Method executed by user equipment, and user equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a method executed by a user equipment, and a user equipment. The method comprises: receiving an RRC message, the RRC message comprising configuration information about an on-demand SSB; configuring the on-demand SSB, and on the basis of an on-demand SSB initial state indication, setting the initial state of the on-demand SSB to activated or deactivated; and for each serving cell, determining whether to execute a beam failure detection (BFD) procedure, wherein the determining whether to execute a BFD procedure comprises: determining whether a first condition is satisfied, the first condition comprising that an on-demand SSB is configured for the serving cell, and that on-demand SSB type information comprised in the RRC message configuring the on-demand SSB indicates that there is no SSB being continuously transmitted once the on-demand SSB has been deactivated; when the first condition is satisfied, determining whether a second condition is satisfied, the second condition comprising at least one of whether the on-demand SSB of the serving cell is activated, and that the RRC message indicates that the BFD procedure is executed once the on-demand SSB has been deactivated; and when the second condition is satisfied, executing the BFD procedure for the serving cell.

Description

Method performed by user equipment and user equipment TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of wireless communication, and more particularly, to a method performed by a user equipment and a corresponding user equipment. BACKGROUND

[0002] Network energy saving is beneficial to reduce the impact on the environment and save operator costs. Usually, the network needs to periodically transmit SSBs so that UEs can synchronize with the cell and measure the beam quality and cell quality. The network periodically transmits SSBs, which requires power consumption, especially in the case of low system load, and the network periodically transmits SSBs to the network, which causes waste of power consumption. For the above reasons, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) approved the work item of NES enhancement for Release 19 at the RAN plenary, the content of which can be found in the non-patent document: RP-234065 WID: Enhancements of network energy savings for NR. This work item includes that the network can not always periodically transmit SSBs or lengthen the transmission period of SSBs for SCell in the case of low system load, and dynamically trigger the transmission of SSBs or use a shorter transmission period of SSBs according to the change of system load and UE traffic, so as to achieve the goal of network energy saving. SUMMARY

[0003] One of the purposes of the present application is to provide a method and a user equipment capable of appropriately performing a BFD procedure in the case of applying on-demand SSBs.

[0004] According to an aspect of the present application, there is provided a method performed by a user equipment, comprising: receiving a RRC message comprising configuration information about an on-demand SSB, the configuration information about the on-demand SSB comprising an on-demand SSB initial state indication indicating an initial state of the on-demand SSB and on-demand SSB type information indicating whether there is always transmitted SSB when the on-demand SSB is deactivated; configuring the on-demand SSB, and setting an initial state of the on-demand SSB as activated or deactivated according to the on-demand SSB initial state indication; determining, for each serving cell, whether to perform a beam failure detection (BFD) procedure. Wherein, determining whether to perform the BFD procedure comprises: judging whether a first condition is met, the first condition comprising that the serving cell is configured with the on-demand SSB and the on-demand SSB type information included in the RRC message configuring the on-demand SSB indicates that there is no always transmitted SSB after the on-demand SSB is deactivated; in the case that the first condition is met, determining whether a second condition is met, the second condition comprising at least one of that the on-demand SSB of the serving cell is in an activated state and that the RRC message indicates to perform the BFD procedure after the on-demand SSB is deactivated; and in the case that the second condition is met, performing the BFD procedure for the serving cell.

[0005] Optionally, the method further comprises: determining whether the on-demand SSB is in an activated state when a first timer is in a running state, the first timer being started or restarted when the initial state indicated by the on-demand SSB initial state indication is activated and an activation indication for the on-demand SSB is received after the on-demand SSB is configured, and being stopped when the initial state indicated by the on-demand SSB initial state indication is deactivated and a deactivation indication for the on-demand SSB is received after the on-demand SSB is configured.

[0006] Optionally, the method further comprises: receiving a RRC release message; and saving the configuration information about the on-demand SSB in an access stratum (AS) context if the RRC release message comprises a suspend configuration indicating to suspend a RRC connection.

[0007] Optionally, the method further comprises: receiving a RRC resume message for resuming the suspended RRC connection; and resuming the on-demand SSB based on the configuration information about the on-demand SSB saved in the AS context.

[0008] Optionally, the status of the recovered on-demand SSB is set by one of: setting the status of the on-demand SSB to an activated state or a deactivated state by default; setting the status of the on-demand SSB to the status indicated by the on-demand SSB initial status indication; setting the status of the on-demand SSB to the on-demand SSB status indicated in the last received RRC reconfiguration message when the RRC reconfiguration message indicates a change of the on-demand SSB status.

[0009] Optionally, the method further comprises receiving an RRC release message; and releasing the configuration information about on-demand SSBs if the RRC release message comprises a suspend configuration indicating to suspend the RRC connection.

[0010] Optionally, the method further comprises receiving a first RRC reconfiguration message for modifying the RRC connection, the first RRC reconfiguration message comprising a secondary cell modification list indicating secondary cells that need to be modified; and setting the status of on-demand SSBs of at least one secondary cell not included in the secondary cell modification list by one of: setting the status of the on-demand SSBs to an activated state or a deactivated state by default; setting the status of the on-demand SSBs to the status indicated by the on-demand SSB initial status indication; setting the status of the on-demand SSBs to the on-demand SSB status indicated in the last received RRC reconfiguration message when the RRC reconfiguration message indicates a change of the on-demand SSB status.

[0011] Optionally, the method further comprises receiving a first RRC reconfiguration message for modifying the RRC connection, the first RRC reconfiguration message comprising a secondary cell group, SCG, status indication and a SCG on-demand SSB status indication for indicating the status of on-demand SSBs of each secondary cell in the SCG when the SCG is deactivated; and if the SCG status indication indicates to deactivate the SCG, deactivating the SCG and setting the status of the on-demand SSBs of the each secondary cell to an activated state or a deactivated state based on the SCG on-demand SSB status indication.

[0012] Optionally, the method further comprises receiving a first RRC reconfiguration message for modifying the RRC connection, the first RRC reconfiguration message comprising a secondary cell group, SCG, status indication; and if the SCG status indication indicates to deactivate the SCG, deactivating all secondary cells in the SCG and setting the status of on-demand SSBs of each secondary cell in the SCG by one of: setting the status of the on-demand SSBs to an activated state or a deactivated state by default; setting the status of the on-demand SSBs to the status indicated by the on-demand SSB initial status indication; setting the status of the on-demand SSBs to the on-demand SSB status indicated in the last received RRC reconfiguration message when the RRC reconfiguration message indicates a change of the on-demand SSB status.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present application, there is also provided a user equipment comprising: a processor; and

[0014] a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, perform the method as described above.

[0015] According to the present application, the BFD procedure can be properly performed in case of applying on-demand SSB. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method performed by a user equipment according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method performed by a user equipment according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method performed by a user equipment according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method performed by a user equipment according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method performed by a user equipment according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method performed by a user equipment according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a brief structural block diagram of a user equipment UE to which the present application relates. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that the present application should not be limited to the specific embodiments described below. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known technology which is not directly related to the present application are omitted in order to prevent obscuring the understanding of the present application.

[0024] Part of the terms related to the present application are described below, and the specific meanings of the terms can be found in the latest 3GPP standard specification,

[0025] UE: User Equipment

[0026] NR: New Radio

[0027] AS: Access Stratum

[0028] MAC: Medium Access Control

[0029] MAC CE: MAC control element

[0030] RRC: Radio Resource Control

[0031] RRC_CONNECTED: RRC connected state

[0032] RRC_INACTIVE: RRC inactive state

[0033] RRC_IDLE: RRC idle state

[0034] RAN: Radio Access Network

[0035] PDCCH: Physical downlink control channel

[0036] PUCCH: Physical Uplink Control Channel

[0037] PUSCH: Physical Uplink Shared Channel

[0038] PRACH: Physical Random Access Channel

[0039] PBCH: Physical broadcast channel

[0040] SFN: System Frame Number

[0041] PDU: Protocol Data Unit

[0042] SSB: SS / PBCH block

[0043] CSI-RS: Channel Status Information-Reference Signal

[0044] DCI: Downlink Control Information

[0045] RNTI: Radio Network Temporary Identifier

[0046] C-RNTI: Cell RNTI

[0047] P-RNTI: Paging RNTI

[0048] RA-RNTI: Random Access RNTI

[0049] SI-RNTI: System Information RNTI

[0050] RSRP: Reference Signal Received Power

[0051] RSRQ: Reference Signal Received Quality

[0052] SpCell: Special Cell

[0053] SCell: Secondary Cell

[0054] CA: Carrier Aggregation

[0055] DC: Dual Connectivity

[0056] MCG: Master Cell Group

[0057] SCG: Secondary Cell Group

[0058] PCell: Primary Cell

[0059] PSCell: Primary SCG Cell

[0060] MIB: Master Information Block

[0061] DRX: Discontinuous Reception

[0062] SIB: System Information Block

[0063] gNB: the next Generation Node B

[0064] RLF: Radio Link Failure

[0065] SN: Sequence Number

[0066] CN: Core Network

[0067] UL-SCH: Uplink Shared Channel

[0068] NES: network energy saving

[0069] OSI: Other System Information

[0070] SI: System Information

[0071] L3: Layer 3

[0072] BFD: Beam Failure Detection

[0073] BFR: Beam Failure Recovery

[0074] In the present application, network (network or NW), base station (base station or gNB or eNB) and RAN can be used interchangeably, and the network can be a long term evolution (LTE) network, a new radio access technology (New RAT, NR) network, an enhanced long term evolution (eLTE) network, or other networks defined in subsequent evolution versions of 3GPP.

[0075] In the present application, user equipment (UE) can refer to a device supporting network energy saving, a device supporting enhanced network energy saving, a device with (enhanced) network energy saving capability, a device supporting on-demand SSB, a device with on-demand SSB capability, a device with on-demand SSB measurement capability, or other types of NR devices or LTE devices.

[0076] In the present disclosure, "feedback", "submit", "report", "send", "transmit", "inform", "indicate", "provide" can be used interchangeably.

[0077] In the present disclosure, "use", "be available", "apply", "implement", "enable", "active", "perform", "do" can be used interchangeably.

[0078] In the present disclosure, "associate", "correspond", "map" can be used interchangeably.

[0079] In the present disclosure, "receive", "detect", "monitor", "acquire", "derive" can be used interchangeably.

[0080] In the present disclosure, "non-active", "deactive", "disable", "stop", "exit", "de- enable" can be used interchangeably.

[0081] In the present disclosure, "active", "start", "enable", "use", "enter", "wake up" can be used interchangeably.

[0082] In the present disclosure, "time" can be time, duration, period, time period, etc.

[0083] In the present disclosure, "valid" and "available" can be used interchangeably.

[0084] In the present disclosure, "on-demand SSB" is just an example of the name, and other names for SSBs that are not always transmitted but triggered for transmission on demand can replace the name "on-demand SSB".

[0085] In the present disclosure, "physical layer" and "layer one (L1)" can be used interchangeably.

[0086] In the present application, the terms "handover" and "reconfiguration with sync" can be used interchangeably.

[0087] In the present application, the terms "deactivation of on-demand SSB" and "considering the status of on-demand SSB as deactivated" can be used interchangeably, and the terms "activation of on-demand SSB" and "considering the status of on-demand SSB as activated" can be used interchangeably.

[0088] It should be noted that in the present specification, two connected by "and", "or", "and / or" can represent different expressions of the same intention in different application scenarios, and there can be a relationship between inclusion and inclusion, not necessarily referring to completely different content.

[0089] The related art of the present application is described below.

[0090] BFD

[0091] BFD is beam failure detection, which is for UE to detect beam according to the reference signal configured by the network, and the purpose is to detect the beam failure. The BFD process can be performed for each Serving Cell, including SpCell and SCell. If the SCell is deactivated, the UE does not need to perform BFD on the SCell. The reference signal configured for the BFD process can be SSB and / or CSI-RS. The UE performs the BFD process on the activated downlink BWP.

[0092] Handover

[0093] Handover refers to the change of the primary cell initiated by the network, including the inter-cell primary cell change and the intra-cell primary cell change, i.e., the primary cell of the UE changes from the source cell to the target cell, wherein the source cell and the target cell can be the same cell or different cells, and in this process, the key or security algorithm for the access layer security can also be updated. The source cell is also called the source base station, and can also be a source beam, a source transmission point (TRP), or a source master cell group (MCG). The target cell can also be called a target base station, and can also be a target beam, a target transmission point, or a target MCG. The source cell refers to the cell connected to serve the UE before the handover process is initiated, i.e., the cell in which the UE receives the RRC message containing the handover command. The target cell refers to the cell connected to serve the UE after the handover process is successfully completed, or the cell indicated by the target cell identifier contained in the handover command, or the cell accessed by the UE when the handover is performed. The handover command is used to trigger the UE to perform handover, and in the NR system, it is an RRC reconfiguration message containing a synchronization reconfiguration (Reconfiguration with sync) information element. Further, for the handover of the primary cell, it is an RRC reconfiguration message containing a synchronization reconfiguration (Reconfiguration with sync) information element for the master cell group (MCG). At this time, the handover can also be called the synchronization reconfiguration of the MCG. The synchronization reconfiguration information element contains configuration information of the target cell, such as the target cell identifier, the target cell frequency, the common configuration of the target cell such as the system information, the random access configuration used by the UE to access the target cell, the security parameter configuration of the UE in the target cell, the radio bearer configuration of the UE in the target cell, etc.

[0094] Suspension and resumption of RRC connection

[0095] After the UE receives the RRC release message with suspend configuration (suspendConfig) sent by the network, some AS configurations are retained in the UE inactive AS context (UE Inactive AS context), and some AS configurations are released, the RRC connection is suspended, and the UE enters the RRC_INACTIVE state. When the UE has uplink data to send, the UE can initiate RRC connection resumption and send an RRC resume request message to the network. When the UE receives the RRC resume message sent by the network, the UE can restore / re-save the previous configuration from the retained UE Inactive AS context, so that the network does not have to carry too much configuration information in the RRC resume message, in order to reduce signaling overhead.

[0096] In case of CA, the serving cells of a UE consist of one PCell and one or more SCells. The addition, modification and deletion of SCells are configured by RRC messages. The initial state (activated or deactivated) of an SCell can be configured at the same time when the SCell is added. After the SCell is configured, the network can activate / deactivate the SCell dynamically by MAC CE according to the traffic situation of the UE and the network load. The measurement of beam and / or cell quality is needed when the SCell is in activated or deactivated state.

[0097] In case of DC, a UE is configured with MCG and SCG. For MCG, the primary cell is also called PCell and the secondary cells are also called SCells as in CA. For SCG, the primary cell is called PSCell and the secondary cells are still called SCells as in CA. The network can configure the deactivation state of SCG by RRC message. When the SCG is deactivated, all SCells(s) of the SCG are deactivated.

[0098] Generally, the network transmits SSB periodically, such SSB can also be called always-on SSB. For deactivated SCell, the network also transmits SSB periodically. The UE can perform time-frequency synchronization to the cell, measure the quality of the beam, and measure the quality of the cell based on the SSB. In order to save energy of the network, the network can lengthen the transmission period of SSB or not transmit SSB, but this may affect the UE to perform time-frequency synchronization and measurement. In order to solve this problem, on-demand SSB is introduced. According to the change of system load and the traffic situation of the UE, the network activates on-demand SSB as needed, i.e. the network changes from not transmitting SSB to transmitting on-demand SSB, or changes from transmitting SSB with a longer period to transmitting on-demand SSB (usually the transmission period of on-demand SSB is shorter), or changes from transmitting SSB with a longer period to transmitting both SSB with a longer period and on-demand SSB (usually the transmission period of on-demand SSB is shorter).

[0099] A cell uses (enhanced) network energy saving, or a cell is configured with on-demand SSB configuration, or a cell supports on-demand SSB, or a cell supports (enhanced) network energy saving, or a cell is configured with on-demand SSB configuration, the cell can be called on-demand SSB cell. If the cell is SCell, the cell can be called on-demand SSB SCell.

[0100] The present application discusses how the UE determines the activation / deactivation of on-demand SSB, and the impact of on-demand SSB activation / deactivation on the BFD procedure, so that the UE correctly determines the state of on-demand SSB in different procedures and correctly performs beam detection in the case of network energy saving, avoiding affecting the UE service performance.

[0101] Embodiments

[0102] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a method one performed by a UE according to one or more embodiments. The UE can perform one or more steps in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 includes steps S101-S103.

[0103] Optionally, at step S101, the UE receives an RRC message sent by the network, for example: RRCReconfiguration (RRC reconfiguration) message, RRCResume (RRC resume) message.

[0104] Optionally, the RRC message contains on-demand SSB configuration.

[0105] Optionally, the on-demand SSB configuration contains at least one of the following information:

[0106] -on-demand SSB initial state indication;

[0107] -on-demand SSB period when on-demand SSB is activated;

[0108] -on-demand SSB type information;

[0109] -on-demand SSB (one or more) candidate period.

[0110] Alternatively, the on-demand SSB initial state indication is contained in the RRC message, not in the on-demand SSB configuration.

[0111] Optionally, the on-demand SSB initial state indication is used to indicate the initial state (activated or deactivated) of the on-demand SSB, or the initial state (activated or deactivated) of the on-demand SSB corresponding to the SSB frequency point / or SSB index / or SCell (for example, represented by ServCellIndex).

[0112] Optionally, the meaning of the initial state of the on-demand SSB is at least one of the following:

[0113] - the status (activated or deactivated) of on-demand SSB at the time of on-demand SSB configuration (or when on-demand SSB configuration is setup);

[0114] - whether on-demand SSB should be considered as activated or deactivated at the time of on-demand SSB configuration (or when on-demand SSB configuration is setup);

[0115] - the status (activated or deactivated) of on-demand SSB after receiving the RRC message;

[0116] - the status (activated or deactivated) of on-demand SSB corresponding to SSB frequency / or SSB index / or SCell (e.g. indicated by ServCellIndex) at the time of on-demand SSB configuration (or when on-demand SSB configuration is setup);

[0117] - whether on-demand SSB corresponding to SSB frequency / or SSB index / or SCell (e.g. indicated by ServCellIndex) should be considered as activated or deactivated at the time of on-demand SSB configuration (or when on-demand SSB configuration is setup);

[0118] - the status (activated or deactivated) of on-demand SSB corresponding to SSB frequency / or SSB index / or SCell (e.g. indicated by ServCellIndex) after receiving the RRC message.

[0119] Optionally, if on-demand SSB initial status indication is included in the RRC message, or on-demand SSB initial status indication is set to activated, it indicates that on-demand SSB is in activated state, and the UE considers on-demand SSB as activated; if on-demand SSB initial status indication is not included in the RRC message, or on-demand SSB initial status indication is set to deactivated, it indicates that on-demand SSB is in deactivated state, and the UE considers on-demand SSB as deactivated.

[0120] Optionally, if the initial state of the on-demand SSB corresponding to the SSB frequency point / or SSB index is activated, the initial state of the on-demand SSB corresponding to all SCell(s) corresponding to the SSB frequency point / or SSB index is activated; if the initial state of the on-demand SSB corresponding to the SSB frequency point / or SSB index is deactivated, the initial state of the on-demand SSB corresponding to all SCell(s) corresponding to the SSB frequency point / or SSB index is deactivated.

[0121] Optionally, the on-demand SSB type information is used to indicate whether there is an always-on SSB, i.e., whether there is another SSB always-on when the on-demand SSB is deactivated, or whether there is a (normal) SSB when the on-demand SSB is deactivated.

[0122] Optionally, when the on-demand SSB initial state indication indicates that the on-demand SSB is activated, the UE (or RRC layer) starts (or restarts) the first timer. Optionally, when the on-demand SSB initial state indication indicates that the on-demand SSB is deactivated, the UE (or RRC layer) stops the first timer. In the case where the first timer expires, the on-demand SSB is considered to be deactivated.

[0123] Optionally, the on-demand SSB period when activated is used to indicate the transmission period of the on-demand SSB when the initial state of the on-demand SSB is activated, or to indicate the transmission period of the on-demand SSB when the state of the on-demand SSB is activated. Optionally, if the on-demand SSB period when activated is not included in the RRC message, the period adopted by the on-demand SSB when activated is the period with the largest value (or the period with the smallest value) in the on-demand SSB candidate period.

[0124] Optionally, the RRC message can further comprise a BFD reference signal set for the serving cell, and / or a BFD first indication information. Wherein, the BFD first indication information is used to indicate whether to perform the BFD procedure when the on-demand SSB is deactivated. For example, the BFD first indication information is set to TRUE, indicating that the BFD procedure needs to be performed when the on-demand SSB is deactivated; the BFD first indication information is set to FALSE, indicating that the BFD procedure does not need to be performed when the on-demand SSB is deactivated.

[0125] Optionally, the BFD reference signal set comprises one or more reference signal (hereinafter referred to as: BFD reference signal) configurations for the BFD procedure or the beam link monitoring. Optionally, the BFD reference signal configuration comprises at least one of the following information:

[0126] - the SSB index or the CSI-RS index or the on-demand SSB index corresponding to the reference signal;

[0127] - the type of the reference signal: SSB, or CSI-RS, or on-demand SSB;

[0128] - the reference signal on-demand SSB indication, used to indicate whether the reference signal is an on-demand SSB.

[0129] Optionally, in step S102, the UE receives the on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication sent by the network. Relative to the on-demand SSB initial state indication in step S101, the on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication is to activate / deactivate the on-demand SSB dynamically after the on-demand SSB is configured. Optionally, the on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication is contained in the RRC message (such as RRCReconfiguration), and / or MAC CE, and / or physical layer DCI.

[0130] Optionally, when the on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication activates the on-demand SSB, the UE (or RRC layer) starts (or restarts) the first timer. Optionally, when the on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication deactivates the on-demand SSB, the UE (or RRC layer) stops the first timer. In the case that the first timer expires, it is considered that the on-demand SSB is deactivated. The meaning of the first timer is the same as in step S101.

[0131] Optionally, if the on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication is contained in a MAC CE or a physical layer DCI, when the MAC layer or the physical layer receives the on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication, the on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication is given to upper layers, i.e. RRC layer. Alternatively, optionally, when the MAC layer or the physical layer receives the on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication, if the on-demand SSB is deactivated and the received on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication is to activate the on-demand SSB, the upper layers, i.e. RRC layer, are instructed to activate the on-demand SSB; if the on-demand SSB is activated and the received on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication is to deactivate the on-demand SSB, the upper layers, i.e. RRC layer, are instructed to deactivate the on-demand SSB.

[0132] Optionally, in step S102, the UE also receives the on-demand SSB periodicity information when the on-demand SSB is activated, which is sent by the network. Optionally, the on-demand SSB periodicity information when the on-demand SSB is activated is contained in a RRC message (e.g. RRCReconfiguration), and / or a MAC CE, and / or a physical layer DCI. With respect to the on-demand SSB periodicity when the on-demand SSB is activated in step S101, the “on-demand SSB periodicity information when the on-demand SSB is activated” in this step refers to the on-demand SSB periodicity when the on-demand SSB is activated is configured dynamically after the on-demand SSB is configured. If the on-demand SSB periodicity when the on-demand SSB is activated is not contained in the RRC message or the MAC CE / or the physical layer DCI, the on-demand SSB periodicity when the on-demand SSB is activated is the one with the largest value (or the one with the smallest value) among the on-demand SSB candidate periodicities in step S101.

[0133] Optionally, in step S103, the UE determines whether it needs to perform the BFD procedure.

[0134] Optionally, for each serving cell, the UE determines at least one of the following first conditions:

[0135] - the serving cell is an SCell;

[0136] - a set of BFD reference signals is configured;

[0137] - is configured with on-demand SSB configuration, or the configured SSB is on-demand SSB;

[0138] - the BFD reference signal (of the serving cell) is (or contains, or all, or only) on-demand SSB;

[0139] - the BFD reference signal type is set to ssb, or the BFD reference signal is SSB index;

[0140] - the on-demand SSB type information indicates no SSB (or no always transmitted SSB) when on-demand SSB is deactivated.

[0141] Optionally, in case at least one of the first conditions is met, the UE judges at least one of the following conditions:

[0142] - the on-demand SSB of the serving cell is activated (or valid);

[0143] - the on-demand SSB initial state (of the serving cell) indicates that the on-demand SSB is activated;

[0144] - an on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication is received, and indicates that the on-demand SSB is activated;

[0145] - a first timer is running;

[0146] - the on-demand SSB of the serving cell is deactivated, and the BFD first indication information indicates that the BFD procedure needs to be performed when the on-demand SSB is deactivated.

[0147] Optionally, in case at least one of the above conditions is met, the UE considers that the (serving cell) needs to perform the BFD procedure, and / or performs the (serving cell) BFD procedure, and / or instructs lower layers to perform the (serving cell) BFD procedure.

[0148] Optionally, in case at least one of the first conditions is met, the UE judges at least one of the following conditions:

[0149] - the on-demand SSB of the serving cell is deactivated (or invalid);

[0150] - the on-demand SSB initial state (of the serving cell) indicates that the on-demand SSB is deactivated;

[0151] - receiving an on-demand SSB activation / deactivation indication and indicating that the on-demand SSB is deactivated;

[0152] - the first timer expires;

[0153] - the first indication information of the BFD indicates that the BFD procedure is not needed when the on-demand SSB is deactivated.

[0154] Optionally, in case at least one of the above conditions is met, the UE performs at least one of the following operations:

[0155] - considers that the BFD procedure is not needed;

[0156] - stops the BFD procedure for the serving cell;

[0157] - indicates to lower layers to stop the BFD procedure for the serving cell;

[0158] - sets a beam failure indication counter (BFI_COUNTER) for the serving cell to 0;

[0159] - considers that the beam failure recovery procedure is successfully completed;

[0160] - cancels the beam failure recovery (BFR) that the serving cell has triggered.

[0161] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a method two performed by a UE according to one or more embodiments. The UE can perform one or more steps in Figure 2. Figure 2 includes steps S201-S203.

[0162] Optionally, at step S201, the UE receives an RRC release (RRCRelease) message sent by the network. The RRC release message is used to release the RRC connection or suspend the RRC connection. Optionally, the RRC release message contains a suspend configuration.

[0163] Optionally, if the RRC release message contains suspend configuration, the UE saves the on-demand SSB configuration in the UE Inactive AS Context, and / or the UE saves the MCG configuration and / or SCG configuration in the UE Inactive AS Context (i.e. SCell(s) in the MCG configuration and / or SCG configuration and the on-demand SSB configuration corresponding to the SCell(s) are also saved in the UE Inactive AS Context). The on-demand SSB configuration is the on-demand SSB configuration in step S101.

[0164] Optionally, in step S202, the UE initiates a RRC resume procedure and sends a RRCResumeRequest message to the network. The RRC resume procedure is used to resume the suspended RRC connection, and the RRCResumeRequest message is used to request to resume the suspended RRC connection.

[0165] Optionally, in step S203, the UE receives a RRCResume message sent by the network. The RRCResume message is used to resume the suspended RRC connection.

[0166] Optionally, the UE recovers the on-demand SSB configuration from the UE Inactive AS context, and determines the initial state or default state for the recovered on-demand SSB configuration. Optionally, if the RRCResume does not contain the fullConfig information element, the UE (RRC layer) performs at least one of the following operations:

[0167] - re-saves the MCG configuration and / or SCG configuration from the UE Inactive AS context, the re-saved MCG configuration and / or SCG configuration includes SCell(s) of the MCG and / or SCell(s) of the SCG;

[0168] - considers the state of the on-demand SSB of the re-saved SCell(s) of the MCG and / or SCell(s) of the SCG is activated (or deactivated) if the on-demand SSB of the re-saved SCell(s) of the MCG and / or SCell(s) of the SCG is configured;

[0169] - consider the status of on-demand SSB for re-preserved SCell(s) of MCG and / or SCell(s) of SCG as the status of on-demand SSB when (or on-demand SSB configuration is set as) on-demand SSB is configured for re-preserved SCell(s) of MCG and / or SCell(s) of SCG if on-demand SSB is configured for re-preserved SCell(s) of MCG and / or SCell(s) of SCG;

[0170] - consider the status of on-demand SSB for re-preserved SCell(s) of MCG and / or SCell(s) of SCG as the status of on-demand SSB indicated in the last received RRC reconfiguration message if on-demand SSB is configured for re-preserved SCell(s) of MCG and / or SCell(s) of SCG;

[0171] - indicate / configure the status of on-demand SSB to lower layers.

[0172] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a method three performed by a UE according to one or more embodiments. The UE can perform one or more steps in Figure 3. Figure 3 comprises steps S301-S303.

[0173] Optionally, at step S301, the UE receives an RRC release (RRCRelease) message sent by the network. The RRC release message is used to release the RRC connection or suspend the RRC connection.

[0174] Optionally, at step S302, it is determined whether the RRC release message contains a suspend configuration.

[0175] Optionally, at step S303, if the RRC release message contains the suspend configuration, the UE releases the on-demand SSB configuration, or does not save the on-demand SSB configuration in the UE Inactive AS Context. The on-demand SSB configuration is the on-demand SSB configuration described in step S101.

[0176] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a method four performed by a UE according to one or more embodiments. The UE can perform one or more steps in Figure 4. Figure 4 comprises steps S401-S402.

[0177] Optionally, at step S401, the UE receives a RRC Reconfiguration message sent by the network. The RRC Reconfiguration message is used to modify the RRC connection. Optionally, the RRC Reconfiguration message contains reconfigurationWithSync, and / or SCellToAddModList.

[0178] Optionally, at step S402, the UE determines the initial state or default state for the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) that are not modified by the RRC Reconfiguration.

[0179] Optionally, if the RRC Reconfiguration message contains reconfigurationWithSync, the UE performs at least one of the following operations:

[0180] - considers the configured SCell(s) to be in deactivated state if the SCell(s) are not included in SCellToAddModList;

[0181] - considers the state of the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) to be deactivated (or activated) if the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) is configured;

[0182] - considers the state of the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) to be the state of the on-demand SSB when the on-demand SSB is configured (or the on-demand SSB configuration is set to setup) if the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) is configured;

[0183] - considers the state of the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) to be the state of the on-demand SSB indicated in the last received RRC Reconfiguration message if the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) is configured;

[0184] - indicates or configures the state of the on-demand SSB to lower layers.

[0185] The on-demand SSB is configured as the on-demand SSB configuration described in step S101.

[0186] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a method five performed by a UE according to one or more embodiments. The UE can perform one or more steps in Figure 5. Figure 5 includes steps S501-S502.

[0187] Optionally, at step S501, the UE receives an RRC Reconfiguration message sent by the network. The RRC Reconfiguration message is used to modify the RRC connection. Optionally, the RRC Reconfiguration message contains a SCG state (scg-State), and / or a SCG deactivation on-demand SSB state indication.

[0188] Optionally, the SCG deactivation on-demand SSB state indication is used to indicate the state of the on-demand SSB when the SCG is deactivated. Optionally, if the SCG deactivation on-demand SSB state indication is included in the RRC message, or the SCG deactivation on-demand SSB state indication is set to activated, it means that the on-demand SSB is activated when the SCG is deactivated, and the UE considers the on-demand SSB is activated; if the SCG deactivation on-demand SSB state indication is not included in the RRC message, or the SCG deactivation on-demand SSB state indication is set to deactivated, it means that the on-demand SSB is deactivated when the SCG is deactivated, and the UE considers the on-demand SSB is deactivated.

[0189] Optionally, if the scg-State is included in the RRC Reconfiguration message, the UE performs the SCG deactivation procedure.

[0190] Optionally, at step S502, the UE determines an initial state or a default state for the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) in the SCG in the deactivated state.

[0191] Optionally, if the SCG is deactivated, the UE performs at least one of the following operations:

[0192] deactivates all SCell(s) of the SCG;

[0193] considers the state of the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) is deactivated (or activated) (if the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) is configured);

[0194] considers the state of the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) is the state when the on-demand SSB is configured (or the on-demand SSB configuration is set to setup) (if the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) is configured);

[0195] - considers the status of the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) as indicated by the status indicated by the SCell(s) SCG deactivation on-demand SSB status indication, if the on-demand SSB of the SCell(s) is configured;

[0196] - indicates or configures the status of the on-demand SSB to lower layers.

[0197] the on-demand SSB is configured as the on-demand SSB configuration described in step S101.

[0198] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a method six performed by a UE according to one or more embodiments. The UE can perform one or more steps in Figure 6. Figure 6 includes steps S601-S602.

[0199] Optionally, in step S601, the UE receives a SCell activation / deactivation indication MAC CE sent by the network. If the SCell activation / deactivation indication MAC CE indicates to activate the SCell, the UE performs SCell activation.

[0200] Optionally, in step S602, the UE physical layer sends a CSI report to the network after completing time-frequency synchronization with the SCell, considers SCell activation is completed, and the physical layer indicates the MAC layer and / or RRC layer of the UE that SCell activation is completed.

[0201] The judgment and operation in each step in the embodiments are independent of the execution order, i.e., the execution order of the judgment and operation can be changed, unless otherwise specified.

[0202] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a user equipment UE according to the present application. As shown in Figure 7, the user equipment UE 700 includes a processor 701 and a memory 702. The processor 701 can include, for example, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, an embedded processor, etc. The memory 702 can include, for example, a volatile memory (such as a random access memory RAM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a non-volatile memory (such as a flash memory), or other memory, etc. The memory 702 stores program instructions. When the program instructions are executed by the processor 701, the above-mentioned method performed by the user equipment can be executed.

[0203] The program running on the apparatus according to the present application can be a program for enabling a computer to implement the functions of the embodiments of the present application by controlling a central processing unit (CPU). The program or information processed by the program can be temporarily stored in a volatile memory (e.g., a random access memory (RAM)), a hard disk drive (HDD), a non-volatile memory (e.g., a flash memory), or other memory systems.

[0204] The program for implementing the functions of the embodiments of the present application can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The corresponding functions can be implemented by causing a computer system to read the program recorded on the recording medium and execute the program. The computer system herein can be a computer system embedded in the apparatus and can include an operating system or hardware (e.g., a peripheral device). The computer-readable recording medium can be a semiconductor recording medium, an optical recording medium, a magnetic recording medium, a short-time dynamic storage program recording medium, or any other computer-readable recording medium.

[0205] The various features or function modules of the apparatus used in the above-described embodiments can be implemented or executed by a circuit (e.g., a single chip or a multi-chip integrated circuit). The circuit designed to perform the functions described in the specification can include a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, but can also be any existing processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The above-described circuit can be a digital circuit, but can also be an analog circuit. In the case of a new integrated circuit technology replacing existing integrated circuit technologies due to advances in semiconductor technology, one or more embodiments of the present application can also be implemented using the new integrated circuit technology.

[0206] Furthermore, the present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Although various examples of the embodiments have been described, the present application is not limited thereto. Fixed or non-mobile electronic devices installed indoors or outdoors can be used as terminal devices or communication devices, such as AV devices, kitchen devices, cleaning devices, air conditioners, office devices, vending machines, and other home appliances.

[0207] As described above, the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the present application includes any design modification without departing from the spirit of the present application. In addition, various modifications can be made to the present application within the scope of the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present application. Furthermore, components described in the above-described embodiments having the same effect can be substituted for each other.

Claims

1. A method performed by a user equipment, comprising: receiving an RRC message including configuration information about an on-demand SSB, the configuration information about the on-demand SSB including an on-demand SSB initial state indication indicating an initial state of the on-demand SSB and on-demand SSB type information indicating whether there is always transmitted SSB when the on-demand SSB is deactivated; configuring the on-demand SSB and setting an initial state of the on-demand SSB as activated or deactivated according to the on-demand SSB initial state indication; determining, for each serving cell, whether to perform a beam failure detection (BFD) procedure, wherein the determining whether to perform the BFD procedure comprises: determining whether a first condition is met, the first condition including that the serving cell is configured with the on-demand SSB and that the on-demand SSB type information included in the RRC message configuring the on-demand SSB indicates that there is no always transmitted SSB after the on-demand SSB is deactivated; in a case that the first condition is met, determining whether a second condition is met, the second condition including at least one of that the on-demand SSB of the serving cell is in an activated state and that the RRC message indicates to perform the BFD procedure after the on-demand SSB is deactivated; and in a case that the second condition is met, performing the BFD procedure for the serving cell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, the method further comprising: determining whether the on-demand SSB is in the activated state when a first timer is running, the first timer being started or restarted when the initial state indicated by the on-demand SSB initial state indication is activated and when an activation indication for the on-demand SSB is received after the on-demand SSB is configured, and being stopped when the initial state indicated by the on-demand SSB initial state indication is deactivated and when a deactivation indication for the on-demand SSB is received after the on-demand SSB is configured.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, the method further comprising: receiving an RRC release message; if the RRC release message includes a suspend configuration indicating to suspend an RRC connection, saving the configuration information about the on-demand SSB in an access stratum (AS) context.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, the method further comprising: receiving an RRC resume message for resuming the suspended RRC connection; and resuming the on-demand SSB based on the configuration information about the on-demand SSB saved in the AS context.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein, a state of the resumed on-demand SSB is set in one of: defaulting the state of the on-demand SSB to an activated state or a deactivated state; setting the state of the on-demand SSB to a state indicated by the on-demand SSB initial state indication; setting the state of the on-demand SSB to an on-demand SSB state indicated in a last received RRC reconfiguration message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, the method further comprising: receiving an RRC release message; if the RRC release message includes a suspend configuration indicating to suspend an RRC connection, releasing the configuration information about the on-demand SSB.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, the method further comprising: receiving a first RRC reconfiguration message for modifying an RRC connection, the first RRC reconfiguration message comprising a secondary cell modification list indicating secondary cells that need to be modified; setting a status of on-demand SSBs of at least one secondary cell not included in the secondary cell modification list by one of the following ways: defaulting the status of the on-demand SSBs to an activated status or a deactivated status; setting the status of the on-demand SSBs to a status indicated by the on-demand SSB initial status indication; setting the status of the on-demand SSBs to a status of on-demand SSBs indicated in a last received RRC reconfiguration message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving a first RRC reconfiguration message for modifying an RRC connection, the first RRC reconfiguration message comprising a secondary cell group, SCG, status indication and a SCG on-demand SSB status indication indicating a status of on-demand SSBs of each secondary cell in the SCG when the SCG is deactivated; if the SCG status indication indicates to deactivate the SCG, deactivating the SCG and setting the status of on-demand SSBs of the each secondary cell to an activated status or a deactivated status based on the SCG on-demand SSB status indication.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving a first RRC reconfiguration message for modifying an RRC connection, the first RRC reconfiguration message comprising a secondary cell group, SCG, status indication; if the SCG status indication indicates to deactivate the SCG, deactivating all secondary cells in the SCG and setting a status of on-demand SSBs of each secondary cell in the SCG by one of the following ways: defaulting the status of the on-demand SSBs to an activated status or a deactivated status; setting the status of the on-demand SSBs to a status indicated by the on-demand SSB initial status indication; setting the status of the on-demand SSBs to a status of on-demand SSBs indicated in a last received RRC reconfiguration message.

10. A user equipment comprising: a processor; and a memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 9. ​

Images