Information transmission method and communication apparatus

Abstract

An information transmission method and a communication apparatus. In multi-satellite joint transmission of a non-terrestrial network, a primary satellite may send, to a terminal device by means of signaling in advance, identifiers of TCI states (i.e., a TCI state sequence) of secondary satellites corresponding to the terminal device within different time periods (e.g., different beam hopping periods). Alternatively, the following information is added to the TCI state corresponding to each secondary satellite: a time length during which an identifier (tci-StateId) of the current TCI state remains unchanged, and an identifier (next-tci-StateId) of the TCI state within the next time period. After receiving the signaling or the TCI state, the terminal device may determine a corresponding TCI state within a corresponding time period, and then determine a corresponding secondary satellite on the basis of the TCI state, thereby avoiding the situation where upon each change of the secondary satellite, it is necessary to indicate the change of the secondary satellite by means of activating one TCI state, and thus reducing signaling overheads.

Description

Method and communication apparatus for information transmission

[0001] The present application claims priority from the Chinese patent application No. 202411097953.4 filed on August 9, 2024, and entitled "Method and communication apparatus for information transmission", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication, and more particularly, to a method and communication apparatus for information transmission. BACKGROUND

[0003] Non-terrestrial network (NTN) has been widely studied in recent years. In non-terrestrial network, multi-satellite cooperative transmission can reduce the requirement on single-satellite transmission capability and effectively improve the capacity of satellite overlapping coverage. In multi-satellite cooperative transmission, one satellite can be referred to as a primary satellite, and the other satellites can be referred to as secondary satellites. Since the update periods of the primary satellite and the secondary satellites are different, the primary satellite serving a terminal device can not change for a long time, i.e., the same satellite is maintained, while the secondary satellites can change frequently, e.g., the secondary satellite serving the terminal device can be switched from one satellite to another satellite in a short time. How to efficiently inform the terminal device of the change of the secondary satellite becomes a problem to be solved urgently. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application provides a method and communication apparatus for information transmission, which avoids the need to indicate the change of the secondary satellite by activating a TCI state every time the secondary satellite changes, saves signaling overhead, and improves the utilization rate of communication resources.

[0005] In a first aspect, a method for information transmission is provided. The method can be performed by a terminal device or a chip, chip system, or processor supporting the terminal device to implement the method. The method comprises: receiving first information from a first non-ground communication device, the first information comprising a TCI state sequence, the TCI state sequence comprising: a plurality of TCI state identifiers and a time period corresponding to each TCI state identifier in the plurality of TCI state identifiers, a first TCI state identifier corresponding to a first time period, the first time period being a length of time during which a first TCI state is in an active state or a valid state, the first TCI state being any one of the plurality of TCI states, the first non-ground communication device being capable of sending and receiving signaling with the terminal device; determining, according to the first information, a second non-ground communication device corresponding to each time period, the second non-ground communication device being capable of sending signaling to the terminal device, each time period being a time period corresponding to each TCI state identifier; and communicating with the corresponding second non-ground communication device in each time period.

[0006] In the method for information transmission provided in the first aspect, the main satellite (the first non-ground communication device) can send the TCI state (the TCI state sequence) of the auxiliary satellite (the second non-ground communication device) corresponding to different time periods (e.g., different hop-beam periods) to the terminal device in advance through signaling. That is, the TCI state corresponding to each different time period is pre-configured. After receiving the information, the terminal device can determine the corresponding TCI state in the corresponding time period, and then determine the corresponding auxiliary satellite according to the TCI state, so as to receive the signal sent by the corresponding auxiliary satellite in different time periods. After the auxiliary satellite changes, the terminal device can also determine the updated auxiliary satellite according to the information. This avoids the need to indicate the change of the auxiliary satellite by activating a TCI state each time the auxiliary satellite changes, saves signaling overhead, and improves the utilization rate of communication resources. Moreover, the information does not need to have an effective time, which can avoid communication interruption during the effective time, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0007] For example, the first non-ground communication device can send signaling and data to the terminal device, and can also receive the signaling and data sent by the terminal device. The second non-ground communication device can send signaling and data to the terminal device, and generally does not receive the signaling and data sent by the terminal device, i.e., the terminal device can not send signaling and data to the second non-ground communication device.

[0008] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first information comprises a sequence of TCI states, and the sequence of TCI states comprises a first TCI state corresponding to a first time period and a second TCI state corresponding to a second time period. For example, the terminal device can determine the first TCI state corresponding to the first time period and the second TCI state corresponding to the second time period according to the sequence of TCI states. In this way, the terminal device can determine the first TCI state corresponding to the first time period and the second TCI state corresponding to the second time period according to the sequence of TCI states, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of the terminal device in determining the first TCI state corresponding to the first time period and the second TCI state corresponding to the second time period.

[0009] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first time period is represented by a start time point and an end time point at which the first TCI state is in an active state or an effective state, or represented by a start time point and a duration at which the first TCI state is in the active state or the effective state. In this implementation, the accuracy and effectiveness of the first time period can be improved, thereby improving the efficiency of the terminal device in determining the time period in which the TCI state is effective.

[0010] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the length of the first time period is one or more hop beam periods.

[0011] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the second non-terrestrial communication devices corresponding to different time periods are different.

[0012] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first information is carried in a medium access control-control element (MAC CE), radio resource control (RRC) signaling, or downlink control information (DCI). In this implementation, the first information takes effect relatively quickly. After the first terminal device receives the first information, the first terminal device can immediately determine the secondary satellites corresponding to different time periods according to the sequence of TCI states in the first information. Since no effect time is needed, communication interruption caused by the effect time can be avoided, thereby improving the communication efficiency. Moreover, the existing signaling is multiplexed, and no additional signaling is needed to carry the first information, which is easy to implement and reduces the communication resource overhead.

[0013] In a second aspect, a method for information transmission is provided. The execution subject of the method can be a terminal device, a chip, a chip system, or a processor supporting the terminal device to implement the method. The method comprises: determining a second TCI state corresponding to a second time period, the second TCI state comprising: an identifier of a third TCI state corresponding to a third time period, and the second time period, the length of the second time period being the length of time during which the second TCI state is in an active state or a valid state, the length of the third time period being the length of time during which the third TCI state is in an active state or a valid state, wherein the second TCI state corresponds to a second non-terrestrial communication device, the second non-terrestrial communication device being capable of sending signaling to the terminal device, and the terminal device communicates with the second non-terrestrial communication device within the second time period; determining the third TCI state according to the identifier of the third TCI state corresponding to the third time period, the third TCI state comprising: an identifier of a fourth TCI state corresponding to a fourth time period, and the third time period, the length of the fourth time period being the length of time during which the fourth TCI state is in an active state or a valid state, and a fourth non-terrestrial communication device being capable of sending signaling to the terminal device; and determining a corresponding third non-terrestrial communication device according to the third TCI state, wherein the third non-terrestrial communication device is capable of sending signaling to the terminal device, and the terminal device communicates with the third non-terrestrial communication device within the third time period.

[0014] The method for information transmission provided in the second aspect changes the structure of the TCI state signaling, and adds, in each TCI state corresponding to a satellite, the length of time (second time period) during which the identifier (tci-StateId) of the current TCI state remains unchanged, and the identifier of the TCI state in the next time period (identifier of the TCI state corresponding to the third time period). In other words, the TCI state corresponding to the next time period can be indicated in the current TCI state. After receiving the TCI state corresponding to each satellite (second non-terrestrial communication device, third non-terrestrial communication device, etc.), the terminal device determines the TCI state corresponding to the satellite serving the terminal device in the next time period according to the currently activated TCI state, so as to receive the signals sent by the corresponding satellite in different time periods. After the satellite changes, the terminal device can also determine the updated satellite according to the information. This avoids the need to indicate the change of the satellite by activating a TCI state every time the satellite changes, saves signaling overhead, and improves the utilization rate of communication resources. Moreover, the activation signaling does not require an effective time, which can avoid communication interruption during the effective time, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0015] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes: receiving second information from the first non-ground communication device, the second information being used to activate the second TCI state, the first non-ground communication device being capable of signaling transmission and reception with the terminal device; and performing communication with the second non-ground communication device in a second time period according to the second TCI state. In this implementation, the terminal device can determine the TCI state that needs to be activated, so as to perform communication according to the TCI state that needs to be activated and the corresponding satellite, thereby ensuring normal communication of the terminal device.

[0016] For example, the TCI state corresponding to a certain satellite can include: a time length (tci-StateId-time) during which the identifier of the current TCI state remains unchanged and an identifier (next-tci-StateId) of a next TCI state. The identifier (next-tci-StateId) of the next TCI state can be understood as: an identifier of a TCI state corresponding to a satellite that serves the first terminal device in a next time period.

[0017] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the second time period is represented by a start time and an end time at which the second TCI state is in an activated state or an effective state, or represented by a start time and a duration at which the second TCI state is in the activated state or the effective state; and / or, the third time period is represented by a start time and an end time at which the third TCI state is in the activated state or the effective state, or represented by a start time and a duration at which the third TCI state is in the activated state or the effective state.

[0018] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the length of the second time period and / or the length of the third time period is one or more hop beam periods.

[0019] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the third non-ground communication device is different from the second non-ground communication device. That is, the satellites corresponding to different time periods are different.

[0020] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes: obtaining the second TCI state and the third TCI state. In this implementation, the terminal device can determine the TCI state corresponding to the satellite that serves the terminal device in a next time period according to a current TCI state, so as to receive signals transmitted by corresponding satellites in different time periods, thereby ensuring normal communication of the terminal device.

[0021] In a third aspect, a method for information transmission is provided. The execution subject of the method can be a first non-terrestrial communication device (e.g., a primary satellite), a chip, a chip system, or a processor supporting the first non-terrestrial communication device to implement the method, or a logic node, a logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first non-terrestrial communication device. The method comprises: determining first information, wherein the first information comprises a TCI state sequence, and the TCI state sequence comprises: a plurality of TCI state identifiers and a time period corresponding to each TCI state identifier in the plurality of TCI state identifiers, wherein a first TCI state identifier corresponds to a first time period, the first time period is a length of time during which the first TCI state is in an active state or a valid state, the first TCI state is any one of the plurality of TCI states, and the first information is used to determine a second non-terrestrial communication device, and the second non-terrestrial communication device is capable of sending signaling to a terminal device: sending the first information.

[0022] In the method for information transmission provided in the third aspect, the primary satellite (the first non-terrestrial communication device) can send the TCI state (the TCI state sequence) of the secondary satellite (the second non-terrestrial communication device) corresponding to different time periods (e.g., different hop-beam periods) to the terminal device in advance through signaling. That is, the TCI state corresponding to each different time period is pre-configured. After receiving the information, the terminal device can determine the corresponding TCI state in the corresponding time period, and then determine the corresponding secondary satellite according to the TCI state, so as to receive the signal sent by the corresponding secondary satellite in the different time periods. After the secondary satellite changes, the terminal device can also determine the updated secondary satellite according to the information. This avoids the need to indicate the change of the secondary satellite by activating a TCI state each time the secondary satellite changes, saves signaling overhead, and improves the utilization rate of communication resources.

[0023] In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the first time period is represented by a start time and an end time during which the first TCI state is in the active state or the valid state, or represented by a start time and a duration during which the first TCI state is in the active state or the valid state.

[0024] In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the length of the first time period is one or more hop-beam periods.

[0025] In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the second non-terrestrial communication devices corresponding to different time periods are different.

[0026] In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the first information is carried in a MAC CE, RRC signaling, or DCI.

[0027] For the beneficial effects of various possible implementations of the third aspect, reference can be made to the beneficial effect descriptions of the corresponding implementations of the first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0028] In a fourth aspect, a method for information transmission is provided. The execution subject of the method can be a first non-terrestrial communication device (e.g., a primary satellite), a chip, a chip system, or a processor supporting the first non-terrestrial communication device to implement the method, or a logic node, a logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first non-terrestrial communication device. The method comprises: determining second information, the second information being used to activate a second TCI state, the second TCI state comprising: an identifier of a TCI state corresponding to a third time period and a second time period; wherein the length of the second time period is the length of time during which the second TCI state is in an activated state or an effective state, the length of the third time period is the length of time during which the third TCI state is in an activated state or an effective state, the second TCI state corresponds to a second non-terrestrial communication device capable of sending signaling to a terminal device, and the third TCI state comprises: an identifier of a TCI state corresponding to a fourth time period and the third time period, the length of the fourth time period is the length of time during which the fourth TCI state is in an activated state or an effective state, and the third TCI state corresponds to a third non-terrestrial communication device capable of sending signaling to the terminal device; and sending the second information.

[0029] The method for information transmission provided in the fourth aspect changes the structure of the TCI state signaling and adds, in the TCI state corresponding to each auxiliary satellite, the length of time (the second time period) during which the identifier (tci-StateId) of the current TCI state remains unchanged and the identifier of the TCI state corresponding to the next time period (the identifier of the TCI state corresponding to the third time period). In other words, the TCI state corresponding to the next time period can be indicated in the current TCI state. The primary satellite (the first non-terrestrial communication device) can send the TCI state corresponding to each auxiliary satellite (the second non-terrestrial communication device, the third non-terrestrial communication device, etc.) to the terminal device, so that the terminal device determines the TCI state corresponding to the auxiliary satellite serving the terminal device in the next time period according to the information, thereby receiving the signals sent by the corresponding auxiliary satellite in different time periods. After the auxiliary satellite changes, the terminal device can also determine the updated auxiliary satellite according to the information. This avoids the need to indicate the change of the auxiliary satellite by activating a TCI state every time the auxiliary satellite changes, saves signaling overhead, and improves the utilization rate of communication resources.

[0030] In a possible implementation form of the fourth aspect, the second time period is represented by a start time point and an end time point at which the second TCI state is in the active state or the valid state, or represented by a start time point at which the second TCI state is in the active state or the valid state and a duration; and / or the third time period is represented by a start time point and an end time point at which the third TCI state is in the active state or the valid state, or represented by a start time point at which the third TCI state is in the active state or the valid state and a duration.

[0031] In a possible implementation form of the fourth aspect, the length of the second time period and / or the length of the third time period is one or more beam switching cycles.

[0032] In a possible implementation form of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: transmitting the second TCI state and the third TCI state.

[0033] For the beneficial effects of the various possible implementation forms of the fourth aspect, refer to the beneficial effect descriptions of the implementation forms of the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0034] In the fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes: a module (for example, a processing module and an interface module) for performing each step in the first aspect or any possible implementation form of the first aspect, or a module for performing each step in the second aspect or any possible implementation form of the second aspect; the apparatus can be a terminal device, or a chip, a chip system, or a processor in a terminal device.

[0035] In the sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes at least one processor and a memory, and the at least one processor is configured to perform: the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation form of the first aspect, or the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation form of the second aspect.

[0036] In the seventh aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes at least one processor (processing circuit) and an interface circuit, and the at least one processor is configured to perform: the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation form of the first aspect, or the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation form of the second aspect.

[0037] In an eighth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises: means (e.g., comprising processing means and interface means) for performing the steps of the third aspect above or any possible implementation of the third aspect above; the apparatus can be a non-terrestrial communication apparatus, e.g., a satellite, etc., or a chip, chip system, or processor in the non-terrestrial communication apparatus, or a logic node, logic module, or software, etc. that can implement all or part of the functions of the non-terrestrial communication apparatus.

[0038] In a ninth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises at least one processor and a memory, the at least one processor configured to perform: the method of the third aspect above or any possible implementation of the third aspect above, or the method of the fourth aspect above or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect above.

[0039] In a tenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which comprises at least one processor (processing circuitry) and interface circuitry, the at least one processor configured to perform: the method of the third aspect above or any possible implementation of the third aspect above, or the method of the fourth aspect above or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect above.

[0040] In an eleventh aspect, a terminal device is provided, which comprises the communication apparatus provided in the fifth aspect above, or the communication apparatus provided in the sixth aspect above, or the communication apparatus provided in the seventh aspect above.

[0041] In a twelfth aspect, a non-terrestrial communication apparatus is provided, which comprises the communication apparatus provided in the eighth aspect above, or the communication apparatus provided in the ninth aspect above, or the communication apparatus provided in the tenth aspect above.

[0042] In a thirteenth aspect, a computer program product is provided, which comprises a computer program that, when executed by a processor, is configured to perform: the method of the first aspect above or any possible implementation of the first aspect above, the method of the second aspect above or any possible implementation of the second aspect above, the method of the third aspect above or any possible implementation of the third aspect above, or the method of the fourth aspect above or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect above.

[0043] In a fourteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed, the computer program is configured to perform the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect, the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect, or the method in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0044] In a fifteenth aspect, a chip is provided. The chip includes a processor configured to invoke and run a computer program from a memory, so that a communication device in which the chip is installed performs the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect, the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect, or the method in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0045] In a sixteenth aspect, a chip or a system on chip is provided. The chip or the system on chip includes a logic circuit configured to implement the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect, the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect, or the method in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect. Optionally, the chip or the system on chip can further include an interface circuit.

[0046] In a seventeenth aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes the terminal device in the eleventh aspect and the non-terrestrial communication apparatus in the twelfth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0047] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example in which the update period of a primary satellite and a secondary satellite is different in multi-satellite NCJT.

[0048] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example in which a secondary cell changes in an inter-cell multi-DCI multi-TRP scenario.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example in which a primary base station activates a TCI state associated with a CSI-RS resource of a secondary cell (TRS2) for a UE.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example of a communication system suitable for use with embodiments of the application.

[0051] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an example of a communication system suitable for use with embodiments of the application.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a method of information transmission according to an example embodiment of the present application.

[0053] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of contents included in a TCI state sequence according to an example embodiment of the present application.

[0054] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of contents included in a TCI state sequence according to another example embodiment of the present application.

[0055] FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a method of information transmission according to another example embodiment of the present application.

[0056] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of contents included in a TCI state according to an example embodiment of the present application.

[0057] FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present application.

[0058] FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus according to another example embodiment of the present application.

[0059] FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present application.

[0060] FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus according to another example embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] The technical solutions in the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0062] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, " / " means or, for example, A / B can mean A or B; "and / or" herein only describes the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, which can mean that A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. In addition, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, "multiple" means two or more than two.

[0063] Hereinafter, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for description purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined with "first" and "second" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the description of the embodiments, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "multiple" is two or more than two.

[0064] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device or the satellite can include a hardware layer, an operating system layer running above the hardware layer, and an application layer running on the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory management unit (MMU), and a memory (also referred to as a main memory). The operating system can be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through a process, for example, a Linux operating system, a Unix operating system, an Android operating system, an iOS operating system, or a windows operating system. The application layer includes applications such as a browser, an address book, word processing software, and instant messaging software. Moreover, the embodiments of the present application do not particularly limit the specific structure of the execution subject of the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, as long as the execution subject can communicate according to the method provided by the embodiments of the present application by running a program in which the code of the method provided by the embodiments of the present application is recorded. For example, the execution subject of the method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be a terminal device or a satellite, or a functional module capable of calling and executing a program in a terminal device or a satellite.

[0065] In addition, various aspects or features of the disclosure can be realized as methods, apparatus, or articles of manufacture using standard programming and / or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used in the disclosure is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, computer-readable media can include but are not limited to magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips, etc.), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., EPROM, card, stick, or key drive, etc.). Additionally, various storage media described herein can represent one or more devices and / or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" can include, without being limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and / or carrying instruction and / or data.

[0066] In order to realize seamless network coverage on a global scale, a NTN communication network is proposed in the 5th generation mobile networks (5G). In recent years, low earth orbit (LEO) satellites located at a distance of 200 km to 2000 km from the ground have attracted widespread attention from academia and industry. The advantages of LEO satellites include small communication delay, small path loss, and low manufacturing cost, and have been considered as one of the key infrastructures to realize global network coverage.

[0067] In recent years, some companies plan to build a giant LEO constellation, which includes thousands or even tens of thousands of LEO satellites, thereby greatly increasing the coverage range of LEO satellites. With the increase in the size of the satellite constellation, there will be more than one satellite in the visible range of the user equipment (UE). Single-satellite transmission (only one satellite serves the UE) is limited to improving the capacity of the communication system. In order to effectively improve the capacity of the satellite overlapping coverage area, the satellite system gradually evolves from single-satellite transmission to multi-satellite cooperative transmission. Multi-satellite cooperative transmission can reduce the requirements for single-satellite transmission capacity, thereby reducing the cost of single-satellite manufacturing. Multi-satellite cooperative transmission is a key technology for future satellite communication systems.

[0068] For example, the earth's surface can be divided into some hexagonal grids of approximately the same size, each hexagonal grid is called a "wave position", and there are many UEs in each wave position. Each wave position can be understood as a service area. In satellite communication, the number of wave positions contained in the coverage range of the satellite is usually large (about 2000 or so), but the number of beams generated by the satellite at the same frequency is limited (about 100 or so). In order to enable the satellite to serve all wave positions in the coverage area, the beams of the satellite will be aimed at different wave positions at different times, showing a pattern that "jumps" over time, which is also called beam hopping (BH) technology. Beam hopping technology plays a very important role in satellite communication, which can better balance system performance and implementation complexity.

[0069] For example, in the service time period [0, T] of the satellite, if it includes N beam hopping periods (BHP), then the time length of each beam hopping period is T / N. From the nth beam hopping period to the (n+1)th beam hopping period, the wave positions pointed to by the K beams turned on at the satellite side may change, and the value of n is less than N. A beam hopping period can be understood as the time length during which the direction of the beam emitted by the satellite (beam pointing direction) does not change. In different beam hopping periods, the direction of the beam emitted by the satellite is different.

[0070] In a terrestrial cellular mobile communication system, the rate performance of users at the cell edge can be significantly improved by providing communication services for UEs through multi-base station cooperation, which is also known as coordinated multi-point (CoMP) technology. In CoMP, multiple base stations cooperate with each other to provide services for some UEs. CoMP technology has multiple implementation methods, including dynamic point selection (DPS), coordinated scheduling (CS), coordinated beamforming (CBF), joint transmission (JT), etc.

[0071] DPS can be understood as different base stations using different time domain resources to provide services for UEs, i.e., UEs dynamically select different base stations to communicate with different base stations on different time domain resources. CS can be understood as different base stations using different frequency resources to provide services for UEs at the same time, i.e., UEs communicate with different base stations on different subcarriers. In addition, CoMP also supports different base stations providing services for UEs on the same time-frequency resources. CBF can be understood as: only the base station of one cell transmits useful signals for UEs, and the base stations of adjacent cooperating cells adjust the beamforming vectors to reduce interference to the UEs. JT can be understood as: allowing multiple base stations to transmit useful signals for UEs, and JT includes two transmission modes: coherent JT (CJT) and non-coherent JT (NCJT). In CJT, multiple base stations transmit the same useful signal for UEs, which can achieve the best system performance, but requires ideal backhaul between base stations, which is difficult to implement in a system. In NCJT, multiple base stations transmit different useful signals for UEs, and the backhaul between base stations can be non-ideal, which reduces the difficulty of system implementation, but has certain performance loss compared to CJT. In satellite communication, due to the long distance between satellites, it is difficult to ensure ideal inter-satellite backhaul, which makes it difficult to implement CJT. Compared with CJT, NCJT relaxes the requirement of ideal inter-satellite backhaul, and is easier to implement in an actual system.

[0072] In multi-satellite NCJT, a main problem is that the update period of the main satellite and the auxiliary satellite can be different. The update period of the main satellite can be understood as the length of time for the main satellite to change from one satellite to another satellite or the length of time for the main satellite to serve the current wave position. The update period of the auxiliary satellite can be understood as the length of time for the auxiliary satellite to change from one satellite to another satellite or the length of time for the auxiliary satellite to serve the current wave position. For example, the main satellite 1 serves the wave position n for a length of time T1, and then changes to the main satellite 2 serving the wave position n. T1 can be understood as the update period of the main satellite. The auxiliary satellite 1 serves the wave position n for a length of time T2, and then changes to the auxiliary satellite 2 serving the wave position n. T2 can be understood as the update period of the auxiliary satellite. Generally, T1 is greater than T2.

[0073] Since the length of time of the beam hopping period is usually on the order of 10 ms. For a certain wave position n, if the main satellite is selected as the nearest satellite, the main satellite corresponding to the wave position n will remain unchanged in multiple beam hopping periods, that is, the wave position served by the beam opened by the main satellite will not change, and the wave position will still be n. However, if the optimal auxiliary satellite is to be selected, it is necessary to judge the interference received by the wave position n from other satellites. In different beam hopping periods, since the wave position served by the beam opened by the auxiliary satellite can change, the interference received by the wave position n can also be different, and therefore the auxiliary satellite corresponding to the wave position n can change in different beam hopping periods.

[0074] For example, FIG. 1 shows an example of different update periods of the main satellite and the auxiliary satellite in multi-satellite NCJT. As shown in FIG. 1, in BHP1, for the wave position n, the main satellite is satellite 1, and the auxiliary satellite is satellite 2. With the movement of the satellite, in BHP2, for the wave position n, the main satellite is satellite 1, and the auxiliary satellite changes to satellite 4. It can be seen that the auxiliary satellite corresponding to the wave position n can change in different beam hopping periods.

[0075] In a ground cellular mobile communication system, the main cell and one auxiliary cell are allowed to cooperate to provide NCJT for the UE, which is also referred to as an inter-cell multi-DCI multi-TRP scenario. For example, FIG. 2 shows an example of a schematic diagram of a change in the auxiliary cell in the inter-cell multi-DCI multi-TRP scenario.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 2, Cell 1 is a primary cell and Cell 2 is a secondary cell, and Cell 1 and Cell 2 provide communication services for the UE. Cell 1 and Cell 2 can correspond to one component carrier (CC) respectively. The UE performs an initial connection establishment procedure in Cell 1, or starts a connection re-establishment procedure. Cell 2 can be added / modified / released by the RRC connection reconfiguration message after the initial security activation procedure, and Cell 2 can provide additional radio resources.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 2, the primary base station corresponding to Cell 1 sends a synchronization signal block 1 (SSB1), a tracking reference signal 1 (TRS1), a physical downlink control channel 1 (PDCCH1), and a physical downlink shared channel 1 (PDSCH1) to the UE. The secondary base station corresponding to Cell 2 sends an SSB2, a TRS2, a PDCCH2, and a PDSCH2 to the UE. Optionally, the SSB can also be referred to as a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SS / PBCH block).

[0078] For cell 1, PDSCH1 and PDCCH1, PDCCH1 and TRS1, TRS1 and SSB1 satisfy quasi colocation (QCL) relationship. For cell 2, PDSCH2 and PDCCH2, PDCCH2 and TRS2, TRS2 and SSB2 satisfy QCL relationship. Wherein, the QCL relationship is used to represent that multiple resources have one or more same or similar communication characteristics, and for multiple resources with QCL relationship, the same or similar communication configuration can be used. The QCL relationship can be divided into different types (qcl-type) based on different parameters. Although actually the secondary base station corresponding to cell 2 sends TRS2, PDCCH2 and PDSCH2 to the UE, logically, the UE will regard TRS2, PDCCH2 and PDSCH2 as the "added" configuration of cell 1 to the UE. For example, the primary base station corresponding to cell 1 will configure two channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resources for the UE, the UE will use the first block of CSI-RS resources to receive TRS1, and use the second block of CSI-RS resources to receive TRS2. The primary base station corresponding to cell 1 will also configure two control resource set resource pools (CORESET Pool) for the UE, the UE will use the first control resource set resource pool (CORESET Pool) to receive PDCCH 1, and use the second control resource set resource pool to receive PDCCH 2.

[0079] In the inter-cell multi-DCI multi-TRP scenario, as shown in the a diagram of FIG. 3, the UE can determine which secondary cell and primary cell cooperates to perform NCJT by the primary base station corresponding to cell 1 activating the transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state associated with the CSI-RS resource of TRS2. Wherein, the TCI state can be used to indicate the QCL relationship between two reference signals. For example, the TCI state indicates that TRS2 and SSB2 satisfy QCL relationship, and the TCI state includes the physical cell identifier (PCI) information of cell 2. If the secondary cell changes from cell 2 to cell 4 (Cell4), the primary base station corresponding to cell 1 needs to re-activate the new TCI state associated with the CSI-RS resource of TRS2 for the UE, the new TCI state indicates that TRS2 and SSB4 satisfy QCL relationship, and the new TCI state includes the PCI information of cell 4.

[0080] For example, as shown in b of FIG. 3, one TCI state can include: an identification (tci-stateId) of the TCI state, a QCL type (qcl-type), an additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex), and the like. The TCI state can be distinguished by its identification (tci-stateId), and different TCI states correspond to different identifications. The additional PCI index is the PCI information of the cell.

[0081] After receiving the TCI state associated with the CSI-RS resource of the activated TRS2, the UE can determine which secondary cell and the primary cell cooperates to perform NCJT according to the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex) in the TCI state. For example, if the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex) indicates the index of cell 2, the UE can determine that cell 2 and the primary cell cooperates to perform NCJT. If the secondary cell changes from cell 2 to cell 4, the primary base station needs to activate the TCI state (i.e., a new TCI state) associated with the CSI-RS resource of the TRS2 for the UE. The UE can determine that cell 4 and the primary cell cooperates to perform NCJT according to the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex) in the new TCI state. The additional PCI index indicates the index of cell 4. Then, SSB4, TRS2, PDCCH2, and PDSCH2 transmitted by the secondary base station corresponding to cell 4 can be received.

[0082] For example, the primary base station corresponding to cell 1 can activate one or more TCI states through high layer signaling (such as a media access control (MAC) control element (CE)). In other words, the primary base station corresponding to cell 1 can use the activated TCI state to indicate the change of the secondary cell. Each time the secondary cell changes, a new TCI state needs to be activated for the UE, and the UE can determine the new secondary cell (secondary base station) according to the new TCI state. In addition, the primary base station activates one TCI state each time will have a certain effective time. For example, as shown in a of FIG. 3, when the MAC CE is used to activate the TCI state, the new TCI state needs to wait for at least 3 ms before it takes effect.

[0083] In the multi-satellite NCJT, the primary satellite can also indicate the change of the secondary satellite by activating the TCI state. As known from the above, the update periods of the primary satellite and the secondary satellite are different, and the secondary satellite corresponding to a certain beam position (or a certain terminal device) can change in each hop beam period. Therefore, for each hop beam period, the primary satellite can activate a TCI state to the UE by signaling, which has a large signaling overhead and causes waste of communication resources. Moreover, since the activation of a TCI state each time has a certain effective time, the UE cannot communicate with the new secondary satellite during the effective time, causing communication interruption and affecting communication efficiency.

[0084] In view of this, the present application provides a method and a communication device for information transmission. The primary satellite can send the TCI state of the secondary satellite corresponding to the terminal device in different time periods (for example, different hop beam periods) to the terminal device in advance by signaling. After receiving the information, the terminal device can determine the corresponding TCI state in the corresponding time period, and then determine the corresponding secondary satellite according to the TCI state, so as to receive the signal sent by the corresponding secondary satellite in different time periods. After the secondary satellite changes, the terminal device can also determine the updated secondary satellite according to the information. This avoids the need to indicate the change of the secondary satellite by activating a TCI state each time the secondary satellite changes, saves signaling overhead, and improves the utilization rate of communication resources. Moreover, no effective time is needed, which can improve the communication efficiency.

[0085] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, first, a communication system suitable for the embodiments of the present application is briefly introduced.

[0086] The embodiments of the present application can be used in a satellite communication system, for example, the satellite communication system includes satellites, UEs (i.e., terminal devices), gateways (GWs), base stations, etc. The base station is usually located on the ground and can also be referred to as a satellite base station (which can be understood as a base station in a satellite network); the gateway can be used to connect the satellite and the ground public network, and the number of gateways can be one or more and is usually located on the ground; the feeder link can be a link for communication between the gateway and the satellite; the service link can be a link for communication between the UE and the satellite; the inter-satellite link can be a link for communication between satellites; the interface between base stations can be an Xn interface, the interface between the base station and the core network can be a next generation (NG) interface, and the interface between the core network and the data network can be an N6 interface.

[0087] Satellites in a satellite communication system can work in different modes, such as transparent mode and regenerative mode. When the satellites work in different modes, the satellite communication system can also implement different network architectures. When the satellite works in the transparent mode, the satellite only has the function of signal forwarding, and the GW has the function of a base station or part of the function of a gNB, at this time, the GW can be regarded as a base station; when the satellite works in the regenerative mode, the satellite has the ability to process digital signals, and the satellite has the function of a base station or part of the function of a base station, at this time, the satellite can be regarded as a base station. Multiple satellites cooperate to provide services for UEs in an overlapping coverage area.

[0088] For example, the method provided in the present application can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 1.

[0089] For another example, FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system suitable for embodiments of the present application. FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an integrated network architecture of an NTN device and a ground network. The NTN device in FIG. 4 can work in a transparent mode. The NTN device can include a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite 411, a LEO satellite 412, a LEO satellite 413, a LEO satellite 414, and a LEO satellite 415. The LEO satellite 412 can provide communication services for a terminal device 421. The LEO satellite 412 and the LEO satellite 413 can both provide communication services for a terminal device 422. The LEO satellite 412, the LEO satellite 413, the LEO satellite 414, and the LEO satellite 415 can all provide communication services for a terminal device 423. The LEO satellite 414 can provide communication services for a terminal device 424. The LEO satellite 414 and the LEO satellite 415 can both provide communication services for a terminal device 425. The coverage of different satellites can include multiple beams. The LEO satellite 412, the LEO satellite 413, the LEO satellite 414, and the LEO satellite 415 can be connected to a core network through a gateway 432 and a satellite base station 433, and the GEO satellite 411 can be connected to the core network through a gateway 434 and a satellite base station 435. A ground base station 431 is a network device in a ground network and can provide communication services for a terminal device 426.

[0090] The gateway 432 and the gateway 434 in FIG. 4 can implement all or part of the functions of a base station. The gateway 432, the satellite base station 433, the gateway 434, and the satellite base station 435 can be deployed on the ground.

[0091] In the example shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the terminal device 423 located in the wave position n can use different secondary satellites to provide communication services for it in different hop beam periods. For example, the satellite 412 can be the primary satellite corresponding to the terminal device 423, and in different hop beam periods, the terminal device 423 can use the secondary satellite 413, the secondary satellite 414, and the secondary satellite 415 to provide communication services for it, respectively. When the secondary satellite serving the terminal device 423 changes, the terminal device 423 can be informed of the secondary satellite serving it in different time periods (for example, in different hop beam periods) by using the method provided in the present application.

[0092] FIG. 5 shows another example of a communication system suitable for embodiments of the present application, which is a schematic diagram of another network architecture integrating NTN devices and ground networks. The NTN devices in FIG. 5 can work in regenerative mode, and can include a GEO satellite 511, a LEO satellite 512, a LEO satellite 513, a LEO satellite 514, and a LEO satellite 515. The LEO satellite 512, the LEO satellite 513, the LEO satellite 514, and the LEO satellite 515 can be connected to a core network through a gateway 532, and the GEO satellite 511 can be connected to the core network through a gateway 533; a ground base station 531 is a network device in a ground network, and can provide communication services for a terminal device 526.

[0093] The NTN devices in FIG. 5 can implement all or part of the functions of a base station. The gateway 532 and the gateway 533 can be deployed on the ground.

[0094] In the example shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the terminal device 523 located in the wave position n can use different secondary satellites to provide communication services for it in different hop beam periods. When the secondary satellite serving the terminal device 523 changes, the method provided in the present application can be used.

[0095] It can be understood that in the above FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the NTN devices and the ground base stations can be assisted and interconnected through a common core network, or can be assisted and interconnected through an interface between base stations (such as an interface between a satellite base station and a ground base station).

[0096] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal can also be referred to as a terminal device, a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a mobile terminal, etc. The terminal can be widely applied to various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, automatic driving, remote medical treatment, smart power grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a wearable device, a vehicle, a drone, a helicopter, an airplane, a ship, a robot, a mechanical arm, a smart home device, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the device form of the terminal.

[0097] In the embodiments of the present application, the base station (BS) can also be referred to as a satellite base station (for example, the satellite base station 433 in FIG. 4), a network device, which can refer to a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that accesses a terminal device to a wireless network, for example, the network device can be a NodeB, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a transmission reception point (TRP), an access point (AP), a network device in a non terrestrial network (NTN) system (such as a satellite), a base station in a future mobile communication system or an access node (AP) in a WiFi system, a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a network device in other future evolved communication systems, etc.

[0098] In some embodiments, a terminal device can be assisted by multiple RAN nodes to implement wireless access, and different RAN nodes can respectively implement part of functions of a base station. For example, a RAN node (i.e., a network device in this application) can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), etc. The CU and the DU can be separately arranged, or can be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna processing unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH). In different systems, the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU can also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open radio access network (ORAN) system, the CU can also be referred to as an open CU (O-CU), the DU can also be referred to as an open DU (O-DU), the CU-CP can also be referred to as an O-CU-CP, the CU-UP can also be referred to as an O-CU-UP, and the RU can also be referred to as an O-RU. Any one of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module. It should be understood that the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the network device is not limited in this application.

[0099] In some embodiments, the network device can be fixed or mobile, and the embodiments of this application do not limit this. For example, a helicopter or a drone can be configured as a mobile network device, and one or more cells can move according to the position of the mobile network device. In other examples, a helicopter or a drone can be configured to serve as a device that communicates with another network device.

[0100] In some embodiments, the network device can be deployed on land or in the air, and the embodiments of this application do not limit this. For example, the network device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can be deployed on the water surface; and can be deployed on aircraft, balloons, and satellites in the air.

[0101] It should be understood that the communication system shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 is only exemplary and should not cause any limitation to the communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application. For example, more or less network nodes, such as terminal devices, satellites or satellite base stations, etc. can be included in the communication system shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The satellite base stations, terminal devices, etc. included in the communication system shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 can be the above-mentioned various forms of base stations, RAN nodes or terminal devices. The embodiments of the present application are not shown one by one in the figures.

[0102] The method for information transmission provided by the present application is described below in connection with specific examples.

[0103] It should be understood that, in the embodiments of the present application, the satellite and the terminal device are taken as examples of the execution subject of the method for execution, and the method is described. By way of example but not limitation, the satellite and the terminal device in the present application can also be a chip, a chip system or a processor supporting the satellite and the terminal device to implement the method, or can also be a logic node, a logic module or software, etc. capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the satellite and the terminal device. The embodiments of the present application are not limited herein.

[0104] The method provided by the present application is described below in connection with FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of the method for information transmission according to an embodiment of the present application. The method 600 can be applied in the scenario or communication architecture shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, and of course can also be applied in other communication scenarios or communication architectures having the above-mentioned problems. The embodiments of the present application are not limited herein.

[0105] As shown in FIG. 6, the method 600 shown in FIG. 6 can include S610 to S640. The steps in the method 600 are described in detail below in connection with FIG. 6.

[0106] S610, the primary satellite preconfigures two kinds of CSI-RS resources for the first terminal device in the wave position n, the first kind of CSI-RS resource is used for the primary satellite to send CSI-RS, and the second kind of CSI-RS resource is used for the secondary satellite to send CSI-RS.

[0107] Wherein, the primary satellite is the primary satellite corresponding to the wave position n, and the secondary satellite corresponding to the wave position n can be different in different time periods. For example, the secondary satellite corresponding to the wave position n is different in different hop beams periods.

[0108] Wherein, the first kind of CSI-RS resource (also can be called CSI-RS resource 1) used for the primary satellite to send CSI-RS can be understood as: the primary satellite sends CSI-RS to the first terminal device on the first kind of CSI-RS resource. The second kind of CSI-RS resource (also can be called CSI-RS resource 2) used for the secondary satellite to send CSI-RS can be understood as: the secondary satellite sends CSI-RS to the first terminal device on the second kind of CSI-RS resource.

[0109] For example, the main satellite can configure (send) information on two types of CSI-RS resources to the first terminal device in wavelet n via signaling (e.g., RRC signaling), or the two types of CSI-RS resources can be pre-configured (or configured) to the first terminal device. This application does not impose limitations on the embodiments described herein.

[0110] In this application, the primary satellite may also be referred to as a first non-terrestrial communication device, and the secondary satellite may also be referred to as a second non-terrestrial communication device. The first non-terrestrial communication device can send and receive signaling and data with the first terminal device. For example, the first non-terrestrial communication device can send signaling and data to the first terminal device, and can also receive signaling and data sent by the first terminal device. The second non-terrestrial communication device can send signaling and data to the first terminal device; generally, the second non-terrestrial communication device does not receive signaling and data sent by the first terminal device, that is, the first terminal device may not send signaling and data to the second non-terrestrial communication device.

[0111] For example, the primary satellite can establish an RRC connection with the first terminal device, while the secondary satellite and the first terminal device may not need to establish an RRC connection (or may not establish an RRC connection).

[0112] It should be understood that the main satellite is merely one possible form of the first non-terrestrial communication device, and the auxiliary satellite is merely one possible form of the second non-terrestrial communication device. In other implementations of this application, the first and second non-terrestrial communication devices can also be other specific implementations or forms. The main satellite should not limit the specific implementation of the first non-terrestrial communication device, and the auxiliary satellite should not limit the specific implementation of the second non-terrestrial communication device.

[0113] The first terminal device can be any of the wave positions n. The primary satellite and secondary satellites can simultaneously provide satellite communication services to the first terminal device. During different time periods, the secondary satellite corresponding to wave position n (or the first terminal device) can be different, while the primary satellite corresponding to wave position n can be the same. During the primary satellite's service time, the primary satellite can transmit CSI-RS to the first terminal device on the first type of CSI-RS resource, for example, transmitting TRS. The secondary satellite can transmit CSI-RS to the first terminal device on the second type of CSI-RS resource, for example, transmitting TRS.

[0114] Accordingly, the first terminal device receives the configuration of the two CSI-RS resources.

[0115] Optionally, the second CSI-RS resource can include multiple different CSI-RS resources, for example, the time domain resources of different CSI-RS resources are different, and the frequency domain resources are also different, or the time domain resources of different CSI-RS resources are different, and the frequency domain resources are the same. That is, multiple different auxiliary satellites can send TRS to the first terminal device on different CSI-RS resources. That is, the second CSI-RS resource can also include the configuration of multiple different CSI-RS resources.

[0116] In S620, the main satellite sends the information of the second CSI-RS resource to all auxiliary satellites serving the first terminal device.

[0117] Correspondingly, all auxiliary satellites serving the first terminal device respectively receive the information of the second CSI-RS resource.

[0118] Optionally, as another possible implementation, all auxiliary satellites serving the first terminal device can also respectively send the information of the second CSI-RS resource used by themselves to the main satellite, in which case the main satellite can send the information of the second CSI-RS resource used by all auxiliary satellites respectively and the information of the first CSI-RS resource used by the main satellite to the first terminal device.

[0119] Since the main satellite can know in advance the position of each auxiliary satellite in the subsequent time, the wave position information corresponding to different times, etc., the main satellite can determine which auxiliary satellites will serve the wave position n (or the first terminal device) in the subsequent time, and the time information of each auxiliary satellite serving the first terminal device. In other words, the main satellite can determine which auxiliary satellites will serve the first terminal device in the future period of time. After determining these auxiliary satellites, the main satellite can send the information of the second CSI-RS resource to these auxiliary satellites.

[0120] Optionally, as a possible implementation, since different auxiliary satellites provide services for the first terminal device at different times, the second CSI-RS resource can include multiple different CSI-RS resources, and the time domain resources and frequency domain resources of the CSI-RS resources corresponding to different auxiliary satellites are different. Or, the time domain resources of the CSI-RS resources corresponding to different auxiliary satellites are different, and the frequency domain resources can be the same.

[0121] For example, the information of the second CSI-RS resource includes the time domain and frequency domain positions of the CSI-RS resource and other information. After each auxiliary satellite receives the information, it can send CSI-RS to the first terminal device on the corresponding CSI-RS resource.

[0122] It should be understood that in the method 600, S610 and S620 are optional steps. For example, if the first CSI-RS resource and the second CSI-RS resource are pre-configured for the first terminal device, and the second CSI-RS resource is also pre-configured for all secondary satellites serving the first terminal device, in this case, the method 600 can also not include S610 and S620, and directly start from S630.

[0123] S630, the primary satellite sends first information to the first terminal device, the first information including a TCI state sequence, the TCI state sequence including: the identification of a plurality of TCI states and the time period corresponding to each TCI state identification in the identification of a plurality of TCI states, the first time period being the length of time that the first TCI state is in an active state or an effective state, the first TCI state being any one of the plurality of TCI states.

[0124] For example, the TCI state sequence can include the identification of the first TCI state and the first time period corresponding to the identification of the first TCI state. Wherein the identification of the first TCI state (tci-StateId) is used to identify the first TCI state, and the first TCI state can be determined by using the identification of the first TCI state. The first time period is the length of time that the first TCI state is in an active state or an effective state. The first time period corresponds to the first TCI state. The first TCI state is any one of the plurality of TCI states. In the TCI state sequence, the identification of the TCI state corresponding to different time periods is different.

[0125] Optionally, the first time period can also be referred to as the effective duration corresponding to the first TCI state.

[0126] In other words, the first information can be used to activate the TCI state sequence of the second CSI-RS resource, and after the first terminal device receives the first information, the TCI state sequence can be activated according to the content of the first information. Wherein, "activating the TCI state sequence" can be understood as: the first terminal device can determine the corresponding secondary satellite in different time periods according to the content included in the activated TCI state sequence, so as to receive the CSI-RS transmitted by the corresponding secondary satellite on the second CSI-RS resource in different time periods.

[0127] For example, FIG. 7 shows an example of the content included in a TCI state sequence. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the primary satellite can send first information to the first terminal device through RRC signaling, or in other words, the primary satellite can activate a TCI state sequence of a second CSI-RS resource (i.e., CSI-RS resource 2) for beam n (or for the first terminal device) through RRC signaling, i.e., the TCI state sequence is included in the RRC signaling. The TCI state sequence includes the identities (tci-StateId) of multiple TCI states and the time periods (tci-StateId-time) corresponding to the identities of each TCI state.

[0128] For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the TCI state sequence in the RRC signaling includes:

[0129] tci-StateId = 000, tci-StateId-time = 1-50 slots;

[0130] tci-StateId = 001, tci-StateId-time = 51-100 slots;

[0131] …

[0132] tci-StateId = 011, tci-StateId-time = 151-200 slots;

[0133] In combination with the example shown in FIG. 7, the content indicated by the identity of the TCI state is “tci-StateId”, and the time period corresponding to the identity of the TCI state is indicated by “tci-StateId-time”. The identity of each TCI state corresponds to a time period or length, which can be understood as: the time length during which the TCI state indicated by the identity of the TCI state is in an activated or effective state, or in other words, the time length during which the TCI state indicated by the identity of the TCI state is constant.

[0134] For example, in combination with the example shown in FIG. 7:

[0135] For “tci-StateId” = 000, the time period (tci-StateId-time) corresponding to “tci-StateId = 000” is 1-50 slots, i.e., the first slot to the 50th slot, and during this period of time, “tci-StateId” is always 000.

[0136] For "tci-StateId" being 001, the time period (tci-StateId-time) corresponding to "tci-StateId=001" is 51-100 slots, i.e., the 51st slot to the 100th slot, and during the time period from the 51st slot to the 100th slot, "tci-StateId" is always 001.

[0137] For "tci-StateId" being 011, the time period (tci-StateId-time) corresponding to "tci-StateId=011" is 151-200 slots, i.e., the 151st slot to the 200th slot, and during the time period from the 151st slot to the 200th slot, "tci-StateId" is always 011.

[0138] Optionally, in other implementations of the present application, the unit of the time period or time length corresponding to the identification of a certain TCI state can also be a symbol, a subframe, a subframe, a frame, a microsecond (μs), a millisecond (ms), etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the unit of the time length during which the TCI state is in the activated state or the valid state.

[0139] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the identification (tci-StateId) of the TCI state does not change, which means that the TCI state will not change. Since the TCI state includes an additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex), for example, as shown in Figure 3b. The TCI state does not change, which means that the additional PCI index in the TCI state will not change, and the additional PCI index does not change, so the secondary satellite indicated by the additional PCI index will not change. That is, the TCI state does not change, which means that the secondary satellite will not change. In other words, the time length corresponding to the identification of a certain TCI state can be understood as: the time length or time period during which the secondary satellite determined by the TCI state does not change, or in other words, the time length or time period during which the secondary satellite determined by the TCI state provides communication services for the terminal device.

[0140] For another example, FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of another example of the content of the TCI state sequence. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the primary satellite can send the first information to the first terminal device through MAC CE signaling, or in other words, the primary satellite can activate the TCI state sequence of the second CSI-RS resource (i.e., CSI-RS resource 2 in FIG. 7) for the wave position n through the MAC CE. The MAC CE includes the TCI state sequence, and the TCI state sequence includes the identifiers (TCI state IDs) of the plurality of TCI states and the time period (TCI state ID time) corresponding to each of the identifiers of the plurality of TCI states.

[0141] The first information is sent to the first terminal device through the MAC CE signaling or the RRC, and the first information takes effect relatively quickly. After receiving the first information, the first terminal device can immediately determine the corresponding secondary satellites in different time periods according to the TCI state sequence in the first information. Since no effect time is needed, communication interruption caused by the effect time can be avoided, thereby improving communication efficiency. Moreover, the existing signaling is reused, and no additional signaling is used to carry the first information, which is easy to implement and reduces the communication resource overhead.

[0142] Of course, in other implementations of the present application, the primary satellite can also activate the TCI state sequence of the second CSI-RS resource for the wave position n (i.e., send the TCI state sequence) using other signaling. For example, the primary satellite can also send the TCI state sequence to the first terminal device through the downlink control information (DCI), that is, the TCI state sequence can also be carried in the DCI. Or in other words, the primary satellite can activate the TCI state sequence of the second CSI-RS resource for the wave position n (or for the first terminal device) through the DCI, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0143] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, since the primary satellite can know in advance the position of each secondary satellite in the subsequent time, the wave position information corresponding to different times, etc., the primary satellite can determine which secondary satellites are included in the secondary satellites serving the wave position n (or the first terminal device) in the subsequent time, and the time information of each secondary satellite serving the first terminal device. The primary satellite can determine the TCI state sequence according to the above information.

[0144] Optionally, in some possible implementations, the time period corresponding to the identification of the TCI state (tci-StateId-time) can be represented by the starting time and the ending time at which the TCI state is in the active state or the valid state. For example, in the example described above, “tci-StateId-time = 1-50 slots” can be the first time period, and “tci-StateId-time = 1-50 slots” is represented by the starting time (1st slot) and the ending time (50th slot) at which the TCI state identified by “tci-StateId” being “000” (for example, the first TCI state) is in the active state or the valid state, and the time length at which the TCI state is in the active state or the valid state is 50 slots. For another example, “tci-StateId = 011, tci-StateId-time = T1 ms ~ T2 ms”, and “tci-StateId-time = T1 ms ~ T2 ms” represents that the starting time at which the TCI state identified by “tci-StateId” being “011” is in the active state or the valid state is T1 ms, and the ending time is T2 ms, and the time length at which the TCI state is in the active state or the valid state is (T 2- T1) ms.

[0145] The time length at which the TCI state is in the active state or the valid state is represented by the starting time and the ending time at which the TCI state is in the active state or the valid state, which is simple in implementation, and can accurately represent the time length at which the TCI state is in the active state or the valid state, and improves the accuracy and efficiency of determining the time length at which the TCI state is in the active state or the valid state.

[0146] Optionally, in some possible implementation manners, the time period corresponding to the identification of the TCI state (tci-StateId-time) is also characterized by the starting moment and the duration of the TCI state being in the active state or the valid state. For example, for “tci-StateId = 000, tci-StateId-time = 1 slots-(50 slots)”, “tci-StateId-time = 1 slots-(50 slots)” can be the first time period, and “tci-StateId-time = 1 slots-(50 slots)” indicates that the starting moment of the TCI state with “tci-StateId” being “000” (for example, the first TCI state) being in the active state or the valid state is the first slot, the duration is 50 slots, and the ending moment is the moment when the 50th slot ends. For another example, for example, “tci-StateId = 011, tci-StateId-time = T1 ms-(50 ms)”, “tci-StateId-time = T1 ms-(50 ms)” indicates that the starting moment of the TCI state with “tci-StateId” being “000” being in the active state or the valid state is T1 ms, the duration is 50 ms, and the ending moment is the moment of (T1+50) ms.

[0147] The starting moment and the duration of the TCI state being in the active state or the valid state are used to characterize the time length of the TCI state being in the active state or the valid state, which is simple in implementation and can improve the accuracy and efficiency of determining the time length of the TCI state being in the active state or the valid state.

[0148] Optionally, in some possible implementation manners of the present application, the length of the time period corresponding to the identification of the TCI state (tci-StateId-time) can be the same as the length of one or more hop beam periods. For example, the length of the time period corresponding to the identification of the TCI state (tci-StateId-time) can be the same as the length of one hop beam period. Since the satellite corresponding to the hop n (i.e., the first terminal device) can change in each hop beam period, the length of the time period corresponding to the identification of the TCI state (tci-StateId-time) being the same as the length of one hop beam period can improve the accuracy and effectiveness of the determined satellite. If the length of the time period corresponding to the identification of the TCI state (tci-StateId-time) can be the same as the length of one hop beam period, the TCI state sequence (TCI state sequence) can include the TCI state identification (tci-StateId) used in different hop beam periods and the valid time (tci-StateId-time) corresponding to the TCI state identification. The valid time (tci-StateId-time) corresponding to the TCI state identification can be understood as the length of time during which the TCI state is in an active state or a valid state.

[0149] It should be understood that the TCI state sequence and the TCI state are two different signals or information, the TCI state sequence includes multiple TCI state identifications, and each TCI state identification indicates a TCI state. The structure of the TCI state signaling can be as shown in FIG. 3b, and the signaling structure of the TCI state sequence can be as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8.

[0150] S640, the first terminal device receives, according to the first information, signals transmitted by the corresponding satellite in different time periods.

[0151] In the embodiments of the present application, the first terminal device can determine the identifier of the TCI state corresponding to each time period (i.e., the time period corresponding to each identifier of the plurality of TCI states) according to the sequence of TCI states, and then determine the corresponding TCI state according to the identifier of the TCI state corresponding to each time period, i.e., determine the TCI state corresponding to each time period. Since each TCI state includes an additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex), the first terminal device can determine which secondary satellite corresponds to each time period according to this information, so as to receive the CSI-RS transmitted by the corresponding secondary satellite on the second CSI-RS resource in this time period. Optionally, before receiving the TRS transmitted by the secondary satellite, the first terminal device can also receive the SSB transmitted by the secondary satellite.

[0152] Optionally, in some possible implementation manners of the present application, since the identifiers of the TCI states corresponding to different time periods (different time periods corresponding to different identifiers of the TCI states) are different, i.e., the TCI states corresponding to different time periods are different, the secondary satellite corresponding to the wave position n (or the first terminal device) in different time periods can be different.

[0153] Optionally, in some possible implementation manners of the present application, the secondary satellite corresponding to the wave position n (the first terminal device) in different time periods can also be the same. In this case, since the TCI states corresponding to different time periods are different, the SSBs transmitted by the same secondary satellite in different time periods are different. That is, the secondary satellite corresponding to different time periods can be the same secondary satellite, but the SSBs transmitted by this secondary satellite in different time periods are different.

[0154] Optionally, in some possible implementation manners of the present application, the primary satellites corresponding to different time periods can be the same, i.e., the primary satellite corresponding to the wave position n (or the first terminal device) remains unchanged in multiple time periods.

[0155] The first terminal device can determine the time period (for example, the first time period) in which it currently locates, and the first terminal device determines which secondary satellite corresponds to the corresponding time period according to the time period in which it currently locates, for example, determines which secondary satellite corresponds to the first time period, so as to receive the TRS transmitted by the secondary satellite on the second CSI-RS resource.

[0156] For example, in combination with the example shown in FIG. 7, if the first terminal device is currently in the time period from the first time slot to the 50th time slot, since the first terminal device can determine, according to the TCI state sequence, that the TCI state corresponding to the first time slot to the 50th time slot has an identifier of “tci-StateId” of “000”, the first terminal device can determine the TCI state according to the identifier of the TCI state, and determine the corresponding secondary satellite according to the additional PCI index in the TCI state. Therefore, in the time period from the first time slot to the 50th time slot, the first terminal device can receive the CSI-RS transmitted by the secondary satellite on the second CSI-RS resource.

[0157] For another example, if the first terminal device is currently in the time period from the 151st time slot to the 200th time slot, since the first terminal device can determine, according to the TCI state sequence, that the secondary satellite corresponding to the 151st time slot to the 200th time slot is the secondary satellite indicated by the TCI state with “tci-StateId” of “011”, therefore, in the time period from the 151st time slot to the 200th time slot, the first terminal device can receive the CSI-RS transmitted by the secondary satellite on the second CSI-RS resource.

[0158] When the secondary satellite corresponding to the first terminal device (or the wave position n) changes, the first terminal device can determine the TCI state corresponding to each time period according to the identifier of the TCI state corresponding to each time period in the TCI state sequence, and automatically determine the corresponding secondary satellite according to the additional PCI index in the TCI state, so as to receive the signals (including SSB and CSI-RS) from the new secondary satellite.

[0159] The method for information transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application can transmit, by the primary satellite, the TCI state (TCI state sequence) of the secondary satellite corresponding to each time period (for example, different hop beam periods) of the terminal device to the terminal device in advance through signaling. That is, the TCI state corresponding to each different time period is pre-configured. After the terminal device receives the information, the terminal device can determine the corresponding TCI state in the corresponding time period, and then determine the corresponding secondary satellite according to the TCI state, so as to receive the signals transmitted by the corresponding secondary satellite in different time periods. After the secondary satellite changes, the terminal device can also determine the updated secondary satellite according to the information. The change of the secondary satellite can be indicated by activating a TCI state each time, which saves the signaling overhead and improves the utilization rate of communication resources. Moreover, the information does not need to have an effective time, which can avoid the communication interruption in the effective time, thereby improving the communication efficiency.

[0160] FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a method of information transmission according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 9, the method 900 shown in FIG. 9 can include S910 to S950. The various steps in the method 900 will be described in detail below in conjunction with FIG. 9.

[0161] S910, the primary satellite preconfigures two kinds of CSI-RS resources for the first terminal device in the wave position n, the first kind of CSI-RS resource is used for the primary satellite to send CSI-RS, and the second kind of CSI-RS resource is used for the secondary satellite to send CSI-RS.

[0162] S920, the primary satellite sends information of the second kind of CSI-RS resource to all secondary satellites serving the first terminal device.

[0163] Optionally, as another possible implementation, all secondary satellites serving the first terminal device can also send information of the second kind of CSI-RS resource used by themselves to the primary satellite respectively, in which case, the primary satellite can send information of the second kind of CSI-RS resource used by all secondary satellites respectively and information of the first kind of CSI-RS resource used by the primary satellite to the first terminal device.

[0164] For the description of S910 and S920, reference can be made to the description of S610 and S620 in the method 600 described above, and for the sake of brevity, no further description is given here.

[0165] S930, the primary satellite sends all secondary satellites corresponding TCI states serving the first terminal device in the wave position n to the first terminal device.

[0166] For example, the primary satellite can send all secondary satellites corresponding TCI states serving the first terminal device to the first terminal device through RRC or DCI signaling, etc. The TCI state corresponding to each secondary satellite includes: the time length during which the identification of the current TCI state remains unchanged and the identification of the TCI state corresponding to the next secondary satellite serving the first terminal device.

[0167] For example, in the embodiments of the present application, each secondary satellite can correspond to one TCI state. Optionally, the TCI state corresponding to each secondary satellite can also be referred to as: TCI state for NTN in the NTN, or the TCI state corresponding to each secondary satellite can also be referred to as: TCI state of the second kind of CSI-RS resource.

[0168] In this embodiment, the TCI state corresponding to each auxiliary satellite can include: the length of time that the auxiliary satellite serves the first terminal device and the identifier of the next TCI state. Since the corresponding auxiliary satellite can be determined according to the TCI state (the additional PCI index in the TCI state), the TCI state does not change (that is, the identifier of the TCI state does not change), and the corresponding auxiliary satellite does not change. Therefore, the length of time that the auxiliary satellite serves the first terminal device can also be referred to as the length of time (tci-StateId-time) during which the identifier of the current TCI state is maintained unchanged. The identifier of the current TCI state can be understood as the content indicated by the “TCI state identifier (tci-stateId)” field in the TCI state. For example, if the “TCI state identifier (tci-stateId)” field in a certain TCI state indicates “001”, the TCI state includes the length of time during which the identifier of the current TCI state (that is, “001”) is maintained unchanged. The identifier of the next TCI state (next-tci-StateId) can be understood as the identifier of the TCI state corresponding to the auxiliary satellite serving the first terminal device in the next time period (in the next time period).

[0169] The following is an example.

[0170] It is assumed that the auxiliary satellites serving the first terminal device in the wave position n include the second auxiliary satellite, the third auxiliary satellite, the fourth auxiliary satellite, and the fifth auxiliary satellite. Different auxiliary satellites provide communication services for the first terminal device in different time periods. In the time axis, the order of the auxiliary satellites serving the first terminal device in time is: the second auxiliary satellite, the third auxiliary satellite, the fourth auxiliary satellite, and the fifth auxiliary satellite.

[0171] Optionally, in this embodiment, the second auxiliary satellite can also be referred to as a second non-ground communication device, the third auxiliary satellite can also be referred to as a third non-ground communication device, the fourth auxiliary satellite can also be referred to as a fourth non-ground communication device, and the fifth auxiliary satellite can also be referred to as a fifth non-ground communication device.

[0172] The second auxiliary satellite corresponds to the second TCI state, that is, the corresponding auxiliary satellite is the second auxiliary satellite according to the second TCI state (the additional PCI index in the second TCI state). The second TCI state includes: the identifier of the third TCI state corresponding to the third time period and the second time period. It is assumed that the identifier of the second TCI state is “000”, and the identifier of the third TCI state is “001”.

[0173] For example, the second TCI state includes: "tci-StateId-time = 1-50 slots, next-tci-StateId = 001". Wherein, "tci-StateId-time = 1-50 slots" can be understood as a second time period. "next-tci-StateId = 001" can be understood as an identification of a third TCI state (i.e. an identification of a next TCI state). "tci-StateId-time = 1-50 slots" indicates that the second TCI state is in an active state or an effective state for a time length of the first slot to the 50th slot.

[0174] Wherein, the second time period is a time length that the second TCI state is in an active state or an effective state, and the additional PCI index in the second TCI state indicates a second auxiliary satellite. In other words, the second TCI state can include: a time length that the second TCI state is in an active state or an effective state ("tci-StateId-time = 1-50 slots"), and an identification of a third TCI state for indicating a third auxiliary satellite serving the first terminal device in a next time period (a third time period) ("next-tci-StateId = 001). Wherein, the identification of the third TCI state corresponding to the third time period can be used to determine the third auxiliary satellite serving the first terminal device in the third time period after the second time period. The identification of the third TCI state is used to identify the third TCI state.

[0175] The third auxiliary satellite corresponds to the third TCI state, and the third TCI state includes: an identification of a fourth TCI state corresponding to a fourth time period and the third time period. It is assumed that the identification of the third TCI state is "001", and the identification of the fourth TCI state is "010".

[0176] For example, the third TCI state includes: "tci-StateId-time = 51-100 slots, next-tci-StateId = 010". Wherein, "tci-StateId-time = 51-100 slots" can be understood as the third time period. "next-tci-StateId = 010" can be understood as an identification of a fourth TCI state (an identification of a next TCI state).

[0177] The third time period is a time length during which the third TCI state is in an active state or an effective state, and the additional PCI index in the third TCI state indicates the third auxiliary satellite. In other words, the third TCI state can include: a time length during which the third TCI state is in an active state or an effective state (tci-StateId-time = 51-100 slots), and an identifier (next-tci-StateId = 010) of a TCI state corresponding to a fourth auxiliary satellite serving the first terminal device in a next time period (the fourth time period). The identifier of the TCI state corresponding to the fourth time period (i.e., the fourth TCI state) can be used to determine the fourth auxiliary satellite serving the first terminal device in the fourth time period after the third time period.

[0178] The fourth auxiliary satellite corresponds to the fourth TCI state, and the fourth TCI state includes: an identifier of a fifth TCI state corresponding to a fifth time period and the fourth time period. It is assumed that the identifier of the fourth TCI state is “010”, and the identifier of the fifth TCI state is “011”.

[0179] For example, the fourth TCI state includes: tci-StateId-time = 101-150 slots, next-tci-StateId = 011. The “tci-StateId-time = 101-150 slots” can be understood as the fourth time period. The “next-tci-StateId = 011” can be understood as the identifier of the fifth TCI state (the identifier of the next TCI state).

[0180] The fourth time period is a time length during which the fourth TCI state is in an active state or an effective state, and the additional PCI index in the fourth TCI state indicates the fourth auxiliary satellite. In other words, the fourth TCI state can include: a time length during which the fourth TCI state is in an active state or an effective state (tci-StateId-time = 101-150 slots), and an identifier (next-tci-StateId = 011) of a TCI state corresponding to a fifth auxiliary satellite serving the first terminal device in a next time period (the fifth time period). The identifier of the TCI state corresponding to the fifth time period can be used to determine the fifth auxiliary satellite serving the first terminal device in the fifth time period after the fourth time period. The fifth time period is a time length during which the fifth TCI state is in an active state or an effective state, and the identifier of the fifth TCI state (for example, “011”) is used to identify the fifth TCI state.

[0181] For example, the fifth TCI state includes: "tci-StateId-time=151-200 slots, next-tci-StateId=100; where "tci-StateId-time=151-200 slots" can be understood as the fifth time period. "next-tci-StateId=100" can be understood as the identification of the sixth TCI state (the identification of the next TCI state).

[0182] In other words, the TCI state corresponding to each secondary satellite can include: the time period (tci-StateId-time) during which the identification of the current TCI state is maintained unchanged and the identification (next-tci-StateId) of the next new TCI state. The identification of the current TCI state is used to determine the current TCI state, and the secondary satellite indicated by (additionalPCIindex) included in the "current TCI state" can be the secondary satellite that is currently providing communication services for the first terminal device. The identification of the next new TCI state can be used to determine the secondary satellite serving the first terminal device in the next time period. That is, the identification of the TCI state corresponding to the next time period (for example, the next beam hopping period) can be indicated in the TCI state.

[0183] For example, in combination with the above example, the primary satellite needs to send the second TCI state, the third TCI state, the fourth TCI state and the fifth TCI state to the first terminal device.

[0184] The second TCI state includes: "tci-StateId-time=1-50 slots, next-tci-StateId=001;

[0185] The third TCI state includes: "tci-StateId-time=51-100 slots, next-tci-StateId=010;

[0186] The fourth TCI state includes: "tci-StateId-time=101-150 slots, next-tci-StateId=011;

[0187] The fifth TCI state includes: "tci-StateId-time=151-200 slots, next-tci-StateId=100;

[0188] Of course, each TCI state can also include: the identification of the TCI state (tci-statedId), the QCL type (qcl-type), the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex), etc.

[0189] For example, in combination with the above example, the second TCI state includes: "tci-StateId-time = 1-50 slots, next-tci-StateId = 001, the identification of the TCI state (tci-statedId = 000), the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex), the QCL type (qcl-type), etc. Among them, the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex) indicates the second auxiliary satellite.

[0190] The third TCI state includes: "tci-StateId-time = 51-100 slots, next-tci-StateId = 010, the identification of the TCI state (tci-statedId = 001), the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex), the QCL type (qcl-type), etc. Among them, the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex) indicates the third auxiliary satellite.

[0191] The fourth TCI state includes: "tci-StateId-time = 101-150 slots, next-tci-StateId = 011, the identification of the TCI state (tci-statedId = 010), the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex), the QCL type (qcl-type), etc. Among them, the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex) indicates the fourth auxiliary satellite.

[0192] For example, FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram of the TCI state of a second CSI-RS resource (i.e., CSI-RS resource 2). The TCI state shown in FIG. 10 can be the TCI state corresponding to any auxiliary satellite, or in other words, "tci-StateId-time" in the TCI state shown in FIG. 10 can be the effective time length or activation time length of the TCI state indicated by the TCI state identification (tci-StateId) in the TCI state. The auxiliary satellite determined according to the TCI state indicated by the identification of the next TCI state (next-tci-StateId) is: the auxiliary satellite serving the first terminal device in the next time period after the effective time length or activation time length (i.e., the time period indicated by "tci-StateId-time").

[0193] It should be understood that S910 to S930 are optional steps. For example, if the first CSI-RS resource and the second CSI-RS resource are pre-configured for the first terminal device, the second CSI-RS resource is also pre-configured for all secondary satellites serving the first terminal device, and the TCI state corresponding to each of the secondary satellites serving the first terminal device in the wave position n is also pre-configured for the first terminal device, the method 900 can also not include S910 to S930, and directly start from S940.

[0194] S940, the primary satellite sends second information to the first terminal device, and the second information is used to activate the TCI state corresponding to the secondary satellite serving the first terminal device.

[0195] It can be understood that the activated TCI state can be any one of the TCI states corresponding to all secondary satellites serving the first terminal device. For example, the activated TCI state can be the TCI state corresponding to the secondary satellite currently serving the first terminal device (for example, the first secondary satellite).

[0196] For example, in combination with the above example, the primary satellite sends second information to the first terminal device, and the second information is used to activate the second TCI state. After the first terminal device receives the second information, the second TCI state can be activated immediately, without activation time or waiting time. Wherein, activating the second TCI state can be understood as: the first terminal device can determine the time period in which to receive the CSI-RS sent by the second secondary satellite according to the content included in the second TCI state, and in the subsequent different time periods, which secondary satellite to receive the CSI-RS sent by.

[0197] For example, the second information can carry the identifier of the TCI state to be activated, without carrying the specific content (such as tci-StateId-time, next-tci-StateId, additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex), QCL type (qcl-type) and the like) included in the TCI state to be activated, that is, without carrying the TCI state to be activated.

[0198] Optionally, the second information can also carry the activated TCI state, that is, the second information can include the specific content of the TCI to be activated.

[0199] Exemplarily, the primary satellite can carry the second information through MAC CE signaling, RRC or DCI. In other words, the primary satellite can activate the TCI state corresponding to a certain secondary satellite through MAC CE signaling, RRC or DCI. The present application does not limit this.

[0200] Optionally, as a possible implementation, the length of time that the TCI state is in the active state or the valid state (for example, the second time period, the third time period, the fourth time period, the fifth time period described above) can be represented by the start time and the end time of the TCI state in the active state or the valid state, or can also be represented by the start time and the end time of the TCI state in the active state or the valid state. For specific descriptions, reference can be made to the descriptions corresponding to the method 600, which will not be described here.

[0201] Optionally, in some possible implementations of the present application, the length of time that the TCI state is in the active state or the valid state can be the same as the length of one or more hop beam periods.

[0202] S950, the first terminal device receives signals transmitted by the corresponding auxiliary satellite in different time periods according to the second information.

[0203] For example, in combination with the example described above, the second information is used to activate the second TCI state, and the second TCI state includes: the identifier of the third TCI state corresponding to the third time period (next-tciStateId = 001, tciStateId-time = 1-50 slots), and the second time period. The first terminal device can receive the CSI-RS transmitted by the second auxiliary satellite on the second CSI-RS resource in the second time period (the first slot to the 50th slot) according to the content included in the second TCI state. Wherein, the first terminal device can determine the second TCI state according to the second information, and since the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex) in the second TCI state indicates the second auxiliary satellite and the second time period (tciStateId-time = 1-50 slots) is the length of time that the second TCI state is in the active state or the valid state. Therefore, in the second time period, the first terminal device can receive the signals (for example, including SSB and CSI-RS) transmitted by the second auxiliary satellite on the CSI-RS resource.

[0204] Further, the first terminal device can also determine the third TCI state according to the identifier of the third TCI state corresponding to the third time period (next-tci-StateId=001). The third TCI state includes: the identifier of the fourth TCI state corresponding to the fourth time period, and the third time period (next-tci-StateId=010, tci-StateId-time=51-100 slots). The first terminal device can receive the CSI-RS transmitted by the third auxiliary satellite on the second CSI-RS resource in the third time period (51st slot to 100th slot) according to the content included in the third TCI state. The first terminal device can determine the third TCI state according to the identifier of the third TCI state corresponding to the third time period (next-tci-StateId=010) included in the second TCI state. Since the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex) in the third TCI state indicates the third auxiliary satellite, and the third time period (tci-StateId-time=51-100 slots) is the length of time when the third TCI state is in the active state or the valid state. Therefore, in the third time period, the first terminal device can receive the CSI-RS transmitted by the third auxiliary satellite on the CSI-RS resource.

[0205] Further, the first terminal device can also determine the fourth TCI state according to the identifier of the fourth TCI state corresponding to the fourth time period (next-tci-StateId=010). The fourth TCI state includes: the identifier of the fifth TCI state corresponding to the fifth time period, and the fourth time period (next-tci-StateId=011, tci-StateId-time=101-150 slots). The first terminal device can receive the CSI-RS transmitted by the fourth auxiliary satellite on the second CSI-RS resource in the fourth time period according to the content included in the fourth TCI state. The first terminal device can determine the fourth TCI state according to the identifier of the fourth TCI state corresponding to the fourth time period (next-tci-StateId=011) included in the third TCI state. Since the additional PCI index (additionalPCIindex) in the fourth TCI state indicates the fourth auxiliary satellite, and the fourth time period (tci-StateId-time=101-150 slots) is the length of time when the third TCI state is in the active state or the valid state. Therefore, in the fourth time period, the first terminal device can receive the CSI-RS transmitted by the fourth auxiliary satellite on the CSI-RS resource.

[0206] Optionally, the first terminal device can further determine the fifth TCI state according to the identification of the fifth TCI state, wherein the fifth TCI state comprises an identification of a sixth TCI state corresponding to a sixth time period and the fifth time period. The first terminal device can receive the CSI-RS transmitted by the fifth auxiliary satellite on the second CSI-RS resource in the fifth time period according to the content included in the fifth TCI state, wherein the additional PCI index in the fifth TCI state indicates the fifth auxiliary satellite, and the fifth time period is the length of time during which the fifth TCI state is in an active state or a valid state.

[0207] Through the above scheme, the first terminal device can determine the TCI state corresponding to the auxiliary satellite serving itself in the next time period according to the TCI state corresponding to the auxiliary satellite serving itself in the current time period. Thus, the first terminal device can determine the corresponding auxiliary satellite in different time periods and receive the CSI-RS transmitted by the corresponding auxiliary satellite in different time periods.

[0208] When the auxiliary satellite corresponding to the first terminal device (i.e., wave position n) changes, the first terminal device can determine the identification of the TCI state corresponding to the next time period according to the information in the current TCI state, i.e., the identification of the next TCI state, and determine the auxiliary satellite serving the first terminal device in the next time period according to the identification of the TCI state corresponding to the next time period, so as to receive the SSB and CSI-RS from the new auxiliary satellite.

[0209] Optionally, as a possible implementation manner, the identifications of the TCI states corresponding to different time periods (e.g., the second time period, the third time period, the fourth time period, and the fifth time period) are different, i.e., the TCI states corresponding to different time periods are different, and thus the auxiliary satellite corresponding to the wave position n (the first terminal device) in different time periods can be different. For example, the second auxiliary satellite, the third auxiliary satellite, the fourth auxiliary satellite, and the fifth auxiliary satellite can be different auxiliary satellites.

[0210] Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the auxiliary satellites corresponding to different time periods (e.g., the second time period, the third time period, the fourth time period, and the fifth time period) can also be the same. In this case, since the TCI states corresponding to different time periods are different, the SSBs transmitted by the same auxiliary satellite in different time periods are different. That is, the auxiliary satellites corresponding to different time periods can be the same auxiliary satellite, but the SSBs transmitted by the auxiliary satellite in different time periods are different. For example, at least two of the second auxiliary satellite, the third auxiliary satellite, the fourth auxiliary satellite, and the fifth auxiliary satellite can be the same auxiliary satellite.

[0211] The method for information transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application changes the structure of TCI state signaling, and adds, in each TCI state corresponding to a secondary satellite, a time length during which the identification (tci-StateId) of the current TCI state remains unchanged and the identification (next-tci-StateId) of the TCI state in the next time period. In other words, the TCI state corresponding to the next time period can be indicated in the current TCI state. After receiving the TCI state corresponding to each secondary satellite and the instruction for activating the TCI state, the terminal device determines the TCI state corresponding to the secondary satellite serving the terminal device in the next time period according to the currently activated TCI state, so as to receive the signals sent by the corresponding secondary satellite in different time periods. After the secondary satellite changes, the terminal device can also determine the updated secondary satellite according to the information. The change of the secondary satellite needs to be indicated by activating a TCI state each time, which saves the signaling overhead and improves the utilization rate of communication resources. Moreover, the activation signaling does not need to take effect, which can avoid the communication interruption in the effective time, thereby improving the communication efficiency.

[0212] It should be understood that the above merely serves to help those skilled in the art better understand the embodiments of the present application, and is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art can obviously make various equivalent modifications or changes according to the above examples given, for example, some steps in the above method embodiments can not be necessary, or some steps can be newly added, etc. Or a combination of any two or more embodiments. Such modifications, changes or combinations also fall within the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0213] It should also be understood that the ways, cases, categories and divisions of embodiments in the embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of description, and should not be considered as specific limitations. The features in various ways, categories, cases and embodiments can be combined without contradiction.

[0214] It should also be understood that the various numerical numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of differentiation, and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the serial number of the above processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of the processes should be determined according to its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0215] It should also be understood that the above description of the embodiments of the present application focuses on the differences between the various embodiments, and the same or similar parts not mentioned can be referred to each other. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0216] The method of the embodiments of the present application is described in detail above in combination with FIGS. 1 to 10. In the following, the communication device of the embodiments of the present application is described in detail in combination with FIGS. 11 to 14.

[0217] The embodiment can divide the functional modules of the terminal device and the non-terrestrial communication apparatus (including the primary satellite and the secondary satellite described above) according to the method described above. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated in one processing module. The integrated module can be realized in the form of hardware. It should be noted that the division of the modules in the embodiment is illustrative, and is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there can be another division manner.

[0218] It should be noted that the related content of each step involved in the method embodiment described above can be cited in the function description of the corresponding functional module, which will not be described here.

[0219] The terminal device and the non-terrestrial communication apparatus provided by the embodiment of the present application are used to execute any one of the information transmission methods provided by the method embodiments described above, so as to achieve the same effect as the implementation method described above. In the case of using an integrated unit, the terminal device and the non-terrestrial communication apparatus can include a processing module, and optionally a storage module and a communication module. The processing module can be used to control and manage the actions of the terminal device and the non-terrestrial communication apparatus. For example, it can be used to support the terminal device and the non-terrestrial communication apparatus to execute the steps of processing information or data. The storage module can be used to support the storage of program codes and data, etc. The communication module can be used to support the communication between the terminal device and the non-terrestrial communication apparatus and other devices.

[0220] The processing module can be a processor or a controller. It can realize or execute various exemplary logical blocks, modules and circuits described in combination with the disclosure of the present application. The processor can also be a combination of computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of digital signal processing (DSP) and microprocessors, etc. The storage module can be a memory. The communication module can be a radio frequency circuit, a Bluetooth chip, and other devices for interacting with other electronic devices.

[0221] For example, FIG. 11 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus 1100 of an embodiment of the present application. The communication apparatus 1100 can correspond to the first terminal device described in the method 600 or the method 900, or be a chip or component applied to the first terminal device. Each module or unit in the communication apparatus 1100 is respectively used to execute each action or processing procedure performed by the first terminal device in any one of the possible implementation manners of the method 600 or the method 900 described above.

[0222] As shown in FIG. 11, the communication apparatus 1100 can include a transceiver 1110 and a processing unit 1120, the transceiver 1110 being configured to perform specific signal transceiving under the control of the processing unit 1120. In the present application, the transceiver can also be referred to as a transceiver module, and the processing unit 1120 can also be referred to as a processing module.

[0223] In some embodiments,

[0224] The transceiver 1110 is configured to receive first information from a first non-terrestrial communication apparatus, the first information including a TCI state sequence, the TCI state sequence including: a plurality of TCI state identifiers and a time period corresponding to each TCI state identifier in the plurality of TCI state identifiers, a first TCI state identifier corresponding to a first time period, the first time period being a length of time during which the first TCI state is in an active state or a valid state, the first TCI state being any one of the plurality of TCI states, the first non-terrestrial communication apparatus being capable of transmitting and receiving signaling with a terminal device;

[0225] The processing unit 1120 is configured to determine, according to the first information, a second non-terrestrial communication apparatus corresponding to each time period, the second non-terrestrial communication apparatus being capable of transmitting signaling to the terminal device, each time period being a time period corresponding to each TCI state identifier;

[0226] The transceiver 1110 is further configured to communicate with the corresponding second non-terrestrial communication apparatus in each time period.

[0227] The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application can obtain the TCI state (TCI state sequence) of the corresponding auxiliary satellite (second non-terrestrial communication apparatus) in different time periods (e.g., different hop beam periods) through signaling, i.e., the TCI state corresponding to different times in the future can be obtained. The communication apparatus can determine the corresponding TCI state in the corresponding time period, and then determine the corresponding auxiliary satellite according to the TCI state, so as to receive the signal transmitted by the corresponding auxiliary satellite in different time periods. After the auxiliary satellite changes, the updated auxiliary satellite can also be determined according to the information. This avoids the need to indicate the change of the auxiliary satellite by activating a TCI state every time the auxiliary satellite changes, saves signaling overhead, and improves the utilization rate of communication resources.

[0228] In some possible implementations, the processing unit 1120 is further configured to determine a TCI state identifier corresponding to each time period; determine a TCI state corresponding to each time period according to the TCI state identifier corresponding to each time period; and determine a second non-terrestrial communication apparatus corresponding to each time period according to the TCI state corresponding to each time period.

[0229] In some possible implementation manners, the first time period is represented by a start moment and an end moment at which the first TCI state is in an active state or an effective state, or is represented by a start moment and a duration at which the first TCI state is in the active state or the effective state.

[0230] In some possible implementation manners, the length of the first time period is one or more hop beam periods.

[0231] In some possible implementation manners, different time periods correspond to different second non-terrestrial communication devices respectively.

[0232] In some possible implementation manners, the first information is carried in a MAC CE, RRC signaling, or DCI.

[0233] In some other embodiments:

[0234] The processing unit 1120 is configured to determine a second TCI state corresponding to a second time period, the second TCI state including an identifier of a third TCI state corresponding to a third time period and the second time period, the length of the second time period being a length of time during which the second TCI state is in an active state or an effective state, and the length of the third time period being a length of time during which the third TCI state is in the active state or the effective state, wherein the second TCI state corresponds to a second non-terrestrial communication device (a secondary satellite), and the second non-terrestrial communication device is capable of sending signaling to a terminal device that communicates with the second non-terrestrial communication device within the second time period.

[0235] The processing unit 1120 is further configured to determine a third TCI state according to the identifier of the TCI state corresponding to the third time period, the third TCI state including an identifier of a fourth TCI state corresponding to a fourth time period and the third time period, the length of the fourth time period being a length of time during which the fourth TCI state is in an active state or an effective state, and the fourth non-terrestrial communication device (a secondary satellite) being capable of sending signaling to a terminal device.

[0236] The processing unit 1120 is further configured to determine a third non-terrestrial communication device (a secondary satellite) corresponding to the third TCI state, wherein the third non-terrestrial communication device is capable of sending signaling to a terminal device that communicates with the third non-terrestrial communication device within the third time period.

[0237] The communication apparatus provided in the embodiments of the present application adds, in each TCI state corresponding to each satellite, a time length during which the identifier (tci-StateId) of the current TCI state remains unchanged and the identifier (next-tci-StateId) of the TCI state in the next time period. In other words, the TCI state corresponding to the next time period can be indicated in the current TCI state. After receiving the TCI state corresponding to each satellite and the instruction for activating the TCI state, the communication apparatus determines the TCI state corresponding to the satellite (for example, the second non-terrestrial communication apparatus or the third non-terrestrial communication apparatus) serving the terminal device in the next time period according to the currently activated TCI state, so as to receive the signals transmitted by the corresponding satellite in different time periods. After the satellite changes, the communication apparatus can also determine the updated satellite according to the information. This avoids the need to indicate the change of the satellite by activating a TCI state every time the satellite changes, saves signaling overhead, and improves the utilization rate of communication resources.

[0238] In some possible implementation manners, the transceiver 1110 is configured to receive second information from the first non-terrestrial communication apparatus, the second information being used to activate the second TCI state, the first non-terrestrial communication apparatus being capable of transmitting and receiving signaling with the terminal device; and perform communication with the second non-terrestrial communication apparatus in the second time period according to the second TCI state.

[0239] In some possible implementation manners, the second time period is represented by a start time and an end time at which the second TCI state is in an activated state or an effective state, or represented by a start time and a duration at which the second TCI state is in the activated state or the effective state; and / or, the third time period is represented by a start time and an end time at which the third TCI state is in the activated state or the effective state, or represented by a start time and a duration at which the third TCI state is in the activated state or the effective state.

[0240] In some possible implementation manners, the length of the second time period and / or the length of the third time period is one or more hop beam periods.

[0241] In some possible implementation manners, the third non-terrestrial communication apparatus is different from the second non-terrestrial communication apparatus.

[0242] In some possible implementation manners, the transceiver 1110 is further configured to obtain the second TCI state and the third TCI state.

[0243] Further, the communication apparatus 1100 can further include a storage unit. The transceiver unit 1110 can be a transceiver, an input / output interface, or an interface circuit. The storage unit is configured to store instructions executed by the transceiver unit 1110 and the processing unit 1120. The transceiver unit 1110, the processing unit 1120, and the storage unit are coupled to each other. The storage unit stores instructions, the processing unit 1120 is configured to execute the instructions stored in the storage unit, and the transceiver unit 1110 is configured to perform specific signal transceiving under the control of the processing unit 1120.

[0244] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 1110 can be a transceiver, an input / output interface, or an interface circuit. The storage unit can be a memory. The processing unit 1120 can be implemented by a processor. As shown in FIG. 12, the communication apparatus 1200 can include a processor 1210, a memory 1220, a transceiver 1230, and a bus system 1240. The various components of the communication apparatus 1200 are coupled together by the bus system 1240, which can include, in addition to a data bus, a power bus, a control bus, and a state signal bus, among others. However, for the sake of clarity, the various buses are labeled only as the bus system 1240 in FIG. 12. For the sake of presentation, only the elements necessary for explaining the illustrations are shown in FIG. 12.

[0245] The communication apparatus 1100 shown in FIG. 11 or the communication apparatus 1200 shown in FIG. 12 can implement the steps performed by the first terminal device in the foregoing method 600 or the method 900. Similar descriptions can be referred to the descriptions in the corresponding methods. To avoid repetition, the details are not described here.

[0246] It should also be understood that the communication apparatus 1100 shown in FIG. 11 or the communication apparatus 1200 shown in FIG. 12 can be a terminal device, or the terminal device can include the communication apparatus 1100 shown in FIG. 11 or the communication apparatus 1200 shown in FIG. 12.

[0247] For example, FIG. 13 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus 1300 according to an embodiment of the present application, which can correspond to the primary satellite (the first non-terrestrial communication apparatus) described in the foregoing method 600 or the method 900. It can also be a chip or component applied to the primary satellite, and each module or unit in the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to perform each action or process performed by the primary satellite in any possible implementation manner of the foregoing method 600 or the method 900.

[0248] As shown in FIG. 13, the communication apparatus 1300 can include a processing unit 1310 and a transceiver unit 1320, and the transceiver unit 1320 is configured to perform specific signal transceiving under the control of the processing unit 1310. In the present application, the transceiver unit can also be referred to as a transceiver module, and the processing unit 1310 can also be referred to as a processing module.

[0249] In some embodiments,

[0250] The processing unit 1310 is configured to determine first information, the first information comprising a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state sequence, the TCI state sequence comprising: identities of a plurality of TCI states and a time period corresponding to each of the identities of the plurality of TCI states, an identity of a first TCI state corresponding to a first time period, the first time period being a length of time during which the first TCI state is in an activated state or a valid state, the first TCI state being any one of the plurality of TCI states, the first information being used to determine a second non-terrestrial communication device capable of sending signaling to a terminal device.

[0251] The transceiver 1320 is configured to send the first information.

[0252] The communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application can send the TCI state (TCI state sequence) of the auxiliary satellite corresponding to the terminal device in different time periods (for example, different hop beam periods) to the terminal device in advance through signaling. That is, the TCI state corresponding to different time periods is preconfigured. After receiving the information, the terminal device can determine the corresponding TCI state in the corresponding time period, and then determine the corresponding auxiliary satellite according to the TCI state, so as to receive the signal sent by the corresponding auxiliary satellite in different time periods. After the auxiliary satellite changes, the terminal device can also determine the updated auxiliary satellite according to the information. This avoids the need to indicate the change of the auxiliary satellite by activating a TCI state every time the auxiliary satellite changes, saves signaling overhead, and improves the utilization rate of communication resources. Moreover, the information does not need to have an effective time, which can avoid communication interruption in the effective time, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0253] In some other embodiments,

[0254] The processing unit 1310 is configured to determine second information, the second information being used to activate a second TCI state, the second TCI state comprising: an identity of a TCI state corresponding to a third time period and a second time period.

[0255] The length of the second time period is a length of time during which the second TCI state is in an activated state or a valid state, the length of the third time period is a length of time during which the third TCI state is in an activated state or a valid state, the second TCI state corresponds to a second non-terrestrial communication device capable of sending signaling to a terminal device, the third TCI state comprises: an identity of a TCI state corresponding to a fourth time period and the third time period, the length of the fourth time period is a length of time during which the fourth TCI state is in an activated state or a valid state, and the third TCI state corresponds to a third non-terrestrial communication device capable of sending signaling to a terminal device.

[0256] The transceiver 1320 is configured to transmit the second information.

[0257] The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present application changes the structure of the TCI state signaling, and adds, in each TCI state corresponding to a secondary satellite, a time length during which the identifier (tci-StateId) of the current TCI state is maintained unchanged, and the identifier (next-tci-StateId) of the TCI state in the next time period. Then, the TCI state corresponding to each secondary satellite is transmitted to the terminal device. After receiving the instruction of activating the TCI state, the terminal device determines the TCI state corresponding to the secondary satellite serving the terminal device in the next time period according to the currently activated TCI state, so as to receive the signal transmitted by the corresponding secondary satellite in different time periods. After the secondary satellite changes, the terminal device can also determine the updated secondary satellite according to the information. The change of the secondary satellite is indicated by activating a TCI state each time, the signaling overhead is saved, and the utilization rate of the communication resource is improved.

[0258] In some possible implementation manners, the transceiver 1320 is further configured to transmit the second TCI state and the third TCI state.

[0259] Further, the communication apparatus 1300 can further include a storage unit. The transceiver 1320 can be a transceiver, an input / output interface or an interface circuit. The storage unit is configured to store instructions executed by the transceiver 1320 and the processing unit 1310. The transceiver 1320, the processing unit 1310 and the storage unit are coupled to each other. The storage unit stores instructions, the processing unit 1310 is configured to execute the instructions stored in the storage unit, and the transceiver 1320 is configured to perform specific signal transceiving under the control of the processing unit 1310.

[0260] It should be understood that the transceiver 1320 can be a transceiver, an input / output interface or an interface circuit. The storage unit can be a memory. The processing unit 1310 can be implemented by a processor. As shown in FIG. 14, the communication apparatus 1400 can include a processor 1410, a memory 1420 and a transceiver 1430.

[0261] The communication apparatus 1300 shown in FIG. 13 or the communication apparatus 1400 shown in FIG. 14 can implement the steps performed by the primary satellite (the first non-terrestrial communication apparatus) in the foregoing method 600 or method 900. Similar descriptions can be referred to the descriptions in the foregoing corresponding methods. To avoid repetition, details are not described herein.

[0262] It should also be understood that the communication apparatus 1300 shown in Figure 13 or the communication apparatus 1400 shown in Figure 14 can be a non-ground communication apparatus (for example, a satellite), or the non-ground communication apparatus can include the communication apparatus 1300 shown in Figure 13 or the communication apparatus 1400 shown in Figure 14.

[0263] It should be understood that the division of units in the above apparatus is only a logical division of functions, and in actual implementation, all or part of the units can be integrated into one physical entity, or can be physically separated. The units in the apparatus can all be implemented in the form of software invoked by a processing element; or all can be implemented in the form of hardware; or some units can be implemented in the form of software invoked by a processing element, and some units can be implemented in the form of hardware. For example, each unit can be a separately established processing element, or can be integrated into a chip of the apparatus, and in addition, can be stored in the form of a program in a memory, and the function of the unit is invoked and executed by a processing element of the apparatus. The processing element can also be referred to as a processor, and can be an integrated circuit with signal processing capability. In the implementation process, each step of the above method or each unit can be implemented by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in the processing element, or in the form of software invoked by the processing element.

[0264] In one example, the units in any of the above apparatuses can be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above method, for example, one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or one or more DSPs, or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms. For another example, when the units in the apparatus can be implemented in the form of a program invoked by a processing element, the processing element can be a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or other processor that can invoke a program. For another example, the units can be integrated together to implement a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

[0265] Embodiments of the present application also provide a communication system, including the terminal device and the primary satellite (the first non-ground communication apparatus) described above. Optionally, the communication system can further include a plurality of secondary satellites (the second non-ground communication apparatus, the third non-ground communication apparatus, the fourth non-ground communication apparatus, etc.).

[0266] The above-described embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, the above-described embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer programs are loaded or executed on a computer, the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are wholly or partially generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center through wired (for example, infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) or wireless means.

[0267] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer-readable medium for storing computer program codes, the computer program including instructions for executing any of the information transmission methods provided by the embodiments of the present application. The readable medium can be the memory of the above examples, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0268] The present application also provides a computer program product including instructions that, when executed, cause a terminal device to perform operations corresponding to the first terminal device in the above-described methods, or cause a non-terrestrial communication device to perform operations corresponding to the main satellite in the above-described methods.

[0269] The embodiments of the present application also provide a chip including a processing unit, for example, a processor, and a communication unit, for example, an input / output interface, a pin, or a circuit, etc. The chip in the communication device is used to execute any of the information transmission methods provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0270] Optionally, any of the communication devices provided in the embodiments of the present application can include the chip.

[0271] The processor mentioned in any of the above can be a CPU, a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the programs of the above-mentioned information transmission methods. The processing unit and the storage unit can be decoupled and arranged on different physical devices, connected by wired or wireless means to realize the respective functions of the processing unit and the storage unit to support the chip to realize various functions in the above embodiments. Alternatively, the processing unit and the storage unit can be coupled on the same device.

[0272] The terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably herein. The term "and / or", merely describes association between associated objects, indicates that there can be three cases: A and / or B, A alone, and B alone. In addition, the character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are "or" relationship.

[0273] Various objects in the present application may be named, and it can be understood that these specific names do not constitute a limitation on the related objects, and the names can be changed according to the scene, context or usage habits. The technical meaning of the technical terms in the present application should be determined mainly from the function and technical effect embodied / implemented in the technical scheme.

[0274] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working process of the above-described system, device and unit can refer to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0275] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented by other ways. For example, the above-described device embodiments are only schematic, for example, the division of the unit is only a logical function division, and actual implementation can have another division manner, for example, a plurality of units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the displayed or discussed objects can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0276] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units can or can not be physical units, that is, they can be located in one place, or can be distributed on multiple network units. According to actual needs, part or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of the present embodiment.

[0277] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto, any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be covered in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of information transmission, characterized in that, The method comprises: receiving first information from a first non-ground communication device, the first information comprising a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state sequence, the TCI state sequence comprising: identification of a plurality of TCI states and a time period corresponding to each TCI state in the identification of the plurality of TCI states, identification of a first TCI state corresponding to a first time period, the first time period being a length of time during which the first TCI state is in an active state or a valid state, the first TCI state being any one of the plurality of TCI states, the first non-ground communication device being capable of sending and receiving signaling with a terminal device; determining, according to the first information, a second non-ground communication device corresponding to each time period, the second non-ground communication device being capable of sending signaling to the terminal device, each time period being the time period corresponding to each TCI state; communicating with the corresponding second non-ground communication device in each time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method comprises: determining, according to the first information, a second non-ground communication device corresponding to each time period, the second non-ground communication device being capable of sending signaling to the terminal device, each time period being the time period corresponding to each TCI state; determining, according to the first information, a second non-ground communication device corresponding to each time period, the second non-ground communication device being capable of sending signaling to the terminal device, each time period being the time period corresponding to each TCI state; determining, according to the first information, a second non-ground communication device corresponding to each time period, the second non-ground communication device being capable of sending signaling to the terminal device, each time period being the time period corresponding to each TCI state.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first time period is represented by a start time and an end time during which the first TCI state is in an active state or a valid state, or represented by a start time and a duration during which the first TCI state is in an active state or a valid state.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The length of the first time period is one or more hop beam periods.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The second non-ground communication devices corresponding to different time periods are different.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first information is carried in a medium access control-control element (MAC CE), radio resource control (RRC) signaling, or downlink control information (DCI).

7. A method of information transmission, characterized by The method comprises: determining a second TCI state corresponding to a second time period, the second TCI state comprising: identification of a TCI state corresponding to a third time period and the second time period, the length of the second time period being a length of time during which the second TCI state is in an active state or a valid state, the length of the third time period being a length of time during which a third TCI state is in an active state or a valid state, wherein the second TCI state corresponds to a second non-ground communication device, the second non-ground communication device being capable of sending signaling to a terminal device, the terminal device communicating with the second non-ground communication device in the second time period; determining, according to the identification of the TCI state corresponding to the third time period, the third TCI state, the third TCI state comprising: identification of a TCI state corresponding to a fourth time period and the third time period, the length of the fourth time period being a length of time during which a fourth TCI state is in an active state or a valid state, the fourth non-ground communication device being capable of sending signaling to a terminal device; determining a third non-terrestrial communication device corresponding to the third TCI state, wherein the third non-terrestrial communication device is capable of sending signaling to the terminal device, and the terminal device communicates with the third non-terrestrial communication device in the third time period.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving second information from a first non-terrestrial communication device, wherein the second information is used to activate the second TCI state, and the first non-terrestrial communication device is capable of sending and receiving signaling with the terminal device; communicating with the second non-terrestrial communication device in the second time period according to the second TCI state.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The second time period is represented by a start time and an end time when the second TCI state is in an activated state or an effective state, or represented by a start time and a duration when the second TCI state is in the activated state or the effective state; and / or, The third time period is represented by a start time and an end time when the third TCI state is in an activated state or an effective state, or represented by a start time and a duration when the third TCI state is in the activated state or the effective state.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that, The length of the second time period and / or the length of the third time period is one or more hop beam periods.

11. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that, The third non-terrestrial communication device and the second non-terrestrial communication device are different.

12. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that, The method further comprises: obtaining the second TCI state and the third TCI state.

13. A method of information transmission, characterized by The method comprises: determining first information, wherein the first information comprises a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state sequence, and the TCI state sequence comprises: identifiers of a plurality of TCI states, and a time period corresponding to each identifier of the plurality of TCI states, wherein an identifier of a first TCI state corresponds to a first time period, and the first time period is a length of time when the first TCI state is in an activated state or an effective state, the first TCI state is any one of the plurality of TCI states, and the first information is used to determine a second non-terrestrial communication device capable of sending signaling to a terminal device; sending the first information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, The first time period is represented by a start time and an end time when the first TCI state is in an activated state or an effective state, or represented by a start time and a duration when the first TCI state is in the activated state or the effective state.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, The length of the first time period is one or more hop beam periods.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that, The second non-terrestrial communication devices corresponding to different time periods are different.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that, The first information is carried in a MAC CE, RRC signaling, or DCI.

18. A method of information transmission, characterized by The method comprises: determining second information, wherein the second information is used to activate a second TCI state, and the second TCI state comprises: an identifier of a TCI state corresponding to a third time period, and a second time period. The length of the second time period is the length of time that the second TCI state is in an active state or a valid state, and the length of the third time period is the length of time that the third TCI state is in an active state or a valid state. The second TCI state corresponds to a second non-ground communication device capable of sending signaling to a terminal device. The third TCI state includes an identifier of a TCI state corresponding to a fourth time period and the third time period. The length of the fourth time period is the length of time that the fourth TCI state is in an active state or a valid state. The third TCI state corresponds to a third non-ground communication device capable of sending signaling to a terminal device. The second information is sent.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, The second time period is represented by a start time and an end time of the second TCI state being in an active state or a valid state, or represented by a start time and a duration of the second TCI state being in an active state or a valid state; and / or, The third time period is represented by a start time and an end time of the third TCI state being in an active state or a valid state, or represented by a start time and a duration of the third TCI state being in an active state or a valid state.

20. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein, The length of the second time period and / or the length of the third time period is one or more beam hopping periods.

21. The method of any one of claims 18-20, wherein, The method further includes: The second TCI state and the third TCI state are sent.

22. A communications device, characterized by Comprise: Units for performing each step of the method of any one of claims 1 to 12, or units for performing each step of the method of any one of claims 13 to 21.

23. A communications device, characterized by Comprise at least one processor and interface circuit, the at least one processor is used to perform: the method of any one of claims 1 to 12, or the method of any one of claims 13 to 21.

24. A communications device, characterized by Comprise: At least one processor coupled with a memory, the memory is used to store programs or instructions, when the programs or instructions are executed by the processor, the device executes: the method of any one of claims 1 to 12, or the method of any one of claims 13 to 21.

25. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores a computer program, the computer program includes program instructions, the program instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to execute: the method of any one of claims 1 to 12, or the method of any one of claims 13 to 21.

26. A computer program product, characterised in that, Comprise: A computer program, when the computer program runs on a computer, causes the computer to execute: the method of any one of claims 1 to 12, or the method of any one of claims 13 to 21.

27. A chip or chip system, characterized by Comprise: At least one processor for calling and running a computer program from a memory, so that a communication device installed with the chip executes: the method of any one of claims 1 to 12, or the method of any one of claims 13 to 21.

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