Information transmission method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides an information transmission method and a communication apparatus. The method comprises: receiving first configuration information from a network device, the first configuration information being used for indicating an SRS silent mode, and the SRS silent mode being one or more of the following: not transmitting SRS on at least one SRS transmission occasion associated with an SRS resource set; or not transmitting SRS on at least one SRS transmission occasion associated with an SRS resource; or not transmitting SRS on at least one port of an SRS resource on at least one SRS transmission occasion; then, transmitting an SRS to the network device on the basis of the first configuration information. By means of the present method, terminal device power consumption is reduced without affecting acquisition of user-level channel information, and interference of a neighboring cell of SRS is reduced, improving SRS channel estimation accuracy.

Description

An information transmission method and communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410964822.5, filed on July 17, 2024, entitled "An Information Transmission Method and Communication Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an information transmission method and communication device. Background Technology

[0003] The sounding reference signal (SRS) is an uplink channel sounding signal transmitted by the terminal device and received by the network device. SRS is used for acquiring uplink channel state information (CSI) based on codebook or non-codebook transmissions, for channel measurement in downlink data transmission weight calculation, and for uplink beam management. The transmission methods for SRS, including time-frequency resources, transmission beams, and transmission power, are configured by the network device for the terminal device. The network device can configure one or more SRS resource sets for the terminal device, configuring the specific information for SRS transmission through these resource sets. An SRS resource set contains one or more SRS resources, and an SRS resource includes one or more SRS ports. The terminal device can transmit SRS on the corresponding time-frequency resources, and the network device uses different analog beam scans to receive SRS at different times.

[0004] Based on the current New Radio (NR) protocol, terminal devices are unaware of the specific receiving beam information of SRS by network devices. For certain beams, due to poor channel quality with users, network devices will not subsequently use those beams to receive users' uplink signals or transmit user-level downlink signals. In this case, SRS transmitted based on these beams will not only increase the power consumption of the terminal device but also generate additional neighboring cell interference. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides an information transmission method and communication device. Based on the method described in this application, the power consumption of terminal devices can be reduced, while the neighboring cell interference of SRS can be reduced.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an information transmission method, the method comprising:

[0007] The system receives first configuration information from a network device, which indicates a silencing mode for the Sounding Reference Signal (SRS). The SRS silencing mode can be one or more of the following: not transmitting SRS during at least one SRS transmission event associated with the SRS resource set; or not transmitting SRS during at least one SRS transmission event associated with the SRS resource; or not transmitting SRS during at least one SRS transmission event at the SRS resource port; and then transmits SRS to the network device based on the first configuration information.

[0008] In the embodiments of this application, the method described in the first aspect can be applied to a terminal device. Based on the actual user-level SRS measurement requirements, the network device can instruct the terminal device through the first configuration information to implement a silent mode for SRS, omitting SRS transmission during certain SRS transmission times. This achieves dynamic silencing of unnecessary SRS transmission, which, without affecting the acquisition of user-level channel information, helps reduce the power consumption of the terminal device and simultaneously reduces neighboring cell interference with SRS, thereby improving the channel estimation accuracy of SRS.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource set includes a first SRS resource associated with N SRS transmission opportunities, of which M SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where N and M are positive integers and M is less than or equal to N.

[0010] In this embodiment, the silent mode of SRS means that SRS is not sent during at least one SRS transmission opportunity associated with the SRS resource. Specifically, it can be that at least one SRS transmission opportunity associated with the same SRS resource does not send SRS, which helps to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device and reduce SRS neighbor cell interference.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource set further includes a second SRS resource associated with P SRS transmission opportunities, of which Q SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where P and Q are positive integers and Q is less than or equal to P.

[0012] In this embodiment, the silent mode of SRS means that SRS is not sent during at least one SRS transmission opportunity associated with the SRS resource. Specifically, it can be that at least one SRS transmission opportunity associated with different SRS resources does not send SRS, which helps to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device and reduce SRS neighbor cell interference.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the timing of the N SRS transmissions associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the timing of the P SRS transmissions associated with the second SRS resource; the M SRS transmissions not used for sending SRS in the N SRS transmissions associated with the first SRS resource are the same as the Q SRS transmissions not used for sending SRS in the P SRS transmissions associated with the second SRS resource.

[0014] In this embodiment, the SRS silencing mode means that SRS is not sent during at least one SRS transmission opportunity associated with the SRS resource set. This can effectively indicate the silencing mode for the SRS resource set, which is beneficial to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device and reduce SRS neighbor cell interference.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the first SRS resource is associated with T groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group of SRS transmission opportunities including the N SRS transmission opportunities, where T is a positive integer; and / or, the second SRS resource is associated with K groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group of SRS transmission opportunities including the P SRS transmission opportunities, where K is a positive integer.

[0016] In the embodiments of this application, the ability to group and indicate the silent mode of SRS is beneficial to improving communication efficiency.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource set includes a first SRS resource, which contains multiple subbands. The first SRS resource is associated with an X1 group of SRS transmission opportunities. Each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X1 group includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the first SRS resource, where X1 is an integer greater than 1. In the X1 group of SRS transmission opportunities, a Y1 group of SRS transmission opportunities does not send SRS, where Y1 is a positive integer and is less than or equal to X1.

[0018] In the embodiments of this application, when SRS is transmitted using frequency hopping for SRS resources, the silent mode of SRS can also be effectively indicated on the same SRS resource, which helps to reduce the power consumption of terminal devices and reduce SRS neighbor cell interference.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource set further includes a second SRS resource containing multiple subbands. The second SRS resource is associated with X2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities. Each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X2 groups includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the second SRS resource, where X2 is an integer greater than 1. In the X2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, Y2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where Y2 is a positive integer and Y2 is less than or equal to X2.

[0020] In the embodiments of this application, when SRS is transmitted using frequency hopping for SRS resources, the silent mode of SRS can also be effectively indicated on different SRS resources, which helps to reduce the power consumption of terminal devices and reduce SRS neighbor cell interference.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the transmission timing of the X1 group SRS associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the transmission timing of the X2 group SRS associated with the second SRS resource; the transmission timing of the Y1 group SRS that is not used to send SRS in the X1 group SRS transmission timing associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the transmission timing of the Y2 group SRS that is not used to send SRS in the X2 group SRS transmission timing associated with the second SRS resource.

[0022] In the embodiments of this application, when SRS is transmitted in a frequency-hopping manner for the SRS resource set, it can also effectively indicate the silent mode of the SRS resource set, which is beneficial to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device and reduce SRS neighbor cell interference.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the first SRS resource is associated with Z1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each of the Z1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities including the X1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, where Z1 is a positive integer; and / or, the second SRS resource is associated with Z2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each of the Z2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities including the X2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, where Z2 is a positive integer.

[0024] In this embodiment, the frequency hopping method can also be used to indicate the silent mode of SRS in groups, which is beneficial to improving communication efficiency.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource includes a first port associated with a first SRS transmission timing, during which the first port does not transmit SRS.

[0026] In this embodiment of the application, the silent mode of SRS means that at least one port of the SRS resource does not send SRS during at least one SRS transmission, which helps to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device and reduce SRS neighbor cell interference.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource further includes a second port, which transmits SRS at the same time as the first SRS transmission. This application embodiment primarily addresses the SRS transmission scenario of the same port of the SRS resource at different SRS transmission times.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource is also associated with a second SRS transmission timing, during which the first port transmits SRS. This application embodiment primarily addresses the SRS transmission scenario where different ports of the SRS resource transmit SRS at the same SRS transmission timing.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information is used to indicate the silent mode to be switched to in the SRS. This approach improves the flexibility of configuring the silent mode of SRS for network devices.

[0030] In one possible implementation, before receiving the first configuration information from the network device, the method further includes: sending first information to the network device, the first information indicating one or more of the following: an identifier of a first channel state information reference signal (CSIRS) resource set, an index value of a first CSIRS resource, a reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement value corresponding to the first CSIRS resource, or a port that is allowed to be silent; wherein the received energy of the first CSIRS resource set or the first CSIRS resource is less than a preset threshold value.

[0031] In this embodiment, the network device can autonomously decide which silence mode to adopt based on its own measurement information, or the terminal device can report an SRS silence suggestion and then the network device can decide on the final silence mode to adopt; this is beneficial to improving the accuracy and flexibility of the network device in configuring the SRS silence mode.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information is carried in the Radio Resource Control (RRC), Downlink Control Information (DCI), or Media Access Control (MAC) CE.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the total SRS transmission power of different SRS resources in the SRS resource set is the same.

[0034] In one possible implementation, ports of different SRS resources in the SRS resource set use the same transmit power.

[0035] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an information transmission method, the method comprising:

[0036] First configuration information is sent to the terminal device. The first configuration information is used to indicate the silencing mode of SRS. The silencing mode of SRS is one or more of the following: SRS is not sent during at least one SRS transmission time associated with the SRS resource set; or SRS is not sent during at least one SRS transmission time associated with the SRS resource; or at least one port of the SRS resource does not send SRS during at least one SRS transmission time. Then, SRS from the terminal device is received based on the first configuration information.

[0037] In the embodiments of this application, the method described in the second aspect can be applied to network devices. The beneficial effects of possible implementations of the second aspect can be found in the beneficial effects of possible implementations of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource set includes a first SRS resource associated with N SRS transmission opportunities, of which M SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where N and M are positive integers and M is less than or equal to N.

[0039] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource set further includes a second SRS resource associated with P SRS transmission opportunities, of which Q SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where P and Q are positive integers and Q is less than or equal to P.

[0040] In one possible implementation, the timing of the N SRS transmissions associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the timing of the P SRS transmissions associated with the second SRS resource; the M SRS transmissions not used for sending SRS in the N SRS transmissions associated with the first SRS resource are the same as the Q SRS transmissions not used for sending SRS in the P SRS transmissions associated with the second SRS resource.

[0041] In one possible implementation, the first SRS resource is associated with T groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group of SRS transmission opportunities including the N SRS transmission opportunities, where T is a positive integer; and / or, the second SRS resource is associated with K groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group of SRS transmission opportunities including the P SRS transmission opportunities, where K is a positive integer.

[0042] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource set includes a first SRS resource, which contains multiple subbands. The first SRS resource is associated with an X1 group of SRS transmission opportunities. Each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X1 group includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the first SRS resource, where X1 is an integer greater than 1. In the X1 group of SRS transmission opportunities, a Y1 group of SRS transmission opportunities does not send SRS, where Y1 is a positive integer and is less than or equal to X1.

[0043] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource set includes a second SRS resource, which contains multiple subbands. The second SRS resource is associated with X2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities. Each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X2 groups includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the second SRS resource, where X2 is an integer greater than 1. In the X2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, Y2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where Y2 is a positive integer and is less than or equal to X2.

[0044] In one possible implementation, the transmission timing of the X1 group SRS associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the transmission timing of the X2 group SRS associated with the second SRS resource; the transmission timing of the Y1 group SRS that is not used to send SRS in the X1 group SRS transmission timing associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the transmission timing of the Y2 group SRS that is not used to send SRS in the X2 group SRS transmission timing associated with the second SRS resource.

[0045] In one possible implementation, the first SRS resource is associated with Z1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each of the Z1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities including the X1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, where Z1 is a positive integer; and / or, the second SRS resource is associated with Z2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each of the Z2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities including the X2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, where Z2 is a positive integer.

[0046] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource includes a first port associated with a first SRS transmission timing, during which the first port does not transmit SRS.

[0047] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource also includes a second port that sends SRS at the time of the first SRS transmission.

[0048] In one possible implementation, the SRS resource is also associated with a second SRS transmission timing, during which the first port sends SRS.

[0049] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information is used to indicate the silent mode to be switched to in the SRS.

[0050] In one possible implementation, before sending the first configuration information to the terminal device, the method further includes: receiving first information from the terminal device, the first information indicating one or more of the following: an identifier of a first CSIRS resource set, an index value of the first CSIRS resource, an RSRP measurement value corresponding to the first CSIRS resource, or a port that is allowed to be silent; wherein the received energy of the first CSIRS resource set or the first CSIRS resource is less than a preset threshold value.

[0051] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information is carried in RRC, DCI, or MAC CE.

[0052] In one possible implementation, the total SRS transmission power of different SRS resources in the SRS resource set is the same.

[0053] In one possible implementation, ports of different SRS resources in the SRS resource set use the same transmit power.

[0054] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device for executing the methods of the first aspect and the second aspect, or any possible implementation of either the first aspect or the second aspect. The communication device includes modules having the function of executing the methods of the first aspect and the second aspect, or any possible implementation of either the first aspect or the second aspect.

[0055] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device including a processing circuit for executing the methods of the first aspect and the second aspect, or any possible implementation of either the first aspect or the second aspect. The processing circuit executes a program stored in a memory, and when the program is executed, the methods described in either the first aspect and the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof are executed.

[0056] In one possible implementation, the memory is located outside the aforementioned communication device.

[0057] In one possible implementation, the memory is located within the aforementioned communication device.

[0058] In this embodiment, the processing circuitry and memory can also be integrated into a single device; that is, the processing circuitry and memory can be integrated together. For example, the communication device can be a chip.

[0059] In one possible implementation, the communication device further includes a transceiver circuit for receiving information (or inputting information) or sending information (or outputting information).

[0060] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which includes a processing circuit and a transceiver circuit. The processing circuit can be a logic circuit, and the transceiver circuit can be an interface circuit. The logic circuit and the interface circuit are coupled. The interface circuit is used to input and / or output information, and the logic circuit is used to execute the methods in the first aspect and the second aspect, or any possible implementation of the first aspect and the second aspect.

[0061] In a sixth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a chip including a processing circuit and an interface circuit, the processing circuit and the interface circuit being coupled; the interface circuit is used for inputting and / or outputting information, and the processing circuit is used for executing code instructions to cause the method shown in any of the first and second aspects or any possible implementation thereof to be executed.

[0062] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the methods shown in any of the first and second aspects or any possible implementation thereof to be executed.

[0063] Eighthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product that, when run on a computer, causes the methods shown in any of the first and second aspects or any possible implementations described above to be executed.

[0064] Ninthly, this application provides a communication system including a terminal device and a network device. The terminal device is used to perform the method shown in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof, and the network device is used to perform the method shown in the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof. Attached Figure Description

[0065] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0066] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of communication between a network device and a terminal device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figure 3A is a schematic diagram of an ORAN system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0068] Figure 3B is a diagram showing the network element function division and protocol layer structure of an ORAN device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0069] Figure 4A is a schematic diagram of an antenna array HBF architecture provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0070] Figure 4B is a schematic diagram of an SRS transmission provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0071] Figure 4C is a schematic diagram of a network device receiving SRS by beam scanning according to an embodiment of this application;

[0072] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating an information transmission method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0073] Figure 6A is a schematic diagram of a silent mode of SRS provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0074] Figure 6B is a schematic diagram of another silent mode of SRS provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0075] Figure 6C is a schematic diagram of another silent mode of SRS provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0076] Figure 6D is a schematic diagram of another silent mode of SRS provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0077] Figure 7A is a schematic diagram of another silent mode of SRS provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0078] Figure 7B is a schematic diagram of another silent mode of SRS provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0079] Figure 7C is a schematic diagram of another silent mode of SRS provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0080] Figure 7D is a schematic diagram of another silent mode of SRS provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0081] Figure 7E is a schematic diagram of another silent mode of SRS provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0082] Figure 8A is a schematic diagram of another silent mode of SRS provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0083] Figure 8B is a schematic diagram of another silent mode of SRS provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0084] Figure 8C is a schematic diagram of another silent mode of SRS provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0085] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0086] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0087] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0088] To facilitate understanding of the technical solution of this application, the application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0089] The terms "first" and "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are used only to distinguish different objects and not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or apparatuses.

[0090] The term "embodiment" as used herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0091] In this application, "at least one (item)" refers to one or more, "more than one" refers to two or more, "at least two (items)" refers to two or three or more, and "and / or" is used to describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. "Or" indicates that there can be two relationships, such as only A exists and only B exists; when A and B are not mutually exclusive, it can also mean that there are three relationships, such as only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (item) of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items. For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c".

[0092] In this application, "send" and "receive" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "send information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which can include direct transmission via the air interface or indirect transmission via the air interface from other units or modules. "Receive information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which can include direct reception from YY via the air interface or indirect reception from YY via the air interface from other units or modules. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of a chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of a chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can occur between devices, such as between network devices and terminal devices, or within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device via buses, traces, or interfaces.

[0093] To better understand the embodiments of this application, the communication system involved in the embodiments of this application will be described below:

[0094] The method provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: wireless local area network (WLAN) communication systems, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) systems, multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) communication systems, long-term evolution (LTE) systems, internet of things (IoT) systems, narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, fourth-generation (4G) systems, fifth-generation (5G) systems, or new radio (NR) systems, and other future communication systems, such as sixth-generation (6G) systems. Among these, IoT networks may include, but are not limited to, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks. The communication methods in V2X systems can be collectively referred to as vehicle-to-everything (V2X), where X can represent anything. For example, V2X can include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication, or vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication. The method provided in this application also supports communication systems that integrate multiple wireless technologies. For example, it can be applied to systems that integrate non-terrestrial networks (NTN) with terrestrial mobile communication networks, such as drones, satellite communication systems, and high-altitude platform station (HAPS) communication. Additionally, it can be applied to low-frequency (sub-6GHz) and high-frequency (above 6GHz) communication scenarios. It is understood that the system architecture described in this application is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of this application and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in this application.

[0095] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system applicable to embodiments of this application. The communication system includes at least one network device and at least one terminal device. Figure 1 uses a network device and multiple terminal devices as examples. The terminal devices here can be cellular phones, smartphones, laptops, handheld communication devices, handheld computing devices, satellite radio devices, global positioning systems, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and / or any other suitable devices for communication on a wireless communication system, and all can be connected to the network device. These terminal devices are all capable of communicating with the network device. Of course, the number of terminal devices and network devices in Figure 1 is just an example, and there can be fewer or more. The terminal devices and network devices involved in the communication system in Figure 1 will be described in detail below.

[0096] I. Terminal Equipment

[0097] The terminal device mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be a device with wireless transceiver capabilities. The terminal device can communicate with access network equipment (or access devices or network devices) in a radio access network (RAN). The terminal device can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, terminal, subscriber unit, user station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, user agent, or user device, etc. In one possible implementation, the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; or it can be deployed on water, including ships; or it can be deployed in the air, such as on airplanes, balloons, or satellites. In another possible implementation, the terminal device can be a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, vehicle-mounted device, wearable device, sensor, terminal in the Internet of Things, terminal in the Internet of Vehicles, drone, 5G network, or any form of terminal device in future networks, etc., and this application embodiment does not limit this. In another possible implementation, the terminal device can also be a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in autonomous driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in a smart city, or a wireless terminal in a smart home, etc.

[0098] In this application embodiment, the device for implementing the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device itself; it can also be a device capable of supporting 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 this application embodiment, the chip system can be composed of chips or can include chips and other discrete devices. For ease of description, when examples are mentioned below, the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment are described using the UE as an example to illustrate the device for implementing the functions of the terminal device.

[0099] II. Network Equipment

[0100] A network device can be a device deployed in a radio access network to provide wireless communication services to terminal devices. This network device can also be called an access network device, access equipment, RAN node, or RAN equipment, etc. For example, a network device can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation evolved NodeB (ng-eNB), or a network device in 6G communication, etc. A network device can be any device with wireless transceiver capabilities, including but not limited to the base stations mentioned above (including base stations deployed on satellites). This network device can also be a device with base station functionality in 6G. As an example, this network device can be an access node, wireless relay node, or wireless backhaul node in a wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) system. As another example, this network device can be a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. As yet another example, this network device can be a wearable device or in-vehicle device capable of providing wireless communication services, etc. As another example, the network device can also be a small station, a transmission reception point (TRP) (or a transmission point), etc. The network device can also be a master station, a secondary station, a motor slide retainer (MSR) node, a home base station, an access point (AP), a baseband unit (BBU), a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), a remote radio head (RRH), a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a radio unit (RU), a positioning node, etc. In systems using different wireless access technologies, the names of devices with network device functions may vary; these will not be listed individually in the embodiments of this application.

[0101] Network devices can be fixed or mobile. For example, a helicopter or drone can be configured to act as a mobile network device, and one or more cells can move according to the location of the mobile network device. In other examples, a helicopter or drone can be configured to be used as a device to communicate with another network device.

[0102] In some network device deployments, network devices can include centralized units (CUs) and distributed units (DUs). For example, some protocol layer functions of the network device may be centrally controlled by the CU, while the remaining partial or complete protocol layer functions may be distributed across the DU, which is then centrally controlled by the CU. In other network device deployments, the CU can be divided into CU-control plane (CP) and CU-user plane (UP). In still other deployments, the network device can also be an open radio access network (ORAN / O-RAN) architecture. When the network device is in an ORAN architecture, it can be a functional entity or module within the ORAN, such as a combination of one or more of the following: CU, DU, or RU. In an ORAN system, the CU can also be called an open (O)-CU, the DU can be called an O-DU, the CU-CP can be called an O-CU-CP, and the CU-UP can be called an O-CU-UP, etc. The network device deployment methods listed herein are merely examples. As standard technologies evolve, network devices may have other deployment forms, and this application does not limit them.

[0103] In some deployments, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminals in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes each implementing a portion of the access network's functions. For example, a RAN node can be a CU, DU, CU-CP, CU-UP, or RU, etc. CUs and DUs can be configured separately or included in the same network element, such as a BBU. RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as RRUs, AAUs, or RRHs.

[0104] RAN nodes can support one or more types of fronthaul interfaces, each corresponding to a DU and RU with different functions. If the fronthaul interface between the DU and RU is a common public radio interface (CPRI), the DU is configured to implement one or more baseband functions, and the RU is configured to implement one or more radio frequency functions. If the fronthaul interface between the DU and RU is another type of interface, relative to CPRI, some downlink and / or uplink baseband functions, such as, for downlink, precoding, digital beamforming (BF), or one or more of inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) / cyclic prefix addition (CP), are moved from the DU to the RU; and for uplink, digital beamforming (BF), or one or more of fast Fourier transform (FFT) / cyclic prefix removal (CP), are moved from the DU to the RU. In one possible implementation, the interface can be an enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI). Under the eCPRI architecture, the segmentation between DU and RU differs, corresponding to different categories (Cat) of eCPRI, such as eCPRI Cat A, B, C, D, E, F.

[0105] Taking eCPRI Cat A as an example, for downlink transmission, the DU is configured to implement one or more functions before and after layer mapping (i.e., coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, and layer mapping), while other functions after layer mapping (e.g., resource element (RE) mapping, digital beamforming (BF), or one or more functions of inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) / adding cyclic prefix (CP)) are moved to the RU. For uplink transmission, the DU is configured to implement one or more functions before and after demapping (i.e., decoding, rate matching de-matching, descrambling, demodulation, inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT), channel equalization, and demapping), while other functions after demapping (e.g., digital BF or one or more functions of fast Fourier transform (FFT) / removing CP) are moved to the RU. It is understandable that the functional descriptions of the DU and RU corresponding to various types of eCPRI can be found in the eCPRI protocol, and will not be elaborated here.

[0106] In one possible design, the processing unit in the BBU used to implement baseband functions is called the baseband high (BBH) unit, and the processing unit in the RRU / AAU / RRH used to implement baseband functions is called the baseband low (BBL) unit.

[0107] 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. 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 modules and hardware modules.

[0108] In this application embodiment, the device for implementing the function of the network device can be the network device itself; it can also be a device capable of supporting 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. For ease of description, when specific examples are mentioned below, the technical solution provided in this application embodiment will be described using a base station as an example.

[0109] Network devices and / or terminal devices can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can also be deployed in the air on airplanes, balloons, and satellites. This application does not limit the scenario in which the network devices and terminal devices are located. Furthermore, terminal devices and network devices can be hardware devices, or software functions running on dedicated hardware or general-purpose hardware, such as virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform), or entities that include dedicated or general-purpose hardware devices and software functions. This application does not limit the specific form of the terminal devices and network devices.

[0110] Alternatively, the communication between the network device and each terminal device in the communication system shown in Figure 1 can also be represented in another form. As shown in Figure 2, terminal device 10 includes a processor 101, a memory 102, and a transceiver 103. Transceiver 103 includes a transmitter 1031, a receiver 1032, and an antenna 1033. Network device 20 includes a processor 201, a memory 202, and a transceiver 203. Transceiver 203 includes a transmitter 2031, a receiver 2032, and an antenna 2033. Receiver 1032 can be used to receive transmission control information through antenna 1033, and transmitter 1031 can be used to send transmission feedback information to network device 20 through antenna 1033. Transmitter 2031 can be used to send transmission control information to terminal device 10 through antenna 2033, and receiver 2032 can be used to receive transmission feedback information sent by terminal device 10 through antenna 2033.

[0111] Figure 3A is a schematic diagram of an ORAN system provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 3A, the network device is also called an access network device. The access network device (RAN, for example, may be an eNB, gNB, or next-generation access network device) communicates with the core network (CN) through a backhaul link and with the user equipment (UE) through an air interface.

[0112] Specifically, the baseband unit (BBU) in the access network equipment communicates with the core network via a backhaul link, and the radio unit (RU) in the access network equipment communicates with at least one UE via an air interface. The BBU communicates with at least one RU via a fronthaul link. The BBU and RU may or may not be co-located. The BBU includes at least one control unit (CU) and at least one distributed unit (DU), which can communicate via at least one midhaul link.

[0113] Figure 3B is a diagram illustrating the network element function partitioning and protocol layer structure of an ORAN device according to an embodiment of this application. In some examples, the CU is a logical node carrying the radio resource control (RRC) layer, service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and other control functions of the access network device. The CU connects to network nodes such as the core network through interfaces, which may be interfaces such as E2 interfaces. Optionally, the CU may have some functions of the core network. The CU (e.g., the PDCP layer and higher layers) connects to the DU (e.g., the RLC layer and lower layers) through interfaces, which may be interfaces such as the F1 interface. In some examples, these interfaces (e.g., the F1 interface) can provide control plane (C-Plane) and user plane (U-Plane) functions (e.g., interface management, system information management, UE context management, RRC message transmission, etc.). F1AP is the application protocol of the F1 interface, and in some examples, the signaling procedures of F1 are defined. The F1 interface supports the control plane F1-C and the user plane F1-U.

[0114] In some examples, the CU can be split into CU-CP (control unit-control plane) and CU-UP (control unit-user plane). CU-CP is a logical node carrying the RRC layer and PDCP-C (control plane part of PDCP) layer, used to implement the CU's control plane functions. CU-CP can interact with network elements in the core network used to implement control plane functions. These network elements in the core network can be access and mobility function (AMF) network elements, such as the access and mobility management function (AMF) in a 5G system. The AMF network element is responsible for mobility management in the mobile network, such as terminal device location updates, terminal device registration with the network, and terminal device handover. CU-UP is a logical node carrying the SDAP layer and PDCP-U (user plane part of PDCP) layer, used to implement the CU's user plane functions. CU-UP can interact with network elements in the core network used to implement user plane functions. These network elements in the core network, such as the UPF (user plane function) in a 5G system, are responsible for data forwarding and receiving in terminal devices. The above CU and DU configurations are merely examples; the functions of the CU and DU can be configured as needed. For instance, the CU or DU can be configured to have more protocol layer functions, or only some protocol layer processing functions. For example, some RLC layer functions and protocol layer functions above the RLC layer can be placed in the CU, while the remaining RLC layer functions and protocol layer functions below the RLC layer can be placed in the DU. Furthermore, the functions of the CU or DU can be divided according to service type or other system requirements, such as by latency. Functions that require low latency can be placed in the DU, while functions that do not require low latency can be placed in the CU.

[0115] In some examples, a DU is a logical node carrying radio link control (RLC) layer, medium access control (MAC) layer, higher physical layer (Higher PHY) layer, and other functions. In some examples, a DU can control at least one RU. The DU connects to the RU through interfaces, which may be fronthaul interfaces. In some examples, the Higher PHY layer includes PHY layer processing functions such as forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation, and demodulation. In some examples, an RU is a logical node carrying lower physical layer (Lower PHY) and radio frequency (RF) processing. In some examples, an RU may be a 3GPP transmission reception point (TRP) or remote radio head (RRH) or other similar entity. In some examples, Low-PHY includes PHY processing functions such as Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT), digital beamforming, and filtering. The RU communicates with one or more UEs via a wireless link.

[0116] The DU and RU can be co-located or not. The DU and RU exchange control plane and user plane information via a fronthaul link through the Lower-Layer Split CUS-Plane (LLS-CUS) interface. LLS-CUS may include LLS-C and LLS-U interfaces providing the control plane (C-Plane) and user plane (U-Plane), respectively. In some examples, the control plane (C-Plane) refers to real-time control between the DU and RU. The DU and RU exchange management information via an LLS-M interface on the fronthaul link; the management plane (M-Plane) refers to non-real-time management operations between the DU and RU.

[0117] DU and RU can cooperate to implement the functions of the PHY layer. A DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functions of DU and RU can be configured in various ways depending on the design. For example, a DU can be configured to implement baseband functions, and an RU can be configured to implement mid-RF functions. Another example is that a DU can be configured to implement higher-level functions in the PHY layer, and an RU can be configured to implement lower-level functions in the PHY layer, or to implement both lower-level and RF functions. Higher-level functions in the physical layer can include a portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the MAC layer, while lower-level functions in the physical layer can include another portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the mid-RF side.

[0118] 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.

[0119] It should be noted that the network application architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of network application architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0120] To facilitate understanding of the solutions provided in the embodiments of this application, the relevant concepts involved in the embodiments of this application are introduced below:

[0121] 1. Antenna Port

[0122] An antenna port is a logical concept; there is no direct correspondence between an antenna port and a physical antenna. An antenna port is typically associated with a reference signal, and its meaning can be understood as a transmit / receive interface on the channel through which the reference signal passes. Therefore, in some cases, an antenna port can also be a reference signal port or a pilot port. For low-frequency systems, an antenna port may correspond to one or more antenna elements that jointly transmit the reference signal; the receiver can treat them as a whole without distinguishing between individual elements. For high-frequency systems, an antenna port may correspond to a beam; similarly, the receiver only needs to treat this beam as an interface and does not need to distinguish between individual elements.

[0123] In this embodiment of the application, the multiple ports included in a probe reference signal resource can be referred to as probe reference signal ports, or antenna ports.

[0124] 2. Beam

[0125] In the NR protocol, beaming can be represented as a spatial domain filter, spatial filter, spatial domain parameter, spatial parameter, spatial domain setting, spatial setting, or quasi-colocation (QCL) information, QCL assumption, QCL indication, etc. Beaming can be indicated by transmission configuration indicator state (TCI-state) parameters or spatial relation parameters. Therefore, in this application, beaming can be replaced by spatial domain filter, spatial filter, spatial parameter, spatial parameter, spatial setting, spatial setting, QCL information, QCL assumption, QCL indication, TCI-state (DL TCI-state, UL TCI-state), spatial relation, etc. These terms are also equivalent to each other. Beaming can also be replaced with other beaming terms, which are not limited in this application.

[0126] The beam used for transmitting signals can be called a transmission beam (Tx beam), a spatial domain transmission filter, a spatial transmission filter, a spatial domain transmission parameter, or a spatial domain transmission setting. The downlink transmission beam can be indicated by the TCI-state. The beam used for receiving signals can be called a reception beam (Rx beam), a spatial domain reception filter, a spatial reception filter, a spatial domain reception parameter, or a spatial reception setting. The uplink transmission beam can be indicated by a spatial relation, an uplink TCI-state, or an SRS resource (indicating the transmission beam using that SRS). Therefore, the uplink beam can also be replaced with SRS resources.

[0127] A transmit beam refers to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space after a signal is transmitted through an antenna, while a receive beam refers to the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space of the wireless signal received from the antenna. Beams generally correspond to resources. For example, during beam measurement, network devices measure different beams using different resources, and the terminal device provides feedback on the measured resource quality, allowing the network device to determine the quality of the corresponding beam. During data transmission, beam information is also indicated through its corresponding resources. For instance, network devices use the TCI (transmission configuration indication) field in downlink control information (DCI) to indicate the downlink shared channel (PDSCH) beam information of the terminal device.

[0128] Optionally, multiple beams with the same or similar communication characteristics can be considered as a single beam. A beam may include one or more antenna ports for transmitting data channels, control channels, and detection signals, etc. One or more antenna ports forming a beam can also be considered as a set of antenna ports. In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, a beam refers to the transmit beam of a network device. In beam measurement, each beam of a network device corresponds to a resource, and therefore the beam corresponding to that resource can be uniquely identified by the resource index. Furthermore, a beam can be a wide beam, a narrow beam, or other types of beams. The beamforming technique can be beamforming technology or other techniques. Beamforming technology refers to adjusting the amplitude and / or phase of a signal so that the radiated signal radiated through an antenna array has a certain directionality, enabling higher antenna array gain. The main lobe of the radiation pattern of the antenna array can be called a beam. Specifically, beamforming technology can be digital beamforming technology, analog beamforming technology, or hybrid digital / analog beamforming technology, etc.

[0129] In beamforming technology, the amplitude and / or phase of a signal are adjusted after being filtered by a spatial domain transmission filter. Different spatial domain transmission filters using different spatial filtering parameters can achieve beams in different directions. In the embodiments of this application, the spatial filtering parameters can be replaced by beams, or the spatial filtering parameters can be replaced by spatial domain transmission filters. Spatial domain transmission filters can also be called spatial filters. Specifically, beamforming technology includes digital beamforming (DBF), analog beamforming (ABF), and hybrid digital-analog beamforming (HBF). DBF technology has multiple digital processing channels, each adjusting the phase (or amplitude and phase) of the signal in the digital domain, making the radiated signal through the antenna directional. Therefore, for DBF technology, the function of the aforementioned spatial domain transmission filter can be achieved through multiple digital processing channels. ABF (Alternating Aspect Ratio) technology can transmit signals simultaneously using an antenna array composed of multiple antenna elements. Each antenna element corresponds to a phase shifter. By adjusting the phase of the phase shifter corresponding to each antenna element, the radiated signal through the antenna array is made directional. Therefore, for ABF technology, the function of the aforementioned spatial transmission filter can be achieved through multiple phase shifters corresponding to multiple elements in the antenna array. HBF (Hybrid Beamforming) technology is a combination of ABF and DBF technologies, possessing both multiple digital processing channels and multiple analog phase shifters. Therefore, for hybrid beamforming technology, the function of the aforementioned spatial transmission filter can be achieved through multiple phase shifters corresponding to multiple elements in the antenna array and multiple digital processing channels. However, this application is not limited to this; the aforementioned spatial transmission filter can also be implemented using other technologies.

[0130] It is understandable that one or more antenna ports that form a beam can be regarded as an antenna port set or an antenna port group. For ease of description, the following text will uniformly refer to a beam formed by one antenna port, and one or more digital ports that form a beam are called a port group.

[0131] 3. Reference signal

[0132] According to the LTE / NR protocol, at the physical layer, uplink communication includes the transmission of uplink physical channels and uplink signals. Uplink physical channels include the random access channel (PRACH), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), and physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), etc. Uplink signals include channel sounding signals (SRS), PUCCH demodulation reference signals (PUCCH-DMRS), PUSCH-DMRS, phase noise tracking reference signals (PTRS), uplink positioning signals, etc. Downlink communication includes the transmission of downlink physical channels and downlink signals. The downlink physical channels include the physical broadcast channel (PBCH), the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). The downlink signals include the primary synchronization signal (PSS) / secondary synchronization signal (SSS), the downlink control channel demodulation reference signal PDCCH-DMRS, the downlink data channel demodulation reference signal PDSCH-DMRS, the phase noise localization signal PTRS, the channel status information reference signal (CSI-RS / CSIRS), the cell reference signal (CRS) (not present in NR), the time / frequency tracking reference signal (TRS) (not present in LTE), and the LTE / NR positioning signal (positioning RS).

[0133] Reference signals can be used for channel measurement, channel estimation, or beam quality monitoring. Depending on the LTE or NR protocol, uplink reference signals may include, for example, sounding reference signals (SRS), PUCCH-DMRS, PUSCH-DMRS, PTRS, uplink positioning RS, etc.; downlink reference signals may include, for example, synchronization signal blocks (SSB), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH)-demodulation reference signals (PDCCH-DMRS), PDSCH-DMRS, PTRS, CSI-RS, CRS, time / frequency domain positioning synchronization signals (TRS) in NR, and downlink positioning RS, etc.

[0134] 4. Detect reference signal

[0135] The Sound Reference Signal (SRS) is an uplink channel sounding signal transmitted by the terminal and received by the base station. The transmission methods for the SRS, including time-frequency resources, transmission beam, and transmission power, are configured by the network equipment for the terminal. In the 3GPP R15 protocol framework, the network equipment can configure one or more SRS resource sets for the terminal equipment, and each SRS resource set contains one or more SRS resources. Furthermore, in 3GPP R15, different SRS resource sets perform different functions; R15 supports four functions: {beamManagement, codebook, non-codebook, antennaSwitching}, i.e., {beam management, codebook, non-codebook, antenna switching}. The network equipment notifies the terminal of the function of the SRS resource set by configuring the usage of each set through RRC. In this application, the abbreviations {BM, CB, NCB, AS} are sometimes used. When antennaSwitching is used, it is generally used to obtain complete uplink channel information. If the channel has uplink / downlink consistency, the downlink transmission channel (or downlink transmission precoding) can be obtained through uplink channel measurement.

[0136] 5. HBF technology

[0137] Utilizing more spectrum resources is a crucial means of enhancing wireless channel capabilities, with the 6GHz band emerging as the next available spectrum resource for wireless communication. However, higher frequency bands experience greater signal energy loss over the same transmission distance. To overcome this issue, larger-scale antenna arrays are typically employed at the base station side to weight the transmitted signal, achieving higher array gain and thus increasing signal transmission energy.

[0138] To reduce implementation costs, as shown in Figure 4A, large-scale antenna arrays on the base station side typically adopt an HBF (Head-Downflow) architecture. This means that a single digital channel drives multiple antenna elements through multiple phase shifters, and downlink signal transmission on the base station side usually employs two levels of weighting: analog and digital domains. Under the HBF architecture, the base station typically uses multiple analog beams to achieve coverage of different areas within the cell, with different analog beams covering users in different areas. Considering the mid-to-low frequency bands, the channel environment is rich in multipath propagation, meaning the same user can be served by different analog beams. That is, besides the optimal analog beam seen by the user, other non-optimal analog beams can also provide data transmission to the user at a lower rate. When there are multiple users to be scheduled within a cell, to enable simultaneous transmission under resource multiplexing for multiple users within the cell, the user needs to measure channel state information under multiple analog beams, thus providing input for the base station's data scheduling.

[0139] In the NR protocol, SRS can be used to acquire uplink channel state information (CSI) based on codebook or non-codebook transmission, for channel measurement to calculate downlink data transmission weights, and for uplink beam management. Base station-side SRS resource configuration is divided into two levels: Resource Set and Resource.

[0140] When SRS is used for downlink data transmission weight measurement, and the number of downlink receiving antenna ports is greater than the number of uplink transmitting antenna ports, multiple SRS resources are configured for the user. Different SRS resources use different antenna ports to transmit SRS signals. The base station obtains the downlink channel measurement channel based on the SRS signals transmitted by multiple SRS resources, and calculates the weights for downlink data transmission based on the uplink-downlink channel reciprocity assumption. As shown in Figure 4B, for a 2T4R scenario (2T4R refers to a scenario in wireless communication using two transmit antennas and four receive antennas), an SRS resourceSet with usage = antennaSwitching is configured for the user, containing two SRS resources, each containing two SRS ports. The time-frequency resources allocated to the first SRS resource use antenna ports 1 and 2 to transmit SRS signals, and the time-frequency resources allocated to the second SRS resource use antenna ports 3 and 4 to transmit SRS signals. The base station performs SRS reception measurements on the time-frequency resources allocated to these two SRS resources and calculates the downlink data transmission weight vector.

[0141] Based on the current NR protocol, as shown in Figure 4C, network devices configure specific SRS transmission information for terminal devices through SRS resource sets. An SRS resource set contains one or more SRS resources, and an SRS resource contains one or more SRS ports. Terminal devices can periodically transmit SRS on corresponding time-frequency resources, and network devices use different analog beam scans to receive SRS at different times. However, terminal devices are unaware of the specific receiving beam information for SRS by the network device. For some beams, due to poor channel quality with users, the network device will not subsequently use that beam to receive user uplink signals or transmit user-level downlink signals. In this case, SRS transmitted based on these beams not only increases the power consumption of the terminal device but also generates additional neighbor cell interference.

[0142] Therefore, in order to reduce the power consumption of terminal devices and reduce SRS neighbor cell interference, this application provides an information transmission method and a communication device. The information transmission method and communication device provided in the embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below.

[0143] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating an information transmission method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 5, the information transmission method includes the following steps S501 and S502. The method execution subject shown in Figure 5 can be the terminal device and network device mentioned above. Alternatively, the method execution subject shown in Figure 5 can be a chip in the terminal device and a chip in the network device; this embodiment of the application does not impose any limitations. Figure 5 illustrates the method using a terminal device and a network device as examples of the method execution subjects.

[0144] S501. The network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device, which is used to indicate the silent mode of SRS.

[0145] In this embodiment, the network device can configure one or more SRS resource sets for the terminal device via RRC configuration messages or RRC reconfiguration messages. These SRS resource sets are used to allocate resources for SRS transmission. An SRS resource set contains one or more SRS resources, including time-domain or frequency-domain resources for SRS transmission; an SRS resource also contains one or more antenna ports for SRS transmission. In other words, an SRS resource set indicates one or more time-frequency domain resources and one or more antenna ports for SRS transmission. Subsequently, the terminal device can transmit SRS through the antenna ports on the corresponding time-frequency resources, and the network device can use different analog beam scans to receive SRS at different times.

[0146] However, the terminal device is unaware of the specific receiving beam information of the network device for SRS. For certain beams, due to poor channel quality with the user, the network device will not subsequently use that beam to receive the user's uplink signal or transmit the user-level downlink signal. In this case, SRS transmitted based on these beams will not only increase the power consumption of the terminal device but also generate additional neighboring cell interference. Therefore, the network device can further send first configuration information to the terminal device, which is used to indicate the SRS silencing mode (i.e., silencing pattern). Here, the SRS silencing mode can be understood as instructing the terminal device that SRS does not need to be transmitted on certain SRS transmission occasions, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device and reducing SRS neighboring cell interference. The first configuration information and one or more SRS resource sets can be configured through the same signaling or through different signaling configurations, which is not limited here.

[0147] Specifically, the SRS silencing method can be one or more of the following: (1) no SRS is sent during at least one SRS transmission opportunity associated with the SRS resource set; (2) no SRS is sent during at least one SRS transmission opportunity associated with the SRS resource; (3) at least one port of the SRS resource does not send SRS during at least one SRS transmission opportunity. Of course, other methods can also be used for the SRS silencing method, which are not limited here. The above three SRS silencing methods are described in detail below. Among them, the SRS transmission opportunity can be an SRS transmission opportunity with equal time intervals in the time domain, or an SRS transmission opportunity with equal time intervals and adjacent in the time domain, or a periodic SRS transmission opportunity, which are not limited here.

[0148] Specifically, SRS transmission timing can also be described as SRS transmission, SRS sending opportunity, or SRS sending. The SRS counter counts each SRS transmission opportunity, and the specific counting method is as follows: n SRS =i represents the i-th SRS transmission associated with the SRS resource:

[0149] For the case of an SRS resource configured as periodic or semi-persistent by the higher-layer parameter resourceType, the SRS counter is given by

[0150] for slots that satisfy The periodicity T SRS in slots and slot offset T offset .

[0151] The specific symbols are explained in Table 1 below:

[0152] Table 1

[0153] Method 1: Do not send SRS at least once during the SRS transmission period associated with the SRS resource set.

[0154] In practical implementation, Method 1 can be understood as all SRS resources contained in the SRS resource set not sending SRS at least once during the same SRS transmission period. Since the SRS resource set can send SRS using either frequency hopping or non-frequency hopping methods, the following explains the different scenarios:

[0155] Case 1: The SRS resource set sends SRS in a non-frequency hopping manner.

[0156] For example, the SRS resource set includes a first SRS resource associated with N SRS transmission opportunities, of which M SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where N and M are positive integers and M is less than or equal to N. The SRS resource set also includes a second SRS resource associated with P SRS transmission opportunities, of which Q SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where P and Q are positive integers and Q is less than or equal to P.

[0157] The timing of the N SRS transmissions associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the timing of the P SRS transmissions associated with the second SRS resource; the M SRS transmissions not used for sending SRS in the N SRS transmissions associated with the first SRS resource are the same as the Q SRS transmissions not used for sending SRS in the P SRS transmissions associated with the second SRS resource.

[0158] Optionally, the SRS transmission timing associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the SRS transmission timing associated with the second SRS resource. This can be understood as the SRS transmission timing numbers being the same. For example, if the four SRS transmission timings associated with the first SRS resource are the i-th, i+1-th, i+2-th, and i+3-th SRS transmissions, then the four SRS transmission timings associated with the second SRS resource are also the i-th, i+1-th, i+2-th, and i+3-th SRS transmissions.

[0159] As shown in Figure 6A, the SRS resource set contains two SRS resources: the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource. The first SRS resource contains antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource contains antenna port 3 and antenna port 4. Assuming N = P = 4 and M = Q = 1, this means that the first SRS resource is associated with 4 SRS transmission opportunities, and one of these 4 SRS transmission opportunities (i.e., the second SRS transmission opportunity) does not send an SRS. The second SRS resource is also associated with 4 SRS transmission opportunities, and one of these 4 SRS transmission opportunities (i.e., the second SRS transmission opportunity) does not send an SRS.

[0160] Since the four SRS transmission times associated with the first SRS resource are the same as the four SRS transmission times associated with the second SRS resource, and the one SRS transmission time not used to send SRS among the four SRS transmission times associated with the first SRS resource (i.e., the second SRS transmission time) is also the same as the one SRS transmission time not used to send SRS among the four SRS transmission times associated with the second SRS resource (i.e., the second SRS transmission time), then Method 1 can be understood as follows: the SRS resource set is associated with four SRS transmission times, and the second SRS transmission time does not send SRS, that is, the first SRS resource does not use antenna port 1 and antenna port 2 to send SRS during the second SRS transmission time, and the second SRS resource does not use antenna port 3 and antenna port 4 to send SRS.

[0161] Regarding scenario 1 above, in one possible implementation, the first SRS resource is associated with T groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group including N SRS transmission opportunities, where T is a positive integer; and / or, the second SRS resource is associated with K groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group including P SRS transmission opportunities, where K is a positive integer. This can be understood as grouping the multiple SRS transmission opportunities associated with the SRS resource set, with each group using the same silent mode. Based on this method, the silent mode of SRS can be indicated by grouping, which is beneficial for improving communication efficiency.

[0162] As shown in Figure 6B, this SRS resource set contains two SRS resources: the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource. The first SRS resource includes antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource includes antenna port 3 and antenna port 4. Assuming N = P = 4, M = Q = 1, and T = K = 2, this indicates that the SRS resource set is associated with two sets of SRS transmission opportunities. Each set of SRS transmission opportunities includes four SRS transmission opportunities, and the second SRS transmission opportunity does not transmit SRS. That is, in each set of SRS transmission opportunities, the first SRS resource does not use antenna ports 1 and 2 to transmit SRS during the second SRS transmission opportunity, and the second SRS resource also does not use antenna ports 3 and 4 to transmit SRS.

[0163] Scenario 2: The SRS resource set uses frequency hopping to send SRS.

[0164] This can be understood as follows: Building upon Case 1, each SRS resource in the SRS resource set is associated with SRS transmissions for multiple sub-bands. Each SRS transmission opportunity only transmits the SRS for one sub-band. Therefore, a set of SRS transmission opportunities associated with the SRS resource in this case refers to the SRS transmission opportunities corresponding to all sub-bands, i.e., full-bandwidth SRS transmission. For example, assuming the SRS resource contains 17 sub-bands and uses frequency hopping to transmit SRS, it can occupy different frequency domain bandwidths to transmit 17 SRS signals, thus achieving full-bandwidth SRS transmission. In this case, a set of SRS transmission opportunities associated with the SRS resource would include 17 SRS transmission opportunities.

[0165] For example, the SRS resource set includes a first SRS resource, which contains multiple subbands. The first SRS resource is associated with an X1 group of SRS transmission opportunities. Each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X1 group includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the first SRS resource, where X1 is an integer greater than 1. In the X1 group of SRS transmission opportunities, a Y1 group of SRS transmission opportunities does not transmit SRS, where Y1 is a positive integer less than or equal to X1. The SRS resource set also includes a second SRS resource, which contains multiple subbands. The second SRS resource is associated with an X2 group of SRS transmission opportunities. Each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X2 group includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the second SRS resource, where X2 is an integer greater than 1. In the X2 group of SRS transmission opportunities, a Y2 group of SRS transmission opportunities does not transmit SRS, where Y2 is a positive integer less than or equal to X2.

[0166] The transmission timing of the X1 group SRS associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the transmission timing of the X2 group SRS associated with the second SRS resource; the transmission timing of the Y1 group SRS that is not used to send SRS in the X1 group SRS transmission timing associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the transmission timing of the Y2 group SRS that is not used to send SRS in the X2 group SRS transmission timing associated with the second SRS resource.

[0167] Optionally, the SRS transmission timing associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the SRS transmission timing associated with the second SRS resource. This can be understood as the SRS transmission timing numbers being the same. For example, if the four SRS transmission timings associated with the first SRS resource are the i-th, i+1-th, i+2-th, and i+3-th SRS transmissions, then the four SRS transmission timings associated with the second SRS resource are also the i-th, i+1-th, i+2-th, and i+3-th SRS transmissions.

[0168] As shown in Figure 6C, this SRS resource set contains two SRS resources: the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource. The first SRS resource includes antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource includes antenna port 3 and antenna port 4. This SRS resource set transmits SRS using frequency hopping. Assuming X1 = X2 = 4 and Y1 = Y2 = 1, this means that the first SRS resource is associated with four sets of SRS transmission opportunities. One of these four sets of SRS transmission opportunities (i.e., the first set of SRS transmission opportunities) does not transmit SRS. Each set of SRS transmission opportunities refers to full-bandwidth SRS transmission (i.e., SRS transmission opportunities corresponding to all sub-bands). The second SRS resource is also associated with four sets of SRS transmission opportunities. One of these four sets of SRS transmission opportunities (i.e., the first set of SRS transmission opportunities) does not transmit SRS. Each SRS transmission opportunity refers to full-bandwidth SRS transmission (i.e., SRS transmission opportunities corresponding to all sub-bands).

[0169] Since the four SRS transmission timings associated with the first SRS resource are the same as the four SRS transmission timings associated with the second SRS resource, and one of the four SRS transmission timings associated with the first SRS resource that is not used to transmit SRS (i.e., the first SRS transmission timing) is also the same as one of the four SRS transmission timings associated with the second SRS resource that is not used to transmit SRS (i.e., the first SRS transmission timing), then Method 1 can be understood as follows: the SRS resource set is associated with four SRS transmission timings, and the first SRS transmission timing among the four SRS transmission timings associated with the SRS resource set does not transmit SRS. Here, each SRS transmission timing refers to full-bandwidth SRS transmission (i.e., SRS transmission timings corresponding to all subbands). That is, on the first SRS transmission timing, the first SRS resource does not use antenna port 1 and antenna port 2 to transmit full-bandwidth SRS, and the second SRS resource also does not use antenna port 3 and antenna port 4 to transmit full-bandwidth SRS.

[0170] Regarding scenario 2 above, in one possible implementation, the first SRS resource is associated with Z1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each of the Z1 sets including the X1 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, where Z1 is a positive integer; and / or, the second SRS resource is associated with Z2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each of the Z2 sets including the X2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, where Z2 is a positive integer. This can be understood as treating the SRS transmission opportunities of multiple sub-bands associated with each SRS resource set as a group of SRS transmission opportunities, achieving first-level grouping of SRS transmission opportunities; furthermore, multiple groups of SRS transmission opportunities can be grouped second-level to obtain multiple sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each set using the same silence mode. Based on this method, even for frequency hopping, the silence mode of SRS can be indicated by grouping, which is beneficial for improving communication efficiency.

[0171] As shown in Figure 6D, this SRS resource set contains two SRS resources: the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource. The first SRS resource includes antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource includes antenna port 3 and antenna port 4. Assuming X1 = X2 = 4, Y1 = Y2 = 1, and Z1 = Z2 = 2, this indicates that the SRS resource set is associated with two SRS transmission timing sets. Each SRS transmission timing set includes four groups of SRS transmission timings. Each group of SRS transmission timings refers to full-bandwidth SRS transmission (i.e., SRS transmission timings corresponding to all subbands). Furthermore, in these four groups of SRS transmission timings, the first group of SRS transmission timings does not transmit SRS. That is, in each SRS transmission timing set, the first SRS resource does not use antenna ports 1 and 2 to transmit full-bandwidth SRS in the first group of SRS transmission timings, and the second SRS resource also does not use antenna ports 3 and 4 to transmit full-bandwidth SRS.

[0172] Method 2: Do not send SRS at least once during the SRS transmission period associated with the SRS resource.

[0173] In practical implementation, Method 2 can be understood as follows: At least one SRS transmission opportunity associated with the same SRS resource fails to send an SRS message; or, at least one SRS transmission opportunity associated with different SRS resources fails to send an SRS message. The following explains the different scenarios:

[0174] Scenario A: At least one SRS transmission opportunity associated with the same SRS resource does not send an SRS.

[0175] (1) SRS resources are sent in a non-frequency hopping manner.

[0176] For example, the SRS resource set includes a first SRS resource associated with N SRS transmission opportunities, of which M SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where N and M are positive integers, and M is less than or equal to N.

[0177] As shown in Figure 7A, the SRS resource set contains two SRS resources: the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource. The first SRS resource includes antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource includes antenna port 3 and antenna port 4. Assuming N=4 and M=1, this means that the first SRS resource is associated with four SRS transmission opportunities. Two of these four SRS transmission opportunities do not transmit SRS (i.e., the second and third SRS transmission opportunities). In other words, the first SRS resource does not use antenna ports 1 and 2 to transmit SRS during the second and third SRS transmission opportunities.

[0178] (2) SRS resources are sent using frequency hopping.

[0179] For example, the SRS resource set includes a first SRS resource, the first SRS resource includes multiple subbands, the first SRS resource is associated with X1 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X1 groups of SRS transmission opportunities includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the first SRS resource, and X1 is an integer greater than 1; in the X1 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, Y1 groups of SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, Y1 is a positive integer, and Y1 is less than or equal to X1.

[0180] This can be understood as follows: each SRS resource is associated with the SRS transmission of multiple sub-bands, and only one sub-band's SRS is transmitted in one SRS transmission opportunity. In this case, a set of SRS transmission opportunities associated with the SRS resource refers to the SRS transmission opportunities corresponding to all sub-bands, that is, the full bandwidth SRS transmission.

[0181] As shown in Figure 7B, this SRS resource set contains two SRS resources: the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource. The first SRS resource includes antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource includes antenna port 3 and antenna port 4. Assuming X1 = 4 and Y1 = 1, this means that the first SRS resource is associated with four sets of SRS transmission opportunities. One of these four sets of SRS transmission opportunities does not transmit SRS (i.e., the first set of SRS transmission opportunities). In other words, in the first set of SRS transmission opportunities, the first SRS resource does not use antenna ports 1 and 2 to transmit full-bandwidth SRS.

[0182] Scenario B: At least one SRS transmission opportunity associated with different SRS resources does not send SRS.

[0183] (1) SRS resources are sent in a non-frequency hopping manner.

[0184] For example, the SRS resource set includes a first SRS resource associated with N SRS transmission opportunities, of which M SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where N and M are positive integers, and M is less than or equal to N. The SRS resource set also includes a second SRS resource associated with P SRS transmission opportunities, of which Q SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where P and Q are positive integers, and Q is less than or equal to P. N and P can be the same or different, and M and Q can be the same or different.

[0185] As shown in Figure 7C, this SRS resource set contains two SRS resources: the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource. The first SRS resource includes antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource includes antenna port 3 and antenna port 4. Assuming N=4 and M=2, this means that the first SRS resource is associated with four SRS transmission opportunities. Two of these four SRS transmission opportunities do not transmit SRS (i.e., the second and third SRS transmission opportunities). In other words, the first SRS resource does not use antenna ports 1 and 2 to transmit SRS during the second and third SRS transmission opportunities.

[0186] Assuming P=4 and Q=3, this means that the second SRS resource is associated with 4 SRS transmission opportunities. Among these 4 SRS transmission opportunities, SRS is not transmitted in 3 of them (i.e., the 1st SRS transmission opportunity, the 2nd SRS transmission opportunity, and the 4th SRS transmission opportunity). In other words, the second SRS resource does not use antenna port 3 and antenna port 4 to transmit SRS during the 1st SRS transmission opportunity, the 2nd SRS transmission opportunity, and the 4th SRS transmission opportunity.

[0187] (2) SRS resources are sent using frequency hopping.

[0188] For example, the SRS resource set includes a first SRS resource, the first SRS resource includes multiple subbands, the first SRS resource is associated with X1 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X1 groups of SRS transmission opportunities includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the first SRS resource, and X1 is an integer greater than 1; in the X1 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, Y1 groups of SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, Y1 is a positive integer, and Y1 is less than or equal to X1.

[0189] The SRS resource set also includes a second SRS resource, which contains multiple subbands. The second SRS resource is associated with X2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities. Each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X2 groups includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the second SRS resource. X2 is an integer greater than 1. In the X2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, Y2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS. Y2 is a positive integer, and Y2 is less than or equal to X2.

[0190] As shown in Figure 7D, this SRS resource set contains two SRS resources: the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource. The first SRS resource includes antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource includes antenna port 3 and antenna port 4. This SRS resource set transmits SRS using frequency hopping. Assuming X1 = 4 and Y1 = 2, this means that the first SRS resource is associated with 4 sets of SRS transmission opportunities. Two of these 4 sets of SRS transmission opportunities do not transmit SRS (i.e., the first set of SRS transmission opportunities and the fourth set of SRS transmission opportunities). In other words, the first SRS resource does not transmit full-bandwidth SRS using antenna ports 1 and 2 during the first and fourth sets of SRS transmission opportunities.

[0191] Assuming X2=4 and Y2=1, it means that the second SRS resource is associated with 4 groups of SRS transmission opportunities. There is one SRS transmission opportunity in these 4 groups of SRS transmission opportunities where SRS is not sent (i.e., the 4th SRS transmission opportunity). That is, the second SRS resource does not use antenna port 3 and antenna port 4 to send full bandwidth SRS during the 4th SRS transmission opportunity.

[0192] Regarding situations A and B above, one possible implementation is to group the multiple SRS transmission opportunities associated with each SRS resource, with each group of SRS transmission opportunities employing the same silence mode. Based on this method, the silence mode of SRS can be indicated by grouping, which helps improve communication efficiency.

[0193] For example, in a non-frequency hopping manner, the first SRS resource is associated with T groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group including N SRS transmission opportunities, where T is a positive integer; and / or, the second SRS resource is associated with K groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group including P SRS transmission opportunities, where K is a positive integer. This can be understood as grouping the multiple SRS transmission opportunities associated with each SRS resource.

[0194] For example, regarding the frequency hopping method, the first SRS resource is associated with Z1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each of the Z1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities includes the X1 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, where Z1 is a positive integer; and / or, the second SRS resource is associated with Z2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each of the Z2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities includes the X2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, where Z2 is a positive integer. This can be understood as the SRS transmission opportunities of multiple sub-bands associated with each SRS resource forming a group of SRS transmission opportunities, achieving first-level grouping of SRS transmission opportunities; furthermore, multiple groups of SRS transmission opportunities can be grouped second-level to obtain multiple sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each set of SRS transmission opportunities employing the same silent mode.

[0195] Taking the SRS resource as an example of transmitting SRS in a non-frequency hopping manner, assuming that at least one SRS transmission opportunity associated with different SRS resources does not transmit SRS, as shown in Figure 7E, the SRS resource set contains two SRS resources, namely the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource; the first SRS resource contains antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource contains antenna port 3 and antenna port 4. Assuming N=P=4, M=2, Q=3, T=K=2, this means that both the first and second SRS resources are associated with two sets of SRS transmission opportunities. In each set of SRS transmission opportunities, the first SRS resource is associated with four SRS transmission opportunities, and the second SRS resource is also associated with four SRS transmission opportunities. Among these, two of the four SRS transmission opportunities associated with the first SRS resource do not transmit SRS (i.e., the second and third SRS transmission opportunities), meaning that the first SRS resource does not use antenna port 1 and antenna port 2 to transmit SRS during the second and third SRS transmission opportunities. Similarly, three of the four SRS transmission opportunities associated with the second SRS resource do not transmit SRS (i.e., the first, second, and fourth SRS transmission opportunities), meaning that the second SRS resource does not use antenna port 3 and antenna port 4 to transmit SRS during the first, second, and fourth SRS transmission opportunities.

[0196] Method 3: At least one port of the SRS resource does not send SRS at least once during an SRS transmission.

[0197] In practical implementation, Method 3 can be understood as meaning that at least one port of the SRS resource does not send SRS during one or more SRS transmission events. The following explains different scenarios:

[0198] Case a: SRS transmission on the same port of the SRS resource at different SRS transmission times.

[0199] For example, the SRS resource includes a first port associated with a first SRS transmission timing, the first port not transmitting SRS during the first SRS transmission timing; the SRS resource also includes a second port that transmits SRS during the first SRS transmission timing.

[0200] As shown in Figure 8A, the SRS resource set contains two SRS resources: a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource. The first SRS resource includes antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource includes antenna port 3 and antenna port 4. Antenna port 1 does not send SRS when associated with the first SRS transmission in the first SRS resource, while antenna port 2 sends SRS when associated with the first SRS transmission in the first SRS resource.

[0201] Case b: SRS transmission from different ports of the SRS resource at the same SRS transmission time.

[0202] For example, the SRS resource includes a first port associated with a first SRS transmission timing, during which the first port does not transmit SRS; the SRS resource is also associated with a second SRS transmission timing, during which the first port transmits SRS.

[0203] As shown in Figure 8B, the SRS resource set contains two SRS resources: a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource. The first SRS resource includes antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource includes antenna port 3 and antenna port 4. Antenna port 1 does not send SRS when associated with the first SRS transmission in the first SRS resource, but sends SRS when associated with the second SRS transmission in the first SRS resource.

[0204] It should be noted that for Method 3, SRS resources can be transmitted using either frequency hopping or non-frequency hopping. When SRS resources are transmitted using frequency hopping, each SRS resource is associated with the transmission of SRS for multiple sub-bands. Only one sub-band's SRS is transmitted in a single SRS transmission opportunity. In this case, a set of SRS transmission opportunities associated with an SRS resource refers to the SRS transmission opportunities corresponding to all sub-bands, i.e., full-bandwidth SRS transmission.

[0205] As shown in Figure 8C, this SRS resource set contains two SRS resources: the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource. The first SRS resource includes antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource includes antenna port 3 and antenna port 4. The first SRS resource is associated with four sets of SRS transmission opportunities. Antenna port 1 does not transmit SRS during the first set of SRS transmission opportunities associated with the first SRS resource. Each set of SRS transmission opportunities refers to the full bandwidth SRS transmission (i.e., the SRS transmission opportunities corresponding to all subbands).

[0206] Based on the above, in one possible implementation, the first configuration information can be carried in an RRC, DCI, or medium access control element (MAC CE). Specifically, it can be instructed to the terminal device using one or more of the following methods. This approach improves the flexibility of silently configuring SRS on network devices.

[0207] Method 1: RRC configures multiple silent modes for each SRS resource set, and dynamically indicates which silent mode to use through MAC-CE or DCI.

[0208] Method 2: RRC associates a silent mode with each SRS resource set and dynamically indicates the switch to another silent mode via MAC-CE or DCI. That is, the first configuration information can be used to indicate the silent mode to be switched to in SRS.

[0209] Method 3: RRC pre-configures multiple silent modes, with each SRS resource associated with a default silent mode. Another silent mode is dynamically indicated via MAC-CE or DCI. That is, the first configuration information can be used to indicate the silent mode to be switched to in SRS. The default silent mode can be that SRS is sent during all SRS transmissions (i.e., no silent transmissions during all SRS transmissions).

[0210] In one possible implementation, the network device can autonomously decide which silence mode to adopt based on its own measurement information; alternatively, the terminal device can report an SRS silence suggestion, and the network device can then decide on the final silence mode. For example, the terminal device receives the downlink channel state information reference signal (CSIRS) signal, obtains beam-level and port-level measurement information, and then selects the transmit beams or antenna ports that can be silenced and reports them to the network device. This approach improves the accuracy and flexibility of configuring the SRS silence mode for the network device.

[0211] For example, before the terminal device receives the first configuration information from the network device, the method further includes: the terminal device sending first information to the network device, the first information indicating one or more of the following:

[0212] a. The identifier of the first CSIRS resource set or the index value of the first CSIRS resource.

[0213] Here, the first CSIRS resource set or first CSIRS resource refers to the set of CSIRS resources or CSIRS resources whose received energy is less than a preset threshold. This preset threshold can be configured by the network device to the terminal device, can be agreed upon in advance by the protocol, or can be determined autonomously by the terminal device; it is not limited here.

[0214] b. Measured value of reference signal received power (RSRP) corresponding to the first CSIRS resource.

[0215] Among them, the so-called RSRP measurement value is a key parameter that can represent the strength of wireless signals and one of the physical layer measurement requirements. It is the average signal power received on all resource particles carrying the reference signal within a certain symbol.

[0216] c. Antenna ports that the terminal device deems acceptable to be silent.

[0217] Specifically, the terminal device receives CSIRS signals, acquires beam-level and port-level measurement information, and then selects a silent transmitting beam or antenna port to report to the network device.

[0218] Optionally, this first information may be reported jointly with the 3I information, or it may be reported using other signaling (e.g., as a new measurement type, reported separately based on PUCCH or PUSCH), without limitation. The so-called 3I information includes channel quality indicator (CQI), rank indicator (RI), and precoding matrix indicator (PMI).

[0219] Additionally, it should be noted that, optionally, an SRS resource set may include a usage indication (“usage”) to describe the purpose of the SRS resource set. Specifically, the purpose may be antenna switching, codebook, non-codebook, or beam management.

[0220] Optionally, by receiving and measuring the SRS signals corresponding to the SRS resource set used for antenna switching, the network device can obtain the channel state information (CSI) of the downlink that is reciprocal between the uplink and downlink channels.

[0221] Optionally, by receiving and measuring the SRS signals corresponding to the SRS resource set used as a codebook, the network device can obtain the uplink CSI. That is, when the uplink of the terminal device uses codebook as the precoding method, the network device obtains the uplink transmitted precoding matrix indicator (TPMI) by receiving and measuring the SRS signals, and indicates the uplink transmission precoding method used by the terminal device through the TPMI and the SRS resource indicator (SRI).

[0222] Optionally, by receiving and measuring the SRS signals corresponding to the SRS resource set used for non-codebook purposes, the network device can obtain the uplink CSI; that is, when the precoding method used by the uplink of the terminal device is non-codebook, the network device obtains the uplink transmission precoding weights by receiving and measuring SRS, and indicates the transmission precoding used by the uplink to the terminal device through the SRS resource index (SRI).

[0223] Optionally, transmit and receive beams can be selected for uplink and downlink transmission of terminal devices by observing the reception and measurement behavior of SRS corresponding to the SRS resource set used for beam management.

[0224] Optionally, the type of SRS resource set can be configured as periodic, semi-static, or aperiodic. For periodic or semi-static SRS resources, periodic SRS resources are configured via configuration messages indicating the period and slot offset of the SRS resources. Semi-static SRS resources can be dynamically activated and deactivated via DCI signaling and / or MAC-CE signaling.

[0225] Optionally, there is a mapping relationship between the SRS port (also known as the antenna port) and the SRS time-frequency domain resources. That is, the SRS information configuration indicates that a specific SRS port transmits SRS on a specific SRS time-frequency domain resource. The SRS time-domain resource can span N adjacent symbols within a time slot, or occupy multiple symbols in different time slots.

[0226] Optionally, the SRS resource sets of different terminal devices may occupy the same time-domain symbols or frequency-domain bandwidth.

[0227] Implementation Method 1: Different terminal devices occupy different subcarriers to transmit SRS; terminal devices do not need to transmit SRS on every subcarrier, but instead select a specific set of subcarrier bundles based on the transmission comb value. For example, terminal devices can use the configured number of transmission combs and comb offsets to determine the specific subcarriers they occupy. For example, a comb number of 2 means that each terminal device occupies 6 subcarriers in each Resource Block (RB), a comb offset of 0 means that the terminal device occupies the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th subcarriers to transmit SRS, and a comb offset of 1 means that the terminal device occupies the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th subcarriers to transmit SRS.

[0228] When the number of combs is configured to a value greater than 1, different terminal devices are allowed to use frequency division multiplexing within the same OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) symbol. This means different terminal devices can use different subcarriers within the same RB (Radio Base) of the same OFDM symbol to transmit SRS. For example, a transmission comb spacing of 2 allows two groups of UEs to use frequency multiplexing with a single subcarrier offset between them. A larger number of combs allows for more users to be multiplexed within the same OFDM symbol, but fewer resource elements are available per user for SRS transmission. In this case, the quality of SRS measurements may be degraded.

[0229] Implementation Method 2: Different terminal devices occupy the same resource elements but send SRS using different cyclic shift base sequences. Each terminal device can be configured to send a base sequence with a specific cyclic shift (e.g., the Zadoff-Chu sequence) as SRS. That is, the base sequence can be selected, and different cyclic shifts are used to shift each SRS. The SRS are orthogonalized; the SRS sent by user 1 using the first cyclic shift and the SRS sent by user 2 using the second cyclic shift are orthogonal. Therefore, even if user 1 and user 2 occupy the same resource elements, the interference between the SRS received by the network device from user 1 and user 2 is minimal. The length of the base sequence can be equal to the number of resource elements allocated to the SRS, i.e., it is related to the number of resource blocks allocated to the SRS and the number of combs used. The number of usable cyclic shifts is related to the number of combs allocated to each SRS. When the number of combs = 2, the maximum number of usable cyclic shifts = 8; when the number of combs = 4, the maximum number of usable cyclic shifts = 12; when the number of combs = 8, the maximum number of usable cyclic shifts = 6.

[0230] The aforementioned different cyclic shifts can also be assigned to multiple antenna ports of the same user to transmit SRS; for example, a user's SRS resource set contains two SRS resources, namely the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource. The first SRS resource contains antenna port 1 and antenna port 2, and the second SRS resource contains antenna port 3 and antenna port 4; four cyclic shifts can be configured to transmit SRS to the user's four antenna ports.

[0231] Optionally, the terminal device can transmit SRS via frequency hopping, meaning that multiple SRS transmissions by the same user switch between different frequency bands. Specifically, when a single SRS transmission is less than the maximum bandwidth used for SRS transmission (e.g., 272 resource blocks), frequency hopping can be used to configure SRS resources so that different portions of the SRS bandwidth (e.g., different frequency hopping) are used to transmit SRS.

[0232] S502. The terminal device sends an SRS to the network device based on the first configuration information. Correspondingly, the network device receives the SRS from the terminal device based on the first configuration information.

[0233] In this embodiment of the application, the terminal device receives configuration information sent by the network device. This configuration information includes SRS resource set configuration information, SRS resource configuration information, SRS port configuration information, and first configuration information (i.e., the first configuration information is used to indicate the silent mode of SRS).

[0234] The terminal device can transmit SRS on the corresponding time-frequency domain resources using the indicated antenna port based on the received configuration information, and can choose not to transmit SRS at the corresponding SRS transmission time according to the silence mode indicated by the first configuration information. Correspondingly, the network device receives the SRS from the terminal device, and obtains downlink CSI information, uplink CSI information, or transmit / receive beam information through SRS measurement, and can choose not to receive or measure SRS at the corresponding SRS transmission time according to the silence mode indicated by the first configuration information.

[0235] Specifically, the SRS transmission power is one or more of the following:

[0236] The first type: The total SRS transmission power of different SRS resources in the SRS resource set is the same.

[0237] For example, an SRS resource set may contain two SRS resources: a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource. The first SRS resource includes antenna ports 1 and 2, and the second SRS resource includes antenna ports 3 and 4. The network device instructs antenna port 3 of the second SRS resource not to transmit SRS during the first SRS transmission. In this case, to ensure that the total SRS transmission power of different SRS resources is the same, the SRS transmission power of antenna port 4 of the second SRS resource is twice the SRS transmission power of antenna port 1 or antenna port 2 on the first SRS resource.

[0238] The second method involves using the same transmission power across ports of different SRS resources within the SRS resource set.

[0239] For example, an SRS resource set contains two SRS resources: a first SRS resource and a second SRS resource. The first SRS resource includes antenna ports 1 and 2, and the second SRS resource includes antenna ports 3 and 4. The network device instructs antenna port 3 of the second SRS resource not to transmit SRS during the first SRS transmission. In this case, to ensure that the transmission power of the SRS ports of different SRS resources is the same, the SRS transmission power of antenna port 4 of the second SRS resource is the same as the SRS transmission power of antenna port 1 or antenna port 2 on the first SRS resource.

[0240] As can be seen, based on the method described in Figure 5, according to the actual measurement requirements of user-level SRS, the network device can indicate the silencing mode of SRS to the terminal device through the first configuration information, and not send SRS at certain SRS transmission times, thereby achieving dynamic silencing of unnecessary SRS transmission. This helps to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device without affecting the acquisition of user-level channel information, and at the same time reduce SRS neighbor cell interference, thereby improving the channel estimation accuracy of SRS.

[0241] The apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application will be described below.

[0242] This application divides the device into functional modules according to the above method embodiments. For example, each function can be divided into its own functional modules, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated modules can be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules. It should be noted that the module division in this application is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division; other division methods may be used in actual implementation. The device of the embodiment of this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 9 to 11.

[0243] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 9, the communication device includes a processing module 901 and a transceiver module 902. The transceiver module 902 can implement corresponding communication functions, and the processing module 901 is used to implement corresponding processing functions. For example, the transceiver module 902 can also be called an interface, a communication interface, or a communication module, etc.

[0244] In some embodiments of this application, the communication device can be used to perform the actions performed by the terminal device in the above method embodiments. In this case, the communication device can be the terminal device itself or a chip or functional module configurable within the terminal device. The transceiver module 902 is used to perform transceiver-related operations of the terminal device in the above method embodiments, and the processing module 901 is used to perform processing-related operations of the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

[0245] For example, the transceiver module 902 can be used to receive first configuration information from a network device, the first configuration information being used to indicate the silencing mode of SRS, the silencing mode of SRS being one or more of the following: not sending SRS during at least one SRS transmission time associated with the SRS resource set; or not sending SRS during at least one SRS transmission time associated with the SRS resource; or not sending SRS during at least one SRS transmission time of the SRS resource.

[0246] The transceiver module 902 can be used to send SRS to the network device based on the first configuration information.

[0247] As an example, the SRS resource set contains a first SRS resource associated with N SRS transmission opportunities, of which M SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where N and M are positive integers, and M is less than or equal to N.

[0248] As another example, the SRS resource set also includes a second SRS resource associated with P SRS transmission opportunities, of which Q SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where P and Q are positive integers and Q is less than or equal to P.

[0249] As another example, the timing of the N SRS transmissions associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the timing of the P SRS transmissions associated with the second SRS resource; the M SRS transmissions not used for sending SRS in the N SRS transmissions associated with the first SRS resource are the same as the Q SRS transmissions not used for sending SRS in the P SRS transmissions associated with the second SRS resource.

[0250] As another example, the first SRS resource is associated with T groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group of SRS transmission opportunities includes the N SRS transmission opportunities, where T is a positive integer; and / or, the second SRS resource is associated with K groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group of SRS transmission opportunities includes the P SRS transmission opportunities, where K is a positive integer.

[0251] As another example, the SRS resource set contains a first SRS resource, which contains multiple subbands. The first SRS resource is associated with an X1 group of SRS transmission opportunities. Each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X1 group includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the first SRS resource. X1 is an integer greater than 1. In the X1 group of SRS transmission opportunities, the Y1 group of SRS transmission opportunities does not send SRS. Y1 is a positive integer, and Y1 is less than or equal to X1.

[0252] As another example, the SRS resource set also includes a second SRS resource containing multiple subbands. The second SRS resource is associated with X2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities. Each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X2 groups includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the second SRS resource, where X2 is an integer greater than 1. In the X2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, Y2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where Y2 is a positive integer and Y2 is less than or equal to X2.

[0253] As another example, the SRS transmission timing of the X1 group associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the SRS transmission timing of the X2 group associated with the second SRS resource; the SRS transmission timing of the Y1 group not used for sending SRS in the SRS transmission timing of the X1 group associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the SRS transmission timing of the Y2 group not used for sending SRS in the SRS transmission timing of the X2 group associated with the second SRS resource.

[0254] As another example, the first SRS resource is associated with Z1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each of the Z1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities includes the X1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, where Z1 is a positive integer; and / or, the second SRS resource is associated with Z2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each of the Z2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities includes the X2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, where Z2 is a positive integer.

[0255] As another example, the SRS resource includes a first port associated with a first SRS transmission timing, during which the first port does not send SRS.

[0256] As another example, the SRS resource also includes a second port that sends SRS at the time of the first SRS transmission.

[0257] As another example, the SRS resource is also associated with a second SRS transmission timing, during which the first port sends SRS.

[0258] As another example, this first configuration information is used to indicate the silent mode to be switched to in SRS.

[0259] As another example, before receiving the first configuration information from the network device, the transceiver module 902 may also be used to: send first information to the network device, the first information indicating one or more of the following: the identifier of the first CSIRS resource set, the index value of the first CSIRS resource, the RSRP measurement value corresponding to the first CSIRS resource, or a port that is allowed to be silent; wherein the received energy of the first CSIRS resource set or the first CSIRS resource is less than a preset threshold value.

[0260] As another example, this first configuration information is carried in RRC, DCI, or MAC CE.

[0261] As another example, the total SRS transmission power of different SRS resources in this SRS resource set is the same.

[0262] As another example, ports of different SRS resources in this SRS resource set use the same transmit power.

[0263] For example, the transceiver module 902 may include a radio frequency module, an antenna module, etc. For example, the transceiver module 902 may include a pin module, etc.

[0264] Reusing Figure 9, in some other embodiments of this application, the communication device can be used to perform the actions performed by the network device in the above method embodiments. In this case, the communication device can be the network device itself or a chip or functional module configurable within the network device. The transceiver module 902 is used to perform transceiver-related operations of the network device in the above method embodiments, and the processing module 901 is used to perform processing-related operations of the network device in the above method embodiments.

[0265] For example, the transceiver module 902 can be used to send first configuration information to the terminal device. The first configuration information is used to indicate the silencing mode of SRS. The silencing mode of SRS is one or more of the following: SRS is not sent during at least one SRS transmission time associated with the SRS resource set; or SRS is not sent during at least one SRS transmission time associated with the SRS resource; or at least one port of the SRS resource does not send SRS during at least one SRS transmission time.

[0266] The transceiver module 902 can be used to receive SRS from the terminal device based on the first configuration information.

[0267] As an example, the SRS resource set contains a first SRS resource associated with N SRS transmission opportunities, of which M SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where N and M are positive integers, and M is less than or equal to N.

[0268] As another example, the SRS resource set also includes a second SRS resource associated with P SRS transmission opportunities, of which Q SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where P and Q are positive integers and Q is less than or equal to P.

[0269] As another example, the timing of the N SRS transmissions associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the timing of the P SRS transmissions associated with the second SRS resource; the M SRS transmissions not used for sending SRS in the N SRS transmissions associated with the first SRS resource are the same as the Q SRS transmissions not used for sending SRS in the P SRS transmissions associated with the second SRS resource.

[0270] As another example, the first SRS resource is associated with T groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group of SRS transmission opportunities includes the N SRS transmission opportunities, where T is a positive integer; and / or, the second SRS resource is associated with K groups of SRS transmission opportunities, each group of SRS transmission opportunities includes the P SRS transmission opportunities, where K is a positive integer.

[0271] As another example, the SRS resource set contains a first SRS resource, which contains multiple subbands. The first SRS resource is associated with an X1 group of SRS transmission opportunities. Each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X1 group includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the first SRS resource. X1 is an integer greater than 1. In the X1 group of SRS transmission opportunities, the Y1 group of SRS transmission opportunities does not send SRS. Y1 is a positive integer, and Y1 is less than or equal to X1.

[0272] As another example, the SRS resource set also includes a second SRS resource containing multiple subbands. The second SRS resource is associated with X2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities. Each group of SRS transmission opportunities in the X2 groups includes the SRS transmission opportunities of all subbands in the second SRS resource, where X2 is an integer greater than 1. In the X2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities, Y2 groups of SRS transmission opportunities do not send SRS, where Y2 is a positive integer and Y2 is less than or equal to X2.

[0273] As another example, the SRS transmission timing of the X1 group associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the SRS transmission timing of the X2 group associated with the second SRS resource; the SRS transmission timing of the Y1 group not used for sending SRS in the SRS transmission timing of the X1 group associated with the first SRS resource is the same as the SRS transmission timing of the Y2 group not used for sending SRS in the SRS transmission timing of the X2 group associated with the second SRS resource.

[0274] As another example, the first SRS resource is associated with Z1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each of the Z1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities includes the X1 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, where Z1 is a positive integer; and / or, the second SRS resource is associated with Z2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, each of the Z2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities includes the X2 sets of SRS transmission opportunities, where Z2 is a positive integer.

[0275] As another example, the SRS resource includes a first port associated with a first SRS transmission timing, during which the first port does not send SRS.

[0276] As another example, the SRS resource also includes a second port that sends SRS at the time of the first SRS transmission.

[0277] As another example, the SRS resource is also associated with a second SRS transmission timing, during which the first port sends SRS.

[0278] As another example, this first configuration information is used to indicate the silent mode to be switched to in SRS.

[0279] As another example, before sending the first configuration information to the terminal device, the transceiver module 902 can also be used to: receive first information from the terminal device, the first information indicating one or more of the following: the identifier of the first CSIRS resource set, the index value of the first CSIRS resource, the RSRP measurement value corresponding to the first CSIRS resource, or a port that is allowed to be silent; wherein the received energy of the first CSIRS resource set or the first CSIRS resource is less than a preset threshold value.

[0280] As another example, this first configuration information is carried in RRC, DCI, or MAC CE.

[0281] As another example, the total SRS transmission power of different SRS resources in this SRS resource set is the same.

[0282] As another example, ports of different SRS resources in this SRS resource set use the same transmit power.

[0283] For example, the transceiver module 902 may include a radio frequency module, an antenna module, etc. For example, the transceiver module 902 may include a pin module, etc.

[0284] Optionally, in the above embodiments, the communication device may further include a storage module, which can be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing module 901 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage module to enable the device to implement the aforementioned method embodiments. For example, the storage module may also store the first configuration information, first information, etc., shown above.

[0285] For details regarding the terms or steps in each of the above embodiments, such as SRS, antenna port, beam, SRS resource set, SRS resource, and silent mode in each sub-block, please refer to the description in the above method embodiments. They will not be described in detail here.

[0286] The specific descriptions of the transceiver module and processing module shown in the above embodiments are merely examples. For the specific functions or execution steps of the transceiver module and processing module, please refer to the above method embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0287] The apparatus of the embodiments of this application has been described above. The possible product forms of the apparatus are described below. Any product possessing the functions of the apparatus described in FIG. 9 above falls within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application. The following description is merely illustrative and does not limit the product form of the apparatus of the embodiments of this application to this.

[0288] In one possible implementation, in the communication device shown in FIG9, the processing module 901 can be one or more processing circuits, and the transceiver module 902 can be a transceiver circuit. Alternatively, the transceiver module 902 can also be a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module can be a transmitting circuit, and the receiving module can be a receiving circuit, which are integrated into one device, such as a transceiver circuit. In the embodiments of this application, the processing circuit and the transceiver circuit can be coupled, etc. The connection method of the processing circuit and the transceiver circuit is not limited in the embodiments of this application. In the process of performing the above method, the process of sending information in the above method can be the process of the processing circuit outputting the above information. When outputting the above information, the processing circuit outputs the above information to the transceiver circuit so that the transceiver circuit can transmit (or output). After the above information is output by the processing circuit, it may need to undergo other processing before reaching the transceiver circuit. Similarly, the process of receiving information in the above method can be the process of the processing circuit receiving the input above information. When the processing circuit receives the input information, the transceiver circuit receives the above information and inputs it into the processing circuit. Furthermore, after the transceiver circuit receives the aforementioned information, the information may need to undergo further processing before being input into the processing circuit.

[0289] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 10, the communication device 100 includes one or more processing circuits 1020 and transceiver circuits 1010.

[0290] In some embodiments of this application, the communication device can be used to execute the steps, methods, or functions performed by the terminal device described above. For example, the processing circuit 1020 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 901 shown in FIG. 9, and the transceiver circuit 1010 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the transceiver module 902 shown in FIG. 9. For a detailed description of the processing circuit 1020 and the transceiver circuit 1010, please refer to FIG. 9 or the method embodiments shown above, which will not be described in detail here.

[0291] In other embodiments of this application, the apparatus is used to perform the steps, methods, or functions performed by the network device described above. For example, the processing circuit 1020 can be used to perform the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 901 shown in FIG. 9, and the transceiver circuit 1010 can be used to perform the functions or steps implemented by the transceiver module 902 shown in FIG. 9. Detailed descriptions of the processing circuit 1020 and the transceiver circuit 1010 can be found in FIG. 9 or the method embodiments shown above, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0292] For example, the processing circuitry may be one or more processors, or all or part of the circuitry within one or more processors. The transceiver circuitry may be a transceiver, an input / output circuit, or an interface circuit, etc.

[0293] For example, in various implementations of the apparatus shown in FIG10, the transceiver circuitry may include a receiver for performing a receiving function (or operation) and a transmitter for performing a transmitting function (or operation). The transceiver circuitry is also used to communicate with other devices / appliances via a transmission medium.

[0294] Optionally, the communication device 100 may further include one or more memories 1030 for storing program instructions and / or data. The memories 1030 are coupled to the processing circuitry 1020. The coupling in this embodiment is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, and can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, used for information exchange between devices, units, or modules. The processing circuitry 1020 may operate in conjunction with the memories 1030. The processing circuitry 1020 may execute the program instructions stored in the memories 1030. Optionally, at least one of the aforementioned memories may be included in the processing circuitry.

[0295] This application embodiment does not limit the specific connection medium between the transceiver circuit 1010, processing circuit 1020, and memory 1030. In this application embodiment, the memory 1030, processing circuit 1020, and transceiver circuit 1010 are connected via a bus 1040 in Figure 10. The bus is represented by a thick line in Figure 10. The connection methods between other components are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to be limiting. The bus can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is used in Figure 10, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0296] In the embodiments of this application, the processing circuit may be a general-purpose processing circuit, a digital signal processing circuit, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, etc., and can implement or execute the various methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processing circuit may be a microprocessor circuit or any conventional processing circuit, etc. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly manifested as being executed by a hardware processing circuit, or being executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processing circuit, etc.

[0297] In this application embodiment, the memory may include, but is not limited to, non-volatile memory such as hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD), random access memory (RAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), read-only memory (ROM), or compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), etc. Memory is any storage medium capable of carrying or storing program code in the form of instructions or data structures, and capable of being read and / or written by a computer (such as the device shown in this application), but is not limited to this. The memory in this application embodiment may also be a circuit or any other device capable of implementing storage functions, used to store program instructions and / or data.

[0298] For example, the processing circuit 1020 is mainly used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire device, execute software programs, and process the data of the software programs. The memory 1030 is mainly used to store software programs and data. The transceiver circuit 1010 may include a control circuit and an antenna. The control circuit is mainly used for converting baseband signals to radio frequency signals and processing radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input / output devices, such as touch screens, displays, and keyboards, are mainly used to receive user input data and output data to the user.

[0299] When the device is powered on, the processing circuit 1020 can read the software program in the memory 1030, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processing circuit 1020 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency (RF) circuit. The RF circuit then performs RF processing on the baseband signal and transmits the RF signal outward in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the device, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts the RF signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processing circuit 1020. The processing circuit 1020 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0300] In another implementation, the radio frequency circuit and antenna can be set up independently of the processing circuit that performs baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuit and antenna can be arranged remotely, independent of the device.

[0301] The device shown in this application embodiment may have more components than those in Figure 10, and this application embodiment does not limit this. The methods performed by the processing circuit and transceiver circuit shown above are only examples, and the specific steps performed by the processing circuit and transceiver circuit can be referred to the methods described above.

[0302] In another possible implementation, in the device shown in Figure 9, the processing module 901 can be one or more logic circuits, and the transceiver module 902 can be an input / output interface, or a communication interface, or an interface circuit, or an interface, etc. Alternatively, the transceiver module 902 can also be a transmitting module and a receiving module, where the transmitting module can be an output interface and the receiving module can be an input interface, and the transmitting module and the receiving module are integrated into one module, such as an input / output interface.

[0303] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 11, the communication device includes a logic circuit 1101 and an interface circuit 1102. That is, the processing module 901 can be implemented using the logic circuit 1101, and the transceiver module 902 can be implemented using the interface circuit 1102. The logic circuit 1101 can be a chip, a processing circuit, an integrated circuit, or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip, etc., and the interface circuit 1102 can be a communication interface, an input / output interface, pins, etc. For example, Figure 11 illustrates the communication device as a chip, which includes the logic circuit 1101 and the interface circuit 1102.

[0304] In this embodiment, the logic circuit and the interface can also be coupled to each other. The specific connection method of the logic circuit and the interface is not limited in this embodiment. For example, the logic circuit 1101 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 901 shown in FIG. 9, and the interface circuit 1102 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the transceiver module 902 shown in FIG. 9. For a detailed description of the logic circuit 1101 and the interface circuit 1102, please refer to FIG. 9 or the method embodiment shown above, which will not be detailed here.

[0305] The apparatus shown in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware or software, and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0306] This application also provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device and a network device, which can be used to perform the methods in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0307] In addition, this application also provides a computer program for implementing the operations and / or processes performed by various devices in the method provided in this application.

[0308] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer code that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the operations and / or processes performed by the various devices in the methods provided in this application.

[0309] This application also provides a computer program product comprising computer code or a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the operations and / or processes performed by various entities in the method provided in this application to be executed.

[0310] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of modules is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple modules or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the couplings or direct couplings or communication connections shown or discussed may be indirect couplings or communication connections through some interfaces, devices, or modules, or they may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms of connection.

[0311] The modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network modules. Some or all of the modules can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the technical effects of the solutions provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0312] Furthermore, the functional modules in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing module, or each module can exist physically separately, or two or more modules can be integrated into one module. The integrated modules described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules.

[0313] If the integrated module is implemented as a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a readable storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned readable storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0314] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of information transmission, characterized in that, The method comprises: receiving first configuration information from a network device, the first configuration information being used to indicate a muting manner of a sounding reference signal (SRS), the muting manner of the SRS being one or more of the following: no SRS is transmitted in at least one SRS transmission occasion associated with a SRS resource set; or, no SRS is transmitted in at least one SRS transmission occasion associated with a SRS resource; or, no SRS is transmitted in at least one SRS transmission occasion associated with at least one port of a SRS resource; transmitting, based on the first configuration information, an SRS to the network device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The SRS resource set comprises a first SRS resource, the first SRS resource is associated with N SRS transmission occasions, M SRS transmission occasions in the N SRS transmission occasions do not transmit SRS, N and M are positive integers, and M is less than or equal to N.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, The SRS resource set further comprises a second SRS resource, the second SRS resource is associated with P SRS transmission occasions, Q SRS transmission occasions in the P SRS transmission occasions do not transmit SRS, P and Q are positive integers, and Q is less than or equal to P.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The N SRS transmission occasions associated with the first SRS resource are the same as the P SRS transmission occasions associated with the second SRS resource. M SRS transmission occasions in the N SRS transmission occasions associated with the first SRS resource, which do not transmit SRS, are the same as Q SRS transmission occasions in the P SRS transmission occasions associated with the second SRS resource, which do not transmit SRS.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, The first SRS resource is associated with T groups of SRS transmission occasions, each group of SRS transmission occasions includes the N SRS transmission occasions, and T is a positive integer; and / or, The second SRS resource is associated with K groups of SRS transmission occasions, each group of SRS transmission occasions includes the P SRS transmission occasions, and K is a positive integer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, The SRS resource set comprises a first SRS resource, the first SRS resource comprises a plurality of subbands, the first SRS resource is associated with X1 groups of SRS transmission occasions, each group of SRS transmission occasions in the X1 groups of SRS transmission occasions includes SRS transmission occasions of all subbands in the first SRS resource, and X1 is an integer greater than 1; Y1 groups of SRS transmission occasions in the X1 groups of SRS transmission occasions do not transmit SRS, Y1 is a positive integer, and Y1 is less than or equal to X1.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The SRS resource set comprises a second SRS resource, the second SRS resource comprises a plurality of subbands, the second SRS resource is associated with X2 groups of SRS transmission occasions, each group of SRS transmission occasions in the X2 groups of SRS transmission occasions includes SRS transmission occasions of all subbands in the second SRS resource, and X2 is an integer greater than 1; Y2 groups of SRS transmission occasions in the X2 groups of SRS transmission occasions do not transmit SRS, Y2 is a positive integer, and Y2 is less than or equal to X2.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, The X1 groups of SRS transmission occasions associated with the first SRS resource are the same as the X2 groups of SRS transmission occasions associated with the second SRS resource. Y1 groups of SRS transmission occasions in the X1 groups of SRS transmission occasions associated with the first SRS resource are same as Y2 groups of SRS transmission occasions in the X2 groups of SRS transmission occasions associated with the second SRS resource.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6-8, characterized in that, Z1 groups of SRS transmission occasions associated with the first SRS resource, each of the Z1 groups of SRS transmission occasions comprising the X1 groups of SRS transmission occasions, the Z1 being a positive integer; and / or, Z2 groups of SRS transmission occasions associated with the second SRS resource, each of the Z2 groups of SRS transmission occasions comprising the X2 groups of SRS transmission occasions, the Z2 being a positive integer.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The SRS resource comprises a first port, the SRS resource being associated with a first SRS transmission occasion, the first port not transmitting SRS in the first SRS transmission occasion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, The SRS resource further comprises a second port, the second port transmitting SRS in the first SRS transmission occasion.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein, The SRS resource is further associated with a second SRS transmission occasion, the first port transmitting SRS in the second SRS transmission occasion.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, The first configuration information is carried in a radio resource control (RRC) or a downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control control element (MAC CE).

14. An information transmission method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: sending, to a terminal device, first configuration information, the first configuration information being used to indicate a muting manner of a sounding reference signal (SRS), the muting manner of the SRS being one or more of the following: SRS is not transmitted in at least one SRS transmission occasion associated with a SRS resource set; or, SRS is not transmitted in at least one SRS transmission occasion associated with a SRS resource; or, At least one port of a SRS resource does not transmit SRS in at least one SRS transmission occasion; receiving, from the terminal device, the SRS based on the first configuration information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The SRS resource set comprises a first SRS resource, the first SRS resource being associated with N SRS transmission occasions, M SRS transmission occasions in the N SRS transmission occasions not transmitting SRS, the N and the M being positive integers, the M being less than or equal to the N.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, The SRS resource set further comprises a second SRS resource, the second SRS resource being associated with P SRS transmission occasions, Q SRS transmission occasions in the P SRS transmission occasions not transmitting SRS, the P and the Q being positive integers, the Q being less than or equal to the P.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, N SRS transmission occasions associated with the first SRS resource are same as P SRS transmission occasions associated with the second SRS resource; M SRS transmission occasions in the N SRS transmission occasions associated with the first SRS resource not transmitting SRS are same as Q SRS transmission occasions in the P SRS transmission occasions associated with the second SRS resource not transmitting SRS.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15-17, characterized by, The first SRS resource is associated with T groups of SRS transmission occasions, each of the T groups of SRS transmission occasions comprising the N SRS transmission occasions, the T being a positive integer; and / or, The second SRS resource is associated with K groups of SRS transmission occasions, and each group of SRS transmission occasions includes the P SRS transmission occasions, and K is a positive integer.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein, The SRS resource set includes a first SRS resource, the first SRS resource includes a plurality of subbands, the first SRS resource is associated with X1 groups of SRS transmission occasions, each group of SRS transmission occasions in the X1 groups of SRS transmission occasions includes SRS transmission occasions of all subbands in the first SRS resource, and X1 is an integer greater than 1. Y1 groups of SRS transmission occasions in the X1 groups of SRS transmission occasions do not transmit SRS, Y1 is a positive integer, and Y1 is less than or equal to X1.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, The SRS resource set includes a second SRS resource, the second SRS resource includes a plurality of subbands, the second SRS resource is associated with X2 groups of SRS transmission occasions, each group of SRS transmission occasions in the X2 groups of SRS transmission occasions includes SRS transmission occasions of all subbands in the second SRS resource, and X2 is an integer greater than 1. Y2 groups of SRS transmission occasions in the X2 groups of SRS transmission occasions do not transmit SRS, Y2 is a positive integer, and Y2 is less than or equal to X2.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, The X1 groups of SRS transmission occasions associated with the first SRS resource are the same as the X2 groups of SRS transmission occasions associated with the second SRS resource. Y1 groups of SRS transmission occasions in the X1 groups of SRS transmission occasions associated with the first SRS resource that do not transmit SRS are the same as Y2 groups of SRS transmission occasions in the X2 groups of SRS transmission occasions associated with the second SRS resource that do not transmit SRS.

22. The method of any one of claims 19-21, wherein, The first SRS resource is associated with Z1 sets of SRS transmission occasions, each set of SRS transmission occasions in the Z1 sets of SRS transmission occasions includes the X1 groups of SRS transmission occasions, and Z1 is a positive integer; and / or The second SRS resource is associated with Z2 sets of SRS transmission occasions, each set of SRS transmission occasions in the Z2 sets of SRS transmission occasions includes the X2 groups of SRS transmission occasions, and Z2 is a positive integer.

23. The method according to any of claims 14-22, characterized by, The SRS resource includes a first port, the SRS resource is associated with a first SRS transmission occasion, and the first port does not transmit SRS in the first SRS transmission occasion.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein, The SRS resource further includes a second port, and the second port transmits SRS in the first SRS transmission occasion.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein, The SRS resource is further associated with a second SRS transmission occasion, and the first port transmits SRS in the second SRS transmission occasion.

26. The method of any one of claims 14-25, wherein, The first configuration information is carried in radio resource control (RRC) or downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control control element (MAC CE).

27. A communications device, characterized by The method comprises a module for performing the method of any one of claims 1-13, or a module for performing the method of any one of claims 14-26.

28. A communications device, characterized by comprising processing circuitry and transceiving circuitry for inputting and / or outputting information, the processing circuitry configured to perform the method of any of claims 1-13, or the processing circuitry configured to perform the method of any of claims 14-26.

29. A chip, characterized by comprising processing circuitry and interface circuitry coupled thereto; the interface circuitry configured to input and / or output information, and the processing circuitry configured to execute code instructions to cause the method of any of claims 1-13 to be performed, or to cause the method of any of claims 14-26 to be performed.

30. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, a computer readable storage medium storing a computer program which, when executed, causes the method of any of claims 1-13 to be performed, or the method of any of claims 14-26 to be performed.

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