Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, which are used for reducing the power consumption of a terminal device. The method may comprise: receiving a first signal, and determining, on the basis of the first signal, whether to receive and / or send a first channel. On the basis of the above method, a terminal device may determine, on the basis of a first signal, whether to receive and / or send a first channel, such that the first channel may not be received and / or may not be sent in some cases, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] Cross Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202410865540.X, filed on June 28, 2024, and entitled "A communication method and apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[0004] With the development of communication technology, the power consumption of network devices and terminal devices is becoming more and more prominent. For example, before the network device and the terminal device perform data transmission, the network device will send data scheduling information, such as a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), to the terminal device. In order to avoid missing the scheduling information, the terminal device needs to frequently detect the PDCCH according to the configuration of the network device. The behavior of the terminal device frequently detecting the PDCCH will cause the terminal device to have high power consumption. At present, the research on power consumption saving of terminal devices is becoming more and more common, and the detailed optimization scheme for reducing the power consumption of terminal devices has become the research direction of the industry. SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus to reduce the power consumption of a terminal device.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus can be a terminal device, or can be a component (such as a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit, or a functional module, etc.) in the terminal device. The method can include receiving a first signal, and determining whether to receive and / or transmit a first channel based on the first signal.

[0007] Based on the above-mentioned communication method, the terminal device can determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the first signal. In this way, the terminal device can not receive and / or transmit the first channel in some cases, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0008] In one possible design, based on the first signal, determining whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel can be: determining whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on a parameter associated with the first signal. In this way, whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel can be flexibly and accurately determined based on the parameter associated with the first signal, while signaling overhead can be saved.

[0009] In a possible design, the parameter associated with the first signal includes one or more of the following: a sequence of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDCCH, a sequence type, a sequence initialization manner, a sequence initialization value, a sequence initialization formula, a scrambling ID associated with the sequence initialization formula, a scrambling sequence, a scrambling sequence ID, resource mapping, resource mapping manner, an associated beam, an associated transmisson configuration indicator (TCI), an associated large-scale parameter, and an associated control resource set (CORESET).

[0010] In a possible design, the parameter associated with the first signal can be predefined, preconfigured, or signaled.

[0011] In a possible design, the method of determining whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the first signal can be: determining whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on a resource of the first signal. In this way, whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel can be flexibly and accurately determined based on the resource of the first signal, and signaling overhead can be saved.

[0012] In a possible design, the resource of the first signal includes one or more of the following: a frequency domain resource, a time domain resource, a code domain resource, or a space domain resource. In this way, whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel can be flexibly determined through multiple resources.

[0013] In a possible design, the method of determining whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the resource of the first signal can be: when the resource of the first signal is a first resource, receiving and / or transmitting the first channel; and when the resource of the first signal is a second resource, not receiving and / or not transmitting the first channel. In this way, whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel can be accurately determined through different resources of the first signal, so as to reduce power consumption of the terminal device, and without introducing additional signaling, signaling overhead can be reduced.

[0014] In a possible design, the first resource is a first subcarrier group, and the second resource is a second subcarrier group. In this way, whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel can be determined through a frequency domain resource of the first signal.

[0015] In one possible design, the first subcarrier group includes a first subcarrier, a fifth subcarrier, and a ninth subcarrier in each of one or more resource blocks (RBs), and the second subcarrier group includes a second subcarrier, a sixth subcarrier, and a tenth subcarrier in the RBs. This can enable the determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the locations of the subcarriers in which the first signal is located.

[0016] In one possible design, the first resource is a first code and the second resource is a second code. The first code and the second code can be orthogonal codes or non-orthogonal codes. This can enable the determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the codes used by the first signal.

[0017] In one possible design, the non-orthogonal code can be a non-orthogonal multiple access (NoMA) code, a sparse code multiple access (SCMA) code, a pattern division multiple access (PDMA) code, a multiple user shared access (MUSA) code, an interleave division multiple access (IDMA) code, etc.

[0018] In one possible design, the first resource is a first orthogonal cover code and the second resource is a second orthogonal cover code. This can enable the determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the orthogonal cover codes used by the first signal.

[0019] In one possible design, the first resource is a first spatial precoding and the second resource is a second spatial precoding. This can enable the determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the spatial precoding used by the first signal.

[0020] In one possible design, the first resource is a first antenna and the second resource is a second antenna. This can enable the determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the antenna(s) used by the first signal.

[0021] In one possible design, the first resource is a first antenna port and the second resource is a second antenna port. This can enable the determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the antenna port(s) used by the first signal.

[0022] In one possible design, the first signal is used for demodulation of the first channel.

[0023] In a possible design, the first channel is a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the first signal is a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDCCH. In this way, the receiving power consumption of the PDCCH can be saved, and thus the power consumption of the terminal device can be reduced.

[0024] In a possible design, the first channel is a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and the first signal is a DMRS of the PDSCH. In this way, the receiving power consumption of the PDSCH can be saved, and thus the power consumption of the terminal device can be reduced.

[0025] In a possible design, the first channel is a PDCCH, and the first signal is a DMRS of the PDSCH. In this way, the receiving power consumption of the PDCCH can be saved, and thus the power consumption of the terminal device can be reduced.

[0026] In a possible design, the first channel is a PDSCH, and the first signal is a DMRS of the PDCCH. In this way, the receiving power consumption of the PDSCH can be saved, and thus the power consumption of the terminal device can be reduced.

[0027] In one possible design, the first signal includes one or more of a DMRS, a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a synchronizing signal (SS), a synchronizing signal block (SSB), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a positioning reference signal (PRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a sensing signal, a random access preamble, an on-off keying (OOK) sequence, a pseudo-random sequence (such as a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence), an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signal, a derivative of an OFDM signal, an orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS) signal, or a linear frequency modulation (LFM) signal, etc. This can enable flexible determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel via various signals.

[0028] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be applied to a communication apparatus, which can be a network device or a component (e.g., a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit, or a functional module) in a network device. The method can include: transmitting a first signal; receiving and / or transmitting a first channel when the first signal is located in a first resource; and not receiving and / or not transmitting the first channel when the first signal is located in a second resource.

[0029] Based on the above communication method, the network device can determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the first signal, so that the terminal device determines whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the first signal. This can enable the terminal device to not receive and / or not transmit the first channel in some cases, thereby reducing power consumption of the terminal device.

[0030] In one possible design, any of the first resource and the second resource includes one or more of a frequency domain resource, a time domain resource, a code domain resource, or a spatial domain resource. This can enable flexible determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel via various resources.

[0031] In one possible design, the first resource is a first subcarrier group, and the second resource is a second subcarrier group. This can enable the determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the frequency domain resource of the first signal.

[0032] In one possible design, the first subcarrier group includes a first subcarrier, a fifth subcarrier, and a ninth subcarrier in each of one or more resource blocks (RBs), and the second subcarrier group includes a second subcarrier, a sixth subcarrier, and a tenth subcarrier in the RBs. This can enable the determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the location of the subcarriers where the first signal is located.

[0033] In one possible design, the first resource is a first code, and the second resource is a second code. The first code and the second code can be orthogonal codes or non-orthogonal codes. This can enable the determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the code used by the first signal.

[0034] In one possible design, the non-orthogonal code can be a non-orthogonal multiple access (NoMA) code, a sparse code multiple access (SCMA) code, a pattern division multiple access (PDMA) code, a multiple user shared access (MUSA) code, an interleave division multiple access (IDMA) code, etc.

[0035] In one possible design, the first resource is a first orthogonal cover code, and the second resource is a second orthogonal cover code. This can enable the determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the orthogonal cover code used by the first signal.

[0036] In one possible design, the first resource is a first spatial precoding, and the second resource is a second spatial precoding. This can enable the determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the spatial precoding used by the first signal.

[0037] In one possible design, the first resource is a first antenna, and the second resource is a second antenna. This can enable the determination of whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the antenna used for transmission of the first signal.

[0038] In a possible design, the first resource is a first antenna port, and the second resource is a second antenna port. In this way, whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel can be determined through the antenna port of the first signal transmission.

[0039] In a possible design, the first channel is a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the first signal is a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDCCH. In this way, the receiving power consumption of the PDCCH can be saved, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0040] In a possible design, the first channel is a physical downlink share channel (PDSCH), and the first signal is a DMRS of the PDSCH. In this way, the receiving power consumption of the PDSCH can be saved, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0041] In a possible design, the first channel is a PDCCH, and the first signal is a DMRS of the PDSCH. In this way, the receiving power consumption of the PDCCH can be saved, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0042] In a possible design, the first channel is a PDSCH, and the first signal is a DMRS of the PDCCH. In this way, the receiving power consumption of the PDSCH can be saved, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0043] In a possible design, the first signal is used for demodulation of the first channel.

[0044] In a possible design, the first signal includes one or more of the following: a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a synchronization signal, a synchronization signal block (SSB), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a positioning reference signal (PRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), or a sensing signal. In this way, whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel can be flexibly determined through various signals.

[0045] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be applied to a communication apparatus, which can be a terminal device or a component (e.g., a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit, or a functional module) in a terminal device. The method can include: detecting a first signal; receiving and / or transmitting a first channel when the first signal is detected; and not receiving and / or transmitting the first channel when the first signal is not detected.

[0046] Based on the above communication method, the terminal device can determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on whether the first signal is detected, so that the first channel can not be received and / or transmitted in some cases, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0047] In one possible design, the first signal is detected, and the method can include detecting the first signal at the first resource. This can determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting the first signal at the first resource, without introducing additional signaling, which can reduce signaling overhead.

[0048] In one possible design, the first resource can include one or more of a frequency domain resource, a time domain resource, a code domain resource, or a space domain resource. This can flexibly determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by using multiple resources.

[0049] In one possible design, the first resource is a first subcarrier group. This can determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting the first signal at the first subcarrier group.

[0050] In one possible design, the first subcarrier group includes a first subcarrier, a fifth subcarrier, and a ninth subcarrier in each of one or more resource blocks (RBs). This can determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting the first signal at the first subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, and the ninth subcarrier in the one or more RBs.

[0051] In one possible design, the first resource is a first code. The first code can be an orthogonal code or a non-orthogonal code. This can determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting the first signal at the first code.

[0052] In one possible design, the non-orthogonal code can be a non-orthogonal multiple access (NoMA) code, a sparse code multiple access (SCMA) code, a pattern division multiple access (PDMA) code, a multiple user shared access (MUSA) code, an interleave division multiple access (IDMA) code, or the like.

[0053] In one possible design, the first resource is a first orthogonal cover code. In this case, it can be determined whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting whether the first signal is detected on the first orthogonal cover code.

[0054] In one possible design, the first resource is a first spatial precoding. In this case, it can be determined whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting whether the first signal is detected on the first spatial precoding.

[0055] In one possible design, the first resource is a first antenna. In this case, it can be determined whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting whether the first signal is detected on the first antenna.

[0056] In one possible design, the first resource is a first antenna port. In this case, it can be determined whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting whether the first signal is detected on the first antenna port.

[0057] In one possible design, the first channel is a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and the first signal is a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDCCH. In this case, power consumption for receiving the PDCCH can be saved, which can reduce power consumption of the terminal device.

[0058] In one possible design, the first channel is a physical downlink share channel (PDSCH) and the first signal is a DMRS of the PDSCH. In this case, power consumption for receiving the PDSCH can be saved, which can reduce power consumption of the terminal device.

[0059] In one possible design, the first channel is a PDCCH and the first signal is a DMRS of the PDSCH. In this case, power consumption for receiving the PDCCH can be saved, which can reduce power consumption of the terminal device.

[0060] In one possible design, the first channel is a PDSCH and the first signal is a DMRS of the PDCCH. In this case, power consumption for receiving the PDSCH can be saved, which can reduce power consumption of the terminal device.

[0061] In one possible design, the first signal is used for demodulation of the first channel.

[0062] In one possible design, the first signal includes one or more of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a synchronization signal, a synchronization signal block (SSB), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a positioning reference signal (PRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), or a sensing signal. In this case, it can be determined whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting a variety of signals.

[0063] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a communication device. The communication device can be a network device or a component (e.g., a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit, or a functional module) in the network device. The method can include: transmitting a first signal, the first signal being located in a first resource; and receiving and / or transmitting a first channel.

[0064] Based on the above communication method, when the network device transmits the first signal based on the first resource, the network device receives and / or transmits the first channel, so that the terminal device can determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on whether the first signal is detected in the first resource. In this way, the terminal device can not receive and / or transmit the first channel in some cases, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0065] In a possible design, the first resource includes one or more of the following: a frequency domain resource, a time domain resource, a code domain resource, or a space domain resource. In this way, the first signal can be flexibly transmitted through various resources, so that the terminal device can flexibly detect whether there is the first signal in the various resources.

[0066] In a possible design, the first resource is a first subcarrier group. In this way, the terminal device can determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on whether the first signal is detected in the first subcarrier group.

[0067] In a possible design, the first subcarrier group includes a first subcarrier, a fifth subcarrier, and a ninth subcarrier in each of one or more resource blocks (RBs). In this way, the terminal device can determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on whether the first signal is detected in the first subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, and the ninth subcarrier in the one or more RBs.

[0068] In a possible design, the first resource is a first code. The first code can be an orthogonal code or a non-orthogonal code. In this way, the terminal device can determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on whether the first signal is detected in the first code.

[0069] In one possible design, the non-orthogonal code can be a non-orthogonal multiple access (NoMA) code, a sparse code multiple access (SCMA) code, a pattern division multiple access (PDMA) code, a multiple user shared access (MUSA) code, an interleave division multiple access (IDMA) code, etc.

[0070] In one possible design, the first resource can be a first orthogonal cover code. This can enable the terminal device to determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting whether the first signal is detected at the first orthogonal cover code.

[0071] In one possible design, the first resource can be a first spatial precoding. This can enable the terminal device to determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting whether the first signal is detected at the first spatial precoding.

[0072] In one possible design, the first resource can be a first antenna. This can enable the terminal device to determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting whether the first signal is detected at the first antenna.

[0073] In one possible design, the first resource can be a first antenna port. This can enable the terminal device to determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting whether the first signal is detected at the first antenna port.

[0074] In one possible design, the first channel can be a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and the first signal can be a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDCCH. This can save power consumption for receiving the PDCCH, and thus reduce power consumption of the terminal device.

[0075] In one possible design, the first channel can be a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and the first signal can be a DMRS of the PDSCH. This can save power consumption for receiving the PDSCH, and thus reduce power consumption of the terminal device.

[0076] In one possible design, the first channel can be a PDCCH and the first signal can be a DMRS of the PDSCH. This can save power consumption for receiving the PDCCH, and thus reduce power consumption of the terminal device.

[0077] In a possible design, the first channel is a PDSCH, and the first signal is a DMRS of a PDCCH. In this way, the receiving power consumption of the PDSCH can be saved, and thus the power consumption of the terminal device can be reduced.

[0078] In a possible design, the first signal is used for demodulation of the first channel.

[0079] In a possible design, the first signal includes one or more of the following: a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a synchronization signal, a synchronization signal block (SSB), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a positioning reference signal (PRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), or a sensing signal. In this way, the terminal device can flexibly determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel by detecting various signals.

[0080] In a fifth aspect, the present application also provides a communication apparatus, which can be a terminal device, or can be a component (for example, a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit, or a functional module, etc.) in a terminal device. The communication apparatus has a function of implementing the method in the first aspect or in each possible design example of the first aspect, or in the third aspect or in each possible design example of the third aspect. The function can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0081] In a possible design, the communication apparatus can include a processing unit, and optionally, a transceiving unit, which can perform the functions of the method in the first aspect or in each possible design example of the first aspect, or in the third aspect or in each possible design example of the third aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0082] In a possible design, the communication apparatus includes one or more processors, and optionally, a memory and / or a transceiver, where the transceiver is configured to transceive data, messages, information, etc., and to communicate with other devices in a system, and the processor is configured to support the communication apparatus to perform corresponding functions in the first aspect or in each possible design example of the first aspect, or in the third aspect or in each possible design example of the third aspect. The memory is coupled to the processor, and stores necessary program instructions and data of the communication apparatus.

[0083] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can be a network device, or can be a component (e.g., a processor, a chip, a chip system, a circuit, or a functional module, etc.) in a network device. The communication apparatus has the function of implementing the method in the second aspect or in any of the possible design examples of the second aspect, or in the fourth aspect or in any of the possible design examples of the fourth aspect. The function can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0084] In a possible design, the communication apparatus can include a processing unit, and optionally, a transceiver unit. The units can perform the functions of the method in the second aspect or in any of the possible design examples of the second aspect, or in the fourth aspect or in any of the possible design examples of the fourth aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0085] In a possible design, the communication apparatus can include one or more processors, and optionally, a memory and / or a transceiver. The transceiver can be configured to receive and / or transmit data, messages, information, and the like, and to perform communication interaction with other devices in a system. The processor can be configured to support the communication apparatus to perform the corresponding functions in the second aspect or in any of the possible design examples of the second aspect, or in the fourth aspect or in any of the possible design examples of the fourth aspect. The memory is coupled to the processor, and stores program instructions and data necessary for the communication apparatus.

[0086] In a seventh aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication system, which can include a network device and a terminal device. The terminal device can be configured to implement the method in the first aspect or in any of the possible design examples of the first aspect, and the network device can be configured to implement the method in the second aspect or in any of the possible design examples of the second aspect. Alternatively, the terminal device can be configured to implement the method in the third aspect or in any of the possible design examples of the third aspect, and the network device can be configured to implement the method in the fourth aspect or in any of the possible design examples of the fourth aspect.

[0087] In an eighth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions is provided. The program instructions, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of the first aspect and its possible designs, or the second aspect and its possible designs, or the third aspect and its possible designs, or the fourth aspect and its possible designs. Illustratively, the computer-readable storage medium can be any available media that can be accessed by the computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable storage media can comprise non-transitory computer-readable media, random-access memories (RAM), read-only memories (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by the computer.

[0088] In a ninth aspect, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed on a computer, the method of the first aspect or any of the possible designs of the first aspect, or the second aspect or any of the possible designs of the second aspect, or the third aspect or any of the possible designs of the third aspect, or the fourth aspect or any of the possible designs of the fourth aspect is performed.

[0089] In a tenth aspect, a chip or chip system is provided. The chip or chip system includes one or more processors coupled with at least one memory for reading and executing program instructions stored in the memory, so that the chip or chip system implements the method of the first aspect or any of the possible designs of the first aspect, or the second aspect or any of the possible designs of the second aspect, or the third aspect or any of the possible designs of the third aspect, or the fourth aspect or any of the possible designs of the fourth aspect.

[0090] The above-mentioned aspects of the fifth aspect to the tenth aspect and the technical effects that can be achieved by the aspects are described above with respect to the first aspect or the various possible designs of the first aspect, or the second aspect or the various possible designs of the second aspect, or the third aspect or the various possible designs of the third aspect, or the fourth aspect or the various possible designs of the fourth aspect, and thus will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0091] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system provided by the present disclosure;

[0092] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an O-RAN system provided by the present application;

[0093] Fig. 3 is a network element function division and protocol layer structure diagram of an O-RAN device provided by the present application;

[0094] Fig. 4 is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by the present application;

[0095] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of DMRS transmission of a PDCCH provided by the present application;

[0096] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of DMRS transmission of another PDCCH provided by the present application;

[0097] Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of DMRS transmission of another PDCCH provided by the present application;

[0098] Fig. 8 is a flow diagram of another communication method provided by the present application;

[0099] Fig. 9 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0100] Fig. 10 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided by the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0101] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device to reduce the power consumption of a terminal device. The method and device described in the present application are based on the same technical concept. Since the principles of the method and device for solving problems are similar, the implementation of the device and the method can be mutually referred to, and the repeated parts will not be described again.

[0102] In the description of the present application, the words "first", "second", etc. are only used for the purpose of distinguishing the description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor indicating or implying order.

[0103] In the description of the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and more means two or more. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions means any combination of these items, including any combination of single or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0104] In the description of the present application, the association relationship between the associated objects is described by “and / or”, which means that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and / or B, which can represent the following three cases: A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. “ / ” represents “or”, for example, a / b represents a or b.

[0105] To more clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the communication method and device provided by the embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0106] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), wireless local area network (WLAN), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, 4th generation (4G) mobile communication system (such as long term evolution (LTE) system), 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system (such as new radio (NR) system), and future communication network.

[0107] For example, FIG. 1 shows a possible architecture of a communication system to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 10 can include a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. Optionally, the communication system 10 can also include an Internet 300.

[0108] The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (such as 110a and 110b in FIG. 1, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal device (such as 120a-120j in FIG. 1, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 can also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in FIG. 1), etc. The terminal devices 120 are connected to the RAN nodes 110 in a wireless manner. The RAN nodes 110 are connected to the core network 200 in a wireless or wired manner. The core network devices in the core network 200 and the RAN nodes 110 in the RAN 100 can be different physical devices respectively, or can be the same physical device integrated with the logical functions of the core network and the logical functions of the radio access network.

[0109] The RAN 100 can be a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) related cellular system, e.g., a 4G, 5G mobile communication system, or a future-oriented communication system. The RAN 100 can also be an open radio access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a WiFi system. The RAN 100 can also be a communication system that combines two or more of the above systems.

[0110] The RAN nodes 110, which can also be referred to as RAN entities or access nodes, etc., form part of the communication system 100 and are configured to facilitate wireless access to the communication system 100 for terminal devices. The RAN nodes 110 in the communication system 100 can be of the same type or of different types. In some scenarios, the roles of the RAN nodes 110 and the terminal devices 120 are relative, e.g., the network element 120i in Figure 1 can be a helicopter or a drone, which can be configured to be a mobile base station, for those terminal devices 120j that access the RAN 100 via the network element 120i, the network element 120i is a base station; but for the base station 110a, the network element 120i is a terminal device. The RAN nodes 110 and the terminal devices 120 are sometimes referred to as communication apparatuses, e.g., the network elements 110a and 110b in Figure 1 can be understood as communication apparatuses with base station functionalities, and the network elements 120a-120j can be understood as communication apparatuses with terminal device functionalities.

[0111] The RAN nodes can also be referred to as network devices. In the following, the network devices are used for description, unless stated otherwise.

[0112] In a possible scenario, the network device can also be referred to as an access network device, which can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, and the like. The access network device can be a macro base station (such as 110a in FIG. 1), a micro base station or an indoor station (such as 110b in FIG. 1), a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, the access network device can also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or a vehicle-mounted device, and the like. For example, the access network device in vehicle to everything (V2X) technology can be a road side unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the access network device in this application can also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform). The access network device in this application can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the access network device.

[0113] In another possible scenario, multiple access network devices cooperate to assist a terminal device to implement wireless access, and different access network devices respectively implement part of the functions of a base station. For example, the access network device can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), and the like. The CU and the DU can be separately arranged, or can be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna processing unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0114] The CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU can also have different names in different systems, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an ORAN system, the CU can also be referred to as an open CU (O-CU), the DU can also be referred to as an open DU (O-DU), the CU-CP can also be referred to as an open CU-CP (O-CU-CP), the CU-UP can also be referred to as an open CU-UP (O-CU-UP), and the RU can also be referred to as an open RU (O-RU). Any of the CUs (or CU-CPs, CU-UPs), DUs and RUs in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0115] The terminal device can also be referred to as a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a mobile terminal, etc. The terminal device can be widely applied in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, remote medical treatment, smart power grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal device can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a wearable device, a vehicle, a drone, a helicopter, an airplane, a ship, a robot, a mechanical arm, a smart home device, etc. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the device form of the terminal device.

[0116] In some scenarios, the network device can send a downlink signal to the terminal device, and the terminal device can send an uplink signal to the network device. In addition, the network devices can also communicate with each other, and the terminal devices can also communicate with each other.

[0117] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an O-RAN system. It should be understood that the O-RAN system can also include other components than those shown in FIG. 2, which are not limited herein. As shown in FIG. 2, an access network device can communicate with a core network (CN) through a backhaul and can communicate with a terminal device through an air interface. For example, the access network device can include a baseband unit (BBU) and a radio unit (RU). The BBU can communicate with the core network through a backhaul, and the RU can communicate with the terminal device through an air interface. The BBU can communicate with the RU through a fronthaul, and the BBU and the RU can be co-located or not co-located. The BBU can include at least one CU and at least one DU, and the CU and the DU can communicate through at least one midhaul.

[0118] FIG. 3 shows a network element function division and protocol layer structure diagram of an O-RAN device. In some examples, the CU is a logical node that carries the radio resource control (RRC) layer, the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and other control functions of the access network device. The CU is connected to network nodes such as the core network through some interfaces, which can be E2 interfaces or the like. Optionally, the CU can have part of the functions of the core network. The CU (e.g., the PDCP layer and higher layers) is connected to the DU (e.g., the RLC layer and lower layers) through some interfaces, which can be F1 interfaces or the like. In some examples, these interfaces (e.g., the F1 interface) can provide control plane (C-Plane) and user plane (U-Plane) functions (e.g., interface management, system information management, UE context management, RRC message transmission, etc.). The F1AP is an application protocol of the F1 interface, which defines the signaling procedures of the F1 in some examples. The F1 interface supports the control plane F1 (F1-C) and the user plane F1 (F1-U).

[0119] In some examples, a CU can be split into a CU-CP and a CU-UP, where the CU-CP is a logical node carrying an RRC layer and a PDCP-C (control plane part of PDCP) layer, for implementing control plane functions of the CU. The CU-CP can interact with a network element in a core network for implementing control plane functions. The network element in the core network for implementing control plane functions can be an access and mobility function network element, such as an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element in a 5G system. The AMF network element is configured to be responsible for mobility management in a mobile network, such as location updating of a terminal device, registration of the terminal device to a network, handover of the terminal device, and the like. The CU-UP is a logical node carrying an SDAP layer and a PDCP-U (user plane part of PDCP) layer, for implementing user plane functions of the CU. The CU-UP can interact with a network element in a core network for implementing user plane functions. The network element in the core network for implementing user plane functions, such as a user plane function (UPF) in a 5G system, is configured to be responsible for forwarding and receiving data in a terminal device.

[0120] The above configuration of the CU and the DU is merely an example, and the CU and the DU can be configured to have other functions according to requirements. For example, the CU or the DU can be configured to have more protocol layer functions, or the CU or the DU can be configured to have partial processing functions of the protocol layers. For example, partial functions of a radio link control (RLC) layer and functions of protocol layers above the RLC layer can be configured in the CU, and remaining functions of the RLC layer and functions of protocol layers below the RLC layer can be configured in the DU. For another example, the functions of the CU or the DU can be divided according to service types or other system requirements. For example, functions that need to meet a relatively low latency requirement in processing time can be configured in the DU, and functions that do not need to meet the latency requirement can be configured in the CU.

[0121] In some examples, the DU is a logical node carrying an RLC layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, a higher physical layer (Higher PHY), and other functions. In some examples, the DU can control at least one RU. The DU is connected to the RU through some interfaces, which can be front-haul interfaces. In some examples, the Higher PHY layer includes a part of PHY layer processing, such as forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation and demodulation, and the like.

[0122] In some examples, an RU is a logical node that hosts lower physical layer (Lower PHY) and radio frequency (RF) processing. In some examples, an RU can be a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) transmission reception point (TRP) or a remote radio head (RRH) or other similar functional entity. In some examples, the Lower PHY includes portions of PHY processing such as fast fourier transform (FFT), inverse fast Fourier transformation (IFFT), digital beamforming and filtering, and other processing functions. An RU communicates with one or more UEs over a wireless link.

[0123] A DU and an RU can or can not be co-located. A DU and an RU exchange control plane information and user plane information over a fronthaul link via a lower-ayer split-control, user and synchronization (LLS-CUS) interface. The LLS-CUS can include a LLS-C interface and a LLS-U interface that provide a control plane (C-Plane) and a user plane (U-Plane), respectively. In some examples, the control plane (C-Plane) refers to real-time control between a DU and an RU. A DU and an RU have a LLS-M interface of the fronthaul link to exchange management information, and the management plane (M-Plane) refers to non-real-time management operations between the DU and the RU.

[0124] A DU and an RU can cooperate to collectively implement the functionality of a PHY layer. A DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functionality that a DU and an RU have can be configured in a number of ways depending on the design. For example, a DU is configured to implement baseband functionality and an RU is configured to implement mid- RF functionality. As another example, a DU is configured to implement high layer functionality in a PHY layer and an RU is configured to implement low layer functionality in the PHY layer or to implement the low layer functionality and RF functionality. The high layer functionality in the PHY layer can include a portion of the functionality of the PHY layer that is closer to the MAC layer, and the low layer functionality in the PHY layer can include another portion of the functionality of the PHY layer that is closer to the mid-RF side.

[0125] The communication system described in the embodiments of the present application is for more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art can know that, with the evolution of network architecture and the appearance of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0126] At present, the research on power consumption saving of terminal devices is more and more common, and the detailed optimization scheme for reducing the power consumption of terminal devices has become the research direction in the industry. The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which can flexibly reduce the power consumption of terminal devices.

[0127] In the following embodiments, the communication method provided by the present application is described in detail taking terminal devices and network devices as examples. It should be understood that the operations performed by the terminal devices can also be implemented by the processors, or chips or chip systems, or functional modules, etc. in the terminal devices. The operations performed by the network devices can also be implemented by the processors, or chips or chip systems, or functional modules, etc. in the network devices, and the present application does not make any limitation in this regard.

[0128] Based on the above description, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be referred to FIG. 4. The flow of the method can include:

[0129] Step 401: The terminal device receives a first signal. Correspondingly, the network device transmits the first signal.

[0130] The first signal can include one or more of the following: a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a synchronizing signal (SS), a synchronizing signal block (SSB), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a positioning reference signal (PRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a random access preamble, a sensing signal, an on-off keying (OOK) sequence, a pseudo-random sequence (such as a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence), an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signal, a derivative of the OFDM signal, an orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS) signal, or a linear frequency modulation (LFM) signal, and the like.

[0131] Optionally, the DMRS can be a DMRS of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a DMRS of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), or a DMRS of other channels, and the like. The other channels can include a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), a random access channel (RACH), a channel for sensing, a channel for artificial intelligence (AI), and the like.

[0132] In some embodiments, a channel can also be understood as a kind of signal, and a signal can also be understood as a channel.

[0133] Step 402: The terminal device determines, based on the first signal, whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel.

[0134] It can be understood that the terminal device determines whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the first signal, which can be understood as one or more of the following cases:

[0135] The terminal device determines to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the first signal.

[0136] The terminal device determines not to receive and / or not to transmit the first channel based on the first signal.

[0137] The terminal device receives and / or transmits the first channel based on the first signal.

[0138] The terminal device does not receive and / or does not transmit the first channel based on the first signal.

[0139] The terminal device receives and / or transmits the first channel based on the presence of the first signal.

[0140] The terminal device does not receive and / or does not transmit the first channel based on the absence of the first signal.

[0141] The terminal device does not receive and / or does not transmit the first channel based on the presence of the first signal.

[0142] The terminal device receives and / or transmits the first channel based on the absence of the first signal.

[0143] In some embodiments, when the terminal device determines to receive and / or transmit the first channel, step 403 can be performed: the terminal device receives and / or transmits the first channel. It should be understood that when the terminal device receives and / or transmits the first channel based on the first signal, step 403 can be directly performed, and in this case, step 402 can not need to be performed, which is not limited in the present application.

[0144] The first signal can be used for demodulation of the first channel, etc. Alternatively, the first signal can be used for modulation of the first channel, etc.

[0145] The first channel can be a control channel or a data channel, etc.

[0146] For example, the first channel can be a PDCCH, and correspondingly, the first signal can be a DMRS of the PDCCH. For another example, the first channel can be a PDSCH, and the first signal can be a DMRS of the PDSCH. For another example, the first channel can be a PDCCH, and the first signal can be a DMRS of the PDSCH. For another example, the first channel can be a PDSCH, and the first signal can be a DMRS of the PDCCH.

[0147] For example, the first channel can be a PUSCH, and the first signal can be a DMRS of the PUSCH. For another example, the first channel can be a PUCCH, and the first signal can be a DMRS of the PUCCH. For another example, the first channel can be a RACH channel, and the first signal can be a random access signal.

[0148] In some embodiments, the first signal can be an uplink signal, and the first channel can be a downlink channel, for example, the first signal can be a DMRS of a PUCCH, and the first channel can be a PDSCH. Alternatively, the first signal can be a downlink signal, and the first channel can be an uplink channel, for example, the first signal can be a DMRS of a PDCCH, and the first channel can be a PUSCH.

[0149] It should be understood that the first channel and the first signal are only examples and do not limit the present application.

[0150] In some embodiments, receiving the first channel can also be described as one or more of the following: demodulating the first channel, decoding the first channel, deciphering the first channel, detecting the first channel, de-interleaving the first channel, blindly detecting the first channel, blindly detecting the first channel at a control channel element (CCE) granularity, or other descriptions.

[0151] In some embodiments, transmitting the first channel can also be described as one or more of the following: modulating the first channel, encoding the first channel, interleaving the first channel, or other descriptions.

[0152] In an optional implementation, the terminal device determines whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the first signal. In this case, the method can be: the terminal device determines whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on a resource of the first signal.

[0153] The resource of the first signal can also be understood as information of the first signal, parameters of the first signal, or a state of the first signal. The present application only takes the resource of the first signal as an example and does not limit the present application.

[0154] In one possible way, the terminal device determines whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the resource of the first signal. In this case, the method can be: when the resource of the first signal is a first resource, the terminal device determines to receive and / or transmit the first channel; and when the resource of the first signal is a second resource, the terminal device determines not to receive and / or transmit the first channel.

[0155] The terminal device determines to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the resource of the first signal. Alternatively, when the terminal device detects that the first signal exists in the first resource, the terminal device determines to receive and / or transmit the first channel.

[0156] The terminal device determines not to receive and / or not to transmit the first channel based on the resource of the first signal. Alternatively, when the terminal device detects that the first signal exists in the second resource, the terminal device determines not to receive and / or not to transmit the first channel.

[0157] In yet another possible way, the terminal device determines whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the resource of the first signal. The method can be that: when the resource of the first signal is the first resource, the terminal device receives and / or transmits the first channel; and when the resource of the first signal is the second resource, the terminal device does not receive and / or does not transmit the first channel.

[0158] The terminal device determines to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the resource of the first signal. Alternatively, when the terminal device detects that the first signal exists in the first resource, the terminal device receives and / or transmits the first channel.

[0159] The terminal device determines not to receive and / or not to transmit the first channel based on the resource of the first signal. Alternatively, when the terminal device detects that the first signal exists in the second resource, the terminal device does not receive and / or does not transmit the first channel.

[0160] Correspondingly, when the first signal is located in the first resource, the network device can receive and / or transmit the first channel; and when the first signal is located in the second resource, the network device does not receive and / or does not transmit the first channel.

[0161] For example, when the terminal device determines whether to receive and / or the first channel based on the parameter of the first signal, it can be that: when the parameter of the first signal is a first value, the terminal device determines to receive and / or send the first channel; when the parameter of the first signal is a second value, the terminal device determines not to receive and / or not to send the first channel. Or, when the parameter of the first signal is a first value, the terminal device receives and / or sends the first channel; when the parameter of the first signal is a second value, the terminal device does not receive and / or does not send the first channel. Or, when the parameter of the first signal is a first parameter, the terminal device determines to receive and / or send the first channel; when the parameter of the first signal is a second parameter, the terminal device determines not to receive and / or not to send the first channel. Or, when the parameter of the first signal is a first parameter, the terminal device receives and / or sends the first channel; when the parameter of the first signal is a second parameter, the terminal device does not receive and / or does not send the first channel.

[0162] Correspondingly, when the parameter of the first signal is a first value, the network device receives and / or sends the first channel; when the parameter of the first signal is a second value, the network device does not receive and / or does not send the first channel. Or, when the parameter of the first signal is a first parameter, the network device receives and / or sends the first channel; when the parameter of the first signal is a second parameter, the network device does not receive and / or does not send the first channel.

[0163] It should be understood that the terminal device determines whether to receive and / or the first channel based on the state of the first signal, and the same applies here.

[0164] By determining whether to receive and / or the first channel based on the resource of the first signal, the terminal device can flexibly and accurately determine whether to receive and / or send the first channel based on different resources of the first signal, without introducing additional signaling, thereby saving signaling overhead. For example, when the first channel is a PDCCH and the first signal is a DMRS of the PDCCH, when the DMRS is located at a first resource, the terminal device can receive the PDCCH, and when the DMRS is located at a second resource, the terminal device can not receive the PDCCH. In this way, when the DMRS is located at the second resource, the receiving power consumption of the PDCCH can be saved, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0165] In some embodiments, the resource of the first signal can include one or more of the following: a frequency domain resource, a time domain resource, a code domain resource, or a space domain resource.

[0166] In an example, the first resource can be a first subcarrier group, and the second resource can be a second subcarrier group.

[0167] It can be understood that the first subcarrier group can also be understood as first frequency domain position information, and the first frequency domain position information can be understood as a first value of a parameter of the first parameter or the first signal; the second subcarrier group can also be understood as second frequency domain position information, and the second frequency domain position information can be understood as a second value of a parameter of the second parameter or the first signal.

[0168] Optionally, the first subcarrier group can include one or more subcarriers in one or more resource blocks (RBs) determined according to the first offset value; and the second subcarrier group can include one or more subcarriers in the RBs determined according to the second offset value.

[0169] The first offset value and the second offset value can be different. The first offset value and the second offset value can be used to determine the starting positions of the one or more subcarriers in one RB.

[0170] For example, the first offset value can be 2 subcarriers, and the second offset value can be 3 subcarriers. Assuming that one RB includes 12 subcarriers from low to high frequency, i.e., subcarrier 0-subcarrier 11, the first subcarrier group can include subcarrier 0, subcarrier 3 and subcarrier 6, and the second subcarrier group can include subcarrier 1, subcarrier 5 and subcarrier 9. It should be understood that the above example is only an example, and the first offset value, the second offset value, and the first subcarrier group and the second subcarrier group can also have other possible cases, which are not limited in the present application.

[0171] Optionally, the first subcarrier group can include the first subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier and the ninth subcarrier in each of one or more RBs; and the second subcarrier group can include the second subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the RBs.

[0172] The first subcarrier, the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier, the ninth subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier are arranged from low to high frequency in the RB.

[0173] For example, taking the first channel as PDCCH and the first signal as the DMRS of PDCCH as an example. As shown in FIG. 5, subcarriers 0, 4 and 8 are the first, fifth and ninth subcarriers in the RB, i.e., the subcarriers 0, 4 and 8 belong to the first subcarrier group. Subcarriers 1, 5 and 9 are the second, sixth and tenth subcarriers in the RB, i.e., the subcarriers 1, 5 and 9 belong to the second subcarrier group. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, when the DMRS is located at the subcarriers 0, 4 and 8 in the RB, it can be understood that the PDCCH carries scheduling information, the terminal device needs to decode the PDCCH and subsequently receive data scheduled by the PDCCH. When the DMRS is located at the subcarriers 1, 5 and 9 in the RB, it can be understood that the PDCCH does not carry scheduling information, or that the PDCCH does not exist, the terminal device does not need to decode the PDCCH and does not need to receive the PDCCH. Based on the above, the terminal device only decodes the first PDCCH in the four PDCCHs shown in FIG. 5, and the last three PDCCHs do not need to be decoded, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0174] It should be noted that the first subcarrier group includes the first, fifth and ninth subcarriers in each of one or more RBs, and the second subcarrier group includes the second, sixth and tenth subcarriers in the RB. The examples shown in FIG. 5 are only for illustration. It should be understood that the first subcarrier group can also include the second, sixth and tenth subcarriers in each of one or more RBs, and the second subcarrier group includes the first, fifth and ninth subcarriers in each of one or more RBs. Taking FIG. 5 as an example, when the DMRS is located at the subcarriers 0, 4 and 8 in the RB, it can be understood that the PDCCH does not carry scheduling information, or that the PDCCH does not exist, the terminal device does not need to decode the PDCCH and does not need to receive the PDCCH. Subsequently, the terminal device receives data scheduled by the PDCCH. When the DMRS is located at the subcarriers 1, 5 and 9 in the RB, it can be understood that the PDCCH carries scheduling information, the terminal device needs to decode the PDCCH and subsequently receive data scheduled by the PDCCH. The present application does not limit this.

[0175] It can be understood that, in addition to the above two cases, there can be a plurality of other cases, for example, the first subcarrier group can include the third subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in each of one or more RBs; the second subcarrier group can include the second subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the RB. For another example, the first subcarrier group can include the second subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the RB; the second subcarrier group can include the third subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the RB. Of course, there can be more possible examples of the first subcarrier group and the second subcarrier group, which are not listed one by one here.

[0176] It should be understood that the above one subcarrier group is only exemplified by including three subcarriers, and in implementation, one subcarrier group can also include more or less subcarriers than three subcarriers, which is not limited in the present application.

[0177] In another example, the first resource can be a first code, and the second resource can be a second code.

[0178] The first code and the second code can be orthogonal codes or non-orthogonal codes.

[0179] For example, the non-orthogonal code can be a non-orthogonal multiple access (NoMA) code, a sparse code multiple access (SCMA) code, a pattern division multiple access (PDMA) code, a multiple user shared access (MUSA) code, an interleave division multiple access (IDMA) code, etc.

[0180] For example, the first resource can be a first orthogonal cover code, and the second resource can be a second orthogonal cover code.

[0181] The first orthogonal cover code can also be described as a first orthogonal code, and the second orthogonal cover code can also be described as a second orthogonal code.

[0182] The first orthogonal cover code can also be understood as a first value of a parameter of a first signal or a parameter, and the second orthogonal cover code can also be understood as a second value of a second parameter or a parameter of the first signal.

[0183] Alternatively, the first orthogonal cover code can also be understood as first code domain information, and the first code domain information can be understood as a first value of a first parameter or a parameter of the first signal; the second orthogonal cover code can also be understood as second code domain information, and the second code domain information can be understood as a second value of a second parameter or a parameter of the first signal.

[0184] For example, still taking the first channel as PDCCH and the first signal as DMRS of PDCCH as an example. As shown in FIG. 6, assuming that the first orthogonal cover code is orthogonal cover code + and the second orthogonal cover code is orthogonal cover code -, when the code domain where DMRS is located is orthogonal cover code +, it can be understood that the PDCCH carries scheduling information, and the terminal device needs to decode the PDCCH and subsequently receive data scheduled by the PDCCH. When the code domain where DMRS is located is orthogonal cover code -, it can be understood that the PDCCH does not carry scheduling information, or it can be understood that the PDCCH does not exist, and the terminal device does not need to decode the PDCCH and does not need to receive the PDCCH. Based on the above, the four PDCCHs shown in FIG. 6, the terminal device decodes the first PDCCH and the fourth PDCCH, and the middle two PDCCHs do not need to be decoded, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0185] It should be noted that the first orthogonal cover code can also be orthogonal cover code -, and the second orthogonal cover code can also be orthogonal cover code +, that is, when the code domain where DMRS is located is orthogonal cover code -, it can be understood that the PDCCH carries scheduling information, and the terminal device needs to decode the PDCCH and subsequently receive data scheduled by the PDCCH. When the code domain where DMRS is located is orthogonal cover code +, it can be understood that the PDCCH does not carry scheduling information, or it can be understood that the PDCCH does not exist, and the terminal device does not need to decode the PDCCH and does not need to receive the PDCCH.

[0186] It should be understood that orthogonal cover code + and orthogonal cover code - are only exemplary descriptions, and other descriptions such as orthogonal cover code 1 and orthogonal cover code 2 can also be used, and the present application does not limit this.

[0187] For another example, the first resource can be a first spatial precoding, and the second resource can be a second spatial precoding.

[0188] Optionally, the spatial precoding can be determined based on the first signal, and the first signal can be transmitted based on the spatial precoding.

[0189] The first spatial precoding can also be understood as a first value of a first parameter or a parameter of the first signal; and the second spatial precoding can also be understood as a second value of a second parameter or a parameter of the first signal.

[0190] Alternatively, the first spatial precoding can also be understood as first spatial domain information, and the first spatial domain information can be understood as a first value of a first parameter or a parameter of the first signal; the second spatial precoding can also be understood as second spatial domain information, and the second spatial domain information can be understood as a second value of a second parameter or a parameter of the first signal.

[0191] In yet another example, the first resource can be a first antenna, and the second resource can be a second antenna.

[0192] In yet another example, the first resource can be a first antenna port, and the second resource can be a second antenna port.

[0193] The first antenna port can also be understood as first antenna port information, and the first antenna port information can be understood as a first value of a first parameter or a parameter of the first signal; the second antenna port can also be understood as second antenna port information, and the second antenna port information can be understood as a second value of a second parameter or a parameter of the first signal.

[0194] For example, still taking the first channel as PDCCH and the first signal as the DMRS of PDCCH as an example. As shown in FIG. 7, assuming that the first antenna port is port 1 and the second antenna port is port 0, when the DMRS is located at port 1 (which can also be understood as the DMRS being transmitted through port 1), it can be understood that the PDCCH carries scheduling information, and the terminal device needs to decode the PDCCH and subsequently receive data scheduled by the PDCCH. When the DMRS is located at port 0 (which can also be understood as the DMRS being transmitted through port 0), it can be understood that the PDCCH does not carry scheduling information, or that the PDCCH does not exist, and the terminal device does not need to transmit information to the baseband, and the terminal device does not need to decode the PDCCH and does not need to receive the PDCCH. Based on the above, the terminal device decodes the first PDCCH, and the third PDCCH does not need to be decoded, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0195] In an optional implementation, the terminal device can determine the transmission port of the DMRS by performing energy detection on port 0 and port 1. For example, when it is detected that the energy at port 0 satisfies a first threshold, the terminal device can determine that the DMRS is transmitted at port 0, and it can be understood that the PDCCH does not carry scheduling information, and there is no need to transmit information to the baseband, which can also save serial port transmission and baseband power consumption, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device. When it is detected that the energy at port 1 satisfies the first threshold, the terminal device can determine that the DMRS is transmitted at port 1, and it can be understood that the PDCCH carries scheduling information, and information needs to be transmitted to the baseband, and the terminal device needs to decode the PDCCH and subsequently receive data scheduled by the PDCCH.

[0196] It should be noted that the first antenna port can be port 0 and the second antenna port can be port 1, that is, when the DMRS is located at port 0 (or can be understood as the DMRS is transmitted through port 0), it can be understood that the PDCCH carries scheduling information, and the terminal device needs to decode the PDCCH and subsequently receive the data scheduled by the PDCCH. When the DMRS is located at port 1 (or can be understood as the DMRS is transmitted through port 1), it can be understood that the PDCCH does not carry scheduling information, or it can be understood that the PDCCH does not exist, and the terminal device does not need to transmit information to the baseband, and the terminal device does not need to decode the PDCCH and does not need to receive the PDCCH.

[0197] It should be understood that port 0 and port 1 are only exemplary descriptions, and other descriptions can also be used, which are not limited in the present application.

[0198] In addition to the aforementioned resources or parameters of the first signal, the resources or parameters of the first signal can also include one or more of the following: a detection period, a number of CCEs, or an aggregation level (AL), etc.

[0199] For example, the first resource can be a first detection period, and the second resource can be a second detection period. For another example, the first resource can be a first number of CCEs, and the second resource can be a second number of CCEs. For another example, the first resource can be a first AL, and the second resource can be a second AL.

[0200] In some embodiments, the resources of the first signal or the parameters of the first signal (or can also be understood as the parameters associated with the first signal) can also include one or more of the following: a sequence of the DMRS of the PDCCH, a sequence type, a sequence initialization method, a sequence initialization value, a sequence initialization formula, a scrambling identification (ID) associated with the sequence initialization formula, a scrambling sequence, a scrambling sequence ID, a resource mapping, a resource mapping method, an associated beam, an associated transmission configuration indicator (TCI), an associated large-scale parameter, an associated CORESET, etc.

[0201] Optionally, the resources of the first signal or the parameters of the first signal can be predefined, preconfigured, or signaled.

[0202] Based on the above communication method, the terminal device can determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the first signal, so that the first channel can not be received and / or transmitted in some cases, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0203] Based on the above description, another communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be referred to FIG. 8. The flow of the method can include:

[0204] Step 801: The terminal device detects a first signal.

[0205] The description of the first signal can be referred to the related description of the first signal in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, which will not be repeated here.

[0206] In an optional implementation, the terminal device can detect the first signal in a first resource.

[0207] For example, the first resource can include one or more of the following: frequency domain resource, time domain resource, code domain resource or space domain resource. Alternatively, it can also include one or more of the following: detection period, number of CCEs or aggregation level (AL) and the like. Alternatively, it can also include one or more of the following: sequence of DMRS of PDCCH, sequence type, sequence initialization method, sequence initialization value, sequence initialization formula, scrambling identification (ID) associated with the sequence initialization formula, scrambling sequence, scrambling sequence ID, resource mapping, resource mapping method, associated beam, associated transmission configuration indicator (TCI), associated large-scale parameter, associated control resource set (CORESET) and the like.

[0208] The first resource can also be described as a first parameter or the like. The description of the first resource can be referred to the related description of the first resource in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, which will not be repeated here.

[0209] Step 802: When the first signal is detected, the terminal device receives and / or transmits a first channel.

[0210] When the first signal is detected, the terminal device receives and / or transmits the first channel, which can also be understood as: when the first signal exists, the terminal device receives and / or transmits the first channel.

[0211] Correspondingly, the network device transmits the first signal and receives and / or transmits the first channel, wherein the first signal transmitted by the network device is located in the first resource, which can also be understood as that the network device transmits the first signal based on the first resource.

[0212] For example, the related description of the first channel can be referred to the related description of the first channel in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, which will not be repeated here.

[0213] Step 803: When the first signal is not detected, the terminal device does not receive and / or transmit the first channel.

[0214] When the first signal is not detected, the terminal device does not receive and / or does not send the first channel. It can also be understood that when the first signal does not exist, the terminal device does not receive and / or does not send the first channel.

[0215] Correspondingly, the network device does not send the first signal, and does not receive and / or does not send the first channel.

[0216] It should be understood that the order of steps 802 and 803 is not limited in the present application, and steps 802 and 803 exist alternatively.

[0217] Based on the above communication method, the terminal device can determine whether to receive and / or send the first channel based on whether the first signal is detected, so that the first channel can not be received and / or sent in some cases, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0218] Based on the above embodiments, the present application further provides a communication device. Referring to FIG. 9, the communication device 900 can include a transceiver unit 901 and a processing unit 902. The transceiver unit 901 is configured to perform communication, such as receiving information (message or data) or sending information (message or data), and the processing unit 902 is configured to control and manage the actions of the communication device 900. The processing unit 902 can also control the steps performed by the transceiver unit 901.

[0219] For example, the communication device 900 can be a terminal device, a processor of the terminal device, a chip, a chip system, or a functional module in the above embodiments. Alternatively, the communication device 900 can be a network device, a processor of the network device, a chip, a chip system, or a functional module in the above embodiments.

[0220] In one embodiment, when the communication device 900 is used to realize the functions of the terminal device in the above embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the transceiver unit 901 is configured to receive the first signal, and the processing unit 902 is configured to determine whether to receive and / or send the first channel based on the first signal.

[0221] In an optional embodiment, when the processing unit 902 determines whether to receive and / or send the first channel based on the first signal, the processing unit 902 can be configured to determine whether to receive and / or send the first channel based on the resource of the first signal.

[0222] Optionally, the resource of the first signal includes one or more of the following: frequency domain resource, time domain resource, code domain resource, or space domain resource.

[0223] In some embodiments, the processing unit 902 can be configured to determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the resource of the first signal, and when the resource of the first signal is a first resource, determine to receive and / or transmit the first channel, and when the resource of the first signal is a second resource, determine not to receive and / or transmit the first channel.

[0224] In one example, the first resource is a first subcarrier group, and the second resource is a second subcarrier group.

[0225] Optionally, the first subcarrier group includes a first subcarrier, a fifth subcarrier and a ninth subcarrier in each of one or more resource blocks (RBs), and the second subcarrier group includes a second subcarrier, a sixth subcarrier and a tenth subcarrier in the RBs.

[0226] In another example, the first resource is a first orthogonal cover code, and the second resource is a second orthogonal cover code.

[0227] In yet another example, the first resource is a first antenna port, and the second resource is a second antenna port.

[0228] In some possible manners, the first channel is a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the first signal is a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDCCH.

[0229] In some embodiments, the first signal is used for demodulation of the first channel.

[0230] In some possible implementations, the first signal includes one or more of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a synchronization signal, a synchronization signal block (SSB), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a positioning reference signal (PRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), or a sensing signal.

[0231] In another embodiment, when the communication apparatus 900 is configured to implement the functions of the network device in the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the transceiver 901 is configured to transmit a first signal, and when the first signal is located at a first resource, receive and / or transmit a first channel, and when the first signal is located at a second resource, not receive and / or transmit the first channel. The processing unit 902 is configured to control the operation of the transceiver 901.

[0232] Optionally, any one of the first resource and the second resource includes one or more of a frequency domain resource, a time domain resource, a code domain resource, or a space domain resource.

[0233] In one example, the first resource is a first subcarrier group, and the second resource is a second subcarrier group.

[0234] Optionally, the first subcarrier group comprises a first subcarrier, a fifth subcarrier and a ninth subcarrier in each of one or more resource blocks (RBs); and the second subcarrier group comprises a second subcarrier, a sixth subcarrier and a tenth subcarrier in the RBs.

[0235] In another example, the first resource is a first orthogonal cover code, and the second resource is a second orthogonal cover code.

[0236] In yet another example, the first resource is a first antenna port, and the second resource is a second antenna port.

[0237] In some embodiments, the first channel is a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the first signal is a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDCCH.

[0238] In some embodiments, the first signal is used for demodulation of the first channel.

[0239] In an example, the first signal comprises one or more of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a synchronization signal, a synchronization signal block (SSB), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a positioning reference signal (PRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), or a sensing signal.

[0240] In another embodiment, when the communication apparatus 900 is configured to implement the functions of the terminal device in the above-described embodiment of FIG. 8, the processing unit 902 is configured to detect the first signal; and the transceiver unit 901 is configured to: receive and / or transmit the first channel when the processing unit 902 detects the first signal; and not receive and / or transmit the first channel when the processing unit 902 does not detect the first signal.

[0241] In an optional implementation, the processing unit 902, when detecting the first signal, is configured to detect the first signal at a first resource.

[0242] Optionally, the first resource comprises one or more of a frequency domain resource, a time domain resource, a code domain resource, or a space domain resource.

[0243] In an example, the first resource is a first subcarrier group.

[0244] Optionally, the first subcarrier group comprises a first subcarrier, a fifth subcarrier and a ninth subcarrier in each of one or more resource blocks (RBs).

[0245] In another example, the first resource is a first orthogonal cover code.

[0246] In yet another example, the first resource is a first antenna port.

[0247] In some embodiments, the first channel is a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and the first signal is a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDCCH.

[0248] In some embodiments, the first signal is used for demodulation of the first channel.

[0249] In some possible implementations, the first signal comprises one or more of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a synchronization signal, a synchronization signal block (SSB), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a positioning reference signal (PRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), or a sensing signal.

[0250] In another embodiment, when the communication apparatus 900 is configured to implement the functions of the network device in the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the transceiver 901 is configured to transmit a first signal, the first signal being located at a first resource, and receive and / or transmit a first channel. The processor 902 can be configured to control the operation of the transceiver 901.

[0251] Optionally, the first resource comprises one or more of a frequency domain resource, a time domain resource, a code domain resource, or a spatial domain resource.

[0252] In one example, the first resource is a first group of subcarriers.

[0253] Optionally, the first group of subcarriers comprises a first subcarrier, a fifth subcarrier, and a ninth subcarrier in each of one or more resource blocks (RBs).

[0254] In another example, the first resource is a first orthogonal cover code.

[0255] In yet another example, the first resource is a first antenna port.

[0256] In one optional implementation, the first channel is a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and the first signal is a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDCCH.

[0257] In some embodiments, the first signal is used for demodulation of the first channel.

[0258] In some embodiments, the first signal comprises one or more of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a synchronization signal, a synchronization signal block (SSB), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a positioning reference signal (PRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), or a sensing signal.

[0259] It should be noted that the division of the unit in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative, and is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, another division manner can be used. The function units in the embodiments of the present application can be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit can be physically present separately, or two or more units can be integrated in one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of a software function unit.

[0260] When the integrated unit is realized in the form of a software function unit and sold or used as an independent product, the integrated unit can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the present application essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or the whole or part of the technical solutions can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0261] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application also provide a communication device. Referring to FIG. 10, the communication device 1000 can include one or more processors 1002. Optionally, the communication device 1000 can also include one or more transceivers 1001. Optionally, the communication device 1000 can also include at least one memory 1003. The memory 1003 can be arranged inside the communication device 1000, or arranged outside the communication device 1000. The processor 1002 can control the transceiver 1001 to receive and send information, messages, or data.

[0262] Specifically, the processor 1002 can be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), or a combination thereof. The processor 1002 can further include a hardware chip. The hardware chip can be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The PLD can be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof.

[0263] The transceiver 1001, the processor 1002, and the memory 1003 are connected to each other. Optionally, the transceiver 1001, the processor 1002, and the memory 1003 are connected to each other through a bus 1004. The bus 1004 can be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, etc. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, only one thick line is used in FIG. 10, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0264] In an optional implementation, the memory 1003 is configured to store programs, etc. Specifically, the programs can include program codes including computer operation instructions. The memory 1003 can include a RAM, and can also include a non-volatile memory such as one or more disk memories. The processor 1002 executes the application programs stored in the memory 1003 to implement the above functions, thereby implementing the functions of the communication apparatus 1000.

[0265] Exemplarily, the communication apparatus 1000 can specifically implement the functions of the network device or the terminal device in the above embodiments.

[0266] In one embodiment, the communication apparatus 1000, when realizing the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4, the transceiver 1001 can realize the transceiving operations performed by the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4; the processor 1002 can realize the operations other than the transceiving operations performed by the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4. For specific descriptions, refer to the related descriptions in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4, which will not be described in detail here.

[0267] In another embodiment, the communication apparatus 1000, when realizing the functions of the network device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4, the processor 1002 can realize the operations performed by the network device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4. For specific descriptions, refer to the related descriptions in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4, which will not be described in detail here.

[0268] In another embodiment, the communication apparatus 1000, when realizing the functions of the network device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4, the transceiver 1001 can realize the transceiving operations performed by the network device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4; the processor 1002 can realize the operations other than the transceiving operations performed by the network device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4. For specific descriptions, refer to the related descriptions in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4, which will not be described in detail here.

[0269] In another embodiment, the communication apparatus 1000, when realizing the functions of the network device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4, the processor 1002 can realize the operations performed by the network device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4. For specific descriptions, refer to the related descriptions in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 4, which will not be described in detail here.

[0270] In another embodiment, the communication apparatus 1000, when realizing the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8, the transceiver 1001 can realize the transceiving operations performed by the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8; the processor 1002 can realize the operations other than the transceiving operations performed by the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8. For specific descriptions, refer to the related descriptions in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8, which will not be described in detail here.

[0271] In another embodiment, the communication apparatus 1000, when realizing the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8, the processor 1002 can realize the operations performed by the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8. For specific descriptions, refer to the related descriptions in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8, which will not be described in detail here.

[0272] In another embodiment, when the communication apparatus 1000 implements the functions of the network device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8, the transceiver 1001 can implement the transceiving operations performed by the network device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8; and the processor 1002 can implement the operations other than the transceiving operations performed by the network device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8. For specific details, refer to the related descriptions in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8, which will not be described in detail here.

[0273] In another embodiment, when the communication apparatus 1000 implements the functions of the network device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8, the processor 1002 can implement the operations performed by the network device in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8. For specific details, refer to the related descriptions in the method embodiments shown in the foregoing FIG. 8, which will not be described in detail here.

[0274] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication system, which can include the network device and the terminal device and the like involved in the above embodiments.

[0275] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer readable storage medium for storing a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a computer, can implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiments.

[0276] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product for storing a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a computer, can implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiments.

[0277] The embodiments of the present application further provide a chip or chip system, which includes a logic circuit for executing the communication method provided by the above method embodiments.

[0278] The embodiments of the present application further provide a chip or chip system, which includes one or more processors coupled with at least one memory, for invoking the program in the memory to make the chip or chip system implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiments.

[0279] The embodiments of the present application further provide a chip or chip system, which is coupled with at least one memory, and is used to implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiments.

[0280] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present application can be readily used as software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. In a software embodiment, various software modules in accordance with embodiments of the present application are stored in a memory such as a computer memory or disk storage for use by, or in connection with, the software on the computer system. The software can provide for programs to be transferred to another computer readable medium (e.g., a removable medium, or a medium conveyed through a computer network) for use in a different system.

[0281] The present application is described in reference to the flow diagrams and / or block diagrams of the methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to this application. It will be understood that each block of the flow diagrams and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flow diagrams and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flow diagrams and / or block diagrams block or blocks.

[0282] These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function specified in the flow diagrams and / or block diagrams block or blocks.

[0283] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flow diagrams and / or block diagrams block or blocks.

[0284] Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present application are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the application can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Receive the first signal; Based on the first signal, determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first channel is the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), and the first signal is the demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDCCH.

3. The method as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first signal is used for demodulation of the first channel.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Based on the first signal, determining whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel includes: Based on the resources of the first signal, determine whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel.

5. The method as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The resources of the first signal include one or more of the following: frequency domain resources, time domain resources, code domain resources, or spatial domain resources.

6. The method as described in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, Determining whether to receive and / or transmit the first channel based on the resources of the first signal includes: When the resource of the first signal is the first resource, receive and / or transmit the first channel; When the resource of the first signal is the second resource, the first channel is not received and / or not transmitted.

7. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The first resource is a first subcarrier group, and the second resource is a second subcarrier group.

8. The method as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The first subcarrier group includes the first, fifth, and ninth subcarriers within each of one or more resource blocks (RBs); the second subcarrier group includes the second, sixth, and tenth subcarriers within the RBs.

9. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The first resource is a first orthogonal overlay code, and the second resource is a second orthogonal overlay code.

10. The method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The first resource is the first antenna port, and the second resource is the second antenna port.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The first signal includes one or more of the following: demodulation reference signal DMRS, channel state information reference signal CSI-RS, synchronization signal, synchronization signal block SSB, tracking reference signal TRS, positioning reference signal PRS, detection reference signal SRS, or sensing signal.

12. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Send the first signal; When the first signal is located at the first resource, the first channel is received and / or transmitted; When the first signal is located at the second resource, the first channel is not received and / or not transmitted.

13. The method as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The first channel is the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), and the first signal is the demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PDCCH.

14. The method as described in claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The first signal is used for demodulation of the first channel.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12-14, characterized in that, The first resource and the second resource include one or more of the following: frequency domain resources, time domain resources, code domain resources, or spatial domain resources.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12-15, characterized in that, The first resource is a first subcarrier group, and the second resource is a second subcarrier group.

17. The method as described in claim 16, characterized in that, The first subcarrier group includes the first, fifth, and ninth subcarriers within each of one or more resource blocks (RBs); the second subcarrier group includes the second, sixth, and tenth subcarriers within the RBs.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12-15, characterized in that, The first resource is a first orthogonal overlay code, and the second resource is a second orthogonal overlay code.

19. The method according to any one of claims 12-15, characterized in that, The first resource is the first antenna port, and the second resource is the second antenna port.

20. The method according to any one of claims 12-19, characterized in that, The first signal includes one or more of the following: demodulation reference signal DMRS, channel state information reference signal CSI-RS, synchronization signal, synchronization signal block SSB, tracking reference signal TRS, positioning reference signal PRS, detection reference signal SRS, or sensing signal.

21. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes units or modules for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-11, or includes units or modules for performing the method as described in any one of claims 12-20.

22. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a processor for executing computer programs or instructions to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-11, or to implement the method as described in any one of claims 12-20.

23. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions that, when executed by a communication device, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-11, or the method as described in any one of claims 12-20.

24. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes a computer program or instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the method as described in any one of claims 1-11 or the method as described in any one of claims 12-20 to be implemented.

25. A chip or chip system, characterized in that, The chip or chip system includes a processor configured to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-11, or to perform the method as described in any one of claims 12-20.

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