Communication method, communication apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

A communication method, a communication apparatus, and a computer-readable storage medium, capable of being applied in NTN communications, so as to avoid an overlap between uplink transmission and downlink reception in the time domain, thereby improving transmission performance in a half-duplex mode. The method may comprise: when it is determined on the basis of a TA used for uplink transmission that uplink transmission overlaps downlink reception in the time domain, on the basis of the relationship between the priority of uplink transmission and the priority of downlink reception, sending uplink information on an uplink transmission resource and canceling the reception of downlink information on a downlink reception resource, or receiving downlink information on the downlink reception resource and canceling the transmission of uplink information on the uplink transmission resource. The uplink transmission resource and the downlink reception resource can be dynamically scheduled, so as to improve transmission performance in the half-duplex mode in dynamic scheduling scenarios; and the uplink transmission resource and the downlink reception resource can also be semi-statically configured, so as to improve transmission performance in the half-duplex mode in semi-static configuration scenarios.

Description

Communication methods, communication devices and computer-readable storage media

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410964519.5, filed on July 17, 2024, entitled "Communication Method, Communication Apparatus and Computer-Readable Storage Medium", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, specifically to a communication method, a communication device, and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0003] Half-duplex (HD) mode can reduce the cost of terminal equipment. In HD mode, the terminal equipment cannot send uplink data while receiving downlink data, and vice versa. Terrestrial networks (TN) communication support HD mode and employ collision resolution to avoid overlap between uplink and downlink transmissions in the time domain.

[0004] Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) communication, such as satellite communication, also support HD mode. However, in NTN communication, the resources used by terminal devices for uplink transmission and downlink reception may overlap in the time domain, and the collision resolution method used in TN communication cannot solve this overlap problem. Therefore, how to solve this overlap problem in NTN communication is currently a hot research topic. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method, a communication device, and a computer-readable storage medium. In NTN communication, the overlap of uplink transmission and downlink reception in the time domain can be avoided, thereby improving the transmission performance in half-duplex mode.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication method applicable to terminal devices in NTN communication. That is, the method can be executed by the terminal device or by a device compatible with the terminal device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system. The method may include: in response to determining that a first resource and a second resource overlap in the time domain based on a first timing advance (TA), and based on the high-low relationship between the priority of uplink transmission and the priority of downlink reception, transmitting uplink information on the first resource and canceling the reception of downlink information on the second resource, or receiving downlink information on the second resource and canceling the transmission of uplink information on the first resource; wherein the first resource is an uplink transmission resource, the second resource is a downlink reception resource, and the first TA is the TA used for uplink transmission.

[0007] Cancel receiving downlink information on the second resource, i.e., do not receive downlink information on the second resource. Cancel sending uplink information on the first resource, i.e., do not send uplink information on the first resource.

[0008] As can be seen, when the uplink transmission resources and downlink reception resources overlap in the time domain based on the TA used for uplink transmission, and according to the aforementioned high / low relationship, uplink information is sent on the uplink transmission resources while downlink information reception is canceled on the downlink reception resources, meaning only uplink transmission is performed without downlink reception; or downlink information is received on the downlink reception resources while uplink information transmission is canceled on the uplink transmission resources, meaning only downlink reception is performed without uplink transmission. This avoids overlap between uplink transmission and downlink reception in the time domain, which is beneficial for improving transmission performance in half-duplex mode.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a first radio resource control (RRC) signaling and / or a second RRC signaling; the first RRC signaling is used to indicate the priority of uplink transmission, and the second RRC signaling is used to indicate the priority of downlink reception. Thus, the terminal device can transmit uplink information on uplink transmission resources or receive downlink information on downlink reception resources based on the priorities of uplink transmission and / or downlink transmission.

[0010] In another possible implementation, the method further includes receiving first downlink control information (DCI) and / or second DCI; the first DCI indicates the priority of uplink transmission, and the second DCI indicates the priority of downlink reception. Thus, the terminal device can transmit uplink information on uplink transmission resources or receive downlink information on downlink reception resources based on the priorities of uplink transmission and / or downlink transmission.

[0011] In one possible implementation, when the DCI indicates priority, the method further includes: receiving a third RRC signaling and / or a fourth RRC signaling, wherein the third RRC signaling is used to indicate whether the first DCI indicates the priority of uplink transmission, and the fourth RRC signaling is used to indicate whether the second DCI indicates the priority of downlink reception. If the first DCI indicates the priority of uplink transmission, the priority of uplink transmission can be further indicated via the first DCI; if the second DCI indicates the priority of downlink reception, the priority of downlink reception can be further indicated via the second DCI. If the first DCI indicates the priority of uplink transmission, but the second DCI indicates the priority of downlink reception, the terminal device may consider the priority of uplink transmission to be higher than the priority of downlink reception, or the terminal device may determine the relationship between the priority of uplink transmission and the priority of downlink reception based on the priority indicated by the first DCI. If the second DCI is enabled to indicate the priority of downlink reception, and the first DCI is not enabled to indicate the priority of uplink transmission, the terminal device may assume that the priority of downlink reception is higher than the priority of uplink transmission, or the terminal device may determine the relationship between the priority of uplink transmission and the priority of downlink reception based on the priority indicated by the second DCI.

[0012] In one possible implementation, when the second resource includes a preset time window for system information blocks (SIBs), the method further includes: in response to determining that the first resource overlaps with the preset time window for SIB19 based on the first TA, receiving SIB19 within the preset time window for SIB19. That is, when the uplink transmission resource overlaps with the preset time window for SIB19, SIB19 is received within the preset time window for SIB19, and uplink information transmission on the first resource is cancelled. In this case, even if the priority of uplink transmission is higher than the priority of downlink reception, SIB19 is received within the preset time window for SIB19 to ensure that the terminal device can receive SIB19.

[0013] Optionally, the SIB19 preset time window is the last SIB19 transmission time window within the SIB19 validity period, in order to save resources or reduce unnecessary cancellation of uplink transmissions.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the first and second resources are dynamically scheduled resources, thereby avoiding the overlap of uplink transmission and downlink reception in the time domain in the scenario of dynamically scheduled resources.

[0015] In another possible implementation, the first and second resources are semi-statically configured resources, thereby avoiding overlap in the time domain between uplink transmission and downlink reception in the scenario of semi-statically configured resources.

[0016] In one possible implementation, in response to the uplink transmission having a higher priority than the downlink reception, uplink information is transmitted on the first resource and downlink information reception on the second resource is cancelled; or, in response to the uplink transmission having a lower priority than the downlink reception, downlink information is received on the second resource and uplink information transmission on the first resource is cancelled; or, in response to the uplink transmission having the same priority as the downlink reception, downlink information is received on the second resource and uplink information transmission on the first resource is cancelled, or uplink information is transmitted on the first resource and downlink information reception on the second resource is cancelled.

[0017] In one possible implementation, for uplink transmission with the same priority as downlink reception, in response to the downlink reception's hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback state being disabled, downlink information is received on the second resource and uplink information transmission on the first resource is cancelled; or, in response to the downlink reception's HARQ feedback state being enabled, downlink information is received on the second resource and uplink information transmission on the first resource is cancelled, or uplink information is transmitted on the first resource and downlink information reception on the second resource is cancelled. The HARQ feedback state for downlink reception, whether disabled or enabled, can be indicated by RRC signaling.

[0018] In one possible implementation, when the uplink information is a sounding reference signal (SRS) and the first and second resources overlap in the time domain, downlink information is received on the second resource, and SRS is transmitted on a portion of the first resource that does not overlap with the second resource. In other words, for uplink transmission involving SRS transmission, if the first and second resources overlap in the time domain, SRS transmission on the overlapping resource is cancelled, and SRS is transmitted on the non-overlapping resource, while downlink information is received on the second resource, thus reducing the impact on uplink channel measurements.

[0019] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method applicable to network devices, which can be satellites or base stations in NTN communication. That is, the method can be executed by the network device or by a device compatible with the network device, such as a processor, chip, or chip system. The method may include: sending a first signaling and / or a second signaling, where the first signaling indicates the priority of uplink transmission and the second signaling indicates the priority of downlink reception; the high / low relationship between the uplink transmission priority and the downlink reception priority is used by the terminal device in response to determining, based on a first TA, that a first resource and a second resource overlap in the time domain, and based on this high / low relationship, sending uplink information on the first resource and canceling the reception of downlink information on the second resource, or receiving downlink information on the second resource and canceling the sending of uplink information on the first resource; the first resource is an uplink transmission resource; the second resource is a downlink reception resource; and the first TA is the TA used for the uplink transmission.

[0020] It is evident that by indicating the priority of uplink transmission and / or downlink reception through signaling, the terminal device can cancel uplink transmission or downlink reception based on the priority relationship when it determines that the resources for uplink transmission and downlink reception overlap in the time domain, thus avoiding conflicts between uplink transmission and downlink reception in the time domain, thereby improving the transmission performance in half-duplex mode.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the first signaling is a first RRC signaling, and the second signaling is a second RRC signaling. That is, the priority of uplink transmission and / or downlink reception is indicated by the RRC signaling.

[0022] In another possible implementation, the first signaling is the first DCI, and the second signaling is the second DCI. That is, the priority of uplink transmission and / or downlink reception is indicated by the DCI.

[0023] In one possible implementation, for the DCI indicating the priority of uplink transmission and / or downlink reception, the above method further includes: sending a third RRC and / or a fourth RRC signaling, wherein the third RRC signaling is used to indicate whether the first DCI is enabled to indicate the priority of uplink transmission, and the fourth RRC signaling is used to indicate whether the second DCI is enabled to indicate the priority of downlink reception.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a second TA (Transmission TA), which is a reported TA; and in response to the second TA, sending a third DCI (Digital Channel Interchange) and a fourth DCI (Digital Channel Interchange), wherein the third DCI indicates uplink transmission resources and the fourth DCI indicates downlink reception resources. The second TA is the TA reported by the terminal device to the network device, and the network device dynamically schedules uplink transmission resources and downlink reception resources for the terminal device based on the second TA and through the DCIs. The third and fourth DCIs may be sent simultaneously or not simultaneously; for example, the third DCI may be sent first and then the fourth DCI, or vice versa.

[0025] In another possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a second TA (Transmission Targeting), which is a reporting TA; and responding to the second TA by sending a fifth RRC (Redirect Reception Control) signaling message and a sixth RRC signaling message. The fifth RRC signaling message is used to configure uplink transmission resources, and the sixth RRC signaling message is used to configure downlink reception resources. The second TA is the TA reported by the terminal device to the network device. Based on the second TA, the network device semi-statically configures the uplink transmission resources and downlink reception resources for the terminal device using the RRC signaling message. The fifth and sixth RRC signaling messages may be sent simultaneously or not simultaneously; for example, the fifth RRC signaling message may be sent first, followed by the sixth RRC signaling message, or vice versa.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the downlink received resources include a SIB19 preset time window, and the method further includes: transmitting SIB19 within the SIB19 preset time window. Thus, when the uplink transmitted resources overlap with the SIB19 preset time window, the terminal device receives SIB19 within the SIB19 preset time window.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the method further includes sending a seventh RRC signaling message, which indicates whether HARQ feedback for downlink reception is enabled. Thus, when the priority of uplink transmission is the same as that of downlink reception, the terminal device can, based on the HARQ feedback status of downlink reception, cancel sending uplink information on uplink transmission resources or cancel receiving downlink information on downlink reception resources.

[0028] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which includes a module / unit for performing any of the methods described in the first aspect and its possible implementations, or a module / unit for performing any of the methods described in the second aspect and its possible implementations.

[0029] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device. This device can be a terminal device, a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the terminal device in implementing the above-described methods, or a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the terminal functions. The communication device can also be a chip system. The communication device can execute the method described in the first aspect. The functions of the communication device can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to the above-described functions. These units can be software and / or hardware. The operations performed by the communication device and its beneficial effects can be found in the method described in the first aspect and its beneficial effects described above; repeated descriptions will not be repeated.

[0030] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device. This device can be a network device, a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the network device in implementing the above-described methods, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the network device's functions. The communication device can also be a chip system. This communication device can execute the methods described in the second aspect. The functions of the communication device can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to the above-described functions. These units can be software and / or hardware. The operations performed by the communication device and its beneficial effects can be found in the methods described in the second aspect above, and repeated descriptions will not be repeated here.

[0031] In a sixth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which includes a processor coupled to a memory for storing programs or instructions. When the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the communication device performs the method described in any one of the first to second aspects.

[0032] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which includes a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor, or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device. The processor is used to implement the method described in any one of the first to second aspects through logic circuits or execution code instructions.

[0033] Eighthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium for storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the method executed by a terminal as described in the first aspect to be implemented; or cause the method executed by a network device as described in the second aspect to be implemented.

[0034] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product including a computer program, which, when executed, causes the method executed by the terminal as described in the first aspect to be implemented; or causes the method executed by the network device as described in the second aspect to be implemented.

[0035] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication system, which includes a communication device (e.g., a terminal device) for performing the method described in the first aspect and a communication device (e.g., a network device) for performing the communication method described in the second aspect.

[0036] Understandably, the beneficial effects that the communication methods, communication devices, computer-readable storage media, and computer program products provided above can be achieved by referring to the beneficial effects of the first or second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, which will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Figure 1A and Figure 1B are schematic diagrams of two network architectures in NTN communication;

[0038] Figure 2 is an example of the overlap between uplink transmission resources and downlink reception resources in the time domain;

[0039] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the system architecture using an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figures 5 to 7 are several example diagrams provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0042] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0044] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0045] The terms "first," "second," "third," etc., used in the embodiments of this application are to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, it may include a series of steps or units, or optionally, steps or units not listed, or other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices. The terms "one embodiment" or "some embodiments," etc., mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of the embodiments of this application, do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0046] Furthermore, "at least one" refers to one or more, while "more than one" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, and c can mean: a, or b, or c, or a and b, or a and c, or b and c, or a, b, and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0047] The terminology used in the following embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be a limitation of this application.

[0048] 1. NTN communication

[0049] NTN communication, also known as airborne network communication, non-terrestrial network communication, or satellite communication, refers to data transmission via wireless communication technologies other than fixed terrestrial lines. This communication method can include satellites, drones, aircraft, satellite internet (such as low-Earth orbit constellations like Starlink), and wireless mesh networks.

[0050] NTN communication can include two network architectures: transparent forwarding NTN network architecture and regeneration mode NTN network architecture.

[0051] (1) Transparent forwarding NTN network architecture

[0052] In the transparent forwarding NTN network architecture, during the data transmission between terminal devices and access network devices, the data is forwarded by satellite. The satellite does not perform protocol stack processing on the data during the forwarding process, thus achieving transparent forwarding.

[0053] For example, Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of a transparent forwarding NTN network architecture. As shown in Figure 1A, the transparent forwarding NTN network architecture includes: terminal equipment, access network, and core network. The access network may include access network equipment, satellites, and gateways.

[0054] The satellite in Figure 1A can provide wireless frequency filtering, frequency conversion, and amplification functions. In other words, the satellite in Figure 1A only provides transparent signal relay without altering the waveform of the relayed signal.

[0055] The satellites in the embodiments of this application may include low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, medium-Earth orbit (MEO) satellites, geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites, high elliptical orbit (HEO) satellites, or other satellites.

[0056] In this embodiment, the gateway is used to connect the satellite and the terrestrial public network. The gateway can be deployed on the ground and can also be called a terrestrial network element or NTN gateway. In this embodiment, the service link refers to the communication link between the satellite and the terminal equipment, and the feeder link refers to the communication link between the satellite and the gateway.

[0057] The access network is used to implement access-related functions. It can provide network access to authorized users in a specific area and determine different quality transmission channels to transmit user data based on user level, service requirements, etc. The access network forwards control signals and user data between terminal equipment and the core network. Access network equipment can be any device that provides access to terminal equipment.

[0058] In one possible scenario, access network equipment can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmitting and receiving point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation base station in a 6th-generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, a satellite, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, or access network equipment in a mobile switching center non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system. This means it can be deployed on high-altitude platforms or satellites. Access network equipment can be a macro base station, a micro base station or an indoor station, a relay node or a donor node, or a radio controller in a C-RAN scenario. Access network equipment can also act as a base station in device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, drone communication, and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. Optionally, access network equipment can also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, the access network equipment in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can be a roadside unit (RSU).

[0059] In another possible scenario, multiple access network devices collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, with each access network device implementing a portion of the base station's functions. For example, access network devices can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), CU-control plane (CPs), CU-user plane (UPs), or radio units (RUs), etc. CUs and DUs can be set up separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio equipment or radio units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs). It is understood that access network devices can be CU nodes, DU nodes, or devices including both CU and DU nodes. Furthermore, CUs can be classified as access network devices within the RAN (RAN) or the CN (CN), without limitation.

[0060] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules.

[0061] In this embodiment, the form of the access network device is not limited. The device used to implement the function of the access network device can be the access network device itself; or it can be a device that supports the access network device in implementing the function, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the access network device or used in conjunction with the access network device.

[0062] The core network is responsible for maintaining the subscription data of the mobile network and providing terminal devices with functions such as session management, mobility management, policy management, and security authentication. The core network in Figure 1A can be the core network of a long term evolution (LTE) system, a 5th generation mobile communication (5G) system, a 6th generation mobile communication (6G) system, or the core network of other future communication systems.

[0063] (2) Regeneration mode NTN network architecture

[0064] In the regenerable NTN network architecture, data transmission between terminal devices and access network devices passes through satellites, and the satellites perform protocol stack processing on the received data.

[0065] For example, Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of a regenerable NTN network architecture. As shown in Figure 1B, the regenerable NTN network architecture includes: terminal equipment, access network, and core network.

[0066] As shown in Figure 1B, the access network may include access network devices, satellites, and gateways. For a detailed description of the access network, access network devices, and gateways, please refer to the previous section on the access network devices in Figure 1A; further details will not be provided here.

[0067] In addition to providing wireless frequency filtering, frequency conversion, and amplification, the satellite in Figure 1B can also provide demodulation / decoding, routing / conversion, and encoding / modulation functions. The satellite in Figure 1B can be understood as possessing some or all of the functions of an access network device.

[0068] As shown in Figure 1B, in the regenerable NTN network architecture, the access network equipment is deployed on the satellite. However, as shown in Figure 1A, in the transparent forwarding NTN network architecture, the satellite and access network equipment are deployed separately.

[0069] The core network in Figure 1B can be the core network of an LTE system, a 5G system, a 6G system, or the core network of other future communication systems.

[0070] In this embodiment of the application, the access network equipment and satellite in Figures 1A and 1B are referred to as network equipment. That is, the network equipment can be the access network equipment or satellite in Figure 1A, or the satellite in Figure 1B.

[0071] 2. Timing Ahead Measure (TA)

[0072] TA (Transmission Advance) is used for uplink transmission by terminal devices. It refers to the amount of time that the system frame transmitting uplink data from the terminal device precedes the corresponding downlink frame, compensating for the propagation delay. In TN communication, such as NR communication, the access network device calculates the TA based on the preamble sent by the terminal device and informs the terminal device of the TA through the timing advance command (TAC) in the random access response (RAR). In TN communication, the propagation delay is typically less than 1 millisecond (ms). The propagation delay in NTN communication is longer than that in TN communication, ranging from several milliseconds to hundreds of milliseconds, depending on the satellite's altitude.

[0073] In NTN communication, TA (Telematics Targeting) can be divided into reported TA and actual used TA. Reported TA refers to the TA reported by the terminal device to the network device, while actual used TA refers to the TA actually used by the terminal device during uplink transmission. There may be discrepancies between reported TA and actual used TA. The actual used TA may be larger or smaller than the reported TA.

[0074] In a regenerative NTN network architecture, the terminal device determines its uplink TA (Target Acquisition Context) based on the ephemeris information of the serving satellite and its own location information. The uplink TA is then sent to the serving satellite, which may possess some or all of the access network equipment's functions. However, the uplink TA used by the terminal device may differ from the uplink TA. For example, the terminal device may adjust the uplink TA based on ephemeris information and its own location information to obtain the actual uplink TA used, and then perform uplink transmission based on this actual TA.

[0075] For the transparent forwarding NTN network architecture, the terminal device determines the round-trip time (RTT) of the service link based on the ephemeris information of the serving satellite and the terminal device's location information. The reported TA includes the RTT of the service link and the common TA broadcast by SIB19. In addition to the service link RTT and the common TA, the TA used for uplink transmission by the terminal device also includes the "TA between the ground station and the reference point" compensated by the network side. Here, "network side" refers to the access network equipment, "ground station" refers to the gateway or access network equipment in the terrestrial network, and "reference point" is the reference point between the ground station and the satellite. The terminal device adjusts the RTT of the service link based on the ephemeris information and its location information, and then considers the "TA between the ground station and the reference point" to obtain the actual used TA, and performs uplink transmission based on the actual used TA.

[0076] 3. Dynamic scheduling and semi-static configuration

[0077] (1) Dynamic scheduling

[0078] Dynamic scheduling refers to network devices scheduling the uplink transmission or downlink reception of terminal devices through DCI (Distributed Control Interface). When a terminal device detects a DCI, it performs uplink transmission or downlink reception according to the indication of that DCI; when it detects the next DCI, it performs uplink transmission or downlink reception according to the indication of that DCI.

[0079] Uplink information may include uplink signals and / or uplink channels. Uplink signals may include, but are not limited to, SRS, demodulation reference signal (DMRS), and phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS). Uplink channels may include, but are not limited to, physical random access channel (PRACH), physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), and physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

[0080] Downlink information may include downlink signals and / or downlink channels. Downlink signals may include, but are not limited to, channel state information-reference signals (CSI-RS), synchronization signals and physical broadcast channel blocks (SSBs), and DMRS. Downlink channels may include, but are not limited to, physical broadcast channels (PBCHs), physical downlink shared channels (PDSCHs), and physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs). Downlink information may also include SIBs; for example, in NTN communication, downlink information may also include SIB19.

[0081] (2) Semi-static configuration

[0082] Semi-static configuration refers to network devices scheduling terminal devices to periodically transmit uplink or receive downlink data via signaling. Semi-static configuration can also be described as semi-static scheduling. In one implementation, RRC signaling is used to configure semi-static transmission. Upon receiving this RRC signaling, the terminal device activates the semi-static configuration and performs periodic uplink or downlink transmission. In another implementation, RRC signaling is used to configure semi-static transmission, and DCI is used to activate the semi-static configuration. Upon detecting this DCI, the terminal device activates the semi-static configuration of the RRC signaling and performs periodic uplink or downlink transmission.

[0083] 4. Half-duplex mode

[0084] To reduce the cost of terminal devices and adapt to diverse needs, the third-generation partner program (3GPP) rd The 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) designed Reduced Capability (RedCap). RedCap introduces a half-duplex mode, in which terminal devices cannot send uplink data while receiving downlink data, and vice versa.

[0085] TN communication defined seven application scenarios when developing the RedCap standard:

[0086] Case 1: Dynamically scheduled DL reception collides with semi-statically configured UL transmission.

[0087] Case 2: Semi-statically configured DL reception collides with dynamically scheduled UL transmission.

[0088] Case 3: Semi-statically configured DL reception collides with semi-statically configured UL transmission.

[0089] Case 4: Dynamically scheduled DL reception collides with dynamically scheduled UL transmission.

[0090] Case 5: Configured SSB collides with dynamically scheduled or configured UL transmission.

[0091] Case 6: Dynamically or semi-statically DL collides with RO.

[0092] Case 7: Collision due to direction switching.

[0093] In the seven application scenarios mentioned above, a conflict can be understood as an overlap in the time domain between uplink transmission resources and downlink reception resources. Dynamically scheduled uplink transmission can be understood as uplink transmission resources being dynamically scheduled; semi-statically configured uplink transmission can be understood as uplink transmission resources being semi-statically configured; similarly, dynamically scheduled or semi-statically configured downlink reception...

[0094] In TN communication, corresponding conflict resolution solutions are provided for the seven application scenarios mentioned above. These conflict resolution solutions are based on the consistent understanding of the TA by the network device and the terminal device. That is, the terminal device performs uplink transmission based on the TA indicated by the network device, which can avoid the overlap of uplink transmission resources and downlink reception resources in the time domain, and can ensure the alignment of uplink transmission and downlink reception frames on the network device side.

[0095] However, in NTN communication, the network device and the terminal device may have inconsistent interpretations of the Reporting Target (TA). The relative movement of the terminal device and the satellite can cause changes in the propagation path length between them, leading to inconsistencies in their understanding of the TA. Considering this relative movement, the terminal device adjusts its reported TA based on its position and the satellite's ephemeris information to determine the actual TA used. If the difference between the reported TA and the actual used TA is not greater than the TA reporting threshold, the terminal device will not report the actual used TA to the network device. In other words, the network device interprets the TA as the reported TA, while the terminal device interprets it as the actual used TA, resulting in a discrepancy between the two. Furthermore, the network device's configuration of uplink and downlink transmissions based on the reported TA may cause overlap in the time domain between uplink transmission resources and downlink reception resources.

[0096] For example, see Figure 2, which shows an example of overlapping uplink transmission resources and downlink reception resources in the time domain. In Figure 2 (1), the terminal device does not adjust the reported TA. Based on the reported TA, it sends uplink information on uplink transmission resource #1 and receives downlink information on downlink reception resource #2. Resources #1 and #2 are dynamically scheduled or semi-statically configured by the network device based on the reported TA. Resources #1 and #2 do not overlap. Here, resource #1 can be understood as the uplink transmission resource dynamically scheduled or semi-statically configured by the network device based on the reported TA. The uplink transmission resource is used to send uplink information. In Figure 2 (2), the terminal device adjusts the reported TA and determines the actual TA used. The difference between the reported TA and the actual used TA is the TA difference. If the TA difference is less than the TA reporting threshold, the terminal device will not report the actual used TA to the network device. Furthermore, based on the actual used TA, the terminal device determines that there will be overlap between uplink information sent on uplink transmission resource #1' and downlink reception resource #2. Resource #1' can be understood as a resource used for uplink transmission based on the actual TA difference amount, in addition to the uplink transmission resources dynamically scheduled or semi-statically configured by the network device based on the reported TA. This means that reusing the conflict resolution solution in TN communication cannot prevent conflicts from occurring. Because the actual used TA is smaller than the reported TA by the TA difference amount, the start time t5 of resource #1' is later than the start time t4 of resource #1 by the TA difference amount, resulting in an overlap between resource #1' and resource #2 in the time domain, affecting uplink transmission and downlink reception.

[0097] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide a communication method, a communication device, and a computer-readable storage medium that can avoid overlap in the time domain between uplink transmission and downlink reception in NTN communication, thereby improving transmission performance in half-duplex mode. Embodiments of this application can be applied to NTN communication to resolve the conflicts described in Case 3 and Case 4 above. That is, embodiments of this application are applicable to scenarios where network devices dynamically schedule uplink transmission and downlink reception, as well as scenarios where network devices semi-statically configure uplink transmission and downlink reception.

[0098] To better understand the embodiments of this application, the system architecture involved in the embodiments of this application will be described first below:

[0099] This application's embodiments can be applied to long-term evolution (LTE) systems, 5th generation mobile communication (5G) systems, 6th generation mobile communication (6G) systems, and other communication systems evolving after 5G, as well as satellite communication and short-range wireless communication systems. The wireless communication systems mentioned in this application's embodiments include, but are not limited to, the three major application scenarios of 5G / 6G mobile communication systems: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), and massive machine-type communication (mMTC), long-range (LoRa) systems, or vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems. The wireless communication system may include one or more network devices and one or more terminal devices.

[0100] The embodiments of this application can be applied to the system architecture shown in Figure 3. The system architecture shown in Figure 3 may include, but is not limited to, terminal device 301 and network device 302. The number of devices in Figure 3 is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of this application. For example, in actual applications, multiple terminal devices may be included.

[0101] Terminal equipment, also known as user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), or mobile terminal (MT), refers to devices that provide voice and / or data connectivity to users. Examples include handheld devices and in-vehicle devices with wireless connectivity. Currently, some examples of terminal equipment include: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, self-driving, remote medical surgery, smart grids, transportation safety, smart cities, and smart homes.

[0102] The embodiments of this application do not limit the form of the terminal device. The device used to implement the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself, or it can be a device that supports the terminal device in implementing the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the terminal device or used in conjunction with the terminal device. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete components.

[0103] The network device can be a satellite or access network device in the network architecture shown in Figure 1A, or a satellite in the network architecture shown in Figure 1B, which has some or all of the functions of the access network device.

[0104] The embodiments of this application do not limit the form of the network device. The device used to implement the function of the network device can be the network device itself, or it can be a device that supports the network device in implementing the function, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the network device or used in conjunction with the network device. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete components.

[0105] In this embodiment, uplink transmission and downlink reception refer to the terminal device. Uplink transmission refers to the terminal device sending uplink information to the network device, and downlink reception refers to the terminal device receiving downlink information from the network device.

[0106] Based on the system architecture shown in Figure 3, the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below.

[0107] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. This method may include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0108] 401. The network device sends a first signaling message and / or a second signaling message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first signaling message and / or the second signaling message from the network device. The first signaling message indicates the priority of uplink transmission, and the second signaling message indicates the priority of downlink reception.

[0109] If a network device sends a first signaling message to a terminal device indicating the priority of uplink transmission, but does not send a second signaling message or the sent second signaling message does not indicate the priority of downlink reception, the terminal device may assume that the priority of uplink transmission is higher than the priority of downlink reception, or the terminal device may determine the relationship between the priorities of uplink transmission and downlink reception based on the priority indicated by the first signaling message. For example, if the first signaling message indicates that the priority of uplink transmission is 1, and the second signaling message does not indicate the priority of downlink reception, then the terminal device may determine that the priority of uplink transmission is higher than the priority of downlink reception (the default priority of downlink reception is the lowest) based on the first signaling message indicating the priority of uplink transmission and the second signaling message not indicating the priority of downlink reception, or the terminal device may determine that the priority of uplink transmission is higher than the priority of downlink reception based on the first signaling message indicating that the priority of uplink transmission is 1 and the second signaling message not indicating the priority of downlink reception (the default priority of downlink reception is low). For example, if the first signaling indicates that the priority of uplink transmission is 0, and the second signaling does not indicate the priority of downlink reception, then the terminal device can determine that the priority of uplink transmission is the same as the priority of downlink reception based on the fact that the first signaling indicates the priority of uplink transmission and the second signaling does not indicate the priority of downlink reception (the default priority of downlink reception is low, that is, the priority of downlink reception is 0).

[0110] If a network device sends a second signaling message to a terminal device indicating the downlink reception priority, but does not send a first signaling message or the first signaling message does not indicate the uplink transmission priority, the terminal device may assume that the downlink reception priority is higher than the uplink transmission priority, or the terminal device may determine the relationship between the uplink transmission priority and the downlink reception priority based on the priority indicated by the second signaling message. If the network device sends both first and second signaling messages to the terminal device and indicates priorities, the priorities indicated by the first and second signaling messages may be the same or different. For example, if the first signaling message indicates an uplink transmission priority of 1 and the second signaling message indicates a downlink reception priority of 0, then the uplink transmission priority is higher than the downlink reception priority. As another example, if the first signaling message indicates an uplink transmission priority of 0 and the second signaling message indicates a downlink reception priority of 0, then the uplink transmission priority and the downlink reception priority are the same.

[0111] For semi-static configuration of uplink transmission and downlink reception:

[0112] In one implementation, when the RRC signaling configuration is semi-static and the terminal device receives the RRC signaling and activates the semi-static configuration, the first signaling is the first RRC signaling, and the second signaling is the second RRC signaling. Optionally, the first RRC signaling can be the semi-static configuration RRC signaling for uplink transmission, or it can be other RRC signaling; the second RRC signaling can be the semi-static configuration RRC signaling for downlink reception, or it can be other RRC signaling.

[0113] In another implementation, when the RRC signaling configuration is semi-static and the DCI is activated in a semi-static configuration, the first signaling is the first DCI, and the second signaling is the second DCI. Optionally, the first DCI can be the uplink transmission DCI that activates the semi-static configuration, or it can be another DCI; the second DCI can be the downlink reception DCI that activates the semi-static configuration, or it can be another DCI.

[0114] For a first signaling signaling signal to be the first DCI and a second signaling signaling signaling signal to be the second DCI, the network device may also send a third RRC signaling signaling signaling and / or a fourth RRC signaling signaling signaling to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device also receives the third RRC signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaled ... When the third RRC signaling indication is enabled and the fourth RRC signaling indication is disabled or not received, the terminal device may assume that the uplink transmission priority is higher than the downlink reception priority, or the terminal device may determine the relationship between the uplink transmission priority and the downlink reception priority based on the priority indicated by the first DCI. When the fourth RRC signaling indication is enabled and the third RRC signaling indication is disabled or not received, the terminal device may assume that the downlink reception priority is higher than the uplink transmission priority, or the terminal device may determine the relationship between the uplink transmission priority and the downlink reception priority based on the priority indicated by the second DCI. Optionally, the third RRC signaling may be a semi-static configuration uplink transmission RRC signaling or other RRC signaling; the fourth RRC signaling may be a semi-static configuration downlink reception RRC signaling or other RRC signaling.

[0115] For dynamically scheduled uplink transmission and downlink reception:

[0116] In one implementation, the first signaling is the first DCI, and the second signaling is the second DCI. Optionally, the first DCI can be a dynamically scheduled uplink transmission DCI or other DCI; the second DCI can be a dynamically scheduled downlink reception DCI or other DCI.

[0117] For a first signaling signaling signal to be the first DCI and a second signaling signaling signaling signal to be the second DCI, the network device may also send a third RRC signaling signaling signaling and / or a fourth RRC signaling signaling signaling to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device also receives the third RRC signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaling signaled ... When the third RRC signaling indication is enabled and the fourth RRC signaling indication is disabled or not received, the terminal device may assume that the uplink transmission priority is higher than the downlink reception priority, or the terminal device may determine the relationship between the uplink transmission priority and the downlink reception priority based on the priority indicated by the first DCI. When the fourth RRC signaling indication is enabled and the third RRC signaling indication is disabled or not received, the terminal device may assume that the downlink reception priority is higher than the uplink transmission priority, or the terminal device may determine the relationship between the uplink transmission priority and the downlink reception priority based on the priority indicated by the second DCI.

[0118] In another implementation, the first signaling is a first RRC signaling, and the second signaling is a second RRC signaling. Optionally, the first RRC signaling can be RRC signaling for configuring dynamically scheduled uplink transmission parameters, or it can be other RRC signaling; the second RRC signaling can be RRC signaling for configuring dynamically scheduled downlink reception parameters, or it can be other RRC signaling.

[0119] The transmission times of the first DCI and the second DCI may be simultaneous, or the first DCI may be transmitted earlier than the second DCI, and vice versa. Similarly, the transmission times of the first RRC signaling and the second RRC signaling may be simultaneous, or the first RRC signaling may be transmitted earlier than the second RRC signaling, and vice versa. The transmission time of the third RRC signaling is earlier than the transmission time of the first DCI, and the transmission time of the fourth RRC signaling is earlier than the transmission time of the second DCI.

[0120] 402, The terminal device determines that the first resource and the second resource overlap in the time domain based on the first TA.

[0121] Here, the first TA is the TA used for uplink transmission, i.e., the TA actually used. In this embodiment, the TA actually used is referred to as the first TA, and the TA reported is referred to as the second TA. The actual TA used and the TA reported can be found in the detailed description of "2. Timing Advance" and will not be repeated here.

[0122] For semi-static configuration of uplink transmission and downlink reception, the network device responds to the second TA by sending the fifth and sixth RRC signaling messages to the terminal device. The fifth RRC signaling message is used to configure uplink transmission resources, and the sixth RRC signaling message is used to configure downlink reception resources. In other words, the resources configured by the fifth and sixth RRC signaling messages are semi-statically configured resources. The fifth RRC signaling message and the third RRC signaling message can be the same RRC signaling message or different RRC signaling messages. The sixth RRC signaling message and the fourth RRC signaling message can be the same RRC signaling message or different RRC signaling messages.

[0123] For dynamically scheduled uplink transmission and downlink reception, the network device responds to the second TA by sending a third DCI and a fourth DCI to the terminal device. The third DCI indicates the resources for uplink transmission, and the fourth DCI indicates the resources for downlink reception. In other words, the resources indicated by the third and fourth DCIs are dynamically scheduled resources. The third DCI and the first DCI can be the same DCI or different DCIs. The fourth DCI and the second DCI can also be the same DCI or different DCIs.

[0124] The first resource is for uplink transmission, and the second resource is for downlink reception. Both the first and second resources can be dynamically scheduled resources, corresponding to Case 4 above. Alternatively, both the first and second resources can be semi-statically configured resources, corresponding to Case 3 above. The first resource can be understood as the resource determined by the terminal device for sending uplink information based on the first TA and dynamically scheduled or semi-statically configured uplink transmission resources, such as resource #1' in Figure 2.

[0125] Based on the first TA, it is determined that the first resource and the second resource overlap in the time domain, for example, resource #1' and resource #2 overlap in Figure 2. If the terminal device determines that the first resource and the second resource overlap in the time domain based on the first TA, it executes step 403; otherwise, it can send uplink information on the first resource and receive downlink information on the second resource.

[0126] 403a, the terminal device sends uplink information on the first resource and cancels receiving downlink information on the second resource based on the high-low relationship between the priority of uplink transmission and the priority of downlink reception.

[0127] 403b, the terminal device receives downlink information on the second resource and cancels the transmission of uplink information on the first resource based on the high-low relationship between the priority of uplink transmission and the priority of downlink reception.

[0128] Specifically, canceling the reception of downlink information on the second resource means not receiving downlink information on the second resource. Similarly, canceling the transmission of uplink information on the first resource means not transmitting uplink information on the first resource.

[0129] In NTN communication, uplink information may include, but is not limited to, PUSCH, PUCCH, and SRS, while downlink information may include, but is not limited to, PDCCH, PDSCH, and SIB19.

[0130] Steps 403a and 403b can be understood as the terminal device, based on the priority relationship between uplink transmission and downlink reception, either sending uplink information on the first resource and canceling downlink information reception on the second resource, or receiving downlink information on the second resource and canceling uplink transmission on the first resource. In other words, when uplink transmission and downlink reception are determined to overlap in the time domain based on the first TA, uplink transmission is performed and downlink reception is canceled, or downlink reception is performed and uplink transmission is canceled, based on the priority relationship between the two. The priority relationship can be that uplink transmission has a higher priority than downlink reception, downlink reception has a higher priority than uplink transmission, or the priorities of uplink transmission and downlink reception are the same.

[0131] When the priority of uplink transmission is higher than that of downlink reception, the terminal device sends uplink information on the first resource and cancels the reception of downlink information on the second resource. This processing method is applicable to both semi-static configuration and dynamic scheduling. For example, the first signaling indicates an uplink transmission priority of 1, and the second signaling indicates a downlink reception priority of 0. 1 indicates a higher priority than 0. Based on the overlap shown in (2) of Figure 2, and the priorities of uplink transmission and downlink reception, the terminal device sends uplink information on resource #1' and does not receive downlink information on resource #2. As another example, the third RRC signaling enables the first DCI to indicate the priority of uplink transmission, and the fourth RRC signaling does not enable the second DCI to indicate the priority of downlink reception. The terminal device considers the priority of uplink transmission to be higher than the priority of downlink reception, and thus sends uplink information on the first resource and does not receive downlink information on the second resource.

[0132] Optionally, for semi-static configuration of uplink transmission and downlink reception, uplink transmission has higher priority. Since the first resource and the paging occasion (PO) overlap in the time domain, the terminal device does not send uplink information on the first resource, but instead listens for paging messages on the PO. For example, it does not send PUSCH on the PUSCH resource, but listens for paging messages on the PO.

[0133] When the priority of uplink transmission is lower than that of downlink reception, the terminal device receives downlink information on the second resource and cancels the transmission of uplink information on the first resource. This processing method is applicable to both semi-static configuration and dynamic scheduling. For example, if the priority of uplink transmission indicated by the first signaling is 0 and the priority of downlink reception indicated by the second signaling is 1, based on the overlap shown in (2) of Figure 2, the terminal device does not transmit uplink information on resource #1', but receives downlink information on resource #2.

[0134] If the priority of uplink transmission is the same as that of downlink reception, the processing methods may include:

[0135] Method 1: Receive downlink information on the second resource without sending uplink information on the first resource. Optionally: Send uplink information on the first resource without receiving downlink information on the second resource. Method 1 is applicable to both semi-static configuration and dynamic scheduling.

[0136] Method 2: Based on the downlink received HARQ feedback state, uplink information is transmitted on the first resource or downlink information is received on the second resource. If the downlink received HARQ feedback state is disabled, downlink information is received on the second resource instead of transmitting information on the first resource. If the downlink received HARQ feedback state is enabled, the terminal device can choose to transmit uplink information on the first resource or receive downlink information on the second resource based on the implementation. If the downlink received HARQ feedback state is enabled, the terminal device receives downlink information on the second resource instead of transmitting uplink information on the first resource. Optionally, if the downlink received HARQ feedback state is enabled, uplink information is transmitted on the first resource instead of receiving downlink information on the second resource. The downlink received HARQ feedback state can be indicated by RRC signaling. RRC signaling indicates that downlink received HARQ feedback is enabled, i.e., the downlink received HARQ feedback state is enabled; RRC signaling indicates that downlink received HARQ feedback is disabled, i.e., the downlink received HARQ feedback state is disabled. In this embodiment of the application, the RRC signaling indicating whether to enable downlink HARQ feedback is referred to as the seventh RRC signaling.

[0137] For example, see the example diagram shown in Figure 5, which uses dynamic scheduling as an example. In Figure 5 (1), it means that the terminal device has not adjusted the reported TA. DCI#1 schedules uplink transmission resources #6 and #7, and DCI#2 calls downlink reception resources #4 and #5. In Figure 5 (2), it means that the terminal device has adjusted the reported TA and determined the actual used TA. The difference between the reported TA and the actual used TA is the TA difference. The TA difference is less than the TA reporting threshold, so the terminal device does not report the actual used TA to the network device. And based on the actual used TA, the terminal device determines the uplink transmission resources #6' and #7'. Resources #6' and #4 overlap in the time domain, and resources #7' and #5 overlap in the time domain. Assuming that the priority of uplink transmission indicated by the first signaling is the same as the priority of downlink reception indicated by the second signaling, and the HARQ feedback state corresponding to resource #4 is enabled and the HARQ feedback state corresponding to resource #5 is disabled, then the terminal device can receive downlink information on resource #4 or send uplink information on resource #6'; and not send uplink information on resource #7', but receive downlink information on resource #5.

[0138] In one implementation, for semi-static configuration uplink transmission (SRS), when it is determined based on the first TA that the first resource and the second resource overlap in the time domain, the terminal device receives downlink information on the second resource and transmits SRS on a portion of the resources of the first resource, which do not overlap with the second resource.

[0139] For example, see the example diagram shown in Figure 6. In Figure 6(1), it means that the terminal device has not adjusted the reported TA. Based on the reported TA, it sends uplink information on resource #4 for uplink transmission and receives downlink information on resource #3 for downlink reception. Resources #3 and #4 are dynamically scheduled or semi-statically configured by the network device based on the reported TA. Resources #3 and #4 do not overlap. In Figure 6(2), it means that the terminal device has adjusted the reported TA and determined the actual TA used. The difference between the reported TA and the actual TA used is the TA difference. If the TA difference is less than the TA reporting threshold, the terminal device does not report the actual TA used to the network device. Furthermore, based on the actual TA used, the terminal device determines that the resource for sending SRS overlaps with resource #3 in the time domain. For example, the slanted shaded area shown in Figure 6(2) indicates the time domain overlap. Assuming the first signaling does not indicate the priority of uplink transmission, and the second signaling indicates that the priority of downlink reception is 0 (meaning the priority of uplink transmission is lower than the priority of downlink reception), and SRS is transmitted uplink, then the terminal device will not transmit SRS in the shaded area, but will transmit SRS on resources other than the overlapping area, and will receive downlink information on resource #3. Optionally, for non-overlapping resources, the semi-static uplink / downlink handover may prevent SRS transmission on these resources.

[0140] In one implementation, for the second resource including a SIB19 preset time window, if the terminal device determines, based on the first TA, that the first resource overlaps with the SIB19 preset time window, it receives SIB19 within the SIB19 preset time window. That is, if the uplink transmission resource overlaps with the SIB19 preset time window, SIB19 is received within the SIB19 preset time window, and uplink information transmission on the first resource is cancelled. It is understood that even if the uplink transmission priority is higher than the downlink reception priority, the terminal device still receives SIB19 within the SIB19 preset time window to ensure that the terminal device can receive SIB19. This method is applicable to both semi-static configuration and dynamic scheduling.

[0141] SIB19 is the SIB in NTN communication, used to broadcast satellite ephemeris information and the validity period of the SIB19, and can also broadcast public TA information. The validity period of SIB19 refers to the length of time during which the information carried by SIB19 is valid. Network devices can configure T430 via RRC signaling; T430 is the validity determination timer for SIB19, which can be understood as the validity period of SIB19. The validity period of SIB19 includes at least one SIB19 transmission time window, and the transmission resources of SIB19 are located within the SIB19 transmission time window. The preset time window of SIB19 includes the transmission resources of SIB19. The system information (SI) period is the period during which SI is sent; in addition to sending SIB19, other SIBs can also be sent within the SI period.

[0142] Optionally, the SIB19 preset time window includes all SIB19 transmission time windows within the validity period of the SIB19, or includes a portion of the SIB19 transmission time windows within the validity period of the SIB19. Optionally, the SIB19 preset time window is the last SIB19 transmission time window within the validity period of the SIB19, which helps to save resources or reduce unnecessary cancellations of uplink transmissions.

[0143] For example, see the example diagram shown in Figure 7, which uses dynamic scheduling as an example. In Figure 7 (1), it means that the terminal device has not adjusted the reported TA. DCI#1 schedules uplink transmission resources #6 and #7, DCI#2 calls downlink reception resource #5, and DCI#3 schedules the transmission of SIB19. The shaded area represents the transmission resources of SIB19. The SI window where SIB19 is located is the last SI window containing SIB19 within the validity period of SIB19. The SI window where SIB19 is located is the SI window containing the transmission resources of SIB19. In Figure 7 (2), it means that the terminal device has adjusted the reported TA and determined the actual used TA. The difference between the reported TA and the actual used TA is the TA difference. If the TA difference is less than the TA reporting threshold, the terminal device does not report the actual used TA to the network device. Furthermore, based on the actual TA usage, the terminal device determines the uplink transmission resources #6' and #7'. Resources #6' overlap with resources #5 in the time domain, and resources #7' overlap with the SI window where SIB19 is located in the time domain. Assuming the first signaling indicates that the priority of uplink transmission is 1, and the second signaling does not indicate the priority of downlink reception, meaning that the priority of uplink transmission is higher than the priority of downlink reception, then the terminal device will not receive downlink information on resource #5, but will send uplink information on resource #6'; and will not send uplink information on resource #7', but will receive SIB19 within the SI window where SIB19 is located.

[0144] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, if the uplink transmission resources and downlink reception resources are determined to overlap in the time domain based on the TA used for uplink transmission, uplink information is sent on the uplink transmission resources and downlink information reception is canceled on the downlink reception resources, or downlink information is received on the downlink reception resources and uplink information is canceled on the uplink transmission resources, based on the high-low relationship between the priority of uplink transmission and downlink reception, so as to avoid the overlap of uplink transmission and downlink reception in the time domain, thereby improving the transmission performance in half-duplex mode.

[0145] This application provides a communication device that can be used to implement the functions of the aforementioned terminal device or network device. The communication device can be a terminal device or a network device. The communication device includes units corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions performed by the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments. These units can be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. Please refer to Figure 8, which shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 800 according to an embodiment of this application. The communication device 800 may include an interface unit 801 and a processing unit 802. Specifically, the processing unit 802 is used to process signaling and / or data. This signaling and / or data can be data received by the interface unit 801, and the processed signaling and / or data can also be sent by the interface unit 801.

[0146] In one embodiment, when the communication device 800 is a terminal device, wherein:

[0147] Interface unit 801 is configured to respond to processing unit 802 determining, based on a first TA, that the first resource and the second resource overlap in the time domain, and based on the high-low relationship between the priority of uplink transmission and the priority of downlink reception, to send uplink information on the first resource and cancel receiving downlink information on the second resource, or to receive downlink information on the second resource and cancel sending uplink information on the first resource; wherein, the first resource is the resource for uplink transmission, the second resource is the resource for downlink reception, and the first TA is the TA used for uplink transmission.

[0148] Optionally, the interface unit 801 is further configured to receive a first RRC signaling and / or a second RRC signaling; wherein the first RRC signaling is used to indicate the priority of uplink transmission, and the second RRC signaling is used to indicate the priority of downlink reception.

[0149] Optionally, the interface unit 801 is further configured to receive a first DCI and / or a second DCI; wherein the first DCI is used to indicate the priority of uplink transmission and the second DCI is used to indicate the priority of downlink reception.

[0150] Optionally, the interface unit 801 is further configured to receive a third RRC signaling and / or a fourth RRC signaling; wherein the third RRC signaling is used to indicate whether the first DCI is enabled to indicate the priority of uplink transmission, and the fourth RRC signaling is used to indicate whether the second DCI is enabled to indicate the priority of downlink reception.

[0151] Optionally, the second resource includes a SIB19 preset time window. The interface unit 801 is also configured to receive SIB19 within the SIB19 preset time window in response to determining that the first resource overlaps with the SIB19 preset time window based on the first TA.

[0152] Optionally, the SIB19 preset time window is the last SIB19 transmission time window within the SIB19 validity period.

[0153] Optionally, the first and second resources are dynamically scheduled resources.

[0154] Optionally, the first and second resources are semi-statically configured resources.

[0155] Optionally, interface unit 801 is specifically configured to, in response to the uplink transmission having a higher priority than the downlink reception, send uplink information on a first resource and cancel receiving downlink information on a second resource; or, in response to the uplink transmission having a lower priority than the downlink reception, receive downlink information on a second resource and cancel sending uplink information on a first resource; or, in response to the uplink transmission having the same priority as the downlink reception, receive downlink information on a second resource and cancel sending uplink information on a first resource, or send uplink information on a first resource and cancel receiving downlink information on a second resource.

[0156] Optionally, interface unit 801 is specifically configured to receive downlink information on the second resource and cancel sending uplink information on the first resource in response to the uplink transmission priority being the same as the downlink reception priority and the downlink reception HARQ feedback state being disabled; or, in response to the uplink transmission priority being the same as the downlink reception priority and the downlink reception HARQ feedback state being enabled, receive downlink information on the second resource and cancel sending uplink information on the first resource, or send uplink information on the first resource and cancel receiving downlink information on the second resource.

[0157] Optionally, the interface unit 801 is specifically used to respond to the uplink information as a sounding reference signal (SRS), and to determine that the first resource and the second resource overlap in the time domain based on the first TA, to receive downlink information on the second resource, and to send SRS on a portion of the resources of the first resource, wherein the portion of the resources does not overlap with the second resource.

[0158] In this embodiment, the specific implementation of the interface unit 801 and the processing unit 802 can be found in the specific implementation steps of the terminal device in Figure 4, and will not be repeated here.

[0159] In another embodiment, when the communication device shown in FIG8 is a network device, wherein:

[0160] Interface unit 801 is used to send first signaling and / or second signaling;

[0161] Wherein, the first signaling is used to indicate the priority of uplink transmission, and the second signaling is used to indicate the priority of downlink reception; the high-low relationship between the priority of uplink transmission and the priority of downlink reception is used by the terminal device to respond to the determination that the first resource and the second resource overlap in the time domain based on the first TA, and based on the high-low relationship, to send uplink information on the first resource and cancel receiving downlink information on the second resource, or to receive downlink information on the second resource and cancel sending uplink information on the first resource; the first resource is the resource for uplink transmission; the second resource is the resource for downlink reception; and the first TA is the TA used for uplink transmission.

[0162] Optionally, the first signaling is the first RRC signaling, and the second signaling is the second RRC signaling.

[0163] Optionally, the first signaling is the first DCI, and the second signaling is the second DCI.

[0164] Optionally, interface unit 801 is also used to send third RRC signaling and / or fourth RRC signaling;

[0165] The third RRC signaling is used to indicate whether the first DCI is enabled to indicate the priority of uplink transmission, and the fourth RRC signaling is used to indicate whether the second DCI is enabled to indicate the priority of downlink reception.

[0166] Optionally, interface unit 801 is also used to receive a second TA, which is a reporting TA;

[0167] In response to the second TA, send the third and fourth DCIs;

[0168] The third DCI is used to indicate uplink transmission resources; the fourth DCI is used to indicate downlink reception resources.

[0169] Optionally, interface unit 801 is also used to receive a second TA, which is a reporting TA;

[0170] In response to the second TA, the fifth and sixth RRC signaling are sent;

[0171] The fifth RRC signaling is used to configure uplink transmission resources; the sixth RRC signaling is used to configure downlink reception resources.

[0172] Optionally, the downlink received resources include a SIB19 preset time window; the interface unit 801 is also used to transmit SIB19 within the preset time window.

[0173] Optionally, interface unit 801 is also used to send a seventh RRC signaling, which is used to indicate whether HARQ feedback for downlink reception is enabled.

[0174] In this embodiment, the specific implementation of the interface unit 801 and the processing unit 802 can be found in the specific implementation steps of the network device in Figure 4, and will not be repeated here.

[0175] Figure 9 illustrates a communication device 900 provided in an embodiment of this application, used to implement the functions of the aforementioned terminal device or network device. This device can be a communication device or a device used within a communication device. The communication device can be a terminal device or a network device. The device used within the communication device can be a chip system or a chip within the communication device. The chip system can be composed of chips or can include chips and other discrete components.

[0176] The communication device 900 includes at least one processor 910 for implementing the processing functions of the device (e.g., a terminal device or a network device) in the methods provided in this application embodiment. The communication device 900 may also include a communication interface 920 for implementing the transmit and receive operations of the device (e.g., a terminal device or a network device) in the methods provided in this application embodiment. In this application embodiment, the communication interface may be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, or other type of communication interface for communicating with other devices via a transmission medium. For example, the communication interface 920 enables the device in the communication device 900 to communicate with other devices. The processor 910 uses the communication interface 920 to transmit and receive data and is used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments.

[0177] The communication device 900 may further include at least one memory 930 for storing program instructions and / or data. The memory 930 is coupled to the processor 910. The coupling in this embodiment is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, for information exchange between devices, units, or modules. The processor 910 may operate in conjunction with the memory 930. The processor 910 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 930. One or more memories may be included in the processor.

[0178] This embodiment does not limit the specific connection medium between the communication interface 920, processor 910, and memory 930. In Figure 9, the memory 930, processor 910, and communication interface 920 are connected via a bus, indicated by a thick line. The connection methods between other components are merely illustrative and not intended to be limiting. The bus can be categorized as an address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is used in Figure 9, but this does not imply that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0179] When the communication device 900 is specifically a device for use with equipment (such as terminal equipment or network equipment), for example, when the communication device 900 is specifically a chip or chip system, the communication interface 920 may output or receive baseband signals. When the communication device 900 is specifically a device (such as terminal equipment or network equipment), the communication interface 920 may output or receive radio frequency signals. In the embodiments of this application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field-programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, which can implement or execute the various methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly manifested as being executed by a hardware processor, or being executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor.

[0180] When the aforementioned communication device 900 is a module applied to a base station, the base station module implements the functions of the base station in the above method embodiments. The base station module receives information from other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the base station, information sent by the terminal to the base station; or, the base station module sends information to other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas) in the base station, information sent by the base station to the terminal. Here, the base station module can be a baseband chip of the base station, or a central unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), or other module, or a device under an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN) architecture, such as an open CU, open DU, etc.

[0181] It should be noted that the aforementioned communication interface 920 can be used to perform the functions of the aforementioned interface unit 801, and the aforementioned processor 910 can be used to perform the functions of the aforementioned processing unit 802, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0182] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip applied to a terminal device, the chip implements the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiments, and the chip receives information from other devices; or, the chip sends information to other devices.

[0183] When the aforementioned communication device is a chip used in a network device, the chip implements the functions of the network device in the above method embodiments. The chip receives information from other devices; or, the chip sends information to other devices.

[0184] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of this application can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0185] The method steps in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can consist of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), registers, hard disks, portable hard disks, compact disc-ROMs (CD-ROMs), or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and storage medium can reside in an ASIC. Alternatively, the ASIC can reside in an access network device or terminal. Of course, the processor and storage medium can also exist as discrete components in the terminal or access network device.

[0186] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are performed entirely or partially. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer program or instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted through the computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; it can also be an optical medium, such as a digital video disk (DVD); or it can be a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive (SSD).

[0187] In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features of different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0188] It is understood that the various numerical designations used in the embodiments of this application are merely for descriptive convenience and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the process numbers described above does not imply the order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

[0189] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed, the method executed by the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments is implemented.

[0190] This application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when executed, causes the method executed by the terminal device or network device in the above method embodiments to be implemented.

[0191] This application also provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device and a network device. Optionally, it also includes a model management platform. Each device is used to execute the methods executed by the devices in the above method embodiments.

[0192] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the foregoing method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the described order of actions, as some steps may be performed in other orders or simultaneously according to this application. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to this application.

[0193] The descriptions of the various embodiments provided in this application can be referenced mutually. Each embodiment has its own emphasis, and parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment can be referred to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. For the sake of convenience and brevity, for example, the functions and execution steps of the various devices and equipment provided in the embodiments of this application can be referred to the relevant descriptions of the method embodiments of this application. The method embodiments and the device embodiments can also be referenced, combined or cited from each other.

[0194] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a terminal device in non-ground network (NTN) communication, and the method comprises: in response to determining that a first resource and a second resource overlap in a time domain based on a first timing advance (TA), transmitting uplink information on the first resource and canceling receiving downlink information on the second resource, or receiving downlink information on the second resource and canceling transmitting uplink information on the first resource based on a high-low relationship between a priority of the uplink transmission and a priority of the downlink reception; wherein the first resource is a resource of the uplink transmission; the second resource is a resource of the downlink reception; and the first TA is a TA used by the uplink transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving first radio resource control (RRC) signaling and / or second RRC signaling; wherein the first RRC signaling is used to indicate the priority of the uplink transmission, and the second RRC signaling is used to indicate the priority of the downlink reception.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving first downlink control information (DCI) and / or second DCI; wherein the first DCI is used to indicate the priority of the uplink transmission, and the second DCI is used to indicate the priority of the downlink reception.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving third RRC signaling and / or fourth RRC signaling; wherein the third RRC signaling is used to indicate whether to enable the first DCI to indicate the priority of the uplink transmission, and the fourth RRC signaling is used to indicate whether to enable the second DCI to indicate the priority of the downlink reception.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The second resource comprises a system information block (SIB) 19 preset time window; The method further comprises: in response to determining that the first resource overlaps with the SIB 19 preset time window based on the first TA, receiving a SIB 19 within the SIB 19 preset time window.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The SIB 19 preset time window is a last SIB 19 transmission time window within a SIB 19 validity period.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein The first resource and the second resource are dynamically scheduled resources; or the first resource and the second resource are semi-statically configured resources.

8. The method of any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The transmitting uplink information on the first resource and canceling receiving downlink information on the second resource, or the receiving downlink information on the second resource and canceling transmitting uplink information on the first resource based on the high-low relationship between the priority of the uplink transmission and the priority of the downlink reception comprises: in response to the priority of the uplink transmission being higher than the priority of the downlink reception, transmitting the uplink information on the first resource and canceling receiving downlink information on the second resource; or in response to the priority of the uplink transmission being lower than the priority of the downlink reception, receiving the downlink information on the second resource and canceling transmitting uplink information on the first resource; or in response to the priority of the uplink transmission being the same as the priority of the downlink reception, receiving the downlink information on the second resource and canceling transmitting uplink information on the first resource, or transmitting the uplink information on the first resource and canceling receiving downlink information on the second resource.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The method further comprises: In response to the priority of the uplink transmission being the same as the priority of the downlink reception, and a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback state of the downlink reception being disabled, receiving the downlink information on the second resource and canceling sending the uplink information on the first resource; or, In response to the priority of the uplink transmission being the same as the priority of the downlink reception, and the HARQ feedback state of the downlink reception being enabled, receiving the downlink information on the second resource and canceling sending the uplink information on the first resource, or sending the uplink information on the first resource and canceling receiving the downlink information on the second resource.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that, The method further comprises: In response to the uplink information being a sounding reference signal (SRS) and the first resource being determined to overlap with the second resource in the time domain based on the first TA, receiving the downlink information on the second resource and sending the SRS on a part of the first resource, the part of the first resource not overlapping with the second resource.

11. A communication method, comprising: The method is applied to a network device in NTN communication, and the method comprises: sending first signaling and / or second signaling; The first signaling is used to indicate the priority of the uplink transmission, and the second signaling is used to indicate the priority of the downlink reception; the high-low relationship between the priority of the uplink transmission and the priority of the downlink reception is used for the terminal device to, in response to determining that the first resource overlaps with the second resource in the time domain based on the first TA, based on the high-low relationship, send the uplink information on the first resource and cancel receiving the downlink information on the second resource, or receive the downlink information on the second resource and cancel sending the uplink information on the first resource; the first resource is a resource of the uplink transmission; the second resource is a resource of the downlink reception; and the first TA is a TA used by the uplink transmission.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The first signaling is first RRC signaling, and the second signaling is second RRC signaling.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein, The first signaling is first DCI, and the second signaling is second DCI.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, The method further comprises: sending third RRC signaling and / or fourth RRC signaling; The third RRC signaling is used to indicate whether to enable the first DCI to indicate the priority of the uplink transmission, and the fourth RRC signaling is used to indicate whether to enable the second DCI to indicate the priority of the downlink reception.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving a second TA, the second TA being a reported TA; in response to the second TA, sending third DCI and fourth DCI; The third DCI is used to indicate a resource of the uplink transmission, and the fourth DCI is used to indicate a resource of the downlink reception.

16. The method of any one of claims 11-14, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving a second TA, the second TA being a reported TA; in response to the second TA, sending fifth RRC signaling and sixth RRC signaling; wherein the fifth RRC signaling is used for configuring resources of the uplink transmission; and the sixth RRC signaling is used for configuring resources of the downlink reception.

17. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein, The resources of the downlink reception comprise a SIB19 preset time window. The method further comprises: in the SIB19 preset time window, sending the SIB19.

18. The method of any one of claims 11-17, wherein, The method further comprises: sending seventh RRC signaling, the seventh RRC signaling being used for indicating whether to enable HARQ feedback of the downlink reception.

19. A communications device, characterized by comprising a processor and interface circuitry for receiving signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmitting signals to the processor or sending signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, the processor being used for implementing the method of any one of claims 1-10 by logic circuitry or executing code instructions; or the method of any one of claims 11-18.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium has a computer program or instructions stored therein, when the computer program or instructions are executed by a communication device, the method of any one of claims 1-10 is implemented; or the method of any one of claims 11-18 is implemented.

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