119] TCI-state can be used to indicate the QCL information of a signal or channel. The channel can be, for example, PDCCH, CORESET, or PDSCH. The signal can be, for example, CSI-RS, DMRS, or TRS. TCI information can indicate that the reference signal included in the TCI satisfies a QCL relationship with the channel, primarily indicating that when receiving the channel, its spatial characteristic parameters are the same, similar, or nearly identical to the spatial characteristic parameters of the reference signal included in the TCI. TCI information can also indicate that the reference signal included in the TCI satisfies a QCL relationship with the signal, primarily indicating that when receiving the signal, its spatial characteristic parameters are the same, similar, or nearly identical to the spatial characteristic parameters of the reference signal included in the TCI.

[0120] A TCI-state can configure one or more reference signals and their associated QCL types. In other words, the configuration information of a TCI-state can include the identifiers of one or two reference signal resources and their associated QCL types. QCL types are further divided into four categories: Type A, Type B, Type C, and Type D, which represent different combinations or selections of {Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread, spatial Rx parameter}. A TCI-state contains QCL information, or it can be used to indicate QCL information.

[0121] TCI-state is configured by the network device for each terminal device. The following is a format of TCI-state.

[0122] Furthermore, TCI-state can be configured globally. In TCI-state configurations for different cells and different bandwidth parts (BWPs), if the TCI-state index is the same, then the corresponding TCI-state configuration will also be the same.

[0123] 4. Component carrier (CC)

[0124] A unit carrier can also be called a component carrier, constituent carrier, or member carrier, etc. Each carrier in multi-carrier aggregation can be called a "CC". Terminal equipment can receive data on multiple CCs. Each carrier consists of one or more physical resource blocks (PRBs), and each carrier can have its own corresponding PDCCH, scheduling the PDSCH of its own CC; or, some carriers do not have PDCCH, in which case cross-carrier scheduling can be performed on these carriers.

[0125] Cross-carrier scheduling: A network device transmits a PDCCH on one CC to schedule data transmission on another CC; that is, it transmits a PDSCH or a PUSCH on the other CC. More specifically, a network device can transmit a PDCCH on the bandwidth part (BWP) of one CC to schedule the transmission of PDSCH or PUSCH on the BWP of another CC. In other words, the control channel is transmitted on one CC, while the corresponding data channel is transmitted on another CC.

[0126] 5. Beam

[0127] A beam is a communication resource. A beam can be wide, narrow, or other types. The technology used to form a beam can be beamforming or other techniques. Beamforming technologies can specifically include digital beamforming, analog beamforming, and hybrid digital / analog beamforming. Different beams can be considered different resources. The same information or different information can be transmitted through different beams.

[0128] Alternatively, multiple beams with the same or similar communication characteristics can be considered as a single beam. A beam corresponds to one or more antenna ports for transmitting data channels, control channels, and detection signals, etc. The one or more antenna ports corresponding to a beam can also be considered as a set of antenna ports.

[0129] The beam used to transmit signals can be called the transmission beam (Tx beam), or the spatial domain transmission filter or spatial transmission parameter; the beam used to receive signals can be called the reception beam (Rx beam), or the spatial domain receive filter or spatial RX parameter.

[0130] The transmitting beam can refer to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space after a signal is transmitted through an antenna, while the receiving beam can refer to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space of a wireless signal received from an antenna.

[0131] Beams can be categorized into: transmit and receive beams of network devices, and transmit and receive beams of terminal devices. The transmit beam of a network device describes the beamforming information transmitted by the network device, and the receive beam describes the beamforming information received by the network device. Similarly, the transmit beam of a terminal device describes the beamforming information transmitted by the terminal device, and the receive beam describes the beamforming information received by the terminal device. In other words, beams can be used to describe beamforming information.

[0132] Beams are generally associated with resources, and beams can correspond to: time resources, spatial resources, and frequency domain resources.

[0133] Alternatively, the beam may also correspond to a reference signal resource (e.g., a beamforming reference signal resource) or beamforming information.

[0134] Optionally, the beam can also correspond to information associated with a reference signal resource of the network device. The reference signal can be, for example, CSI-RS, SSB, DMRS, phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), or TRS. The information associated with the reference signal resource can be a reference signal resource identifier or QCL information (such as the QCL of type D). The reference signal resource identifier corresponds to a transmit / receive beam pair previously established based on measurements of that reference signal resource; through this reference signal resource index, the terminal device can infer the beam information.

[0135] Alternatively, the beam can also correspond to a spatial filter or spatial domain filter, or a spatial domain transmission filter.

[0136] In this context, the receiving beam can be equivalent to a spatial transmission filter, a spatial domain transmission filter, a spatial domain receiving filter, and a spatial receiving filter; the transmitting beam can be equivalent to a spatial filter, a spatial domain transmission filter, a spatial domain transmitting filter, and a spatial transmitting filter. Information about spatially relevant parameters can be equivalent to a spatial filter (spatial domain transmission / receive filter). Optionally, a spatial filter generally includes a spatial transmitting filter and / or a spatial receiving filter. This spatial filter can also be called a spatial transmitting filter, a spatial receiving filter, a spatial transmission filter, etc. Specifically, the receiving beam on the terminal device side and the transmitting beam on the network device side can be downlink spatial filters, and the transmitting beam on the terminal device side and the receiving beam on the network device side can be uplink spatial filters.

[0137] 6. Antenna port

[0138] An antenna port, also simply called a port, is a transmitting antenna that is recognized by the receiving device, or a spatially distinguishable transmitting antenna. Each virtual antenna can be configured with one antenna port, and each virtual antenna can be a weighted combination of multiple physical antennas. Each antenna port can correspond to a reference signal port.

[0139] 7. Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) group

[0140] Antenna port groups are distinguished by code division multiplexing, meaning that different antenna ports occupy the same time and frequency resources, but their corresponding sequences (time and frequency masks) are different.

[0141] 8. Bandwidth Part (BWP)

[0142] Since the transmit or receive capabilities of different terminal devices within the same cell in NR may differ, the system can allocate corresponding bandwidth to each terminal device. This bandwidth allocated to the terminal device is called the BWP (Bandwidth-on-Package). The terminal device transmits on its own BWP. A BWP can be a group of contiguous frequency domain resources on a carrier, such as a physical resource block (PRB). The frequency domain resources occupied by different BWPs may partially overlap or not overlap. The bandwidth of the frequency domain resources occupied by different BWPs may be the same or different; this application does not limit this. The smallest granularity of a BWP in the frequency domain can be one PRB.

[0143] In a single-carrier scenario, a terminal device can have only one active BWP at any given time. The terminal device only receives or transmits data / reference signals on the active BWP.

[0144] In this application, when applicable to BWP scenarios, a specific BWP can also be a set of bandwidths on a specific frequency, or a set of multiple resource blocks (RBs), etc., without limitation.

[0145] The technical solutions of the application embodiments can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) system, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, future 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system, or new radio (NR), etc. The 5G mobile communication system described in this application includes non-standalone (NSA) 5G mobile communication systems and / or standalone (SA) 5G mobile communication systems. The technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to future communication systems, such as sixth-generation mobile communication systems. Communication systems can also be PLMN networks, device-to-device (D2D) networks, machine-to-machine (M2M) networks, IoT networks, or other networks.

[0146] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication system 100 is in a single-carrier scenario or a carrier aggregation (CA) scenario. The communication system 100 includes a network device 110 and a terminal device 120, and the network device 110 and the terminal device 120 communicate through a wireless network.

[0147] It should be understood that network device 110 in Figure 1 may include one or more cells.

[0148] When the transmission direction of the communication system 100 is uplink, the terminal device 120 is the sender and the network device 110 is the receiver. When the transmission direction of the communication system 100 is downlink, the network device 110 is the sender and the terminal device 120 is the receiver.

[0149] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 200 provided in an embodiment of the application. The communication system 200 operates in a dual connectivity (DC) or coordinated multipoint transmission / reception (CoMP) scenario. The communication system 200 includes network device 210, network device 220, and terminal device 230. Network device 210 is the network device used when terminal device 230 initially accesses the system and is responsible for RRC communication with terminal device 230. Network device 220 is added during RRC reconfiguration to provide additional radio resources. Terminal device 230, configured with carrier aggregation (CA), is connected to network device 210 and network device 220. The link between network device 210 and terminal device 230 can be referred to as the first link, and the link between network device 220 and terminal device 230 can be referred to as the second link.

[0150] The communication systems described above are merely illustrative examples, and the communication systems applicable to this application are not limited thereto. For example, the number of network devices and terminal devices included in the communication system may be other numbers, or a single base station, multi-carrier aggregation scenario, dual-link scenario, or device-to-device (D2D) communication scenario may be adopted.

[0151] It should be understood that the technical solutions of this application embodiment can be applied to beam indication in single-carrier or carrier aggregation (CA) scenarios, or to beam indication in dual connectivity (DC) scenarios.

[0152] It should be understood that the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application can be applied to situations where the primary cell (Pcell) is high-frequency or low-frequency, and the secondary cell (Scell) is high-frequency or low-frequency. For example, when the Pcell is low-frequency and the Scell ​​is high-frequency. Usually, low-frequency and high-frequency are relative terms, and a specific frequency can also be used as the dividing line, such as 6GHz.

[0153] It should be understood that the technical solutions of this application embodiment can also be applied to beam indication in coordinated multipoint transmission / reception (CoMP) scenarios. CoMP can be one or more of non-coherent joint transmission (NCJT), coherent joint transmission (CJT), and joint transmission (JT).

[0154] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 300 provided in an embodiment of this application. This communication system may include a network device 310 and terminal devices 301 to 306. It should be understood that a communication system to which the methods of the embodiments of this application can be applied may include more or fewer network devices or terminal devices. In this communication system, network device 310 and terminal devices 301 to 306 form a communication system. Terminal devices 301 to 306 can send uplink data to network device 310, and network device 310 needs to receive the uplink data sent by terminal devices 301 to 306. Furthermore, terminal devices 304 to 306 can also form a communication system. In this communication system, the network device can send downlink information to terminal devices 301, 302, and 303, etc.; terminal device 305 can also send downlink information to terminal devices 304 and 306.

[0155] The terminal device can be a device or module that accesses the aforementioned communication system and has corresponding communication functions. The terminal device typically contains a communication module, circuit, or chip that performs the corresponding communication functions. The terminal device may also be configured with program instructions for performing the corresponding communication functions. In this application embodiment, the terminal device can refer to user equipment, access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. The terminal device can also be a cellular phone, cordless phone, session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless communication functions, computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, vehicle-mounted device, wearable device, terminal device in a future 5G network, or terminal device in a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), etc., and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0156] By way of example and not limitation, in this embodiment, the terminal device can also be a wearable device. Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices, are a general term for devices that utilize wearable technology to intelligently design and develop everyday wearables, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. Wearable devices are portable devices that are worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are not merely hardware devices, but also achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly speaking, wearable smart devices include those that are feature-rich, large in size, and can achieve complete or partial functions without relying on a smartphone, such as smartwatches or smart glasses, as well as those that focus on a specific type of application function and require the use of other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0157] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the terminal device can also be a terminal device in an Internet of Things (IoT) system. IoT is an important component of future information technology development, and its main technical feature is connecting objects to networks through communication technologies, thereby realizing an intelligent network of human-machine interconnection and machine-to-machine interconnection. In this embodiment, IoT technology can achieve massive connectivity, deep coverage, and low terminal power consumption through technologies such as narrowband (NB) technology.

[0158] In addition, in this embodiment, the terminal device may also include sensors such as smart printers, train detectors, and gas stations. Its main functions include collecting data (for some terminal devices), receiving control information and downlink data from network devices, and sending electromagnetic waves to transmit uplink data to network devices.

[0159] The network device can be a device or module located on the network side of the aforementioned communication system and possessing corresponding communication functions. The network device typically contains a communication module, circuit, or chip that performs the corresponding communication function. The network device is also configured with program instructions for performing the corresponding communication function and corresponding program instructions. In this application embodiment, the network device can be a device for communicating with a terminal device. This network device can be a base station (BTS) in a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), a base station (NodeB, NB) in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, an evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, or a relay station, access point, vehicle-mounted device, wearable device, or a network device in a future 5G network or a future evolved PLMN network, etc. This application embodiment is not limited to these categories.

[0160] The network device in this application embodiment can be a device in a wireless network, such as a radio access network (RAN) node that connects a terminal to the wireless network. Examples of RAN nodes include: base stations, next-generation base stations (gNBs), transmission reception points (TRPs), evolved Node Bs (eNBs), home base stations, baseband units (BBUs), or access points (APs) in a WiFi system. In a network architecture, the network device may include a centralized unit (CU) node, a distributed unit (DU) node, or a RAN device including both CU and DU nodes.

[0161] The following explanation uses network equipment as the base station and terminal equipment as the UE.

[0162] Communication systems typically use different types of reference signals: one type is used to estimate the channel, enabling coherent demodulation of received signals containing control information or data; another type is used to measure channel state or channel quality, thereby enabling scheduling of terminal devices. Terminal devices obtain channel state information (CSI) based on channel quality measurements of the channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS). The CSI includes at least one of the following: Rank Indicator (RI), Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI), and Channel Quality Indicator (CQI). This CSI information can be transmitted by the terminal device to network devices via the Physical Uplink Control Channel or the Physical Uplink Shared Channel.

[0163] With the emergence of smart terminals, especially video services, current spectrum resources are insufficient to meet the explosive growth in user demand for capacity. High-frequency bands, particularly millimeter-wave bands, with their greater available bandwidth, are increasingly becoming candidate bands for next-generation communication systems. On the other hand, modern communication systems typically use multi-antenna technology to improve system capacity and coverage or enhance user experience. Another advantage of using high-frequency bands is the significant reduction in the size of multi-antenna configurations, facilitating site acquisition and the deployment of more antennas. However, unlike the operating frequency bands of existing systems such as LTE, high-frequency bands result in greater path loss, especially as atmospheric and vegetation factors further exacerbate wireless propagation losses.

[0164] To overcome the significant propagation loss mentioned above, a signal transmission mechanism based on beamforming technology is employed to compensate for the loss during signal propagation through a larger antenna gain. The beamformed signal may include broadcast signals, synchronization signals, and channel state information reference signals. When signals are transmitted using beamforming technology, if a user moves, the direction of the beamformed beam corresponding to the transmitted signal may no longer match the user's new location, leading to frequent signal interruptions. To track changes in the beamformed beam during signal transmission, a channel quality measurement and result reporting mechanism based on beamforming technology is introduced. The channel quality measurement can be based on the beamformed synchronization signal or the channel state information reference signal. Compared to cell handover, user handover between different beamformed beams is more dynamic and frequent, thus requiring a dynamic measurement and reporting mechanism. Optionally, the channel quality results of the beamformed beam reference signal can also be reported by the user equipment to the base station via the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

[0165] The UE selects N superior beams from multiple beams transmitted by the base station and reports the measurement information of these N superior beams to the base station. The beam measurement information mainly includes at least one of the following: reference signal resource index, reference signal received power (RSRP), and signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR). Figure 4 illustrates a beam training process. Figure 4(e) shows the beam training process using beams transmitted by the base station. Conversely, as shown in Figure 4(d), the UE transmits multiple beams, the base station measures these beams, and notifies the UE of the superior beams. Furthermore, the term "beam" is not used in the standard. The beams transmitted by the base station are represented by reference signal resources, such as beam index 1, described in the standard as reference signal resource index 1. The UE's received beams are indicated by the Spatial Rx parameter in the QCL, and the beam status information is described in the standard as L1-RSRP related information or L1-SINR related information.

[0166] The beam training process may include:

[0167] 1) Selection of the optimal N beam pair links (BPLs) (a BPL includes a base station transmit beam and a UE receive beam, or a BPL includes a UE transmit beam and a base station receive beam). This is used by the UE to select the base station's transmit beam and / or the UE's receive beam based on the base station's beam scanning, and by the base station to select the UE's transmit beam and / or the base station's receive beam based on the UE's beam scanning. See Figures 4(a) and (b).

[0168] 2) Updating the transmit beam: The transmit beam can be either the base station's transmit beam or the UE's transmit beam. When the transmit beam is the base station's transmit beam, as shown in Figure 4(e), the base station transmits reference signals to the UE using different transmit beams. The UE receives these reference signals from the base station using the same receive beam and determines the optimal transmit beam for the base station based on the received signals. The UE then feeds back the optimal transmit beam to the base station so that it can update its transmit beam. When the transmit beam is the UE's transmit beam, as shown in Figure 4(d), the UE transmits reference signals to the base station using different transmit beams. The base station receives these reference signals from the UE using the same receive beam and determines the optimal transmit beam for the UE based on the received signals. The base station then feeds back the optimal transmit beam to the UE so that it can update its transmit beam. The process of transmitting reference signals using different transmit beams can be called beam scanning, and the process of determining the optimal transmit beam based on the received signals can be called beam matching.

[0169] 3) Update of the receive beam. This receive beam can be either the base station's receive beam or the UE's receive beam. When the receive beam is the base station's receive beam, as shown in Figure 4(f), the UE transmits a reference signal to the base station using the same transmit beam. The base station receives the reference signal transmitted by the UE using different receive beams, and then determines the optimal receive beam based on the received signal to update the base station's receive beam. When the receive beam is the UE's receive beam, as shown in Figure 4(c), the base station transmits a reference signal to the UE using the same transmit beam. The UE receives the reference signal transmitted by the base station using different receive beams, and then determines the optimal receive beam based on the received signal to update the UE's receive beam.

[0170] During downlink signal transmission, both the base station's transmit beam and the UE's receive beam may change dynamically. The optimal receive beam determined by the UE based on the received signal may include multiple beams. To enable the UE to determine its own receive beam, it can feed back information from these multiple receive beams to the base station. The base station can then indicate the UE's receive beam to the UE by sending beam indication information. When the UE uses analog domain beamforming, it can accurately determine its receive beam based on the beam indication information sent by the base station, thereby saving beam scanning time and achieving power saving.

[0171] As wireless spectrum resources evolve towards higher frequency bands, the number of antennas on the base station side further increases, and the evolution of base station-side radio frequency capabilities further enhances the ability to increase the number of beams in a single PDSCH scheduling and the beam direction at different frequency domain locations. Figure 5 illustrates a beam measurement method. Current standards support one beam per PDSCH transmitted at a single transmission reception point (TRP). Specifically, one channel measurement resource (CMR) corresponds to one TCI state: CMR#0 corresponds to TCI#0, CMR#1 corresponds to TCI#1, ..., CMR#7 corresponds to TCI#7. The base station transmits beams on multiple CMRs at different times, and the UE receives and measures the transmitted beams on multiple CMRs at different times, reporting the CMR index and the RSRP of each measured transmitted beam. If the duration of a single UE scan is T, and the UE calculation delay is D, then the total time required to train N beams is T*(N-1)+D.

[0172] As mentioned above, the beam measurement and beam scanning process supported by the current NR standard involves multiple reference signal resources. Each reference signal resource corresponds to a TCI state, and the beam information corresponding to the TCI state is used for measurement. However, this beam measurement method has a large pilot overhead, and time-division scanning of different reference signal resources will bring a large beam measurement delay, which greatly increases the complexity of the beam measurement implementation process and reduces the commercial feasibility of high-frequency beam scanning.

[0173] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the embodiments of this application provide the following solutions.

[0174] As shown in Figure 6, Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. The method may include the following steps:

[0175] S601, the network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device. The first configuration information is used to indicate a first reference signal resource. The first reference signal resource includes M transmission configuration indication states (TCI states), where M is an integer greater than 1.

[0176] The configuration information may include a set of reference signal resources, which includes one or more reference signal resources, and each reference signal resource includes one or more TCI states. Within this set of reference signal resources, at least one first reference signal resource includes M TCI states. Optionally, the first reference signal resource may further include time-domain resources and / or frequency-domain resources of the reference signal.

[0177] Wherein, M = any one of 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 64, 96 and 128.

[0178] Optionally, the first reference signal resource may further include N reference signal ports, which are used by the terminal device to receive reference signals. N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0179] There is a mapping relationship between M TCI states and N reference signal ports. When M is greater than N, one of the N reference signal ports corresponds to at least two TCI states. For example, the first reference signal resource includes 5 TCI states (TCI state #0 to TCI state #4) and 4 reference signal ports (Port #0 to Port #3), where TCI state #0 corresponds to Port #0, TCI state #1 corresponds to Port #1, TCI state #2 corresponds to Port #2, and TCI state #3 and TCI state #4 correspond to Port #3. When M equals N, one reference signal port corresponds to one TCI state, and there is a one-to-one mapping relationship between the reference signal port and the TCI state. For example, the first reference signal resource includes 4 TCI states (TCI state #0 to TCI state #3) and 4 reference signal ports (Port #0 to Port #3), where TCI state #0 corresponds to Port #0, TCI state #1 corresponds to Port #1, TCI state #2 corresponds to Port #2, and TCI state #3 corresponds to Port #3.

[0180] Among the N reference signal ports, no two reference signal ports correspond to the same time-frequency resources and sequences. The time-frequency resources can be code division multiplexing (CDM) groups or orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) codes, and the sequences can be cover codes (CC) or base sequences. Furthermore, the N reference signal ports can be distinguished in the following ways:

[0181] In the first optional approach, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with the N masks within the same CDM group. Figure 7A illustrates a schematic diagram of a reference signal port. The first reference signal resource includes 8 TCI states (TCI state #0 to TCI state #7) and 8 reference signal ports (Port #0 to Port #7). There is a one-to-one mapping between the 8 TCI states and the 8 reference signal ports. The 8 reference signal ports can be distinguished by the 8 masks (CC #0 to CC #7) within the same CDM (CDM #0). Therefore, TCI state #0, Port #0, CDM #0, and CC #0 correspond to each other; TCI state #1, Port #1, CDM #0, and CC #1 correspond to each other; TCI state #2, Port #2, CDM #0, and CC #2 correspond to each other; ..., TCI state #7, Port #7, CDM #0, and CC #7 correspond to each other.

[0182] In the second optional method, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with N combinations consisting of X CDM groups and Y masks, where N = X * Y, and X and Y are both integers greater than or equal to 1. Figure 7B shows a schematic diagram of another type of reference signal port. The first reference signal resource includes 8 TCI states (TCI state #0 to TCI state #7) and 8 reference signal ports (Port #0 to Port #7). The 8 TCI states and 8 reference signal ports have a one-to-one mapping relationship. The 8 reference signal ports can be distinguished by 4 CDMs (CDM #0 to CDM #3) and 2 masks (CC #0 to CC #2). Therefore, TCI state#0, Port#0, CDM#0 and CC#0 correspond to each other, TCI state#1, Port#1, CDM#0 and CC#1 correspond to each other, TCI state#2, Port#2, CDM#1 and CC#0 correspond to each other, ..., TCI state#7, Port#7, CDM#3 and CC#1 correspond to each other.

[0183] Optionally, the network device may send second configuration information to the terminal device, the second configuration information indicating that the reporting type of the reference signal is RSRP. This causes the terminal device to report the reference signal receiving power (RSRP) of the reference signal to the network device after measuring the reference signal sent by the network device. Optionally, the second configuration information may also be used to indicate that the reporting type of the reference signal is other types, such as signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), etc.

[0184] S602, the network device sends a reference signal to the terminal device on the first reference signal resource.

[0185] Specifically, network devices can transmit one or more reference signals on the first reference signal resource. The reference signals can be channel state information-reference signals (CSI-RS) or synchronization signal and PBCH block (SSB). That is, network devices can transmit one or more reference signals to terminal devices on the same time-frequency resources using a space-division multiplexing method.

[0186] Optionally, before the network device sends a reference signal to the terminal device, it may send a first indication information to the terminal device. The first indication information may be used to indicate the activation of a first reference signal resource in the reference signal resource set and to notify the terminal device to receive a reference signal on the first reference signal resource.

[0187] S603, the terminal device receives the reference signal on the first reference signal resource based on the M TCI states.

[0188] Specifically, the terminal device receives reference signals transmitted by the network device on the first reference signal resource through N reference signal ports. Further, when N=1, the terminal device can receive the reference signal transmitted by the network device through the reference signal port based on M TCI states corresponding to that reference signal port. When N is greater than 1, the terminal device can determine the reference signal corresponding to the first reference signal port based on the scrambling ID corresponding to the first reference signal port among the N reference signal ports; then, based on the TCI state corresponding to the first reference signal port, the terminal device receives the reference signal corresponding to the first reference signal port through the first reference signal port, where the first reference signal port is any one of the N reference signal ports.

[0189] Optionally, the terminal device receives the reference signal on the first reference signal resource, determines the RSRP of the reference signal, and then sends the RSRP of the reference signal to the network device. This allows the network device to select the optimal beam to communicate with the terminal device based on the RSRP, thereby improving communication quality and efficiency. Optionally, the terminal device may also report the index of the first reference signal resource to the network device.

[0190] For example, as shown in Figure 8, which is a schematic diagram of another beam measurement method, the network device configures a reference signal resource (CMR#0) for the terminal device. This reference signal resource includes eight TCI states (TCI state#0 to TCI state#7), where CMR#0 corresponds to TCI state#0, CMR#1 corresponds to TCI state#1, ..., and CMR#2 corresponds to TCI state#7. Furthermore, this reference signal resource includes eight ports (Port#0 to Port#7), with each port corresponding to one TCI state. The network device transmits multiple reference signals to the terminal device via eight beams on the same time-frequency resource. The terminal device receives the reference signals on the same time-frequency resource based on the TCI state corresponding to each port, scans the eight beams once to determine the RSRP of each reference signal, and then reports the RSRP of the reference signals to the network device. If the computation delay of the terminal device is D, then the total time required to train the eight beams is D.

[0191] In this embodiment, by configuring the same reference signal resource including multiple TCI states for the terminal device, the terminal device can receive multiple beams transmitted by the network device on the same time-frequency resource at the same time. This reduces the latency of beam measurement and improves the efficiency of beam measurement.

[0192] It is understood that, in the above-described method embodiments, the methods and operations implemented by the terminal device can also be implemented by components (such as chips or circuits) that can be used in the terminal device, and the methods and operations implemented by the network device can also be implemented by components (such as chips or circuits) that can be used in the network device.

[0193] This application embodiment can divide terminal devices or network devices into functional modules according to the above method examples. For example, each function can be divided into its own functional modules, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated modules can be implemented in hardware or software functional modules. It should be noted that the module division in this application embodiment is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. The following description uses the division of functional modules according to each function as an example.

[0194] The method provided by the embodiments of this application has been described in detail above with reference to FIG. 6. The communication device provided by the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. It should be understood that the description of the device embodiments corresponds to the description of the method embodiments; therefore, any content not described in detail can be referred to the method embodiments above, and for the sake of brevity, will not be repeated here.

[0195] Please refer to Figure 9, which is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. This communication device can implement the steps or processes executed by the terminal device corresponding to the method embodiments described above. In one possible design, the communication device may include a receiving module 901, a processing module 902, and a sending module 903. Optionally, the communication device may further include a storage module for storing device program code and / or data.

[0196] The communication device can be the terminal-side device in the above embodiments, such as a terminal device or a communication module in a terminal device, or a circuit or chip in a terminal that is responsible for communication functions.

[0197] The receiving module 901 is configured to receive first configuration information, the configuration information being used to indicate a first reference signal resource, the first reference signal resource including M transmission configuration indication states (TCI states), where M is an integer greater than 1;

[0198] The receiving module 901 is further configured to receive reference signals transmitted by the network device on the first reference signal resource based on the M TCI states.

[0199] Optionally, the first reference signal resource further includes N reference signal ports, and the receiving module 901 is further configured to receive the reference signal sent by the network device on the first reference signal resource through the N reference signal ports, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0200] Optionally, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with the N masks within the same Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) group.

[0201] Optionally, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with the N combinations consisting of X CDM groups and Y masks, where N = X * Y, and X and Y are both integers greater than or equal to 1.

[0202] Optionally, one of the reference signal ports corresponds to at least two of the TCI states.

[0203] Optionally, M=N, and one of the reference signal ports corresponds to one of the TCI states.

[0204] Optionally, the processing module 902 is configured to determine the reference signal corresponding to the first reference signal port based on the scrambling code corresponding to the first reference signal port among the N reference signal ports; and to receive the reference signal corresponding to the first reference signal port through the first reference signal port based on the TCI state corresponding to the first reference signal port.

[0205] Optionally, the processing module 902 is configured to receive the reference signal on the first reference signal resource and determine the reference signal received power (RSRP) of the reference signal; the transmitting module 903 is configured to transmit the RSRP of the reference signal to the network device.

[0206] Optionally, the receiving module 901 is further configured to receive second configuration information, the second configuration information being used to indicate that the reporting type of the reference signal is RSRP.

[0207] In one possible design, when the communication device is a terminal device or a communication module within a terminal device, the functionality of the processing module 902 can be implemented by one or more processors. Specifically, the processor may include a modem chip, or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or SIP chip containing a modem core. The functions of the receiving module 901 and the transmitting module 903 can be implemented by transceiver circuitry.

[0208] In one possible design, when the communication device is a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions in a terminal device, such as a modem chip or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or SIP chip containing a modem core, the function of the processing module 902 can be implemented by a circuit system in the aforementioned chip that includes one or more processors or processor cores. The functions of the receiving module 901 and the transmitting module 903 can be implemented by interface circuits or data transceiver circuits on the aforementioned chip.

[0209] It should be noted that the implementation of each module can also refer to the corresponding description of the method embodiment shown in Figure 6, and execute the methods and functions performed by the terminal device in the above embodiments.

[0210] Please refer to Figure 10, which is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. This communication device can implement the steps or processes executed by the network device corresponding to those described in the method embodiments above. In one possible design, the communication device may include a sending module 1001 and a receiving module 1002. Optionally, the communication device may further include a storage module for storing device program code and / or data.

[0211] The communication device can be a network-side device as described in the above embodiments, such as a network device or a communication module in a network device, or a circuit or chip in the network responsible for communication functions.

[0212] The sending module 1001 is used to send first configuration information, which is used to indicate a first reference signal resource. The first reference signal resource includes M transmission configuration indication states (TCI states), where M is an integer greater than 1.

[0213] The transmitting module 1001 is further configured to transmit a reference signal to the terminal device on the first reference signal resource, wherein the M TCI states are used to receive the reference signal.

[0214] Optionally, the first reference signal resource further includes N reference signal ports, which are used to receive the reference signal.

[0215] Optionally, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with the N masks within the same Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) group.

[0216] Optionally, the N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with the N combinations consisting of X CDM groups and Y masks, where N = X * Y, and X and Y are both integers greater than or equal to 1.

[0217] Optionally, one of the reference signal ports corresponds to at least two of the TCI states.

[0218] Optionally, M=N, and one of the reference signal ports corresponds to one of the TCI states.

[0219] Optionally, the receiving module 1002 is used to receive the reference signal received power (RSRP) of the reference signal sent by the terminal device.

[0220] Optionally, the sending module 1001 is used to send second configuration information, which indicates that the reporting type of the reference signal is RSRP.

[0221] In one possible design, when the communication device is a network device or a communication module within a network device, the functions of the transmitting module 1001 and the receiving module 1002 can be implemented by transceiver circuitry. Optionally, the communication device may also include a processing module, the functions of which can be implemented by one or more processors. Specifically, the processor may include a modem chip, or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or SIP chip containing a modem core.

[0222] In one possible design, when the communication device is a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions in a network device, such as a modem chip or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or SIP chip containing a modem core, the functions of the transmitting module 1001 and the receiving module 1002 can be implemented by the interface circuitry or data transceiver circuitry on the aforementioned chip. Optionally, the communication device may also include a processing module, the functions of which can be implemented by a circuit system in the aforementioned chip that includes one or more processors or processor cores.

[0223] It should be noted that the implementation of each module can also refer to the corresponding description of the method embodiment shown in Figure 6, and execute the methods and functions performed by the network device in the above embodiments.

[0224] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a terminal device provided in an embodiment of this application. This terminal device can be applied to the systems shown in Figures 1-3 to perform the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiments, or to implement the steps or processes executed by the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

[0225] As shown in Figure 11, the terminal device includes a processor 1101 and a transceiver 1102. The transceiver 1102 includes a transmitter 1121, a receiver 1122, and an antenna 1123. The receiver 1122 can be used to receive transmission control information through the antenna 1123, and the transmitter 1121 can be used to send transmission feedback information to the network device through the antenna 1123. Optionally, the terminal device also includes a memory 1103. The processor 1101, transceiver 1102, and memory 1103 can communicate with each other through internal connection paths to transmit control and / or data signals. The memory 1103 stores computer programs, and the processor 1101 calls and runs the computer programs from the memory 1103 to control the transceiver 1102 to transmit and receive signals. Optionally, the terminal device may also include an antenna for transmitting uplink data or uplink control signaling output by the transceiver 1102 via wireless signals.

[0226] The processor 1101 and memory 1103 can be combined into a single processing device. The processor 1101 executes the program code stored in the memory 1103 to achieve the aforementioned functions. In specific implementations, the memory 1103 can be integrated into the processor 1101 or be independent of the processor 1101. The processor 1101 can correspond to the processing module in Figure 9.

[0227] The transceiver 1102 described above can correspond to the receiving module and transmitting module in Figure 9, and can also be called a transceiver unit or transceiver module. The transceiver 1102 may include a receiver (or receiver circuit) and a transmitter (or transmitter circuit). The receiver is used to receive signals, and the transmitter is used to transmit signals.

[0228] It should be understood that the terminal device shown in Figure 11 can implement the various processes involving the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 6. The operation and / or function of each module in the terminal device are respectively for implementing the corresponding processes in the above method embodiment. For details, please refer to the description in the above method embodiment; to avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are appropriately omitted here.

[0229] The processor 1101 described above can be used to execute the actions implemented internally by the terminal device as described in the preceding method embodiments, while the transceiver 1102 can be used to execute the actions described in the preceding method embodiments of sending data to or receiving data from the network device by the terminal device. Please refer to the descriptions in the preceding method embodiments for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0230] The processor 1101 can be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of this application. The processor 1101 can also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, etc. The terminal device may also include a communication bus, which can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. The communication bus is used to realize the connection and communication between these components. In this embodiment, the transceiver 1102 is used for signaling or data communication with other node devices. The memory 1103 may include volatile memory, such as nonvolatile random access memory (NVRAM), phase change RAM (PRAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), etc., and may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory devices, such as NOR flash memory or NAND flash memory, semiconductor devices, such as solid-state disks (SSDs), etc. Optionally, the memory 1103 may also be at least one storage device located remotely from the aforementioned processor 1101. Optionally, the memory 1103 may also store a set of computer program code or configuration information. Optionally, the processor 1101 may also execute the program stored in the memory 1103. The processor can cooperate with the memory and transceiver to execute any of the methods and functions of the terminal device in the above-described embodiments.

[0231] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a network device provided in an embodiment of this application. This network device can be applied to the systems shown in Figures 1-3 to perform the functions of the network device in the above method embodiments, or to implement the steps or processes performed by the network device in the above method embodiments.

[0232] As shown in Figure 12, the network device includes a processor 1201 and a transceiver 1202. The transceiver 1202 includes a transmitter 1221, a receiver 1222, and an antenna 1223. The transmitter 1221 can be used to send transmission control information to the terminal device through the antenna 1223, and the receiver 1222 can be used to receive transmission feedback information sent by the terminal device through the antenna 1223. Optionally, the network device also includes a memory 1203. The processor 1201, transceiver 1202, and memory 1203 can communicate with each other through internal connection paths to transmit control and / or data signals. The memory 1203 is used to store computer programs, and the processor 1201 is used to call and run the computer programs from the memory 1203 to control the transceiver 1202 to transmit and receive signals. Optionally, the network device may also include an antenna for transmitting uplink data or uplink control signaling output by the transceiver 1202 via wireless signals.

[0233] The processor 1201 and the memory 1203 can be combined into a single processing device. The processor 1201 executes the program code stored in the memory 1203 to achieve the above-mentioned functions. In specific implementations, the memory 1203 can be integrated into the processor 1201 or be independent of the processor 1201.

[0234] The transceiver 1202 described above can correspond to the receiving module and transmitting module in Figure 10, and can also be called a transceiver unit or transceiver module. The transceiver 1202 may include a receiver (or receiver circuit) and a transmitter (or transmitter circuit). The receiver is used to receive signals, and the transmitter is used to transmit signals.

[0235] It should be understood that the network device shown in Figure 12 can implement the various processes involving the network device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 6. The operation and / or function of each module in the network device are respectively for implementing the corresponding processes in the above method embodiment. For details, please refer to the description in the above method embodiment; to avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are appropriately omitted here.

[0236] The processor 1201 described above can be used to execute the actions implemented internally by the network device as described in the preceding method embodiments, while the transceiver 1202 can be used to execute the actions described in the preceding method embodiments of sending data from the network device to the terminal device or receiving data from the terminal device. For details, please refer to the descriptions in the preceding method embodiments; they will not be repeated here.

[0237] The processor 1201 can be any of the processors mentioned above. The network device may also include a communication bus, which can be a PCI bus (Peripheral Component Interconnect Standard) or an EISA bus (Extended Industry Standard Architecture). The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus. The communication bus is used to enable communication between these components. In this embodiment, the transceiver 1202 is used for signaling or data communication with other devices. The memory 1203 can be any of the memory types mentioned above. Optionally, the memory 1203 can also be at least one storage device located remotely from the processor 1201. The memory 1203 stores a set of computer program code or configuration information, and the processor 1201 executes the program in the memory 1203. The processor can cooperate with the memory and transceiver to execute any of the methods and functions of the network device in the above embodiments.

[0238] This application also provides a chip system including a processor for supporting terminal devices or network devices to implement the functions involved in any of the above embodiments, such as generating or processing measurement results involved in the above methods.

[0239] In one possible design, the chip system may further include a memory for storing necessary computer programs and data for the terminal device or network device. The chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete components. The inputs and outputs of the chip system correspond to the receiving and transmitting operations of the terminal device or network device in the method embodiment, respectively.

[0240] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer program product, which includes: a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any one of the embodiments shown in FIG6.

[0241] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a computer-readable medium storing a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any one of the embodiments shown in FIG6.

[0242] According to the method provided in the embodiments of this application, this application also provides a communication system, which includes one or more terminal devices and one or more network devices as described above.

[0243] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., high-density digital video discs (DVDs)), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state disks (SSDs)).

[0244] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive first configuration information, the configuration information being used to indicate a first reference signal resource, the first reference signal resource including M Transmission Configuration Indication States (TCI states), where M is an integer greater than 1; Based on the M TCI states, the network device receives the reference signal transmitted on the first reference signal resource.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first reference signal resource further includes N reference signal ports, and the method further includes: The reference signal transmitted by the network device on the first reference signal resource is received through the N reference signal ports, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

3. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with the N masks within the same Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) group.

4. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with the N combinations consisting of X CDM groups and Y masks, where N = X * Y, and X and Y are both integers greater than or equal to 1.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, One of the reference signal ports corresponds to at least two of the TCI states.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, M=N, and one of the reference signal ports corresponds to one of the TCI states.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2-6, characterized in that, The method further includes: The reference signal corresponding to the first reference signal port is determined based on the scrambling code corresponding to the first reference signal port among the N reference signal ports; Based on the TCI state corresponding to the first reference signal port, the reference signal corresponding to the first reference signal port is received through the first reference signal port.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive the reference signal on the first reference signal resource and determine the reference signal received power (RSRP) of the reference signal; RSRP that sends the reference signal to the network device.

9. The method as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive second configuration information, which indicates that the reporting type of the reference signal is RSRP.

10. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Send first configuration information, which is used to indicate a first reference signal resource. The first reference signal resource includes M Transmission Configuration Indication States (TCI states), where M is an integer greater than 1. A reference signal is transmitted to the terminal device on the first reference signal resource, and the M TCI states are used to receive the reference signal.

11. The method as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The first reference signal resource further includes N reference signal ports, which are used to receive the reference signal.

12. The method as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with the N masks within the same Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) group.

13. The method as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The N reference signal ports correspond one-to-one with the N combinations consisting of X CDM groups and Y masks, where N = X * Y, and X and Y are both integers greater than or equal to 1.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that, One of the reference signal ports corresponds to at least two of the TCI states.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that, M=N, and one of the reference signal ports corresponds to one of the TCI states.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10-15, characterized in that, The method further includes: The reference signal received power (RSRP) for receiving the reference signal sent by the terminal device.

17. The method as described in claim 16, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send second configuration information, which indicates that the reporting type of the reference signal is RSRP.

18. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes a memory and a processor, the memory being used to store a computer program, and the processor running the computer program to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1-9.

19. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes a memory and a processor, the memory being used to store a computer program, and the processor running the computer program to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 10-17.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, causes the method of any one of claims 1-9 or any one of claims 10-17 to be implemented.

21. A chip, characterized in that, The chip includes a processor and a communication interface, the communication interface being used to communicate with external or internal devices, and the processor being used to implement the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-9 or any one of claims 10-17.

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